The Bighorn Fire - It Is Close

The Bighorn Fire is raging, nearby, as it slashes through more than the jumbled, rugged terrain of the Catalina Mountains. Early today it had devoured over 52,000 acres and is only 19% contained. The spectacle out our back door erupted on June 5th. It is currently June 21st with some predicting that it will continue its tear through the wilderness until the Monsoon season arrives.

The communities of Summerhaven, Oro Valley, Tucson, Oracle and San Manuel are on alert. Watching the blaze move and the winds howl (at times). Friends from various parts of the U.S. are sharing tales of smoke that has

Today unveils a new day of smoke, fire, and extreme heat. A wicked heat of 102+The thrashing wind has settled a bit, hence the settled smoke along the breathing zone. This was the first day that a shocking, gagging, breath of smoke greeted me as I wandered outside to snag the daily news. About time to try frying an egg on the driveway.

I will wrap up this section of the blog so that I can post it while it is current news and not two months after the fact. I intend to post some newer photos, although the beast is dwindling each day. At least from the western edge of the blaze.

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July 24

The scene above is just a short distance from the housing development we call home. As I snapped these photos, my brain was put into ‘time to get ready’ mode. At least the first step toward packing everything that is near and dear to my heart, thrown hastily into my Kia. I created an emergency ‘to go’ lists for myself and my parents. The next day the scene had greatly improved and my brain took a rest. So did my Kia.

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July 25 - Not your typical setting for a trail run

June 27

Photo above is the sensational sunset that nature granted us the day that the western edge of the fire mellowed out. Last night (June 30th) I spotted a single splash of orange amidst the Catalina Mountains.

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The video above represents a small snapshot of what we can expect in the near future. With over 119,000 acres scorched, much of the terrain is lacking support and the monsoon season is upon us. Flooding, debris, and general havoc will touch the lives of nature and of humans.

Thanks, Canva for the props!

Photo of the Week and the Story behind the Shot

Photo of the Week

And the Story behind the Shot

From the back yard - Catalina, Arizona

Ok, so I didn't have to work very hard for this shot, but yes, there was a bit of history tied in with this photo.  Since I seem to take a very healthy amount of  photos each week (instead of sleepwalking, I think I actually sleepphoto) and the fact that I need to become much more consistent with blog posts, I decided to share a photo a week and the background behind the photo.  If the photo tales are on the boring end then maybe I can develop better fiction writing.  :)

For the shot above I was totally in the wrong place at the wrong time.  My daily run usually puts me on a road that rises above the stunning area that I live in Catalina, Arizona.  Breathtaking views and incredible sunsets.  Absolutely, amazing colors splashed across the sky.  I stack the odds in my favor and try and run near sunset time and do the loop with feet plodding toward the setting orb.  

I decided to break my usual route and run the loop in the opposite direction.  Mistake #1.  I had also meandered out of the casa later than normal.  Mistake #2.  I had done some 180's on the run and noticed a reasonable sunset developing behind me, but it did not appear that it was going to be worth pulling out a camera.  Unfortunately (or fortunately), my trusty monster Canon SLR does not accompany me on runs so I am winging 'photography on the run' with a point and shoot, a crappy cell phone cam or if the heavens line up, a GoPro.  

My loop spills me onto a rarely used dirt road/trail for the last half of the run.  As I took the final turn home, the sky quickly darkening, I now headed toward the fading sunset.  Still weak, as sunsets go.

Heading down the home stretch and Mistake #1 and #2 began to scream my name.  The colors before me, were now unbelievable, although I did not have a clear view of the southern sky.  I was now kicking up dust as fast as I could.  I made it home, just in time, to fire off a few shots with the Canon and darkness swept over the desert.