This really has nothing to do with Outsak®. An event that is currently taking place has changed my perspective on life. Keep reading if you are interested.
The Schultz Fire is a tragedy of epic proportions, and the sad part is, it’s not over. It has been burning for a little over 3 days and it has left a scar on the San Francisco Peaks that will take many lifetimes to heal. Life in the Peaks just got a lot harder.
The effort by all the emergency personnel has been unfathomable. A continuous battle against a fierce enemy; will there be a winner….probably not. How do you judge victory, when so much has been lost?
I took some pictures on Day 1 of the fire, from my backyard. I live off the Eastern Edge of the San Francisco Peaks and I got to see how fast, and viciously this fire spread. Today, a thin layer of smoke is lingering and you can get a look at the Peaks. Helicopters are still buzzing away; emergency vehicles are still heavily present on HWY 89.
I don’t want to sound selfish, but I had a lot of plans for those mountains. There were many places yet to see. Schultz Peak was a garden of beauty. I could always find solitude on Schultz Peak…always. Isn’t that what you seek when you head into the mountains? I do. Now I fear all that can be found in the Peaks, for the short term is sadness, and bitterness towards those responsible.
The mountains will recover, but the scar still has to grow. In the meantime, I will cherish my memories of the beauty of Schultz Peak and I will seek solitude elsewhere. Northern Arizona offers an endless array of outdoor options. Sometimes things happen in life that forces you to examine other opportunities, this fire is one of those moments in my life.
I hadn't realized how extensive that fire had become. Let's hope that we leave our children something more beautiful than the scars on the land.
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