The fires of 2003 turned much of Strawberry Hill into a burned landscape.   We were crossing the Bonaparte Highlands during the first part of the fire and saw the mushroom cloud on our east horizon.   When we got home, we watched it from the south.

When you go up to the plateau now, you may be surprised by how many trees were not burned.    Reforestation has taken place and the small trees are about one foot high.   Much of the hillside is grasslands punctuated by aspen and saskatoon.   The high sheltered areas have some evergreen forest.   Grazing leases exist on the north side slopes so there is a lot of cattle sign, but we also saw coyote and deer sign everywhere.   From the south and west sides, we only see steep slopes, but there are many ponds and marshes on the plateau.   Buttercups were out and birds sang in the trees and on the grassy upland slopes.  The soot?   You will have black hands if you touch the trees!

The access road near Rayleigh (off the Palmer Forsyth Road) is a rough track through Crown Land.   Hikers and mountain bikers can climb and take a number of possible routes for about 5 km before coming to posted signs.   The roads beyond are on grazing lease or Reserve.   The views from the high benchlands go north and south in the North Thompson River Valley and across to the grasslands and hills north of Lac du Bois.   On a sunny day, this is a sure bet for a good workout and a peaceful afternoon.