Conifer seedlings are sprouting up in the Grassy Hollow area of west Blue Ridge near Wrightwood. It’s been less than a year since the Bridge Fire spread up and out of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Large expanses of timber on both east and west Blue Ridge were decimated by the wind driven event. This was a catastrophic loss to the high country just to the east of Mt. Baden-Powell. One of the casualties was the loss of the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center last September 10th.
Image: Pine seedling (Ponderosa) in the company of two cones from a parent tree. However, if you take your time and look down, you’ll see some patches of pine seedlings sprouting up through the carpet of pine needles. This area is approximately 7,600′ in elevation and right along Highway 2 just east of Vincent Gap. My wife and I went up to see these seedlings for ourselves just this last week. It was nearly dusk and the last vestiges of thick, gold sunlight was slanting across the slopes when the photos were taken.
Image: Close up of nearby pine tree(s) The parent trees are still living. When you look at both the old growth Ponderosa and Jeffrey pines near these patches of new life, they at first appear dead and scorched. Flames have left their scars on the trunks, in some cases nearly 40′ up from the ground. The needle leaves are browned out. Yet, at the very tops of the crowns, up maybe 80′ or so , fringes of green needle growth grace these tree tops. Life is still in these trees! And hope for their continued healing.
Image: Penstemon found a short distance from pine seedlings, Grassy Hollow. This is a great time of year to hike the high country of the eastern San Gabriel Mountains. Life in the smaller scale is making a come back. Take your time and relish the beauty that is returning.