Smoke

Smoke curling the hillside,
Up in the sky.
Moving swiftly,
And forcing it high.

In blue-hue it filters,
Pawing its route.
Darkening the reaches,
With its claws reaching out.

Vicious in moving,
Wild in its wrath.
Leaving behind ashes,
In a torn laiden path.

Devouring...consuming,
And crossing the floor.
It has no restrictions,
But is reaching for more.

T'is havoc in terror,
With no laurels to crown.
When a fire is destroying,
And all growth goes down.


E.P. 1908 - 1989

The Quail Fire in Alpine is still smoldering (you can see the 'blue-hue' in the mid left area near the mountain skyline). Note the contrast of the devoured growth and the lush green.

The switchback road and old mine dump seen on the east mountain was called the Midnight Bell Mine. It was dug in the early 1920's but caved in so badly it was abandoned. In 1928 two fellows thought they could timber it up enough to work it, but after caving in again they decided it was too dangerous and gave up the idea. Small pockets of zinc and lead were found.