Beetle Kill

One thing we can't help but notice all around Grand County and in the RMNP, is the overwhelming amount of totally dead brown pine trees. We've learned that this area is in the middle of a devastating mountain pine beetle infestation that will kill off every lodgepole pine forest in Colorado and southern Wyoming within the next 3 to 5 years.

Mark and I have already been directly effected by the infestation due to the fact that camping on our side of the Park is closed until July because of the danger from falling beetle kill trees in campgrounds.

Most people we talk to say the infestation is a result of over management of our forests. They say the use of controlled fires would have helped to created a more diversified and stronger forest that could not all be destroyed by one insect. Basically, they blame it on the tree-huggers. They have built their homes, business, and recreation areas amongst the pine trees that are now dry and dead. They are waiting on what they all refer to as "the Fire".

Here is a story from the Rocky Mountain News on the issue.