On July 4, 1977, a massive derecho tore through the Northwoods, bringing hurricane force winds that flattened thousands of acres of timber. Old growth white pines that had stood for centuries were snapped like twigs, and entire logging camps were buried under debris. The aftermath of the storm shaped modern fire policy and forest management in the region. Today, if you walk through certain stretches of Vilas County, you can still see where the forest was reshaped in a single afternoon.
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