Connie in Ouray

 We have wanted, desperately needed moisture, but we weren't careful enough about asking for it.  A week ago, we got one and 3/4 inches of rain.  These last 36 hours, we've received two and a half inches of rain, and it has caused the usual problems, mudslides, flooding, and roads closed.  Mineral Farms Lane seems to have escaped the worst of it, but it's looking like Red Mountain Pass will be closed for a while.  There was major road damage on the Silverton side, and from my lack of experience, it doesn't seem to be an easy fix. If it had been a bit colder - if only! - we would have three and a half feet of snow.  I am so ready to snowshoe, but those pesky bears need to hibernate first. Some pictures to make you jealous if you're not here.

 Just one day, one day I'd like it to be all good news, but we're not there yet.  Bad news:  as of today, Monday, July 6, just under 28,000 acres burned.  Good news:  3% containment!  Yay, containment.  Bad news:  expected full containment date is 10/31/26, which coincides with a high probability of measurable snowfall in the high country.   Good news:  the winds have finally calmed down, which allowed the 800+ firefighters to get that 3% containment.  The bad news:  no winds means the smoke has settled in Ouray, and it's awful.  My house is shut up, no windows or doors open, and I'm wearing a mask.   Some photos from the last time I posted: Looking southwest from Sutton Trail Saturday Thursday night concert in Ridgway. Life must go on? From Ridgway, these just keep popping up Intersection of CR-23 and 550, looking east

18,000 acres burned, zero containment, no lives nor structures lost. A southern portion of Montrose County is now on pre-evacuation notice as the fire continues to move northeast.  Zone 34 is directly east of Colona, pretty far away, and includes Cimarron State Wildlife Area, which is about 23 miles east of Montrose off of Highway 50. As I write this, I'm hearing planes in the air.  Yay!!  As of noon today, we are under a red flag warning for gusty winds until eight p.m.  We cannot catch a break.  Good news:  rain in the forecast for next week.  Bad news:  accompanied by thunderstorms, which means...you can guess, lightning. From Sutton Mine Trail yesterday:

 It's been a hard day as I've come to the realization that some wonderful hiking trails are gone.  I'm thrilled that no lives nor structures have been lost.  I'm less than thrilled with my anxiety level every time I see a whiff of smoke.  Maybe PTSD from the 2012, 2013 forest fires in Colorado Springs. Some photos from today: my panic tonight - this view from Camp Bird Road appeared to be a new flare-up Looking north, a clear delineation between clear sky and smoke from us all the way  to Grand Junction Leaving Montrose, all that smoke was my first  clear realization those hiking trails were gone Firefighters are heroes!  Can you imagine climbing this to get to the hotspot with all that equipment?  Picture is at Whispering Pines Bridge

  from our deck Helicopter!!

 I'm posting everything I know through email posts.