August 22, 2021 - Lewis Creek

Title: August 22, 2021 - Lewis Creek
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's :  Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Cedar Valley Trailhead

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking
Trail: Lewis Creek Trail
Destination: Red Rock Falls
Distance:  6.3  miles ¹ 

Elevation Rise:  1,577'
Descent: 1,588‘
Maximum Elevation: 4,213'
 ¹Something went wrong with the GPS where it only recorded part of the data, so the track really was worthless.

Description:

Last night Steven asked about hiking the Lewis Creek Trail. Actually he said he was going to hike it and did either Sherri or myself want to come along. It was much too early for Sherri-Steven wants to leave around 7am. But it is of interest to me. But the question is how much smoke is there? When I went to bed last night, there were several sensors registering unhealthy air.

I got up at my normal 6am time. No lightning to report. Also all sensors which I care about record moderate air quality. Looks like it is a go. Steven (and Korra) come out around 7am. I ask, are we good to go? Yep. We leave by 7:30, taking Sherri’s Highlander. I drive up and we get to the parking area for the Cedar Valley area by a little after 8:30. We talked a bit on the drive up, about how I am aging-so far there is no rumblings of me losing it, yet!

We have been on this trail many a-time. I tell Steven that the first time was after dropping him and Rachel off at Calvin Crest

New Bridge Across Lewis Creek

many years ago, after we read a Fresno Bee article on it. It has been a frequent trail to hike, even though the last couple of years the lots have been pretty full and we have stayed away both because we usually are not interested in crowded trails and now not coming in contact with anyone who potentially may have COVID. (Turns out it may be five years since I walked this trail)

But where we parked only had two other cars. Sounds like Steven’s timing is good. One of the cars is also starting about the same time as us-two women and a child, plus one on the back. The lower part of the trail is a bit warm-it will be hotter this afternoon. It starts with a dirt road-closed to traffic. Steven needs to take care of some of Korra’s leavings, so I take her leash. The dirt road is about 200 yards long, then changes into a single track Eventually it dips down to the creek, before steeply climbing back out.

Korra posing at Red Rock Falls

I am still leading Korra along and feel like I am doing OK. Korra and Steven may be thinking that I am holding them back a bit, but I am feeling comfortable. We come to some obstacles in the trail-logs having to go around or under and give Korra back to Steven-he will do much better than I. I am having to pick and choose rather than Korra and Steven’s bounding along. Even the ladies pass me up here. A short way beyond this, with some uphill, we come to Corlieu Falls.

I am surprised. I am thinking these falls might be just a trickle. While not Spring runoff volume, it is not dry. In fact, it is down right pretty, just the right amount of water surrounded by geen and shadow. By peeking under the trees, I see the complete set of falls.

I ask Steven how far he was thinking of going: Red Rock Falls, if I am OK going that far. Sounds like either a son being concerned about his aging father or fighting words. Either way, I said that I would go on. I did know that the hardest climb was coming up, about 300-400’ in a third of a mile. I do make it up; Korra and Steven are waiting for me.

Steven and Korra on path back

Actually they are talking with some people who are practicing a specialized version of Slack Lining called Highlining. They have stretched a slackline across the top of Corlieu Falls. Right now they are taking a break. We talked with them for about 15 minutes. Pretty friendly. I think they were interested that an old guy was out hiking. They asked a standard question: what hike do I consider the best. Of course the proper answer is the one I am on now. And then the longest hike? The JMT. Then they asked the heartwarming question of Steven: Don’t you worry about him being on the trail? No, because he knows more than Steven does. Steven gains back points.

And now to continue our walk. The forest service or a group has been doing some work. There is a nice new spanking bridge across the creek. Much less “interesting” getting across the creek now, but way better. We now travel on the east side of Lewis Creek. There are familiar steps to the foundation of an old building. Maybe some sort of pump house? Or maybe Corlieu’s house. Then it is more walking up to Red Rock Falls. This is close to two miles from the bridge.

Red Rock Falls is popular today. Not standing room only, just several groups of people. Not your typical quiet summer retreat. Still everyone manages to keep pretty separate from each other. We stuck around for about 15-20 minutes before I tell Steven I would start in because I knew Korra and Steven would quickly catch up with me.

Slack Liner above Corlieu Falls

As I was leaving, two ladies came down the trail and said “horrible.” Then they looked at me and realized that I could think I was the object of their scorn-they really meant the tash people left behind. But I played along and said, yes I am horrible. In a few minutes they caught up with me and we exchanged additional greetings, of a kinder variety. Friendly chatter as Steven and Korra passed us and then they dropped back. This exchange was about ten minutes.

Rest of the way down to Corlieu Falls was uneventful. At the falls, the highliners were still there. One was trying it out. He was having troubles getting mounted, but the other highliners were encouraging him. When he came in, another showed us how it was down. Enjoyable watching them.

After watching them for half an hour, we leave, even though there is more to the show but it is getting a bit warm. So down we go. Glad it is mostly downhill. I am not the fastest pony coming down this path. Even a grandfather, his daughter and granddaughter. Fun listening to the granddaughter helping her grandfather. Eventually they passed me up, but not far from the parking area.

Steven and Korra are waiting for me-they have no choice as I have the keys to the car. It feels warm at the car, but the temperature is not that much-mid-to high eighties. Steven drives us back home after stopping at Carl’s Jr for lunch. A good day-glad Steven took us out on this.

 

Extra Photo's

Slack Liner getting ready to balance above Corlieu Falls

Part of Red Rock Falls

 
Flowers and Plants

Twin Arnica

Alpine Aster???

August 18, 2021 - Big Baldy

 

Title: August 18, 2021 - Big Baldy
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's 

Trail head:  Big Baldy Trailhead

Hike Info:

 

Type: Hiking

Trail: Big Baldy

Destination: Big Baldy

Distance:  4.44 miles

Start Time: 3:49

End Time:  7:18

Travel Time: 3:28  (1.28 mph)

Moving Time:  2:56  (1.52 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,041'

Descent: 1,020‘

Maximum Elevation: 8,219'

GPS Tracks

 

 

Description:

Like so many of our times out the last year and a half, what we did was not what we planned. The plan was to go backpacking. But the last few days have become pretty smokey. So we decided to go on a series of day hikes. Even that did not work out so well. We left Fresno after 2:00pm. So our hike will be a short one.

Sherri on the trail up

Even without much traffic, it took us until 3:30 to reach the Big Baldy trailhead. And then another 15 minutes or so to get boots and ready to go. This is a bit later than I am comfortable with. So in my mind I am wondering if we will be able to make it to Big Baldy. I am thinking of a 5:30-5:45 turnaround time.

This trail is not a surprise to us-we have been on it several times. But our memories of it are different. That is why we keep coming back to the same trail-to refresh old memories and to create new ones.

While the trail is short, there is some uphill. But it is not a continuous up. The trail follows hills on its climb up Big Baldy. Going up, the down part of the mounds contain relief. But coming back it will be “I do not remember so many times we went down coming up.”

One of the things about this trail is the amount of places we can see out to. But today, as was noted earlier, there is lots of smoke, particularly that it has settled into low lying areas. We do not smell or taste the smoke-else we would turn back. If it is that bad, why damage our lungs needlessly?

At the top

We stop for a Jelly Belly break. As we look around, we see a mound of bear scat, at least we hope it is bear scat. But there are no tracks which makes me wonder where the bear is? We go on and reach the summit of Big Baldy by 5:25-in front of our turnaround time.

We rested for about 15 minutes on the top. Also we let our family know that we will be late for our family Zoom time this evening. Also a picture was sent out. They think the picture of us is good. Like I said earlier, the smoke creates more of an image where the grime has spoiled the area, not like clouds where they give a sense of cleanness against a green wooded landscape. As I am writing this, I am thinking that smoke is like a counterfeit cloud. It is a cloud, but not one which brings health and life to the land, but a reminder of death. It is a counterfeit in the same way was we substitute happiness for joy, consumerism for contentment, sex for love, idols for God.

At 5:45 we leave and make it back to the car. We pass two couples who are going up to Big Baldy. I am thinking that as late as it is, they are going to be going very quickly up there, or they are going up for the sunset. Hope they have a flashlight. One couple notes there is a bear in an area below us. When we pass through, no bear, just the scat we previously noticed.

Smoke looking westward into the Central Valley

We got back to the car at 7:15. We tried to order pizza, but Bear Mountain Pizza just closed when we got in touch. What to do for dinner? We phone into our Zoom time. It is good to hear their voices. We make it down to Fresno and stop in to Habit Burger-there is a bit of a line-before getting home around 9:00. A short day, but glad we went on this hike.

 

 

 

 

Extra Photo's

Sherri and Gary

On the way down

August 11, 2021 - Delilah Lookout

 

Title: August 11, 2021 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Delilah Lookout

Hike Info:

Type:  Lookout

Description:

Mistletoe

As we were going to retire last night, we went out and enjoyed a gander of the night sky. And it was magnificent! Enough that we spent more time out there-around 30 minutes. As we were heading in, I saw two very bright meteors directly to the north of us. Then when we were getting ready for bed, Sherri saw another one more to the northeast. So great to be up here at Delilah!

I also got up around 0100 to see if I could enjoy any more of the Perseids meteor shower. Saw a couple during my 25 minute stay, but nothing which was as good as earlier in the evening. It was warm out on the catwalk, So the time is not uncomfortable. Would have been more comfortable with a chair.

 

Pine Ridge-burnt trees on left

I saw a post from a friend of mine which was on my mind during my walk. What he said as an open Facebook question was What can be more arrogant than believing the same god who didn't stop the Holocaust will help you find your lost earring? I pondered what I was seeing by the road as I was walking. My friend’s exclamation talks about the horrific crimes against the Jewish people. But I was wondering if his objection was too weak. It seems to me as I see so many things either turning brown because of the heat or having died after a brief time of glory. Seems like the bigger question is, why does God permit death and decay and pain in this world at all? Of course, both Jews and Christians died and/or suffered in concentration camps with God not answering their prayers of deliverance either.

Dandelion

Still there is beauty in the decay I am seeing as I ponder my question rather than hisl. That lecherous mistletoe on that tree gives a sense of the coming of Christmas; the dandelion weed shows close to the perfection of a sphere; looking up the slope I see the dead, burnt trees from the Rough Fire six years ago, but I also see the signs of new hope. Do I look at the beauty around me as a clue to the character of the world? Or the destruction which is also out there? How do I understand and process what my senses tell me? As CS Lewis said,

I saw well why the gods do not speak to us openly,
of us, why should they hear the babble that we think
we mean? How can they meet us face to face
till we have faces? Till We Have Faces, pg 294

Lewis goes on and notes that once we see God’s face, our questions melt away. Until that time, I think we are left with something like a modified Pascal’s Wager.

Now it is time to go back into the tower and let these thoughts percolate in the back of my mind. As a side note, during my walk, I came across what is pretty obviously a bear track, but it has six toes-wondering if the bear is of the habit of walking over its paw marks to confuse people like me. Sherri and I have oatmeal for breakfast. Then we take the weather, Today we have good visibility, but an RH of 20%. That is how we go into service at 0930.

Jeff's Wind Block

Pretty normal morning. Except that the handheld radio started giving us fits last night. We were hearing everybody but Sierra’s Dispatch. We could talk and Sierra would hear us. That problem continued this morning, even swapping out batteries did not help/ But we made due by listening for Sierra on our base radio and responding on the handheld. Not a great situation, but we adapt. Buck Rock is not having that issue. Must be our handheld or the hand holding the radio.

After lunch, I take a nap while Sherri stays vigilant. After half an hour, there are three beeps on the radio-fire or an emergency. That gets me out of my slumber quickly. There is a fire on the Sierra side of the world. It is at Courtright Reservoir. We will not be able to see the smoke from it unless the smoke gets pretty large as Patterson Mtn is between us and it. A bit frustrating as it is always something to enliven a lookout experience. Still we track it on the radio while continuing our duties.

 Have I said it gets hot in Delilah's cab? Yesterday was hotter, but today is still enough to make us sweat. Jeff, one of the very experienced lookout came up with an interesting way to provide relief. He put together a wind block to funnel a breeze into the cab. Worked out pretty well.  

The rest of the day is pretty normal, what life is like as a fire lookout. As we approach 1800, we get the cab clean and take down our stuff to the car-one of us does remain on duty, ever vigilant. 1800 rolls around and we go out of service. By 1830, we were in the car and starting our drive home. We are a few minutes late to our family’s Wednesday Zoom call. But that is OK-we are on the phone and need to get out of the hills to get good reception. About the time our Zoom call ends, we roll into home. After eating and unpacking, the shower really felt good.

Extra Photo's

Saying goodbye to Delilah for now

Cows blocking the road. What did the cows think we were taking?

Looking Northwest

Clouds towards the east

Clouds where the Dusy fire was

Delilah Lookout on Gary's walk

Animals

A six-toed bear???

What is a stay at Delilah without a hummingbird picture

Flowers and Plants

August 10, 2021 - Delilah Lookout

 

Title: August 10, 2021 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's 

Trail head: Delilah Lookout

Hike Info:

Type:  Lookout

Description:

Got up at 0545 and got ready to leave for Delilah. Sherri and I left the garage at 0710. Uneventful trip up to Delilah, so we got there a few minutes before 0900. We did see a white Tacoma pickup, but nobody was there. Also several cows were hogging the road, but eventually theylet us pass. Because there has been a bear reported in the area, we bring up all of our food into the cab. By the time we are down, it is 0925.

Between all of that, we were able to take our weather-moderate temps and the RH well within levels. Then went in service-Porterville did not hear us the first couple of times. Sierra got us right out of the chute. In both cases, we note that we have 8 miles of visibility-not great, but better than yesterday. We then get into the routine of being in a fire lookout. Scanning every 15 minutes, constantly eyeballing stuff. Hearing the morning weather and staffing, the regular stuff.

Gary and Sherri

Interesting. A person with the call sign of Ecology13 reported a fire on a fallen Sequoia. The coordinates given were 399180x0358830. I had not heard coordinates referenced that way before. But if you look at topo maps, there are markings which have coordinates in that reference. Looks like it is just southwest of the Peppermint Work Center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sherri with our dinner

We have lunch-normal peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches. Afterwards I lay down and take a nap while Sherri stands watch. This is only fair as Sherri got a nap this morning and I drove up here. But nothing exciting happened.

And so went the rest of the afternoon scanning, looking, reading and chatting. We talked with Greg a bit about a wasp nest on the outhouse-he will take care of it. Also Walter from our church called. Duly impressed we are in a lookout.

At 1800, we went out of service for the night. Tomorrow is another day. Sherri commented that it is really nice not to be doing a 0800 to 2000 day like we did a couple of weeks ago at Park Ridge. Less tiring. Also today was a pretty quiet day. We had two-thirds of a page of entries in our log sheet. Two weeks ago we were doing three and four pages with all of the activity.

 

Dinner is leftovers-a hamburger and a chicken sandwich. Satisfying. This was topped off with a Nutella pizza. Life is so good up here. Now it is getting dark and it is time for bed. But just before going to bed, we take a final look out-admiring the stars, moon and Venus.

 

 

Background
  A few days before going to Delilah, I was listening to an album called Attainable Love by Christine Lavin. She has a song which really would have been a perfect background to this scene called Venus Kissed the Moon. Some of the lyrics are:

 Venus kissed the Moon tonight
We watched her in the Sky
She's been - flirtin' with him for centuries
Too bad he's so shy
He's waxing
He's waining
You don't see Venus complaining
She'll steal a kiss whenever she can

 

 
Extra Photo's

Flag at sunset

Sherri with a sunset in her hands

Waterfall, Delilah Style

Gary and Sherri at sunset

Pine Ridge at dusk

August 9, 2021 - Delilah Lookout - the Great California Smoke Out

 Title: August 9, 2021 - Delilah Lookout - the Great California Smoke Out

Looking west from Delilah. Bottom is the expected view

Hike Info : Description 

Trail head:  Delilah Lookout

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

Today Sherri and I were to go to Delilah Lookout . But when there is very limited visibility, it's sort of hard to spot any smokes. This morning when I looked at the webcam, even with the morning shadows, there was not much to see, except for the grayness of smoke from the fires up north. So after discussing things with Greg at 0615, we decided it was best to check again later in the day and see if things cleared up.

In the meantime, our sister lookout, Park Ridge, was experiencing the same smoke with the same visibility issues. There was a discussion about whether they should open or not. It comes down to, if we cannot see a smoke from a local fire and/or there are health concerns, then there is not too much point to staff a lookout. That was the conclusion

Don’t get me wrong, being in a lookout with low or no visibility is a special feeling. First of all, you are generally pretty isolated. But now you do not even have the visual references-the Kings River there, Tivy Mountain to the west, Alta Peak in the distance. But with no visibility, you see only white, like you are in your own special cocoon. It is a time of meditation, a time to be close to God, or just a time to read a book or clean up.

But no or low visibility is just pure torment. Generally we have windows and doors open to enjoy afternoon breezes and to cool down the cab. But with smoke, you now have a choice: breathe the smoke or close up the cab. When we have closed up the cab, the interior temperature gets over 100^o. Definitely not conducive to quiet introspection. So when faced with spending a day with those choices, we take the third option, wait and see.

At 1000, I check again and visibility is only a smidge better. Same way at 1300. At this point, I call it a day. Even if it clears up enough for us to go up, it will be about 1600 before Sherri and I get there. We will see what tomorrow brings. The Forest Service is OK with this choice.

Looking north east