Hood Mountain

Broadly speaking, the winery at the foot of Hood Mountain had a narrow escape from the Glass fire. The fire burned down the mountain and was stopped in part by the fire road bulldozed across its broad shoulders. The narrow rows of vines in front of the winery were in full fruit at the time of fire and many growers worked night and day to pick the grapes. Several wineries in the valley had to drop their 2017 crops due to smoke taint. The mountain itself is looking very barren. My friend Tobi, a Master Gardener, told me that some species of conifers regenerate quite quickly and some never do. 

This is an area in flux as a narrow two lane road (Highway 12) is the only road through the valley. Local people love it for its scenic beauty, but dread the possibility of proposed developments here partly because of its scenic beauty, but more worryingly because it is the only evacuation route out of the valley. 

We had to evacuate from the Glass fire and it was terrifying. We were trapped in bumper to bumper traffic watching the flames moving down the hills behind us, and the steady stream of hundreds of fire trucks going in the opposite direction. The traffic lights weren't working and cars filtering onto the highway from neighboring streets slowed things down even further. 

It isn't NIMBYism to fight big developments unless they include some kind of mitigation for evacuations.

Today, it was beautiful in the valley as we drove along Highway 12 back to Swedes Feeds* to pick up a hellebore plant we saw yesterday, having determined that we have a suitable place for it. We didn't linger there long because a chilly wind was blowing, but I had a few moments to contemplate the rocky outcrops on the left leading up to the summit and Gunsite Pass and wonder how much vegetation will grow back over the coming years. 

*A couple of members of the metal menagerie looking over the fence....