Near Fern Creek - (1.5Mb)
Visitors to the park in 2003 experienced one of the most dramatic events in the park's almost 100 year history. Fires burned in several places around the park that summer and none were more visible than the Robert Fire, just north of West Glacier.

At the time it was common to hear people talk about all the acreage that was being destroyed. While there are still burned trees standing, this forest has not been destroyed. The luxuriant growth of fireweed in this area is testament to that. In a few weeks, when it blooms, this will be a flora display to rival any in the park. If you are wondering what happened to the animals, I can tell you that just as I started to take these pictures a whitetail deer jumped out of the fireweed about 50 feet in front of me. I'm not sure who was more startled, but at least that gives a good idea of how thick and high the regrowth is. If it hadn't bounded off, I never would have seen it. The plants are coming back and the wildlife is already here.

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