HSNP Goat Rock Trail Birds Foot Violet
Normally I would be posting a blog with newly emerging Wildflowers and Butterflies, but not today. This weekend while I was on a beautiful hike with my husband we came across an unexpected sight. As we neared the top of the Goat Rock Trail we encountered bright yellow crime scene tape. A section of our Forest had been blackened by fire. The side path leading to one our favorite places was scorched. Before the roads were added to the park in the early 1900s the North Mountain overlook was located in a cluster of Rocks. This beautiful gathering space was set alight causing the loss of wildlife and habitat. Judging by the number of cigarette butts often littering the Trails in Hot Springs National Park sadly this was bound to happen.
We have had a dry winter and spring has arrived early so the risk of fire will increase with each passing month. During our hike wind was racing up the trails and we were thankful this was not the case during the fire. Please do not smoke on the trails and only light fires in designated areas when the risk danger is low. Please remember what Smokey the Bear says, “Only you can prevent Forest fires.”
Happy Hiking :o)
Lee
HSNP Goat Rock Trail Fire Crime Scene
HSNP Goat Rock Trail Fire Crime Scene
HSNP Goat Rock Trail Fire Crime Scene
HSNP Crime Scene Tape
Hike Our Planet - @HikeOurPlanet 
This was such a shock. I guess it should not have been given the amount of butts. We were on that trail last week and saw a butt where I was resting and Lee and I both said, ” I wonder if the smoker knows how easy it is for that butt to grow into a flame?” Lee said, ” I don’t think they even care”; and we’d been under a fire alert due to a lot of dry weather. Am not sure how they contained this one so fast; though it only burned about 100 sq ft or so; we know from what we hear in the trees, under the straw/leaves etc, all perished from one careless idiot. When we got back I looked on the net to see if there was anything about it and no news released If the wind had been right; and someone (ore the fire itself) had not been able to put itself out; it could have so easily burned the entire North Mountain, home to just about every kind of animal you’ve ever seen or of which you’ve heard plus several of the major hotels (that were full) at the base of them. PEOPLE BEWARE on the trail. If you have to have nicotine get the patch,gum, chewing tobacco or anything that doesn’t catch on fire. It’s a very dangerous way to observe nature and, had it grown any bigger or faster, whomever started it could have easily perished as well.
These pixs sure bring home the importance of NOT smoking on the trails! Thanks for sending out this message loud and clear! I’m going to pass it on!
Thank You Becky 🙂
Kindest Thoughts and Wishes,
Lee
I know this hurts your heart a lot Lee but remember what beautiful and lush vegetation
so often arises after forest fires. So sad about the animals but we always have to accept — if not understand — life’s cycles, even ones that should not have been. So sorry
for your loss. Hyacinth
I know you are correct 🙂
Kindest Thoughts and Wishes,
Lee