A little ptscprveiee here from a forester who worked to fight mountain pine beetle in Colorado in the early 80s. We cut down and sprayed infected trees, we thinned the overcrowded forests to let the best trees regain their health. I moved on from there and didn't visit again until a few years ago. I was shocked at what had happened around Frisco and Dillon: Lodgepole pine forests killed right up to timberline! Yes, it has even been killing whitebark pine at the highest elevations. The pine beetle is not an invasive. It's a native species that had co-evolved with the western pines for, probably, hundreds of thousands of years. Its role is to open up decadent, overcrowded pine stands by killing the weaker ones, mostly. Then the epidemic would subside.But what's been happening the past 20 years is a game changer. Trees that should have been healthy enough to withstand the beetles haven't, in massive numbers. The climate is changing, and we will have to adapt. It is what it is. Other species will grow into these vast new openings. Whether we like it or not, we couldn't have stopped this any more than we could prevent a hurricane. So thank you for this post on #TreeTuesday, +. I got my degree in forestry because I love trees, and obviously you do, too. Now I use my graphic arts skills to help promote appreciation of our natural world.

by Abdulrafiu 10:00:10 AM 2015.10.29

Hey Boon,It was a lot of fun and very productive. Just to let you know, our high temp since I got back was 21 F. Thanks for all the help and good times.

by Danny 02:50:08 AM 2015.11.10