Dead, But Most Are Still Standing

The pine  beetle has really taken a toll in the evergreens in Colorado. Dead trees are everywhere, sometimes in large stands. These mountains should be green, but they are covered in  dead trees.

There is evidence of foresters' work to reduce some of the fuel around; we saw large stacks of wood that was cut. We are told that the piles and stacks are burned after the first snow falls.

But we also saw the remains of a (relatively old) fire. (To read the sign, click on the  picture.)

In the Betty Ford Alpine Garden in Vail, we came upon this sculpture, created in response to the millions of dead and dying trees in Colorado.

As you can see, these are very large trees.

It is very sad to see the change.