Title: August 14, 2019 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description : Background : Menu : Extra Photo's : Animals
Trail head: Delilah
Lookout
Hike Info:
Type:
Lookout
Our newly charged battery
looks like it is going to cooperate this morning. At least the radio
turns on and keeps on. We go in service at 0929 and then begins our
normal day.
More hummingbirds |
The debate is on. (What else
would we be talking about with little activity around Delilah?
Not that life is boring up here, just relaxed-that is until a fire
breaks.) The key question is will we enjoy another day up here more
than doing other things? While I cannot say yes to this question as
to “more”, I can say it is enjoyable being up here. We decide to
stay up here, assuming Kathy cannot find anybody else, but only to
1600 at the latest Thursday. I think the two reasons are: 1) we do
enjoy it up here; 2) there is a need and this is a means we can
service and return what we have been given. So it is not grudgingly
given, but more viewed as one of several possibilities. Besides it
will be hot in Fresno tomorrow.
There are a couple things
which I need to take care of now that we have decided to be here. My
brother and I are selling a property which belonged to my parents.
Earlier this week we were told it would close Friday. Now it looks
like it will close Thursday. There is a paper to sign and services to
stop. I am so thankful for the Internet and the services which have
developed. The only drawback is that I did not bring the sign-on
information up here. But I am able to wade through the DocuSign
procedures and sign the paper. Then work through shutting off
services for PG&E and the water, sewer and garbage. I feel like I
have accomplished something today.
Where's the ssmoke? Haze and ridges blocking view |
Smoke as seen from Park Ridge - Photo by Greg G. |
We talk with Kathy about our
decision and I go over the that we will vacate by 1600-she is OK with
us leaving earlier if we need be. She has concerned about us being
cooped up in solitary for four days, but we should do OK. Also told
her that the batteries seem to be doing good. Talked about Park
Ridge’s fire and she is delighted in how things went there.
The rest of the afternoon is
pretty quiet-sort of seems to be the theme doesn’t it? I finish
charging the rest of the batteries. But they are not needed as the
“New Battery” is holding its charge. I type up Sherri’s
inventory list and send it off-Delilah will need certain essential
supplies in a couple of weeks, like toilet paper. I also finish up
cleaning windows-a task I started yesterday. All the while Sherri and
I keep watch.
There is one thing of interest
to us. Shuteye
Lookout
reports a smoke which looks like it is coming from the footprint of
an earlier fire called the Peak Fire. Wherever this is, it is north
of Shuteye and definitely out of our viewing area. Mt
Tom can
also see it and confirm. It is fun and interesting hearing the
interaction and coordination between the two lookouts. This smoke is
causing enough concern that they are sending people up there to
investigate. I think I am remembering this correctly, also the
helicopter out of Trimmer is being sent up to do a recon. Eventually
the coordinates are given and we can place where the fire is-on the
flank of Madera
Peak,
next to Yosemite
and Vanderburg
Lake.
This is where we had been thinking of going camping. So this will
give us cause to consider.
Park Ridge calls after 1630
and says that he sees a bit of smoke from the Needle Dump, but it is
pretty light. We start looking in that area. After awhile we think we
see some smoke there, rising just above the ridge. We talk with Park
Ridge, but he does not think so as the smoke is very light-he sends a
picture to show what he is seeing. We take another look and decide it
is some grayish-silver looking trees and brush which we may be
seeing.
Left is as we saw it; right is filtering out the haze |
Sunset over Pine Flat |
Once again, time for the trip
down to the outhouse. But this time we are a bit slower. There is
Delilah Doe and three fawns wandering around. They get startled by us
and disperse. But we see a couple of them hanging around. So we watch
them as they watch us. Back up in the tower, we get ready for bed,
but not until we play the game of what are we seeing in Fresno. We
decide that some of the lights are not the SaveMart Center, but what
is it? Maybe they are more on the Barstow side. By the time we get
down and I finish reading it is 2130 and I am falling asleep.
Background
Legal.
This is a system marking land which goes back to Thomas Jefferson. It
essential marks off from a set point, called a Primary Meridian, a
series of 6 by 6 mile tracks, divided up into 1 mile squares. Each
6x6 square is designated by how many sections north or south it is
from the Primary Meridian. This is called Township. The east and west
designation is called a Rane. Each 1x1 square is called section. So a
legal definition would be T12S R26E Section 5.
Park Ridge.
Later that day, Greg and I talk a bit. I congratulate him on a good
report-BC31 has done that previously on the R5 Project channel. He
was telling me that some hikers had also seen the smoke. He felt
relief he had seen it before they had-after all, isn’t that why we
are paid the big bucks in beauty to report such things? But I can
share a sense of relief. No lookout wants to have a smoke reported in
his home territory by someone else. It does happen, and not because
the lookout is at fault, just when you have someplace between 900 and
1200 square miles of surface area to gaze out closely, you are not
going to see every tree out there. My prayer-Lord, don’t let me
look too foolish, just enough to keep pride at bay.
Menu
Breakfast
|
Lunch
|
Dinner
|
Snacks
|
Oatmeal
and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola.
Tang.
|
Ritz Crackers, Peanut
Butter, Nutella
|
Smoked almonds, mixed nuts,
cheese
|
What'cha looking at? |
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