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Sugarloaf, Part 1, November 2020
Another year, another fire: A Photographic Log
2 November 2020

Since 1984 I've hiked through Sugarloaf Ridge State Park many, many times. I pedal the park occasionally, but not as often as hiking it, because few trails are designated for bikes, and they tend to be too steep. Today, however, Sugarloaf deserved a visit on two wheels.

After the Nuns Fire in October 2017, Sugarloaf was completely closed for approximately six months. When I returned to the park, fire damage remained visible, but fresh green growth was also abundant. This year's Glass Fire burned and closed Sugarloaf again. Exact extent of damage this time around remains undetermined, but most burn seems to have occurred on what I think of as the back side of the park. In line with that, roughly a month after the Glass Fire, enough of the park had been assessed and cleared that a couple of trails could be reopened. That only amounts to about four miles of dirt tracks, all near the campground and park headquarters.

My ace support crew and I hiked those trails yesterday. Fire had burned right down to the edge of the dirt in some places. Swaths of terrain appeared sooty and bleak, but—as in the aftermath of the Nuns Fire—winter rain should help heal the land. While hiking, I took a few photos. But I decided to return today aboard the Ogre to further inspect the park and snap more photos. In fact, I might have gone a little snap-happy given that it took me two hours to cover four measly miles. Not exactly setting any land speed records. In any event, here's what I found.

See also:

Sugarloaf, January 2020

Blizzard on Bald Mountain, February 2019

Bike Your Park Day, September 2016 (Opens in new window/tab)


Along the paved road between the entrance and the observatory.


Farther along the paved road between the entrance and the observatory.


Starting out Meadow Trail from the observatory.


Burn along Meadow Trail.


Meadow Trail is actually a dirt road, now widened by bulldozers creating a fire break.


Burn on the ridge.


More burn along Meadow Trail.


Another stretch where flames burned right up to the trail.


This is what the torched grass looks like.


All along the trails, crews have already been felling burned trees before they topple on unsuspecting hikers and bikers. I'm guessing my helmet wouldn't offer much protection.


More burn along Meadow Trail.


Burned out and chainsawed.


Along Meadow Trail.


These two kept a close watch on me.


Along with grass, lower branches and leaves were scorched.


This old, burned tree leaning over the bridge has been red-tagged. Soon chainsaws will take it down.



Continue to Part 2 of Sugarloaf


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