Gary-Summer: September 22, 2018

Saturday, September 22, 2018

September 22, 2018 - Delilah Lookout

Title: September 22, 2018 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

I woke up a bit later than usual when I am at Delilah lookout. Sherri got up a few minutes after I did. The sun has come over the eastern Sierra, but a bit later than the last time we were here. We go down stairs for our morning business, then have breakfast of oatmeal. Sort of is peaceful. No smoke and we can see forever!

South towards Mineral King

We go into service at 0927 and start doing our scans. It is an exceptionally clear day. We are seeing 45 miles to the north, all the way to Kaiser Ridge, and all the way to Sawtooth Peak, near Mineral King to the south. If there is a smoke today and we do not see it, we are blind. In some ways, this is the type of day which we live for. I can spend all day just gazing, which I suppose is what a lookout’s job description is. Only thing, a lookout is to gaze with a purpose.

While right now I am gazing for pleasure. There is even a hang glider or three to make a visual of my pleasure. I think the pleasure is a bit of relief for me. It has been a month since my mother passed. I am hoping that today will give me a time of just pondering, enjoying the sights and remembrance of the things which my mother meant to me.

On more of an outer level, I had read a note in the log saying that a peak we can sometimes see is really Stag Dome. “Where in the world is that?” I wonder. Looking at a spreadsheet of all of the surrounding points, I found it, along with the lat/long for it. Then I started comparing a couple other peaks in the same direction, all within two degrees of each other (I am suspecting, but with no proof that our fire finding has at least a half of a degree of error.). I also calculate the vertical angle of all of the items in that direction and find that Park Ridge has a greater angle than Stag Dome, so it hides the Dome. Sort of conclusive in my mind that it cannot be Stag Dome. But it will take a few more items to conclude if it is Hutchings or Clarence King.

Looking up the North Fork of the Kings

We get a few of the resources in our area going in service, but it is pretty light. Some of the Sierra lookouts are seeing signs of smoke from the Ferguson fire-this is over 50 miles away and unless it gets large, we will not see it. Back in July, I did see that smoke, but only after every other lookout in the area saw it. When we do the afternoon weather readings, we get a low relative humidity, so we radio that in. For today, that counts as excitement-we will take that kind of day today.

First signs of smoke from the Oak Fire-see Extra Photo's for more

It is getting close to 1600 and time for the Sierra Lookout check-in. But wait at 1553, we hear three beeps from Sierra-some sort of incident is to be announced. Then we hear that there is an MMU incident (CalFire Madera-Mariposa Unit) near Ahwahnee. Two things happen in my mind: 1) not in our neighborhood; 2) is this close to some friends of ours? The location, including the legal information and the lat/long is provided. Looking up the legal (Township and section), I see that it is close to some friends of ours. I try to call, but no answer-they may be trying to evacuate. We can see a column of smoke to our NorthWest and with the lat/long and a spreadsheet I created, I can see that the smoke we are seeing is from the Oak Fire, as it is now being called.

Helicopter, maybe from Ash Mountain

For the rest of the afternoon, the smoke from the Oak Fire attracted our attention. We were not part of the action, but we could hear the various reports coming in about roads being blocked and how to get to the fire. Both Sierra and CalFire were throwing a lot of people, equipment and aircraft at this fire. We would hear various aircraft no longer available to Sequoia. At one point we saw a helicopter fly below us coming from the direction of Ash Mountain and towards Trimmer Springs. Our friend called-she was out of state, but her partner was getting their animals together and was under mandatory evacuation (all were safe and able to return the next day).

Around 1730 Sierra orders all Prevention, Detection and Suppression units on until 2000. We are part of detection, but after it starts getting dark, our superiors do not like us traveling the road back to 180 in the dark. So we will stay until 1830, which is about the same time as they will ground the fixed wing aircraft.

Sun-setting on Spanish Mountain

Right around 1800, we notice a haze down by the Kings River. Now we cannot see the Kings so there is not a direct confirmation. There is something gray down by Sycamore Creek. There is a type of bush which shows gray in certain light, also there was a lot of haze as the sunlight passes through the day’s dust. But was this smoke from a fire? That is the question. We call over to Fence Meadow Lookout to see if he can see down into the River from his perch. No he cannot. Evidently, we both are blind to that area. He also does not see the haze. A few minutes later, we get a call from a battalion chief on the Sierra side asking what we were seeing. We explain to her what we see and what we cannot tell. We will monitor it for a bit. After the sun hides behind a ridge, the gray goes away and we decide that the gray was the haze. We give Fence a call to let him know and then start packing up.

At 1845 we go out of service and start down the hill. We hit pavement as it gets dark and then move on for dinner at Bear Mountain Pizza. By the time we get back to Fresno it is around 2130. A full day, one which I could be content with.