A hike on Big Pine, Lava Loop, and Upper Big Pine Loop on  clearer day.

There are now 5 seasons – Winter, Spring, Summer, Smoke, and  Fall.    For upcoming years, we will try to get our prime hikes down in the summer season before the wildfires.    Today I was also out pruning and removing evergreen limbs and low-level fire-risk items, but since my neighbors have not done this, all I can do is mitigate the risks over time.

“fire walker searches for her babies

loud cracks and creaks permeate the silence
inferno’s roar is heard in keen ears of wildlife
terror is felt throughout the forest
animals flee, but many do not make it out
the blinding smoke and their fear leaves them helpless
some curl up, waiting for death
the fire walker trots through the forest looking for her young
not realizing she lost them several decades ago
she is the only soul stuck in this purgatory of flames”