Hike Info : Description
Type: Lookout
Please note: This is not a record of the Creek Fire. We were at Delilah Lookout, 25-30 miles away from the action. Below is a combination of my recollection, Forest Service radio communications, text and e-mail conversations with those who know fire. Consequently, this blog entry should be read from the perspective of a person who had a narrow, but interesting window into fighting the Creek Fire and the rescues which all the first responders achieved.
A new day. What will it bring? Smoke obviously. But will there be good news from the Creek Fire? Will there be an expansion? How about all of the people who needed to get out at Mammoth Pool or China Peak?
The sun gives a hint about the smoke. It rises right where the moon rose last night, over Converse Mountain. Today it is a fiery red ball with the trees being silhouetted.
Both Shuteye and Mt Tom Lookouts are now endangered. Shuteye has left its lookout and is heading down the mountain. He has not been heard from in a while. Mt Tom is leaving soon. At 0848 there is good news that the Shuteye lookout has been heard from and is safely out of the danger zone. We follow on the radio Mt Tom’s lookout leaving. He stops on the way out and finds a car covered in ash. No trace of the occupants.
We go inservice at 0800. Once again, we have a low RH-17%. Not a good sign. At 1020 we notify Porterville that we only have 2 to 3 miles of visibility. It is hot! Outside, it is 960. But inside it is over 1000. and it is going to get warmer. Fortunately, we have been able to cool it down a bit to about 960. Usually the mornings are hot at Delilah followed by breezes going up the Canyon, cooling down the tower. But today those breezes do not come up. And at 1500, we have even less visibility.
And then there are the people at Mammoth Pool and China Peak. Mammoth Pool looks like a large helicopter came in and lifted them out-maybe several trips. Not sure. But it sounds like there may still be a few more people down there. If this is true, that has got to be an amazing evacuation. My understanding is that they still cannot get into Mammoth Pool via a land route-the fire is still raging there.
On China Peak, it sounds like they were able to get people out last night with their vehicles. From what we heard is that they brought people up 168 until Tamarack Ridge and then took some of the Dinkey Creek roads down to where Dinkey Creek is. On the other hand, I heard they brought out the Wishon and Courtwright people down Black Rock Road to Balch Camp. When Sherri and I did this in June I was glad we were going up it, not down it. I think the rangers agree with that assessment as it was reported that a group of campers-found some drivers who were soberish to drive down Black Rock Road.
There are also backpackers coming out of the backcountry. Some are congregating at VVR. Also at Florence Lake. We also heard them say that they should stop at Blayney Meadows. I have got to assume they will airlift them out as well.
Fog or Smoke?
1530 and we see a blanket of smoke enveloping the tower like a fog bank. Even though it is hot, we have closed all of the windows and the door to keep out the smoke. Our inside temperature climbs from about 940 to over 100 0. We cannot tell how hot-the indoor thermometer only says “Hi”. We have a discussion first between Sherri and I and then with the group about vacating the lookout. We decided that if the conditions are the same at 1600, we will vacate-probably not coming back up tomorrow as we will not have visibility.
1600 rolls around and no improvement. We notify our group of plans. Wendy says that BC32 is in agreement. When I talk with him to confirm our decision, he also says to let Div 3 know when we go out of service. We go out of service a few minutes after 1700.
We made it back home by about 1930 with no problems. Wonder if we will be back up at Delilah this year?
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I thought I might venture a trip back to Delilah on Labor Day, Monday, Sept 7th. Looking at Delilah’s webcams, there would be no value as it was very much all smoked over and no visibility.
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