Cheers!
We happened upon east side Soyo up Minarets hearing from a friend that it was open only to find out later that maybe it was not meant to be open. While it was a sight for sore eyes, the fire scarred landscape did make sore eyes sorer.
I mean it is quite the mess for the most part from all the fire damage. You can see for days through blackened matchstick forests. While it’s nice to see the rocks we’ve climbed for years in such plain sight, and the Sierra crest views eternal, the place will need a lot of time to green up, to say the least.
Approaches to climbs on very steep ground may be a real mess to maneuver for a long time to come. Lots of monstrous fragile trees to fall down yet and landslide potential where everything you want to grab to steady yourself could be loose and certainly will blacken everything. Best Not to wear the Sunday best or brand new Patagucci. Probably best to go with more than one couple of people in more than one vehicle for the next little while just to be on the safe side if just can’t stay away.
Glutton for punishment, I do wonder how things look at the Balls and LE yet and hope to see all that sometime in spring whatever is to be found. I suppose in time we will make new trails, new camps and still find freedom there, so I therefore dub thee Soyo a beautiful land still and yet.
