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“Charred Oasis”

Location: Broken Top Loop, Bend, Oregon (2021)

Fireweed mixes with burned stumps to create a tapestry of color that juxtaposes life and death in the foothills of Broken Top Mountain.

We were on our last leg of the trip. It was Day 3 and everyone was tired and ready to go home. The mosquitos the night before were relentless. Some of us, including myself, had developed blisters.

None of us were looking forward to the trek through the burned forest because we had read online how monotonous and hot it could be. Eight or so miles through scarred land. No thanks!

But as we journeyed further and further into the charred forest, we quickly discovered that there was more to this place than dust and charcoal. Numerous streams appeared requiring deftness at navigating them by tiptoeing over downed logs – our hiking poles like balance beams keeping us from taking a plunge.

These streams also proved to be nurseries to fields of fireweed – pink blossoms that seem to defy the chaos and destruction around them. Seeing the fireweed amongst the white stalks of the burned stumps stopped me literally in my tracks. While I was hot to trot back to the car and nurse my blistering feet, I couldn’t help but come to a stop and pull out my DSLR to photograph this charred oasis.

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