A New Normal on the Landscape

The decking on the new bridge into the Morrell Falls/Pyramid Pass Trailhead was damaged by the Rice Ridge Fire. The old bridge on the left remains untouched. The landscape in the area is much the same way with pockets of green among the scorched and completely consumed trees. Engineers will assess the damage to the bridge to determine what repair work is required to make it structurally sound again.

This photo is looking into the Morrell Creek drainage. Morrell Falls is located in the bottom of the drainage where the canyon opens up. While fire burned through the drainage and there will be some tree mortality, there is little evidence of any major crown fire runs, the most destructive fire to an ecosystem.

Just past the signs at the trailhead to Morrell Falls. The trail, arguably the most popular trail on the Seeley Lake Ranger District, was closed July 25 and remains closed. While there were several trees across the entrance by the sign, once past the trees, the trail appears unaffected and the fire burned at low to moderate intensity. One of the big challenges facing the district staff for the next several years will be keeping the trails and roads clear of trees that come down.

Logs decked on Forest Road 2166, the cutoff road between Camp Creek and Rice Ridge Roads. Seeley Lake District Ranger Rachel Feigley said the district has already started the process of doing the analyses required to sell the logs.

The junction of the Auggie-Morrell Cutoff Road (Forest Road 4361) and the road to Morrell Falls (FR 4353). Goldman's Eastern Area Type 2 Incident Management Team started the shaded fuel break in the area. This was an area that was particularly problematic for firefighters due to heavy fuels and frequent spot fires. The fire burned through the shaded fuel break at varying intensities. When Diane Hutton's Northern Rockies Area Type 2 Incident Management Team took over the fire Thursday, Sept. 21 there were 150 miles of planned repair work and 10 miles had been completed. As of Sept. 25, 45 miles have been completed.

A view towards Crescent Mountain from the road to Morrell Falls (FR 4353). Fire funneled through the Morrell Creek drainage and burned very hot. A majority of the tree crowns were consumed or scorched. While most of the surface fuels consumed, new grass and willow sprouts were already visible in areas with water. Plants capitalize on the nutrients released following a fire. Also because understory vegetation and trees are killed by the fire, more water is available to the system and to the plants that survived.

No infrastructure at the Pyramid Pass Trailhead was damaged by the fire. A low intensity fire crept around in the understory around the trailhead but otherwise it looked nearly untouched. While there was still some smoke visible around the outfitter camp below the trailhead, most of the fire around it was low intensity.

Wildlife were active in the burn area and highly visible due to the reduced cover. A small buck chased a harem of does.

Wildlife were active in the burn area and highly visible due to the reduced cover. A large skunk wanders near the junction between Morrell Falls and Pyramid Pass Trailhead. Also on the tour cow elk called in the distance and a red-tailed hawk flew by holding lunch its talons.