Project Athena - Day 343 (Bark)

Charred Bark

This tree trunk is a remnant of the High Park Wildfire (2012) that burned for nearly three weeks straight in the mountains West of Fort Collins. It was caused by a lightning strike and charred over 87,284 acres of mostly national forest land plus destroyed almost 300 homes. As I recall what it was like to wake up everyday to the smell of fire and heavy smoke hanging in the air, I am very thankful for all the rain we have had recently.

Charred Tree Trunk

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 55-200mm lens • 60mm • F/5.6 • 1/125s • ISO 160

Project Athena - Day 70 (Trees)

From the Ashes

“Life is the fire that burns and the sun that gives light. Life is the wind and the rain and the thunder in the sky. Life is matter and is earth, what is and what is not, and what beyond is in Eternity.”
— Lucius Annaeus Seneca

This tree remains standing almost two years after a forest fire scorched an area of Moraine Park in late 2012. The ground vegetation has grown back abundantly in the valley since then, covering the burn area with a soft blanket of green grasses and colorful wild flowers.

The charred blackness of this tree in stark contrast to the blue sky, the green grasses or the white snow reminds me that the earth continuously transforms itself with fire and out of those ashes, the most beautiful life is born.

RMNP, Colorado

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 18mm • F/13 • 1/20s • ISO 200