Friday, October 28, 2022

October 28, 2022 - Delilah Lookout

 


Title: October 28, 2022 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : DescriptionBackground 

Hike Info:
Type: Lookout

Description:

I woke up to the very faint glow behind the eastern mountains. I watched it, along with the fading stars, falling back a sleep several times to wake up to the wonder of these skies. Around 0630 I finally get up. And by 0700 I am ready to make a trip down to the car. While down at the car, I take a short walk-it will be the last time on the ground until I leave Delilah.

 

 

The sun comes up over Park Ridge
I had a discussion about when and where the lightning was at Jennie Lake two weeks ago. P33 is the investigator for this fire. I do not have a good connection here, so I tell her I will send the information to her tomorrow-it actually will be Sunday before I get it together.

I did all of the normal stuff to get ready to go in-service this morning. Then at 0930 I notify Sierra and Porterville that Delilah is now working. It will be a lonely day as both Park Ridge and Buck Rock are not being staffed. Park Ridge is out of service for the season and no volunteer was available for Friday and Saturday.

The rest of the day is pretty much non-descript. You can read my personal log down in Background. I suppose I should be a little emotional about the possibility of not being in a lookout again this season, but I am not-not because I do not enjoy it, but the emotion I think would be artificial. Still, I do savor what I am able to do up here.



Bee Catcher
There are a couple of things which I view. First, there is the dead tree clearing going on. I see the machinery move around, then disappear behind a ridge. I had seen the truck lights driving up this morning. But I know they are there as I see dust fly up occasionally. In the afternoon, I am looking around and realize that a dead tree about half a mile away which the birds of prey would perch on is missing-taken down in the dead tree clearing. I wonder where or if I will find them? And then as I do my scan, I spot these bits of red floating in the sky. I am thinking it is bits of flagging. But then one comes into focus, and I discover it is a leaf! It is a couple hundred feet off the ground. I gaze at these leaves in awe for several minutes before they blow further away.

Dirt Devil
And so the day went. Around 1600 I cooked myself dinner-the rest of the Mac & Cheese, along with the rest of the soup. And then it was time to clean up. I got most of the cab clean, except I did not get a chance to mop-but I did sweep.

After going out of service, I finished taking stuff down to the truck and locked up the lookout. On the road, I stopped and picked up the rounds I chose last night and then headed home, getting there just in time to see the last half of Jeopardy. I am glad I was able to be up there these two days. I both give and take. I give of my time and take a sense of contentment.

 


 

 


Background
 

Activity

Time

From

To

Digest


635



I get up


700



go down the the 80 steps of Delilah, getting a head start on packing to go home this evening. Things like that went down to the truck: Excessive water bottles, sleeping bag,… Then walked around a bit

Phone

838

P33

Del

Discussed possibility of lightning around Jennie Lake contributing to the Kaweah Fire. I will send a map tomorrow.


850



Breakfast


905



Took and recorded the weather


920



Scan


925

Del

PTV

In-service


926

Del

SNF

In-service


936



Scan


959



Quick Scan


1004

SNF


Lookout Check in, Staffing and Weather Report


1006

PTV


Weather Report and Staffing


1030



Scan


1033



Started to Wash Windows


1047



Scan


1111

P33

PTV

Inservice to Dunlap


1112



Scan


1118

KaweahTrainee

PTV

Update report on the Kaweah Fire at Jennie Lake. They are on the scene. The containment lines held overnight. He will report back in an hour.


1125

SNF


Tone 10 going down for a battery swap-this is at Fence Meadow. Later on I can see the reflection of his vehicle’s window.


1135



Scan


1137



Interesting following things on a scan. I saw several reddish objects floating around. At first I thought it was bits of red plastic flags. But then one of them came into view: it was a leaf, flying a couple hundred feet above the ground.


1138



Continue to wash windows


1141

E32

PTV

Inservice to Dunlap


1152

361

PTV

Inservice to Big Meadows


1155



Scan


1201

310

PTV

Inservice to Big Meadows


1215

Div 3

E32

Inquiring about location


1223

P33

PtV

Location change: Hume Lake area


1225



Scan


1230



Lunch


1251

KaweahTrainee

PTV

Fire still within lines. They put some water on it to cool the fire and snag tree. Remain in patrol status. Returning to vehicle.


1255



Scan


1303

E32

PTV

In quarters, Pinehurst


1307



Took Delilah’s Weather


1311

36

PTV

Returning to quarters


1325



Scan


1325

Comp2

SNF

Tone 10 back online


1340



Finished washing windows


1353



Scan


1354



Nap


1359

36

PTV

Back in quarters and out of service


1414



Scan


1431

3A

PTV

In Service to Big Meadows


1439



Scan


1510



Scan


1513



Continue to go through coordinates


1528

KaweahTrainee

PTV

Returned to vehicle. Returning to quarters


1529



Scan


1537

P33

PTV

Returning to Quarters


1540



General fire weather


1550



Scan


1600

SNF


Lookout Check in


1602

PTV


Indices and Weather


1614

P33

PTV

In Quarters


1620



Scan


1625



Pack, clean and sanitize


1645



Scan


1658

SNF


Evening checkin-Went out of service


1700

Del

PTV

Out of Service


1720



Left Delilah


1730



Picked up the rounds I saw yesterday


1910



Back home




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