chainsaws & fire

Butte walk notes:

Did another hour-long walk on the butte today -- and remembered my aspirin this time.  Only the slightest of head twinges.  Hardly even worth mentioning.

Went up to the top to survey the planned burn.  Circled the Orchard Loop and came back.

It turns out that the burn was on the south side this time:  in the section marked "wildlife area," and in a tiny bit of the southern side of the Orchard Loop.

Last year's planned burn was on the north side.  And two or three years ago there was an unplanned burn in the Orchard Loop area...  Which I suspect instigated a new schedule of planned burns to get rid of excess "fuel."

There are still some blackberries on the Elderberry Trail.  Not so sweet, but edible.  I'm noticing that blackberries that are in shaded areas can ripen weeks later than ones that are in direct sun.

Saw a giant banana slug on the Elderberry trail.  Dark green-yellow, with very large black spots.  I have a pet theory that I should be able to see differences in the slugs' markings depending on where on the butte I go, because each area will have its own genetic heritage.  I don't see slugs on the butte very often, though, so it will take time to accumulate data.

Saw a snake as I was coming up the Cedar Grove trail.  It always startles me when they quickly slither away.

There were two trucks parked on the Goldfinch trail, and a sign said that they were spraying herbicides to take out invasive species.  There was a major TV series on OPB this year about invasive species, and the OPB guide said that they were also coordinating a public campaign...  They were making a big deal out of this, and I wonder if there's any connection to the activity on the butte.  Possibly no -- but I wouldn't be surprised by yes, either.

Poetic image:  The areas where they've burned the grass down look like the mussed pelt of a black bear, I thought.

On the way back, I heard two chainsaws at work...  In the Cedar Grove area, I believe.  I didn't have time to check it out; I hope they're only clearing a blocked path.  I did think I heard a small tree fall, though.