Wolf Creek Pass is a high-mountain route that’s notoriously difficult to navigate in winter, with steep drops in elevation as the road descends from the peak. While these trees were damaged by wildfire—always a threat here in the Rockies—trees in the surrounding forest have been ravaged by a different menace—the spruce beetle. The tiny but deadly beetles have infested up to 90 percent of the Englemann spruce trees in Colorado’s high elevations, including around Wolf Creek Pass, laying waste to large swaths of the forest.
Fire-damaged forest near Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado
Today in History
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Exploring the Pearl of the Atlantic
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Flying high on National Bird Day
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Stepping into autumn
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Purple flowers and Golden Week
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International Cheetah Day
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Ronda, Spain
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Grand finish of Le Tour
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Fall color sweeps across the West
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Uredd Rest Area, Norway
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Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
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Bathing in the light of Pride
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Redwood National and State Parks, California
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The globe skimmers return
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National Bison Day
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Bridge over the River Tara
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The most wonderful day of the year. Period.
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Porto Cathedral, Portugal
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Happy Valentines Day!
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World Rainforest Day
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Dressed to impress
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Black History Month
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Haven t you herd? It s World Elephant Day!
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Back to the nest
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World Meerkat Day
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Here s looking Atchafalaya
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Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia
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Great Backyard Bird Count
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Lupine fields, Snæfellsnes, Iceland
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Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
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Children at play for International Day of Friendship