The Big Meadow Fire Leaves Surreal Scenes
Our arrival in Yosemite National Park in September 2009 coincided with a devastating fire that had destroyed thousands of acres over the previous weeks. The Big Meadow Fire started as a prescribed burn, but it quickly got out of control. The worst of the fire had been extinquished, but the park was blanketed with a thick smoke.
Park officials were busy closing off areas that were still active, so I decided to take advantage of a patch of woods not yet yellow-taped to keep out tourists.
It was a surreal scene that more closely resembled a new fallen snow than a blanket of white ash. No sounds, no signs of life.
The afternoon sun penetrated the thick smoke creating spectacular light beams through the trees.
The smoke finally forced me to retreat back up the hill where Mary was waiting in the car alongside the road.
I'd love to return to this same area to see what it looks like after more than a decade. Learn more about the 2009 Big Meadow Fire from this Big Meadow Prescribed Fire Review.
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