Sad state of national parks and public lands.
On our way to Lassen Volcanic National Park. On a national forest rest stop and vista point, wifey went to the rest room. But it was posted "Closed due to lack of funding." And down on these...
Forum Discussion
profdant139 wrote:
cptqueeg, it is interesting that you should say "enjoy it before it goes up in smoke." When we were in Idaho a couple of years ago, that is exactly what the ranger said to us -- the bark beetle was spreading, and the forests were on borrowed time.
Someday the forests will recover, long after I am gone.
The mtn pine bark beetle which attacks mainly lodgepole pines is now no longer limited by elevation because winter temps have moderated (both low temps and the length of time at low temps) so it's attacking limber pine in the alpine zone which is now a threatened species.
There are many other bugs out there working away on all the other species of trees as well. Limited moisture puts stress on trees and they are no longer able to repel attacks from bugs. The dying and dead trees then are prime fuel for fires.
When I was on fire crews here in central Idaho way back before the turn of century we called the forests the asbestos forest. That is no longer the case as virtually the entire region has been burned over in the last 20 years.
While some foresters wanted to start cutting way back when timid managers and an others kept that from happening. It surely would have looked different than it was, but folks couldn't accept the inevitable. Things are never going to remain the same and I doubt the forest in Central Idaho will ever be anything like what it once was.
