My parents messaged me about a fire in Left Hand Canyon, near my old barn in Boulder, and it looks like there’s another one close to Ft. Collins. Hope everyone and their horses in those areas are safe! My ex-pat thoughts are with you guys.
[URL=“https://www.coloradoan.com/videos/news/2020/10/17/colorados-cameron-peak-fire-estes-park-sees-visible-blaze-town-flames-rocky-mountain-national-park/3692688001/”]Here is a video from Estes Park last night.
https://www.coloradoan.com/videos/ne...rk/3692688001/
They are OK for now there but if the wind shifts it won’t be good.
The winds are terrible today and they cannot use air support. The fire is rapidly approaching Loveland. The evacuation areas are to numerous to list. Here is a map https://nocoalert.org/
Scroll down on the map link provided above to view
.This is the largest wildfire in Colorado history. Anyone who has lived here will realize the enormity.
The fire near Fort Collins has been burning for quite a while and is nowhere near contained. My daughter lives in Fort Collins, so of course I worry. Horsetooth is between the fire and the city, and hopefully will remain a barrier to the fire spreading into Fort Collins. Of course, the air quality has been really awful some days, even a month ago when I was there.
Rebecca
Ugh, the Front Range does not need more fires!
https://www.cpr.org/2020/10/17/you-can-expect-more-dense-smoke-on-the-front-range-on-saturday/ Info about the Cal-Wood fire above Boulder.
Friend of mine in boulder ( ipesq) is evacuating her and her horse now!
The mountains in the top picture on Scarlet Gillia’s post aren’t far from my old barn. It’s been closed for a good few years now, so no horses to evacuate, but Mom says that had this happened when I had a horse there, they would have been evacuated a couple hours ago. When the last big fire hit Left Hand Canyon and the barn had circa 60 horses, they got them all out.
I’m sure there are plenty of horses still in the area, though, and lots of homes. Stay safe, guys!
Ugh. So horrible to hear about more fires. I hope everyone and their horses stay safe.
@Caol Ila What was your old barn? I rode at Joder Arabian Ranch many years ago when I was in graduate school.
Yes, it was Joder. I really miss it. Kindly encouraged and developed empathy and horsemanship in a way that isn’t the norm at many (most?) barns in the wider world, at least in my experience.
When were you there? I had a horse there from 1996-2001, went away to uni – but always went to the ranch when home visiting parents – and then moved back to Boulder with horse and boarded there again from 2005-2008.
We are in Longmont. It has been a crazy afternoon! The Cal Woods fire, which started this afternoon, has moved quickly. We have been dealing with poor air quality from the Cameron Peak fire for two months, but this is a whole new experience. Friends on the west edge of town are evacuating. Our sky is brown & ash is raining from the sky. So heartbreaking, as the area that is burning holds a lot of memories for our family. A bright note … There are several horse farms in the evacuated area & people have been stepping up to offer transportation. Horse people are truly the best!
Oh that’s funny, we actually overlapped. I leased a couple of different horses there when I was in graduate school between 1998-2002. I half leased so was only there 2-3 days a week. I took lessons with the dressage trainer, Jenny (I don’t remember her last name). I thought she was great.
The Daily Camera says that Triple Creek Ranch has evacuated. I bought my first horse from there.
Also says the Boulder County Fairgrounds is at capacity with horses, so people are being diverted to Jeffco.
My horse has become a shite loader in her old age, but if I still lived in the Western US, I would definitely fix that.
Who did you lease?
Yeah, Jenny was my trainer before I moved out east for university.
My longest lease was on Ender. He was a chestnut saddlebred gelding. He was a fantastic horse. I would have loved to buy him when I moved, but couldn’t afford him, since I was straight out of grad school and had no money. I think his owner sold him soon afterwards, but I don’t know if he stayed at Joder or not.
Also, I just clicked on the link to your book on Amazon and saw from your bio that you went to Mount Holyoke. I actually did also, graduated in 1997 before I went to CU for graduate school.
Yeah, I knew that horse. He was a beautiful horse. I definitely went on trail rides with him and his owner/leaser, but it’s all a bit hazy (I was in high school at the time), and I’m sure it there’s something pathological about remembering the horse better than its people.
Did you lease a quarter horse called Angie?
Is all I have to say… I lived in the Springs for the Hayman, Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires.
I watched the flames from the Waldo Canyon fire crest the final ridge and roar down the hill to burn over 400 homes in Mountain Shadows.
Truly terrifying… my heart aches for those impacted by both the Cameron Peak and now the Cal-Wood fire
Yikes! Glad you’re all safe.