With the return of rain and a breather from the tension of the 416 and Burro fires, many are now wondering what the affected landscapes will look like, and whether they will ever be the same. The truth is that fire is an essential force in shaping, and regulating, the forests of the west. Join us for a a leisurely two-hour hike on the Animas City Mountain and Sailing Hawks trails under the solstice full moon and gain insight from a DNS naturalist on the role fire plays in Southwest Colorado ecosystems. The fire-adapted ponderosa forest surrounding us will provide a backdrop for interpretive stops and Q and A on fire ecology, human impacts on natural fire cycles, and how the Forest Service is adjusting its fire management regime to create a more sustainable future for our forests. All ages and families are welcome!

To register, contact Mike Bienkowski at (970) 769-6482 or mike@durangonaturestudies.org