Dante's Inferno? No, Waldo Canyon Wildfire!

I am gonna skip over two pending blog posts to create one for the Current wildfire close to my family.

This wildfire called the Waldo Canyon Wildfire started around 12 noon Saturday June 23, 2012. It was up above Scenic Rte 24 and was not threatening any structures at the time, but the black plume of smoke would suggest otherwise....

So I grabbed my camera and started documenting the scene....Click on all photos to show larger version's...

 This over my home Saturday 2pm

Blodgett Peak Open Space

Blodgett Peak Open Space parking lot

Ok, Sunday ... I went out shooting photos w/ an evacuated friend I helped out, This is from a different vantage point...

Among the devastation, I saw this...

My friend was allowed back home and I caught this coming back from Manitou...

Now Monday... Its soooo Hot and hazy, you hate to be in your home, so I grabbed my camera again....

Near Garden of the God's on a road to an overlook of the area...
C-130's have be called and responded (2 on Monday, 3 on Tuesday) plus private tanker planes, and 2 water bucket/hose Helicopter's.

They worked all day, no breaks.

That night I captured these...

Blodgett Peak after sundown..

.

Tuesday, Everything was still ok, until 4:45PM, The winds around 45mph made the fire jump the Canyon referred to Queen's Canyon, our hopeful barrier from the neighborhoods below...

From my area mall, top level of the parking garage, looking at Pikes Peak. (peak to left under blue skies)

Rock Quarry I can see from Courtney's bedroom window.

Right before I ran out of the area, this wall of ash and smoke enveloped us and made the roads invisible and air un-breathable. ( above photo- white spots are ash) I took a few belongings, my puppy and headed to my mom's for a while to breathe air conditioned air, and was watching the news at their house. We were packed in case we decided to head to a friends in Falcon, CO for the night.

Took this when I decided to try returning home for the night, everything ok so far...

Map of the fire, perimeter, and the 3 dots/x's are my family's homes....

I'll update this if I am able to see anything new, but due to the 32,000= evacuee's, and closed roads, etc.... I can't really go anywhere. It's too smokey to go out too.

Pray for us, for rain, for no more homes and structures to burn down.

STATS
 (updated just now 8:45pm Monday July 2nd, 2012)

Containment as of now = 25% (Friday June 29) - (update - 70% on July 2nd)
Acres burned =17,000
Predicted Date of possible containment of fire = July 16th?.
2 Lives lost (from same home), 10 people not accounted for.
Flying W Ranch (area attraction, in business for 59 years) is GONE.
Homes Gone= 347
June 29, 2012 - President Obama toured the burned neighborhoods in Mnt. Shadows,
then thanked the Firefighters in CSFD #9 on G.O.G Rd and
ended his visit at the YMCA evacuee shelter on Jet Wing Drive from 12:30pm - 3:00PM
Updates - (July 1st and 2nd) - roads are open, some attraction's open, and a lot of neighborhoods cleared for returning owners. 



Ok -  Updated map from the news channel KKTV

2:45pm Wednesday June 27, 2012

A household name? Not yet... but sometime soon I hope.

So, I am becoming a regular in coffee shops/galleries. It's exciting. I am seeing the world now through a camera lens, taking seminars, and mini club outings..... here are some products of my opportunities.....

Rte 94 Rush, CO looking back towards Pikes Peak (not visible)

This butterfly almost became lunch by Puppy, so I rescued him, photographed him and off he went....

The culprit,  Seems so innocent... don't be fooled....

Rte 94 in Rush CO

I stalked him while waiting for the above full moon image.

 Cell Phone photo... on my HTC Eris...

 This coming weekend, I will be back in Cotopaxi, hopefully I will get some Big Horn Sheep photos, and more... stay tuned!!!!

The Bug has bitten....

The Shutterbug I am referring to....

I sold my first print! Yep, a metallic 8x10 of my black and white Pikes Peak and fog photo.
 Now I am showing photos in a few coffee shop galleries throughout the weeks.

I need more photos... so lately I have been a leaf in the wind......



Not too much to write about, but plenty to show/brag about,  Enjoy!

 

Wilkerson Pass w/ an upcoming storm...

A cool mine car in Fairplay, a train caboose in Fountain...

An early morning in Garden of the Gods

A Full Moon shot that was an almost Fail.....

and some other photo surprises that same morning.... maybe getting up before 10am is not such a bad thing  ;)

Thanks for looking!

Back on the road again....

Well hello Spring, I have missed you!

It's been up in the 60's and 70's this week, so I had cabin fever... brushed off the camera, found the dog leash and water bowl, and decided to go take a drive. The plan was Woodland Park..... That's it, nowhere else....

Yeah Right!

Started out in Woodland Park, looking for a geocache in a series of "Colorado Spirit Quest"

Cemetery hides, cool, but spooky.

Puppy was making too much noise and a few people were starting to glance my way... so I decided to give up the search...and I believe I was sooo close too. Another day!

Ok, Now where????

The drive down Rte 67 is nice... in the direction of the Hayman Fire scar, towards Decker's.

This Forest fire location is 35 miles northwest of Colorado Springs.
The date was June 8, 2002, and this became the largest fire in the state's recorded history.

It caused nearly $40 million in firefighting costs, burned 133 homes and forced the evacuation of 

5,340 people.
The fire wasn't contained until July 2, 2002 and was finally brought under control on July 18, 2002.   The cause of the wildfire was found to be arson.

This road also follows along a mountain river, w/ waterfalls.

Ahhhh so serene!

 Now I am in Decker's - Population unknown.
Decker's is an unincorporated town along the South Platte River in Douglas County, Colorado.
 There is a small plaza w/ a country store, cafe, bait shop and a place to buy alcoholic drinks... what more could you want I guess. LOL

Grabbed some snacks... and shared em w/ puppy.  

Ok, should I keep exploring? 

Why not?

This road I am on goes on and on, up in elevation, but the views are amazing!

I get to this little place called Ferndale..... it's like they don't want visitors......

 (click photos to make larger)

Don't Make Eye Contact with the Locals
heh heh

Guy fly-fishing in another small place called Buffalo Creek, he caught me shooting this photo, so I took off.

No Vacancy? Darn!

Maybe I'll move in here instead.....

Ok, now I am in a town called Foxton.... I am seriously lost!

I follow the road around and in and out of the mountains.

I finally stop and look at a map.... Yes I said it... a MAP! I am running low on fuel, so I can't afford to be wrong. I also ask some fisherman if I am on my way back.. Thank You, I am!!!

Back into the Colorado Springs and Garden of the Gods area... and a couple more photos...

I love the Golden Hour!

150+ miles, 8 hours and a 1/2 tank of gas,
but It's the start of the Phlog 2012 Spring season!