[treeswarper]

Was listening to a show on NPR based out of Berkley. They had a discussion on thinning. Unfortunately, one "expert" was adamantly opposed to it and used the same phrases as the anti-abortion groups. Thinning would be killing trees which sequestered carbon. He had PHDs up to infinity but used that kind of language. He said that any fire prevention should be done around homes and the forest should be left alone. The foresters on the program were not so dramatic and did point out that differnt sites require different treatments. The PHDs guy kept on with his loggers cut all the big trees and kill them spiel. I felt like throwing my thermos at the radio at that point. The forest will manage itself, by burning. That's all we can hope for as no politician is going to touch this matter. We go through this every year at this time. I see no hope. I also see where the controlled burn that was going on in May was a failure and the whole hillside was going with a crown fire across from where I was camped near Kettle Falls. It looked at the time like they were just "jackpot burning" which is just torching off concentrations of fuels. Apparently a bit heavier of a thin might have helped, or not. Fire is fickle and we've had some good winds on this side of the mountains. Just read where there is a level three evacuation for the Twisp River west of Little Bridge Creek today. Good luck to all.

[Token Civilian]

[treeswarper]

Here is the show. https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101866607/can-more-logging-help-prevent-california-wildfires

[Pahoehoe]

[captain jack]

I know a guy that grows Jonagolds next to the Columbia just south of Chelan. He told me years ago that a light coating of ash from wildfires kept his apples from getting sunburnt.

[treeswarper]

The St Helen's ash kept the weeds down for a bit. It kind of formed a cap on the garden. Fire ash can also do that and that makes water unable to soak in. Then we get lots of run off and problems. But, it's been going on as long as we've had forests, so things even out eventually.

[nickmtn]

Something I was thinking of, maybe the reduction in sunlight reduces glacial melting? This year we replaced maybe 10 blazing hot and sunny August days with warmish smokey days, that has to have some sort of effect right?

[Jake Neiffer]

For me, the smoke makes things a lot better when it's really hot. Working outside its much more pleasant when you don't have to be in the direct sun on a 100 degree day. I do feel bad for people with respiratory issues, though.

[JonnyQuest]

[Brucester]

The smoke keeps people away like the rain?!

[Ski]

^ Nope. Met two different couples from Ohio up at Rainier NP Tuesday. Last week the parking lot at the Kalaloch store was packed, and tourists were lined up inside waiting to spend their money at one of the two cash registers the clerks were running (which is the first time I've ever seen it that busy there.)

[moonspots]

[Brushwork]

Does anyone know if smoke has an impact on insects? Thinking mosquitoes...

[AlpineRose]

Smoke is certainly financially beneficial for the makers and sellers of good air purifiers.

[treeswarper]

It ain't over yet. While walking this morning, it looked a bit brownish to the west. I just checked and Twisp's air quality is Very Unhealthy. Hope it doesn't move this way.