I had never heard of George Atiyeh until recently, when news broke that he was missing and they explained who he was. His remains were found on his property and his house completely burned down from the Beachie Creek fire. Despite never having heard of him before last week, I’m taking his death pretty hard. It’s just not fair. It’s not fair that good people like him have to die and a monstrosity like Donald Trump is in charge of the entire country.
It’s not fair at all… so not fair. :*(
George Atiyeh began as a miner, then he was a logger. He then turned environmentalist and spent a good part of his life fighting to protect the old growth forest at Opal Creek. He succeeded in protecting it.
I regret that I had only taken one day to hike that area, and I was in such poor shape at the time, I didn’t even hike the entire trail. I didn’t take my good camera, either. It was one of those years I took my birthday off and went for a hike. That was the trail I chose that year for my birthday; it was in 2014.
That wilderness area has now burned and will never look the same. George’s heart won’t be broken by the devastation; on the other hand, he won’t be alive to see it bounce back.
Rest in trees, George. THANK YOU.
