Trapper-Wall-Parvin Lake Loop

2002 was a major drought year for Colorado. We camped for a few days with my cousin at Trappers, and checked with the rangers who told us that the fire in the neighboring Big Fish valley was under control and headed out on a 15 mile loop. The scenery was fantastic as always in the Flat Tops. However the fishing was non-existent - although the lakes were reasonably full, they were choked with algae and scum, even at 11,000 feet - something I've never seen. After spending 2 days at Wall Lake, we toured around the headwaters of the S Fork of the White River, with amazing expansive views of the basin. However off to the west we could see smoke now coming from the Big Fish valley. We camped at Parvin Lake that night and got an early start the next morning. By the time we got down into the basin of Trappers Lake, it was clear that we might be in trouble. The sky was pretty well blocked with smoke, giving a weird red glow to every thing, and you could hear and feel the rumble of the fire. I sent my wife and daughters around the east side of the lake away from the fire, and headed back to the trailhead on the west, stepping pretty quickly. About half a mile from the trailhead I found a woman and her elderly mother lost and confused, heading the wrong way, and had to walk them back to the trailhead. By the time I got to the lodge where my family was waiting, the rangers were haranguing them to get in their truck and leave pronto. We just did get out before the fire cut the road. I've never seen anything like that fire - the flames were shooting up hundreds of feet, completely obliterating everything in sight.