Birdwatching on Cannon...

[RR]

catchy title, more to it than one might think.

I have just been informed that the recent fire that swept the upper reaches of the South Bowl and went right up to the official ski trails on Cannon may have ocurred while there were some "birdwatchers" in the area.

As you all may have deduced, I am something of a gardener. However, I do not condone the un-alleged activities of my cousins, the birdwatchers. There will be none of that dangerous nonsense on my gardening trips!

[M@]

Tell me more of this fire you mention, I can find no info online.

[BladeGirl]

Plus, I'm not sure I get what the "birdwatchers" were "really" doing.

-BG

[RR]

Birdwatching on Cannon sometimes seems to involve riding up the tram with large packs and then later being seen in the parking lot all covered with scratches and sawdust.

My source is one of the locals...but I cannot corroberate the report of the fire either.

[Castlerock]

Was this the kind of fire that burns out the undergowth, fallen logs etc? I believe that it is beneficial for the forest actually, and can make it less prone to the ultra hot, forest destroying type of fire. In addition it allows the forest to progress naturally towards the mature, old growth stage.

I stand for the environment!

[Jolly J]

Castlerock:
it allows the forest to progress naturally towards the mature, old growth stage.

I stand for the environment! Me too....but I don't think starting a fire is natural.

[elwood]

That type of fire also cleans out the forest floor to remove any obstacles. Makes for better skiing.

[Castlerock]

Elwood Shhhhhhhhh!

[RR]

and the Jaybird goes teewt, teewt,
teewtilly, teewt....

[Jolly J]

I agree 100%. I just thought it sounded funny saying starting a fire helps the forest mature naturally. Kind of like the big black out a month back. Some politican called it a naturally occuring power outage. :)

[kfarrar]

You must get into a heap of trouble if your caught birdwatching.

I hear there are quite a few locals who do a lot of gardening and birdwatching on the TuckerBrook trail.

[elwood]

Castlerock:
Elwood Shhhhhhhhh! Not that I am saying anyone would intentionally do something like that....

[Jolly J]

Exactly....that's why they are naturally occurring....yeah...that's right.

[Castlerock]

Natural is always good

[RR]

well I don't know about that. If the area above south bowl turns into a snowfield, very serious (and all natch) avvys are likely to happen much more often.

[loafnut]

I heard that more than a little krumholtz got toasted. Thats bad. I hope that it will still hold snow/not avvy if it does.

[RR]

I heard that as well. It may be that Vista Way has no tree border this year. I'd hate to see the usual traffic there decide to mosey on over to the steeps and accidentaly cut loose some slabs. And if someone got hurt?!?

That would really set back the time honored tradition of "birdwatching"/"gardening".

[loafnut]

Yer right RR, this could be really bad. Anyone know how big of an area burned? Maybe someone who is closer to cannon than I am could take a quick hike this weekend? Its too bad when a few irrisponsible gardeners ruin the garden. Thats what this situation looks like to me...

[Castlerock]

Is the scuttlebut that they actually intentionally set a fire? That is stupid. I'm not averse to enjoying the benefits of natural or accidental fire, but setting one is criminal