Beauty Returns to the Ventana Wilderness
Pine Valley, Ventana Wilderness (11/19/17) Leor Pantilat
Pine Valley, Ventana Wilderness (11/19/17) Leor Pantilat
Tassajara Rd., Ventana Wilderness (11/19/17) Leor Pantilat
Until this year, the Soberanes Fire in the Pine Valley area of the Ventana Wilderness was the most expensive wildfire in U.S. history.
The Tubbs Fire which scorched Santa Rosa in October erased that dubious record.
Color spotter Leor Pantilat revisited Pine Valley and the Ventana Wilderness in Monterey County this past Sunday to find that most of the ponderosa pines, several of the larger landmark black oaks and cottonwoods there survived the Soberanes Fire. The latter are carrying bright orange and golden color.
He found the Tassajara Road, a dirt road that leads to the trailhead at China Camp, also full of beautiful orange black oaks.
That is reassuring news to areas hit by wildfire this year. As, nature is forgiving and beauty returns quickly.
Leor classifies the Ventana Wilderness at Peak and advises that the area is prime for fall color hikes over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, making Pine Valley in the Ventana Wilderness Hike of the Week.
Ventana Wilderness, Monterey County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!