Palomar Mountain

 

 

Nate Harrison Grade was almost completely devastated.

 

 

Interestingly, a flock of Butterbutts was hanging out in this area...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before the fire, the brush would have been too thick to even take this shot!

 

 

Click here and scroll down for this same view before the fire

 

 

 

Looking down into Pauma Valley

 

 

 

A few of the oaks were spared, like around the retreat center (below)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fire made toothpicks of the pines on the far hill

 

 

 

You can see some of the surviving stands of oak in this shot

 

 

 

Most of it didn't fare well, however...

 

 

 

Nearing the top of the hill

 

 

 

Click here and scroll down for the same view (clouded in) before the fires

 

 

 

This was once thick pine forest.

 

 

 

Back entrance to the state park (amazingly there were still Mountain Chickadees up here...)

 

 

South Grade Road (S6) also sustained its share of damage...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire damage along the road to the state park

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the park entrance (snow cover makes it hard to discern the damage)

 

 

Heading down East Grade Road (you can see South Grade Road in the distance)

 

 

 

A small burned portion where the fire jumped across the road

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Scrub Jay provides a drop of color against a forest of burned chaparral

 

        

 

        

Go to top