Above the Clouds

The San Jacinto Wilderness had 27,000 acres impacted by the
Mountain Fire in July. In August, the Silver Fire devastated 20,000 acres
at the northern edge of the wilderness. This was the scene from our
street the day we evacuated Idyllwild. Fortunately, the town was
spared as were many of our favorite hiking trails. However, the top of
the mountain where hikers like to camp and the PCT hikers traverse
will be closed for some time due to hazardous conditions such as
smoldering fires and trails that no longer exist.
With this in mind, we don't yet know how much of an impact this
will have on our wildlife. However, I can report that my backyard is full
of life. Some of the wildlife that I have seen include ...family of
Mountain Quail, Black-headed Grosbeak, Red-breasted and
Williamson's Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, Acorn
Woodpecker, fearless Mountain Chickadees, Nuttall's Woodpecker,
Pygmy Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Nashville warbler,
Wilson's warbler, Steller's Jay, Western Tanager, Anna's Hummingbird,
Raven, Oregon Junco, Oak Titmouse, Northern Flicker, Merriam's
Chipmunks, Western Grey squirrels, coyotes, deer and more. Good
news! Come visit Idyllwild, this special town “Above the Clouds” this
Fall!