I woke up to the very faint glow behind the eastern mountains. I watched it, along with the fading stars, falling back a sleep several times to wake up to the wonder of these skies. Around 0630 I finally get up. And by 0700 I am ready to make a trip down to the car. While down at the car, I take a short walk-it will be the last time on the ground until I leave Delilah.
 |
| The sun comes up over Park Ridge |
I did all of the normal stuff to get ready to go in-service this morning. Then at 0930 I notify Sierra and Porterville that Delilah is now working. It will be a lonely day as both Park Ridge and Buck Rock are not being staffed. Park Ridge is out of service for the season and no volunteer was available for Friday and Saturday.
The rest of the day is pretty much non-descript. You can read my personal log down in Background. I suppose I should be a little emotional about the possibility of not being in a lookout again this season, but I am not-not because I do not enjoy it, but the emotion I think would be artificial. Still, I do savor what I am able to do up here.
There are a couple of things
which I view. First, there is the dead tree clearing going on. I see
the machinery move around, then disappear behind a ridge. I had seen
the truck lights driving up this morning. But I know they are there
as I see dust fly up occasionally. In the afternoon, I am looking
around and realize that a dead tree about half a mile away which the
birds of prey would perch on is missing-taken down in the dead tree
clearing. I wonder where or if I will find them? And then as I do my
scan, I spot these bits of red floating in the sky. I am thinking it
is bits of flagging. But then one comes into focus, and I discover it
is a leaf! It is a couple hundred feet off the ground. I gaze at
these leaves in awe for several minutes before they blow further
away.
Bee Catcher
 |
| Dirt Devil |
After going out of service, I finished taking stuff down to the truck and locked up the lookout. On the road, I stopped and picked up the rounds I chose last night and then headed home, getting there just in time to see the last half of Jeopardy. I am glad I was able to be up there these two days. I both give and take. I give of my time and take a sense of contentment.
Background
Activity |
Time |
From |
To |
Digest |
|
635 |
|
|
I get up |
|
700 |
|
|
go down the the 80 steps of Delilah, getting a head start on packing to go home this evening. Things like that went down to the truck: Excessive water bottles, sleeping bag,… Then walked around a bit |
Phone |
838 |
P33 |
Del |
Discussed possibility of lightning around Jennie Lake contributing to the Kaweah Fire. I will send a map tomorrow. |
|
850 |
|
|
Breakfast |
|
905 |
|
|
Took and recorded the weather |
|
920 |
|
|
Scan |
|
925 |
Del |
PTV |
In-service |
|
926 |
Del |
SNF |
In-service |
|
936 |
|
|
Scan |
|
959 |
|
|
Quick Scan |
|
1004 |
SNF |
|
Lookout Check in, Staffing and Weather Report |
|
1006 |
PTV |
|
Weather Report and Staffing |
|
1030 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1033 |
|
|
Started to Wash Windows |
|
1047 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1111 |
P33 |
PTV |
Inservice to Dunlap |
|
1112 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1118 |
KaweahTrainee |
PTV |
Update report on the Kaweah Fire at Jennie Lake. They are on the scene. The containment lines held overnight. He will report back in an hour. |
|
1125 |
SNF |
|
Tone 10 going down for a battery swap-this is at Fence Meadow. Later on I can see the reflection of his vehicle’s window. |
|
1135 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1137 |
|
|
Interesting following things on a scan. I saw several reddish objects floating around. At first I thought it was bits of red plastic flags. But then one of them came into view: it was a leaf, flying a couple hundred feet above the ground. |
|
1138 |
|
|
Continue to wash windows |
|
1141 |
E32 |
PTV |
Inservice to Dunlap |
|
1152 |
361 |
PTV |
Inservice to Big Meadows |
|
1155 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1201 |
310 |
PTV |
Inservice to Big Meadows |
|
1215 |
Div 3 |
E32 |
Inquiring about location |
|
1223 |
P33 |
PtV |
Location change: Hume Lake area |
|
1225 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1230 |
|
|
Lunch |
|
1251 |
KaweahTrainee |
PTV |
Fire still within lines. They put some water on it to cool the fire and snag tree. Remain in patrol status. Returning to vehicle. |
|
1255 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1303 |
E32 |
PTV |
In quarters, Pinehurst |
|
1307 |
|
|
Took Delilah’s Weather |
|
1311 |
36 |
PTV |
Returning to quarters |
|
1325 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1325 |
Comp2 |
SNF |
Tone 10 back online |
|
1340 |
|
|
Finished washing windows |
|
1353 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1354 |
|
|
Nap |
|
1359 |
36 |
PTV |
Back in quarters and out of service |
|
1414 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1431 |
3A |
PTV |
In Service to Big Meadows |
|
1439 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1510 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1513 |
|
|
Continue to go through coordinates |
|
1528 |
KaweahTrainee |
PTV |
Returned to vehicle. Returning to quarters |
|
1529 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1537 |
P33 |
PTV |
Returning to Quarters |
|
1540 |
|
|
General fire weather |
|
1550 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1600 |
SNF |
|
Lookout Check in |
|
1602 |
PTV |
|
Indices and Weather |
|
1614 |
P33 |
PTV |
In Quarters |
|
1620 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1625 |
|
|
Pack, clean and sanitize |
|
1645 |
|
|
Scan |
|
1658 |
SNF |
|
Evening checkin-Went out of service |
|
1700 |
Del |
PTV |
Out of Service |
|
1720 |
|
|
Left Delilah |
|
1730 |
|
|
Picked up the rounds I saw yesterday |
|
1910 |
|
|
Back home |
