September 9, 2014
Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park
As the evening settled in, Chris and I ventured up Glacier Point Drive in Yosemite National Park to witness the Meadow Fire. As we stepped out at Washburn Point, our eyes gradually adapted to the softened light. The granite sea before us shone in the moonlight.
As twilight deepened, a glowing fire line emerged in the forest below. The area was shrouded in smoke. From Washburn Point, the vastness of the fire was evident. Chris remarked that it’s a rookie mistake to assess a fire at night, as they always appear more daunting than they truly are. Yet, this fire was formidable—burning 4,000 acres with only 5% containment. (At the time of this writing, it had scorched over 4,700 acres and was 85% contained.) The air was brisk and smoky. Above, the sky was a blanket of stars with a bright full moon. It illuminated our path over the rocks and steps as we concluded our evening escapade and returned to the car.
Hiking Yosemite and Beyond 
I clicked ‘like’, but of course there is little to like about the Meadow Fire. I appreciate Chris’s comment about how fires always look far worse at night. When our ‘Tea Fire’ was rampaging, I went out after dark and made several sketches, then dashed in to the studio to paint the colors and shapes of the burning. A strange threatening beauty.
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I like how you described it, “a strange threatening beauty.” I agree. And as long as it’s not threatening people or structures (like the Tea Fire), it’s good rejuvenation for the forest.
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A hauntingly beautiful night…
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Where else can we go?
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My son and his wife just got back from hiking in Yosemite. There’s a message on the answering machine: they have lots of stories to tell us. Will be interested to see what they are!
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Great pic! Sad to see the fire, looks like a big one. Oh how I miss Yosemite (I used to live in the Sierras which is on the other side). Thanks for sharing
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Thanks for stopping by. There have been lots of fires in Yosemite this year, unfortunately.
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You are welcome.. Yes, it seemed to be a bad fire season this year. 😦
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Reblogged this on Travels with Mary and commented:
Fabulous pic!
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Thank you. 🙂
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🙂
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It’s so sad about the fires, and it’s wonderful to hear that they are now pretty much contained. That said, the evening escapade sounds like fun, and the pictures are hauntingly beautiful.
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🙂 Thank you, Sheryl.
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