June 16, 2019 - Delilah Lookout

Title: June 16, 2019 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description : Background : Menu 

Trail head: Delilah Lookout

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

I woke up at 0300 with the sky still dark, but it looks like there is a little bit of a cloud cover. But do not fear. I went back to sleep so that I could get up at 0600. After reading for a bit, it was time to go down to the other building on the premise. After that I took a lap around Delilah Lookout. Yesterday I did two, but today, I am more tired and all which I am up for is one. And then it is back up 80’ to the lookout cab-not totally unenergetic.

Cloud build up

Breakfast time-oatmeal again. But yesterday Judy brought some scones, so we get to supplement our breakfast. Because today is our last day, we ferry the non-essentials down to the truck before going into service.

 But before we go into service, we hear a report that there is a fire on Watts Valley Road. It should be pretty much due west of us, but we think that it is hidden behind a hill. Not even the smoke is visible. We go into service at 0930. At 1005 weather and staff is broadcast-we have seen it on the Internet, so we just confirm what we have. A lot easier this way.

Clouds beyond Park Ridge-maybe at Buck Rock

We do our scans and listen to the radio. There is activity on Burton Road (14S02), but nothing which affects us. They are continuing to mop up the Landslide Fire caused by lightning. Also there is a prescribed burn going on. 1100 comes and we respond to Sierra’s inquiry if we are still there with an affirmative. (Maybe not in those words, but to that effect.)

1132 there is an accident by Hume Lake at Sandy Cove bridge. Sounds somewhat serious with an accident between a car and a motorcycle. We will be hearing about this for the next hour.

Distant clouds close to Goddard, maybe

Judy has joined us again today. She is up here mostly to make sure she knows the terrain. While we enjoy her being up in the tower, she is also doing a lot on her own. Back to the normal scan, radio, weather beat.

We get a call from Div3 asking for Mich. We tell him that she will be up in a couple of hours. We are on duty today. He says for her to call him when she comes in.

Then we hear P33 talking to P32 on R5 Project. There is talk about a wildfire, but we did not catch where. So we contact P33 on R5 Project to find out where. It is way out of our area-called the Rock Fire. But P33 recognizes my voice and asks if it is me. Yep, she has it.

Rare View of Kings River from Delilah

You know how yesterday Tom said that at times you can see the Kings River? Found it.

 

Clouds above Spanish Mountain

 Close to 1600 the Landslide Fire is reported as showing no smoke and is being put into patrol status. That means that one of the patrols, probably P33 will be going past it periodically to check on it. Also if Buck Rock Lookout was being staffed, they would pay particular attention to the area. But we cannot see it as it is beyond Park Ridge, so to us, it is informational.

Brown patch on left is close to yesterday's smoke. View: McKenzie Heliport

About 1700 Mich comes along. We have several questions for her. Half of them she enlightens us on what should be done*. But the other half is more seat of your pants responses. I guess we are starting to ask more advanced questions. Judy has been playing Stump the Chump with me. I am doing OK. But there is one reading which she and I are disagreeing. So Mich gets asked. She feels it is close to where I spotted it on the map, but a little bit different logic.

We get relieved about 1730 and head on out. Sherri orders a pizza for the three of us. Then we start to head down the hill. We stop at McKenzie Heliport because we got a better view of where Friday’s pile burn was. Then on to Bear Mountain Pizza. It is ready right when we get there. Back home by about 1930.

Background

*If you are really interested in the questions we asked Mich, this is what we asked:

• Who is Patrol 37?
  • All four of us hear P37, but in reality, it is P47, out of our area.
• How did you know where Lone Pine Canyon was?
  • She knew where it was not and asked Porterville some questions about other areas which it might be associated with. (I had found it, but by using a spreadsheet I developed.)
• Is Captain 32 the same as Engine 32?
  • Yes
• Is Davis Road open?
  • No. Even though the gate is open. She will have someone go by and close it.
• How about Burton Road and other things in the area?
  • No
• Is the Fire Finder trued up?
  • Mich will check, but it should be. That was because when I did my orientation points, they all were about 10-15’ off. But Judy and Tom had different readings. So it is probably OK. The general rule of thumb is that if we can report it within 30’, that is good.
• Do we have a map for Tucker Mountain?
  • No. Technically, it is outside of our area.
• Who is Chief 70?
  • Unknown, but it could be associated with Hume Lake Christian Camps.

Menu

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola.	Peanut Butter and Nutella Sandwich, Chips	Pizza At Bear Mountain Pizza	Jelly Belly, Cheese