In the off-season and on rainy days, we look for open trails and many of these have remnants of the pine beetle kill still standing.   The Mesa Trail and the ridge to the east (Lava Flow Trail) have a number of standing dead ponderosa pines, all doomed to be windfall.

The douglas firs are still standing and few young ponderosas have begun to grow.   Below the trail and overlooking the river are some old snags.

Solo snags still stand if their roots are deep into rock outcrops.

Clusters of snags still stand if they are below the wind-shear zone at the top of the hill.

This area is known for crow nesting areas and they make a ruckus whenever we hike through here.

The douglas firs are still alive and holding on but they will become Mesa Ridge snags too, perhaps after we are gone.