I just returned from that very trip a copule of hours ago. Due to the pace of travel our group was going, no-one in our group had an opportunity in getting pics. We travelled south to north.
The "Arrow Tree" is still standing below the Blue Point View stop. A little bit of blowover fire damage is perhaps two miles below the Blue Point, but gets increasingly severe the further north one goes.
Kudo's to all our brave firefighters who stood in the way of this beast as it approached them.
From the blue all the way north to Springerville and even Eager, there is quite a bit of damage evident from the roads edge. But it is not a continual visual depiction of forestry carnage. Some fully blackened areas, but for the most part, one cannot even fathom a fire was anywhere near the alpine forest canopy and forest floor.
When you go, make sure you are REALLY careful around Alpine, as with the moisture runoff spilling over the road, the surface is like riding on snotty grease. As we approached Greer, Weather Service put out a Flash Flood Warning to the residents of Alpine, Nutrioso, Eager/Springerville and even Greer. The Little Colorado was spilling over its banks east of Alpine with reports of debris in those flows.
Lots of sandbags going up in Greer, as well. We saw evidence of black runoff going down normally dry slopes of hills, and one point of Hwy 373 heavily sandbagged with some runoff spilling over into the road.
Be vigilant in your travels tomorrow and ride smart, knowing that runoff has crossed the roadways causing possible unsafe riding conditions. Good time to drive 191 in a tracked vehicle, if you ask me.
- David