Oh and what a beautiful site on such a beautiful full moon night. However, from the looks of the above image, Mt. Wilson does not appear to be out of the woods just yet. Too, in the distance, there appears to be several fires raging on nearby mountains and canyons.

I am really glad I chose to take a drive up Hwy 2 a couple of years ago. I drove up and around Mount Wilson and then drove as far as I could on the Hwy 2 which, at that time, was up to Islip Saddle where Hwy 2 had been closed for repair.  I only recently heard Hwy 2 had reopened and considered making another drive over the holiday weekend.  Well, we all know the rest of the story.

During my last trip up Hwy 2, I took photographs highlighting the newly resurfaced roads, Chilao campgrounds and some interesting homes.  I had hopes of making a return trip to photograph what looked like a makeshift monument erected to someone along the road — probably a motorcyclist — just around the bend from Newcombs Ranch Inn. I hope the area and the landmarks survive.

This fire has taught me to not put off til tomorrow what you can do today. If it survives the fires, I will make it my duty to visit the Adams Pack Station at Chantry Flats. It is said to be the last pack station in Southern California. I recently heard of another in Northern California and I think it would be pretty darn interesting to see donkeys literally hauling ass in the mountains.

Nature has a way of taking care of itself. Next year we will see some beautiful wild flowers on them there bald mountains followed by tiny shoots of green grass and all manner of vegetation. Trees will seed, more trees will grow and the deer and the antelope will play again. Right now, at least for me, it is just too depressing to see all of that devastation but I do remember the fires in what I believe was 1992 or perhaps 1993.

At that time I didn’t know there was such a thing as an Altadena and quite frankly, if you blink you will find yourself driving from Pasadena into Altadena and out of Alta into Pasa in no time. It’s a sleepy little — I guess one would call it — bedroom community nestled against the mountains and if you blink, you will miss it. During the fires in 1992 or 1993, I drove out to visit my brother and I believe we took a tour of the neighborhood and I distinctly remember driving up to Cobb Estate and seeing a blazing fire on the other side of the gate. Police were stationed outside of the gate and I could not help but think that had to be one spectacular blaze.

Well I now live here and I did not think I would see a fire like this in my lifetime. How naive was I. I live right up against a mountain range and nature has a way of purifying itself. Though I believe this fire could have been put out sooner rather than later, I still believe everything happens for a reason. This was obviously needed and it doesn’t matter I dislike it. After all, nothing lasts forever.

Oh, enough of all of this reminiscing, I’m just glad to see the Observatory atop Mount Wilson is safe and sound and the camera is back.  This will be my view for a while as I’m sure Hwy 2 is in need of another resurfacing job, signs need replacing, and rocks and boulders along the road will be checked to ensure nothing falls down upon passing car.  I’m sure we’ll see some mudslides during the rainy season.

To view the Mt. Wilson Towercam turn your browsers to http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~obs/towercam.htm and thank a fireman or two you meet along the way for their tireless work in the face of danger.