September 28, 2025 - Return to Fresno

Title: September 28, 2025 - Return to Fresno
Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type:Car

Description:

I woke up about 5:30, an hour before I wanted to. But I felt pretty refreshed, so I just stayed in bed, looking at my phone until 6:30. I then started to get my things together--all ten minutes worth. Sleep Inn has a breakfast which we went down for after Sherri got up at 7. Then the car was packed-not like there was a whole bunch of stuff.

Today we are going to go all the way back to Fresno. We started a few minutes after 8 with me driving. Nothing exciting. Well, around Grants Pass there was a lot of smoke from the Brushy fire-what a name for a fire-which is part of the Moon Complex of fires.. Its is between Grants Pass and Gold Beach on the Oregon Coast.

By the time we reach Medford where we stop at Costco for gas, the smoke has mostly dissipated. Just out of Medford we stopped at a rest stop before going on. We debated about lunch since we will be stopping in Sacramento for an early dinner with Peter. We decided that Yaks will fill us up too much. Sherri has found a place in Mt Shasta City called Seven Suns Coffee and Cafe. Its reputation is good sandwiches and burritos. But when we got there, there was a hand printed sign saying “Closing at 11:30”. That is three minutes away. We had passed by a blackish looking smoke a few miles up the road. Evidently that was close to the owner’s house and she needed to take care of things.

So we go on to Yaks after Sherri picks up some coffee there. But at Yaks, the parking area is full, so we go on. Sherri notes there are two In-N-Out’s in Redding, so on we go. Somehow, the phone is giving contradictory instructions on getting to an In-N-Out. Evidently there were two maps going on, giving instructions to both of them. We get that cleared up and pick up a couple burgers. Then we are off again, with Sherri driving.

I will admit, this part of the trip is not very interesting and I am glad Sherri is driving it. She drives for a bit more than an hour, which gives me time to relax. We get to the Dunnigan rest stop before Woodland where we change drivers. I drive into Sacramento where we will meet up with our friend, Peter.

We had arranged to meet at the Hidden Dumpling on P Street. He got there a few minutes before us. Before he and Jamie moved to Sacramento, he was part of our House Church. We order family style, including chowmein, sweat and sour pork and some pot stickers. We leave content, both from the food and our time with Peter.

We continue our trip South. There is some heavy traffic from Sacramento to Stockton. Then it thins out. We may have enough gas to make it to Fresno, but we would arrive on fumes. So that provides the second reason to stop at the gas station at Costco in Turlock. The first is to avail ourselves of the carwash there. After filling up and getting a clean car, we go a few miles south to the rest stop.

Sherri takes over driving for the final leg of our trip. We are very familiar with this stretch as we traveled it just ten days ago. We got home a bit before 9, very tired and glad to be home.

 

September 24, 2025 - Going to Eureka

 Title: September 24, 2025 - Going to Eureka

Hike Info : Description 

Hike Info:

Type:Car

Description:

Today is the start of our trip which will take us to Eureka for a few days and then up to Roseburg for my best man’s daughter's wedding. Then on Sunday, we will come back to Fresno.

I got up and looked through my emails. Still no word from BLM about if I will be able to continue on using their package to provide lightning information to the lookouts, Forest and Parks. I write an email to those who get my information, letting them know the situation-BLM has dropped the contract with EarthNetworks and that I am seeking to get access to lightning data for this group.

Sherri has said she thought we would be going shortly after 8, but she must be pretty tired as she gets up about 7:30. I have gotten most of my stuff packed already. Rachel invites me to walk with her and Friday on our regular walk.When we get back, Sherri is just finishing up breakfast and doing the last things to get ready.

Sherri and her pumpkin ice cream

We are finally ready to leave about 9:45-we would have left a few minutes earlier, but I needed to go back and get my spare glasses. I start off driving. We stopped in Turlock for a bathroom break, then on to Leatherby’s in Elk Grove-our traditional stop. Lunch is eaten there-I have a chicken sandwich and Sherri a California Burger. But that is not why we stop there, as the lunch is pretty normal fare. But the ice cream is good. Usually we split a sundae, but Sherri wants a one scope pumpkin special sundae and I am content with a small mint chocolate sundae-even that raises my blood sugars significantly. Our server, Logan, was very patient with us and all of our questions.

Sherri then drives for the next two and a half hours. This is significantly more time than her usual drive time. We made it all the way to Lucerne by Clear Lake. I thought I might sleep, but I did not. There are a couple of parks on the lake side of the road with bathrooms. When I am driving, I usually do not see the bathrooms until too late. So we do not stop at our usual park in Nice.

I take over driving and drive all the way to my brother’s place in Eureka, stopping only in Willits at Taco Bell for Sherri. I am not that hungry and even less attracted by a Taco Bell meal. I tell David we would make it around 8:30 or 9, but I am surprised because we hit his place shortly after 8. If we do not stop for bathroom breaks, I do not need to account for that in my time estimates.

Yoga Mat Boards

It is good to see him again, besides Zoom. I have not been with him since Christmas time. We talked for about an hour. Also David has made yoga mat boards for Sherri, Andrea and Rachel. We oooh and ahh over them. I think the driving has gotten to me as it is I feel like I need to go to sleep and it is David’s bed time. By 10, my eyelids are closed.

September 12 and 13, 2025 - Park Ridge Lookout and Dark Sky

 

Title: September 12 and 13, 2025 - Park Ridge Lookout and Dark Sky
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

Clouds above Buck Rock

 

Sept 12

We will not be going into service this afternoon. But we want to get up there and spend the night, so we do not need to get up early Saturday. We get packed at a pretty leisurely pace. Then went out for Mexican food at Fuego Taqueria y Resturante, The food was pretty good and my wet burrito would keep me fed for three dinners-two of which I will eat when we get back. We puttered around until 2pm when we took off for Park Ridge Lookout.

Sherri starts off our trip by driving. Our travel comes to a quick slowdown on highway 180. There is an accident which backs up traffic. But after about 10 minutes we pass the accident and the rest of the drive is uneventful. We get into the park about 4:15, We first visit the Visitor Center to make sure that the Dark Sky events we are interested in will be held-they are.

It is a bit late to go on a full fledged hike, but we can go on a short side trip. Since we need to go up to Panoramic Point anyway, we decided to go up and do the short trail to Pan Point. We walked the loop which takes us to both the Old and New points. We do our gawking, even though it is a bit smokey. After observing, we head back to the car, then drive over to Park Ridge Lookout, arriving at 5:30. Jose has just gone out of service and is waiting for us.

Night Sky above Pan Pt

We talked for a while with him. Being a lookout usually means we do not see anybody for long periods of time. Most of us are good with that, but we also welcome interactions with our fellow lookouts when the opportunity presents itself. So we find out a bit more about Jose before he drives off.

We lounge around for a while until 7:30. There is a Dark Sky event at Pan Point. We drive back, but do not even try to go into the parking area; we just park behind the locked gate. We walked to the gathering point, the start of the trail to the Point. We realize that we did not have red lights, but we will make do. We end up towards the last of the group, and it is a pretty good size group. The program is presented by a SEKI ranger. But this puts us into the presence of the Sequoia Conservancy person, Chora. I am not sure if she took pity on us or what, but she gave us a private tour of the skies. Chora is going to Spain next week. We talked about various things including trails in the area and our various backgrounds. We walked back to the car and drove back to the lookout. We arrive around 10 and go to bed shortly afterwards.

Sept 13

Morning Star

I slept well, but not long, having woken up at 0520. Why? Well, I knew there was lightning which needed reporting. It is the first time this year which I am reporting off of my laptop and it shows. I stumble and fumble through it all. There were 79 strikes, mostly in the Evolution Valley area. I got it mostly out by 0730.

This gives plenty of time to get ready to go into service. We were able to get most of our stuff down to the car. It is pretty smokey this morning. I think we have a visual of about three miles, barely able to see Redwood Mountain; Big Baldy is only a bit of an outline. At 0930 we went into service with both Porterville and Ash Mountain Fire. With such limited visibility, the scans are pretty quick.

Not really an interesting day. It is nice having Sherri up here-it is her first time this season. While I do most of the scans-Sherri does some of them as well-she does pay attention to the radio, particularly when I am out of the cab doing the scans. It is also nice just having someone there with me.

 

Sherri's Breakfast

 

 Two weeks ago I discovered the ease of making omelettes for dinner in the lookout. So I am back at it. As I was making it, two men came up, so Sherri talked with them while I cooked her meal. Once done, we change places while we have visitors. Once done, I go back and cook my omelette. Well before I did, I noticed that there was a bee in the egg batter doing a backstroke. The omelette has an acceptable taste sans the bee.

Park Ridge Lookout

 

After taking the weather I laid down for a few minutes. When I woke up, I found that Sherri had been keeping the lookout stable for over an hour. I am grateful. I feel much more refreshed after my nap.

 

 

 

By now, the smoke has cleared up some. I can now see about 6-7 miles without straining. A couple more visitors come through and we do our shtick about the lookout. I talked with Delilah about a BC31 we have been hearing, but there is no resolution there. We know that BC32 is the duty officer. But we cannot figure out who BC31 is. Turns out Wendy had sent out an email saying that BC32 would be the Duty Officer, but he would be driving the truck for BC31. I guess I was not paying good enough attention.

The skies keep clearing and by the time 1700 comes along, we can see in most directions pretty well. But we are also cleaning up for our departure. Almost all of our stuff is down in the car now.

Tomorrow’s lookout sounded like he was coming in tonight, but we have not heard from him. So at 1800, we go out of service and lock up the lookout. Then we are off. Normally we would go straight home, or at least stop to eat. Tonight, we do stop to eat, but at Big Stump. We have a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich and enjoy a somewhat peaceful time.

Night Sky at Big Stump

But what makes this a more imperative stop is that there is a Dark Sky event here at 2000. I see Chora here, but she is pretty busy to talk with, so after a couple of minutes, I leave her alone. The event tonight has the Central Valley Astronomers coming up and sharing their telescopes with the general public. We stay here and enjoy the evening until it opens. There are at least a dozen telescopes set up. The first several we visited were still trying to locate their celestial objects in the fading light. In this case, light is a hindrance. But we do find several telescopes which we can look through. About half are pointed at stars. But the really interesting ones are the ones with clusters of stars. We see a globular star cluster-I do not remember which one-and the Andronmena system. Spectacular! Displays of this beauty always makes me wonder about the parts of Creation which have been hidden until now, whether it is the stellar activities 22,000 light years away or that which is so small, only powerful microscopes can see. Like Paul would say, all creation displays his glory, Romans 1:20.

By 2045, we think we should be going. This will make room for others to enjoy. Off we go and arrive home at 2200. It takes a few minutes to unpack the car. Then into the shower we go. Then to bed by 2300.

Extra Photo's

Friday's night view of the Valley

Moon

Night Sky from Pan Point

Friday Evening Sky

Morning View to the West

Sherri relaxing before going into service

Park Helicopter on its way north to a rescue on Temple Crag

Night Sky from Big Stump

September 1, 2025, Labor Day - Park Ridge Lookout

 

 

 

 

Title: September 1, 2025, Labor Day - Park Ridge Lookout

Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's : Animals

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

 

Description:

Today is my last day at Park Ridge Lookout, and it is Labor Day. I wake up at 0500 after getting a good night's sleep. I then realize there is something missing: no taste of smoke in my mouth. And as the light starts to grow, I realize how clear the air is. This looks like it might be a pretty good day.

Still no lightning so nothing to report. I get the stuff I will not need today and take it down to the car. After my usual granola breakfast, I go in service at 0731; 1 along with my partner lookouts: Delilah and Buck Rock. Shortly after going in service, there is a call to Chief 1 about a Sequoia which has smoke coming out of the top. The Park will check it out. The original call came in through the 911 center in Tulare County. So there is some ambiguity which the fire group needs to figure out. As more information comes in, the location gets known. One of the docents has eyes on it and stays around to make sure that people stay a safe distance away. The fire is now called the Hazelwood since it is off of the Hazelwood Trail.

Various units, such as Cobra4, Yosemite 33, Engine 42 and Patrol 32 go around to the various fires and check the status of them. Part of this status check is to make sure the fires remain inside the containment lines and to identify and tend to any hot spots within those lines. The usual calling out is that there were no hot spots and no smoke within the lines or the original burn. When the unit is content that the fire is no more, they will have it in patrol status for a couple of days. Then they declare it is out.

The Hazelwood fire inspires me, or is it that I am just bored-t don’t think so-to check the images from my past lighting reports. I did find one which looks like a strike was close to the Hazelwood fire. So I send it off to Chief 1. While I am at it, I send off an image of the lightning strikes where the Kettle fire is to Mich at Buck Rock. I get back the equivalent of an “attaboy” from Chief 1. Then Mich said that was an inspiration to look at a fire she spotted. She found a strike close by.

Close to 1000 there is unusual radio traffic. One of the Park units tried to make a stop and the vehicle ran off. That brought in law enforcement and the Park held traffic on the channel for about 10 minutes while the incident played out. You heard them bringing various other units to corner the vehicle as well as an ambulance just in case.

Around 1120 I got two visitors from Sweden, who were interested in aspects of the lookout. One of them asked a question about how the Parks are being affected by the funding cuts and downsizing. In one way of asking this question, it can be for information and a desire to understand. In another way, it can be provocative. As a volunteer under the Park, I do not need to let my personal opinion guide my answers, rather give responses which align with how the agency I am volunteering under sees fit. In this case, I told them I did not have an appropriate response and they should talk with the Park personnel-this is probably a bit more eloquent than what I actually said, but in line with it.

Smoke from Garnet Fire

Then it is back to regular stuff. Mark, my relief who is coming in tonight, calls me and wonders if I have a particular time that I want him here. I told him that anytime before 1800 is a bonus for me. He thinks he will get in between 1630 and 1700. At 1530, I started to clean up the place. With only myself, it is not too bad. Some crumbs on the floor and counter tops to be wiped off. I realize that with all of the smoke outside, I have not been out to clean the windows. So I do the outside, but do not have time for the inside.

Yosemite 33

About 1715 Mark came in. I have already lugged down my stuff, so it is only a bag or two which I need to take down. By the time he gets situated it is about 1740. Yipee, I get to leave 20 minutes early. That feels good. When I get to the Panoramic Point Road, I see several cars coming up. I am always on the lookout for them, so there is no problem.

I had decided to eat my sandwich at Big Stump. I stop and before I can get out my sandwich, I am asked several questions. First, do I know where John Muir Lodge is? Yes I do. Take a left here, a left at the Wye, then a right at the Visitor Center and follow the road around. Another couple asks the question, where does the Big Stump Trail start. I walk them over a few feet and point out the path. They are wondering how long it is? 1.6 miles. Then another car pulls up and asks where the restaurant is. I give them the information as well. Finally able to eat my sandwich. It does feel good to be knowledgeable and helpful. As I am coming into Fresno, I notice there is a fire truck right in front me: Yosemite 33. I have been hearing them all weekend. Seems like a fitting farewell to my time at the lookout. I make it back home by 1945.

Extra Photo'

Pyrocumulus from Garnet Fire

Morning view to east=Mitchell Peak is towards the center left

Morning view to southeast

Animals

 

Usually I do not take squirrel shots as they are so common and a nuisance. This one happened to be exceptionally cute.

August 31, 2025 - Park Ridge Lookout

 

 Title: August 31, 2025 - Park Ridge Lookout

Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

 

 

 

 Description:

The Masked Lookout

I woke up at 0500 with the skies still dark. In the middle of the night, I noticed I was tasting smoke, so I put on my mask. By the time the light showed enough, there was significant gray from smoke around me. At 0515 I interrogated the lightning database and saw that there was no activity in any of my areas. Looks like there may be possibilities starting Tuesday-I guess I get only smoke, no fun. By 0545 I am out of bed and puttering around. Today is much more relaxed than yesterday morning. I guess I am feeling more rested. I have my granola breakfast, wash up, go downstairs and now I am ready to meet the new day.

I did have time to have my quiet time before going in service. I looked at 1 Corinthians 11. There are several things which seem so old fashion in there about husbands and wives. But Paul also talks about how both were made for each other. It is a good thing to remember that it is a symbiotic relationship, not hierarchical.

 

Smoke down at Grant Grove

 At 0731 I go inservice.I notice that many of the Forest units are on their way to Big Meadows and Buck Rock.Our annual Labor Day weekend event is happening there and the Forest likes to show their support. It is a fun time for all. That is one of the reasons why I volunteer for Labor Day weekends, it gives others a chance to participate and I being the stick in the mud that I am, get to be productive.

Garnet Smoke

By the time I went into service, the smoke had dissipated to a great extent. I am starting to see areas which I need to look over. And this is a good thing. Also the smoke smell has left. Actually by this evening, almost all areas are clear, except to the west, and of course right at the fire.

I am doing my scans when I look over in the direction of the Garnet and I see one of the Erickson tankers. It is flying west down the Kings from behind the area I cannot see. These planes are enough to have a lookout just stop and watch their activity. I watched as a second one emerged from the same area. I think they are trying to protect an area from going over the Kings.

About an hour later, I hear a jet to the south, and there is another Erickson tanker flying north over Buck Rock. But this one did not look like the others-it has more red. But when I get on FlightAware, it says it is another Erickson plane. There must be some really strong concern about what is happening to this fire.

Tanker

 

I fall into a rhythm of scanning, then reading or working on a spreadsheet trying to match fires with lightning strikes. I heard Buck Rock trying to get a hold of Delilah, but there is no answer. I talk with Buck Rock, but he says that Delilah had gone in service this morning. Around noon, Delilah radios me and we talk.. He is getting some visibility. Buck Rock also chimes in and tells Delilah if things get too bad, to go on home. He does stay till the end of his shift.

Air Traffic over Garnet Fire

While I am talking to Delilah, I have visitors-the first time Park Ridge has had visitors in four days. This is a couple from Minnesota. As they leave, another set of visitors comes up. It turns out this is a group of about 20 people from Los Angeles. When it rains it pours.

I have lunch, then do a scan. I notice that there are some people down at the picnic table who are eating. I invite them up. They are four men who are from the Bay Area who are of Indian origin. They listen and are interested in all that I have to say. It helps to have the Garnet Fire as a backdrop to my rambling. They even want to have a picture with me.

When the men leave, four young females who are staying in Fresno, but are from LA come up. Another time to talk. One of the ladies looks like she is dehydrated. I give her one of my bottles of water. I have enough for my needs through tomorrow.

Most of the rest of the afternoon is spent doing lookout things. There were no more visitors. I did sneak in a 5 minute nap. There are reports from the various units which indicate that the fires in the area which I am concerned about are being well taken care of. Some are being called out, others are continuing being in patrol status. Except for the Garnet Fire which continues to be the dominant visual to the north, things are pretty calm around me.

Lots of smoke

 

While the Garnet Fire is the main show, there were 38 other fires from the storms last week. The area is from Kaiser Peak in the north down to the southern border of Sequoia National Park. Most of these we do not have any special concern about as they are well out of my viewing area. Both Eshom and TUU-Look were discovered by Park Ridge. There is another which is on Big Baldy which E42 checks up on-I would think we would have found this one too. Also there are the Fox and Stony fires which are behind Big Baldy’s ridge. The Big fire is in the Big Meadow area and also is warranting attention. Then there is one which we know where it is on Verplank Ridge, but really do not have a visual. We hear Cobra 4 and Yosemite 33 checking up on this a lot. This might be of bigger concern than the rest. All of these we hear about, except for the Look fire which belongs to CalFire.

How Park Ridge Lookout sees the Garnet Fire

Well that is except for the other types of traffic on the radio. There are medical, traffic stops, missing people and leaky pipes. It is enough to keep my ears busy. But it may be from more of a morbid curiosity than involvement by me. In those cases it is better to make sure I keep out of the way than anything else.

Garnet Fire Pyrocumulus

 

I also keep an eye on the Garnet Fire. Not because I can contribute, even though if I did notice something terribly out of place, I would say something. But with my frontal view and all of the smoke, I could not tell too much. Delilah would have a much better view than I would. I just am in awe of the immenseness of the fire. Even this fire is not that large by large fire standards-about 18,000 acres. A 100,000 acre fire I could only imagine-the last three in this general area where this fire is. (By the time I post this entry it is over 30,000 acres).

Today, the Buck Rock Foundation has their annual Labor Day weekend event at Buck Rock. Buck Rock is staffed with volunteers until later on in the day when Mich comes in. When she does, she tries to get a hold of Delilah to see how the lookout over there is doing-it is the closest lookout to the fire and has been enveloped in the smoke. But there is no answer. A bit later, I hear him on the Park’s General Use channel. I let Buck Rock know and she contacts Delilah to straighten out the situation.

Fire and Glow from Garnet Fire

I wedged in my dinner which is just my leftover from Friday. It is filling enough.

Later on I hear Porterville talking with Buck Rock about a smoke being reported at about 21 degrees from her. She spots it at 19 degrees, but across the River in the Park. They do not know if this smoke is an issue or not. This sounds familiar and I look up a few things and let Buck Rock know that it is the Kettle fire which got reported last week. I also give her the coordinates.

The shadows deepen, but I continue to do my scans until I go out of service at 1930 along with Delilah and Buck Rock. After going out of service, I go downstairs, bringing down things which I will not need. It is a bit late for a walk, so I go back up. After getting ready for bed, I talk with Sherri for about an hour and then get to sleep at 2200.

Extra Photo's

Clear view looking southeast towards Silliman

Evening glow on clouds over the Garnet Fire

Mountains outlines against evening sky