Title: October 9, 2024 – Park Ridge Lookout
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| Park Ridge Guards |
Woke up shortly after 5. I had done the lightning report last night, but just checked to see if there was activity between then and now-there was none. So I spent a leisurely time getting ready to my day at Park Ridge Lookout.
I
take off a few minutes before 7. And it is a pretty easy drive up to
the Park. I had noticed a smoke smell about 3,000’. When I got to
the Park entrance, I asked the entry station if he knew where the
smoke was coming from. Jeff said the Happy
Fire.
There was growth last night. Good to know.
Plume from the Happy Fire
As I was climbing up toward Panoramic Point, I started to notice a different smell. Not sure what it is. But when I stopped to unlock the gate to the service road, I knew what it was: coolant from my Ranger. Looking inside, I saw that a connection to a hose had broken. There is no cell service here, so do I go on to the Lookout or try to go back down? I decided that if the hose could be kept in place, there should be some duct tape at the Lookout which would help me patch together things. Plus there is water there. I put a quart of water in the radiator and was able to get to the lookout. The hose had gotten detached. I got some duct tape out of the cab and made an attempt to hold the hose in. I will do a better job of it later.
Inversion Layer in the north
I
open up the lookout, bringing my stuff up. Only two loads which is a
lot less than the number of times I go up for multiple days. I then
take the weather, look at the boards and do a scan.
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| Smoke to the south |
Then it is the normal stuff. Scanning, listening to the radio. I get two visitors from Minnesota and I go through my fir and prescribed burn routine. they are interested in lookout life. Also he seems fascinated with the Osborne Fire Finder. That breaks up the day some. There is a lot of haze/smoke. So I only have about 5 miles of visibility. The smoke is from the Happy Fire. I heard on the radio that there are a couple of our folks up at the fire, tending it. Around 1145 they will be leaving the fire. Their call sign is Firewatch51. As I am hearing them, I think we need a cool call sign instead of Park Ridge Lookout or Delilah.
I
talked with the President of the Buck
Rock Foundation.
I told her Sherri and I were resigning from being Associate Directors
on the Foundations Board. We are not unhappy with the Foundation. We
just think that we have one too many things going on and this will be
easiest to cut. We still want to be lookouts.
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| Looking east, pretty clear |
By 1230 it is time for lunch and I take care of that. Then followed at 1315 for the weather. It looks like the smoke is lifting some. Towards the west, I can see about 6-7 miles along with the south. But the real improvement is to the east where I can see Mitchell Peak very clearly now along with the peaks behind, such as North and South Guard and Mt Brewer. I spend a few minutes laying down with my 15 minute timer going. A bit more rested. More scans and going over the terrain.
About 1430 I think I should go down, and revamp my fix to the radiator hose. I set up the Forest’s handheld to scan SQF’s Ch 4, R5 Project and the Park’s Command 2. Almost immediately I heard communications on the handheld from the Park, but none on the Park radio. This is interesting. After I go down and do what I am going to do, I will check this out further.
Looking at the tape job I did this morning, I think there is a better way, so I redo it and fill up all of the coolant water places. Then it back upstairs to figure out the radio.
I confirm that the Park radio seems to die after a couple of minutes. But it had been on the charger all night. Maybe the charger is not charging? Or have all the batteries decided to die? Or maybe it is the radio? At this point, I think it is time to bring in Wendy. I explain about the radio and she said that the lady who was up there previously was having issues as well. We work through a few things to no avail. Wendy suggests the clam-shell. There is a clam-shell filled with AA batteries. The outside contacts has a layer of corrosion which I wipe off. Still no good. I cannot open the clam-shell to see if the batteries are corroded as well. I tell Wendy that I think I can work with the Forest radio and she said to change the tone to 7 so I could talk on it. After some fumbling, I am able to. Set the tone and do a radio check with Ash Mountain Fire. They are able to hear me.
I
then explain to Wendy that I had car problems coming up.. She is
ready to call in the cavary. I think if I can make it to Panoramic
Point, I can get down to the Visitor center pretty easily. It will be
a lot easier to get help there. But she advocates that I leave early.
Now that sounds pretty good. It is about a quarter to four. There is
a few things to do before closing up the lookout. I only manage to
leave at 1630, about 25 minutes sooner than scheduled.
Source of my car problems
I notified everybody that I was leaving. I keep an eye on the temperature gauge. It looked pretty good. I get to the gate and start down the hill, a bit nervous, but pretty confident I will get to the Visitor Center. I do get there and I tell Wendy, Sherri and Steven of my status and continue on my way. I do pretty well until just past Bear Mountain Pizza when the Ranger starts to lose power. I stopped by the side of the road and there is steam coming out. I guess my fix did not last all the way down. I have about three gallons of water which I put into the radiator after letting the engine cool a bit. Then I am off.
This time I make it as far as Centerville. I debate about getting a tow or having Sherri come out with water. I decided to inconvenience her. About 45 minutes later she comes out with four gallons. I fill the radiator and am off. I am hoping to make it home. But not quite. I make it onto Dakota, about three miles from my house. I try to park at a spot which will allow access for Sherri, but not be blocking anybody. I failed. The Ranger dies in the middle of a alley access to a gym. But some SouthEast Asians, tell me to get back in the vehicle and they push me to the side of the road. Thank You!
Sherri comes out in about 30 minutes-she had not made it home yet. I will the radiator and make it home after 2000. After unloading the truck, I join the Zoom family meeting. It is good and relaxing. Sherri makes me a croissant chicken sandwich. It hits the spot. After the meeting, I take a shower and go to bed-I am tired.
The next day, I take the truck into Snapps. They are able to get the part and having it back to me in one day. I love that place.
Trail Lesson: Things will happen, be prepared for them.
