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Lee Frees heading into
the dead tree zone and up into Mammoth Pass last week after an
afternoon soak in the Red's Meadow hot springs. Photo: Mitch
Weber
It's been a little over
twenty years since the Rainbow
Fire swept through
the area, threatening the town of Mammoth Lakes and the ski area,
while burning nearly 10,000 acres and taking 1,200 firefighters
nearly a month to contain. Today it is a backcountry ski touring
wonderland, with many young fir and spruce trees taking advantage
of the unfiltered sunlight and the opportunity to establish themselves.
The area is a happy reminder that even after the worst of times,
life goes on, with a beauty all of its own. |