Gary-Summer: May 28, 2018 - Delilah Lookout

Monday, May 28, 2018

May 28, 2018 - Delilah Lookout

Title: May 28, 2018 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Patterson Bluffs and Rogers Ridge

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

Our first day of the season in the lookout! Really looking forward to it. The sun, the air, the breeze, the view. Of course, we may actually peak around a bit to see if there is a smoke about.

Spanish Mountain

0600: Got up-reverting back to military time
0725: Left Fresno-a bit later than we would like.
0905: Got to Delilah and retrieved the keys and started the long climb up to the top of the lookout. Still wonderful to be here.
0918: Fence Meadow, the lookout across the Kings River from us goes into service with Sierra NF.
0927: We take the weather. Around 60 degrees with 75% humidity. Feels good. Plus a faint breeze. We can see at least 20 miles to the north and almost as far to the south. This is better than we had all of last year.
Towards the North-Patterson Bluffs, Rodger's Ridge, ...

0929: We go into service with both Sequoia and Sierra NF. We actually remembered how to us the radio!
1000: Sequoia gives us the weather and staffing. I love that I figured out where to get this information online. Easier and more accurate. Today’s dispatcher read the reports pretty well, at a speed we could follow.

Towards the East-Park Ridge and McKenzie Ridge

Kathy calls us up to make sure we are doing well. We are. She goes over the battery situation as well as a few incidentals. Since neither Park Ridge or Buck Rock have gone into service, I wonder about them? Will they be going in service? Yes. Park Ridge was delayed because the window coverings were still on. This was Mich’s first day at Buck Rock, so there was some set up she needed to do. Sure enough, later on that morning, they both go inservice. Wendy even spotted a smoke at Lake Sequoia-turns out it is a legal burn pile.

Also, we keep a bit busy logging the calls the various patrols in our area are making. Being Memorial Day, many people are leaving their campsites without putting out their campfires. It seems like hardly 20 minutes goes by without us hearing one of the patrols calling in for an incident number to cite a campsite. This goes on all day. So glad I am not one of those people today. By the way, I have a great deal of respect for these folks. They are in shape enough to climb steep hills with full firefighting gear and still be able to deal with the public.

We keep ourselves occupied looking smoke and re-familiarizing ourselves. Delilah, as well as Park Ridge, has a evaluation sheet. Most of the time, a trainer would be going through this with us. But today, we are doing a self evaluation. We do pretty good. But there are a few Needs Improvement items, such as remembering certain key points from memory or differentiating between Miramonte and Pinehurst. But most things I do pretty good at. I just need to get my speed back up.

In the afternoon, we hear of a smoke being reported. But when we understand where the fire is, it is pretty far south of our area-on BLM land

Around 1350 I realize we have not done our afternoon weather. Need to get on the stick for it. The temps have warmed up a bit, but not a lot. Feels nice. But that may change tomorrow, then it will get cold a day or two later.

I should also say that the hummingbirds are out in force. Not just one or two, but I saw at least six around the feeder. Not only that, by standing by the feed, some would stand on the rail, not more than a foot away.

Davis Fire area

Last week, we got to hike up Davis Road to the Davis fire area. It is a restricted area right now, but we got permission to do so. Interesting contrasting it from the lookout with what we saw on the ground. The area which the Davis fire was in last September, I could not tell that it had burnt from up here.

Davis Road from Delilah

Finger Rock

1600: Sierra NF does their afternoon check-in. The battery is still working! Last year, the batteries would constantly go out on the hand-held. Maybe a better year! Also Sequoia gives the afternoon fire weather.
1700: The patrols are returning back to their quarters. All in all sounded like they kept things well in-hand.
1800: We go out of service with both Sierra and Sequoia. Sort of a quiet first day-always a good thing.

Clouds up the Kings

Delilah at Sunset

Sherri and I are staying up at Delilah overnight, even though we will not be on duty tomorrow. Dinner was served and we got our own private meal with a view to die for. Kathy asked if I could take some pictures of Delilah for a newsletter, so I go off and get some sunset on Delilah shots. Interesting, but a bit dark.

Sunset over Pine Flat

Sherri and I enjoy the setting of the sun, just a bit north of Pine Flat Reservoir. Lovely view of the reds with Pine Flat shimmering. Then to top it off, the full moon comes out. The best way to end the day. Off we go to bed about 2130.

Sunrise

Tuesday morning, I woke up just before sunrise. Not one of the better ones I have seen. Still a good one with the light streaming through the mountains on the upper Kings River. Funny how with the light, I can see less towards the east, but more towards the west.

Breakfast is the normal oatmeal and stuff. We get our stuff packed to go. A little bit before 0900, I start the first scan. Jim has arrived, so we prepare to leave. After doing a handoff with Jim, we exit the tower after an enjoyable 24 hours. On the way home, we decide to go back via Elwood Road-an area we can see from Delilah. We get back home a little before noon.