Places Visited:
Idaho: Traveling the Ponderosa
Pine Scenic Byway SR-21 through Idaho City and Lowman. Much of the forest along
this route was burned in the Lowman area.
June 14, 2007.
We are staying at Garrity RV-Park in Nampa 10-miles west of Boise. It was $21 per-night for FHU & Cable while every place else in the area seemed to start at $26 and rapidly go up. Garrity was just fine. It was clean, well managed, the sites were close but we were not there and didn't go outside except when heading to and from the automobile. There was a good number of permanent or long term in the campground but they were being managed properly thus were no problem. We would stay at Garrity again but those that like to spend the day and evening under the awning, sipping cool ones, might rather be in one of the other area parks. N43° 35.245' W116° 31.592'
In the summer if 1989, the Lowman Fire burned much of this area. The fire consumed 72 square miles of forest, an area larger than the Boise metropolitan area. In addition, 26 structures in the community of Lowman were destroyed. More than 2,300 firefighters from state and federal agencies worked around the clock for almost a month to stop the fire.
Firefighters battled 100 foot flames and temperatures reached as high as 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Notice how the land is recovering.
Twenty two miles of the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway was affected by the 1989 Lowman Fire.
In addition to fire damage this section of the Ponderosa Pines Scenic Byway treats us with spectacular roadcuts, evergreen forests, and vistas around every one of the twists and turns.
During the period of July 15th to 27th, 1989, lightning ignited 335 fires in this area of the Payette National Forest. At times there were over 100 lightning strikes per hour! Most of these occurred on July 26. Local fire fighting resources were quickly exhausted and a state of emergency was declared by the Idaho Governor on July 28.
Fire fighters arrived from all over the United States. Three days later, fire had consumed tens of thousands of acres more. Dry conditions, high temperatures, low humidity, gusting winds and rugged terrain combined to once again deplete fire fighting resources. By early August the Idaho National Guard was on the scene providing additional assistance.
In spite of heroic human efforts, the Lowman Fire was fought most effectively by the force which started it, nature. About two weeks after the arrival of lower temperatures and higher humidity, fire crews were heading home or on their way to other fires.
The Lowman Fire burned from July 26 until August 20, 1989. It took years to set the stage for this extraordinary event. Mild lightning-caused fires occur every year in this area with severe fires occurring every 13 to 16 years.
During the last 100 years, this natural cycle has been altered by humans putting out fires. As a result, unnaturally abundant fuels built up in the Lowman area. While fuel levels were high, annual precipitation levels were low. Normal summer rains were replaced by dry lightning storms which, in July of 1989, started 157 fires (36 in just one day!) in the Boise National Forest.
This is the South Fork of the Payette River somewhere north of Lowman.
Following the fire, many dead trees were removed from this area to discourage a concentrated insect invasion in the remaining injured and weakened trees. These trees provided 125 million board feet of lumber for the local timber-based economy.
The Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway follows the south fork of the Payette River north of Lowman.
This is a natural hot spring along the highway.
Idaho has done a good job of placing these informative kiosks along Idaho highways.
These trees have been killed by the Mountain Pine Beetle. These beetles affect all types of pine forests including these lodgepole pine. Beetles are part of the natural process of forest succession and nutrient recycling that maintain a strong and vigorous forest.
More trees killed by the mountain pine beetle.
Until next time remember how good life is.
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Mike & Joyce Hendrix
mikehendrix@isp.com