If 2020 will be remembered for anything, it will be for its ability to warp time. Has it been seven months since Covid-19 turned the world upside down? It seems like we've been living with it for years. And it's been less than two months since Park Interpreter Susan Blake sent a note saying 'we’re not threatened by any of the fires' and then a follow-up note less than 24 hours later saying ' HQ area all gone'. That turned the world inside out and seems at least six months ago.
Days, weeks and months, have all been running together, so a quick update in case like me you've lost track of time - This IS the second week of October which in the before times would have meant a Trail Crew workday. But since it's only been two months since the fire and everything is still on hold, some updates instead.
We still don't have any official response on what the plan is since there is no plan at this point. I don't think park staff/management ever anticipated damage on this scale. District trail crew boss Chris Pereira has been spending most days hiking the trails to determine the extent of damage and start the process of figuring out where we go from here.
Supervising Ranger Scott Sipes said about a week and a half ago that trees were still falling whenever the wind picked up, small fires were still be active in some of the burned over areas and Cal Fire had moved on to other areas and things will be left to burn themselves out at Basin. And fires that worked their way into tree goose pens will likely burn all winter since they'll be sheltered from the rains.
So to answer the big question of when the Trail Crew will get back to work, we're still waiting to see. Whenever it is I'm sure it'll be different than our usual trail work, but even more important than any point in our 51 year history!
With all the news coverage of the fire and photos of the burned over HQ area, it's really no surprise that our tool shed didn't fare too well. Below is a photo taken by park staff of all that is left. Jeff had an idea of salvaging some of the tool heads, putting new handles on them, engraving them as "2020 Fire Survivors' and saving them as keepsakes and part of BBVTC history. Perhaps some day we'll even be able to hang them in a new tool shed.
What's Left of the Trail Crew Tool Shed
As much damage as the fire did in the HQ area, it was even more devastating for the park staff living in the Sky Meadow housing area who lost everything. One of those affected was Susan Blake who has worked at Big Basin for over ten years and been a tremendous supporter of the Trail Crew and our work.
Many of you contributed to the Go Fund Me effort on Susan's behalf and she wants to let everyone know that she is profoundly grateful for the support and help. The fundraising exceeded its goal and noticeably increased with Trail Crew contributions, so thank you to everyone!
Susan is doing better as she slowly rebuilds her life. She is temporarily living in a cabin donated by a church, actively looking for a new trailer to replace the one she lost in the fire, slowly replacing things like clothes and uniforms, and living a nomadic work life as she works out of several parks for the time being. But the good news is she, her partner, and all their pets were able to escape the fire safely.
Susan's Trailer at Upper Sky Meadow
Shortly after the extent of the damage to Big Basin was realized, the Sempervirens Fund, Save the Redwoods League, and several other park contributing associations, began a fundraising effort to help State Parks with what will be a very expensive and challenging rebuilding effort. As part of the fundraising launch, State Parks put together a Big Basin Redwoods State Park Recovery packet for the media and although the title seems to imply a rebuild plan was already in place, it's more of a review of the park's history. It includes lots of photos, historic and more recent, and nicely illustrates what was lost. You can find it at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lyM1A3xseqwWoN4_vyJib5JphciU0VHV/view . It's worth taking a look.
But, as much as the human footprint in Big Basin was devastated by the fire, the redwoods will do fine. They have evolved over millions of years to tolerate and thrive with fire and they will do the same at Big Basin. With the burning of most of the understory in the forest, the redwoods of Big Basin will thrive in ways they haven't in over a century.
When we get back in the park, we'll have a front row to the natural and human regrowth of Big Basin. Whenever it arrives, we'll see you in the park!
Mike