[Cdt-l] aspen tent caterpillars

[Brett]

The Cumbres & Toltec railroad had to stop the train on the way up to Cumbres Pass. Cows on the track? Calving elk in the way? Nope. Caterpillars. Too many on the track, not enough friction to power the train safely up the grade. Had to wait for the railroad guys to throw down some sand. Meanwhile the conductor did his best to work the caterpillars into the program as a sort of educational aside. Except he didn't know the half of it!

PS - I'm not making this up! According to the train ticket lady, the source of the blight is actually in the aspen root system. Apparently this weakens the trees, making them susceptible to an over exuberance of caterpillars. 

- blisterfree
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