October 15, 2024 – Park Ridge Lookout

 

Title: October 15, 2024 – Park Ridge Lookout
Hike Info : Description 

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

 

Description:

I got up at 0500. No lightning which seems to be the new normal I then ate breakfast and got myself ready. Shortly before 0700I left the house, this time with the Highlander. I guess I am a bit nervous about the Ranger-but that should go away. When I got on Highway 168, I noticed SQF’s E32 in front of me. I pretty much followed them all the way to Centerville when another vehicle, slower, got in between me and them. I lost contact around Hills Valley Road.

Looking south from Park Ridge at smoke from Happy Fire

 

Happy Fire Smoke

The trip up was uneventful. When I got to the entrance station, I was the only one. I stopped and talked with Jeff, the same person as last Wednesday. Then I used the bathroom at the Visitor Center. By the Wye instead of a sign saying there was a prescribed burn, it says that “flames may be visible”. I wonder where that fire is? Is it the Happy Fire? The VC is closed, so I continue on.

On the Park Ridge Service Road, the “dangerous tree” is still leaning over the road. Then when a pass by an open area, the Happy Fire appears across the Kings. I get to the lookout about 0850. I take my time getting my stuff up and opening up the lookout. I think I am feeling a bit lethargic.

After taking the weather at 0912 and doing a scan, I go in-service at 0930-the first of our group. At 1000, Portville gives the weather and staffing-twice, both times pretty filled with statics and unintelligible. Since Division 3 is on, I am assuming he is the Duty Officer today. Ash Mountain Fire gives their staffing and is readable.

Things were pretty quiet. Scans and listening to the radio. About 1220, a couple ladies from Visalia ate lunch on the table below. So I had my lunch as well. After they finished, they came up, asked a few questions and left. They did not seem to want any of my long, drawn out answers their questions.

 

 

H522 returning from Happy Fire

Evidently I got a good Yelp rating as about ten minutes later another couple from Tulare came up. They were really interested in the lookout and how it was staffed. After staying about an hour, left their name and phone number for next year’s rookie class. Then about twenty minutes later a couple from San Diego came by and spent about half an hour. I think I earned my tour guide pay today.

By this time it is approaching 1500. I look at my phone and noticed that Wendy has called. I call her back and we have a nice call. Talked a bit about the Happy Fire and a few bits of business. It is good to have a friend like her. After I get off the phone, time to do another scan. 

 

 

 I hear that H522 is taking off from Pinehurst to scope out the Happy Fire. The helicopter should come pretty close to Park Ridge. So out I go to see if I can see it. I do spot it, but before I can take a picture, I hear a voice asking, Have you seen my husband? Am I hearing this right? Yep. She has lost track of her husband and trying to figure out where he went to. I had not, but she gives me a description and asks about where the road goes to. I tell her and she goes on her way.

Can you see the smoke from the Mustang Fire?

The helicopter takes off from the Happy Fire. This time I see it and get a picture. It is getting to be close to 1600. So I start cleaning up. I am expecting to hear the afternoon weather and indices, but nothing comes from Porterville. 

 I have found if I have dinner before I leave a lookout, that I do better. So after doing a scan, I microwaved a cheeseburger which Steven BBQ’d last night for our House Church potluck. It was a bit better fresh, but still tasty. Before I can completely consume the burger, I hear of a fire, the Mustang Fire. Now where is this? The radio is a bit staticy, but I hear them calling our resources in our area. I find online where the fire is-Yokut/Squaw Valley on Mustang Lane. Looking in that direction, I can somewhat make out the smoke. I looks like it coming from behind a ridge. But I get the azimuth from this lookout, 272^o 10’ and call that in, not that it is needed. It is too hazy to get a good take on how far away it is. At lets it confirms there is a smoke and that I am awake. About 10 minutes later resources start calling in to Porterville saying they were called off . I do not have anything to add to this, so I keep silent. I also do a scan or two, swifter the floor and go out of service by 1655.

 

More Happy Fire pictures from the Park Ridge Service Road

By 1710, I am on the road back home. On the way out on the service road, I meet three hikers and make sure they are doing well. Then I try not to leave too much dust. The drive back is mostly uneventful, particularly compared to last weeks. The only thing was got behind a pickup truck, a new one at that, who decided that 40mph was the safest speed all the way down the mountain. He kept a whole line of people safe. I get home about 1850, in time to watch Jeopardy.