July 10, 2026 - Little Boulder Grover

 

Title: July 10, 2026 - Little Boulder Grover
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

Trail head: Little Boulder Grover East Trailhead on 14S02

Trail:  Little Boulder Grove Trail

Destination: Little Boulder Trail

Distance:  2.51 miles

Start Time: 10:22

End Time:    1:10

Travel Time: 2:47  (0.90 mph)

Moving Time:  1:33  (1.42 mph)

Elevation Rise:  463'

Descent: 472‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,632'

Minimum Elevation: 6,365'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Back in 2017, Sherri, Rose and I walked this trail and were in awe of the Sequoias we found. Not that they were the biggest, nor the most beautiful. But because we could enjoy them without the presence of others. Since that time, I have been wanting to go back, but one thing or another prevented me from doing this. In 2024, Sherri, Steven, Korra and I tried. The only one who did not have troubles navigating the downed trees was Korra and we only got about a half mile in. Wednesday when I was at Delilah, I heard that Crew 3 was at the trailhead. So I hope they have worked on the trail.

I did not want to get up at 5, but since I did not have things ready for our hike today. I got up and did my lightning stuff-none. Then I had breakfast and made lunch. By 8, I was already and Steven and Sherri were up. We pile into the car, with Korra and the wheels start rolling at 8:20. I am driving. Most of the trip was uneventful, except for a guy pulling out in front of me. Not close as far as an accident , just aggravating.

Gary and Steven on Trail

We stopped at Big Stump. I talked with some maintenance people, appreciating their work. Then onward. We turn off of the General’s Highway at Quail Flat, going down the Burton Pass Road-I think formally it is called the Buck Rock Road or in Forest Service parlance 14S02. We arrived at the Little Boulder Grove trailhead-the east one-about 10:10. The big question is: Is the trail passable without going through an obstacle course? The preliminary look down the trail is hopeful.

 

 

 

 

 

Big Tree meets a really big tree

A note about the road going in. There are two ways you can look at this road-and probably will do at the same time. It is only 10½ miles from Quail Flat to the trailhead. But it will take about 40-45 minutes to drive it. It is a paved road in decent condition. But it is narrow and about a lane and a half with lots of sharp curves. So you are constantly looking out for cars coming in your direction. On the other hand, I think it is one of the most beautiful roads in the area, if not the Sierra. You get these occasional glimpses of far off mountain ranges. Meadows poke out to provide a sense of freshness. And there are forests all around you. If you are quick, you can see the tops of the various Sequoia groves in this drainage. It was a pleasure to drive it.

Burnt tree from Rough Fire

We were hoping that the over 100 degree temperatures in Fresno will not follow us up here, after all it is in the mid-6000’ range. Also we had hoped starting earlier would be cooler. Well in the shade, the temperature is pleasant, but when we are in direct sunlight, you can feel the warmth of the sun.

We ignore the heat and enjoy the difference in the condition of the trail from September 2024. The logs have all been cleared and it is easy walking. This is good for about half of a mile. The next third of a mile or so leads down the slope. When we successfully hiked this so many years ago, there were switch backs. But it looks like they are overgrown now. The crew which cleared looks like they obeyed the injunction that the shortest distance between two points is a straightline. The cutting was through brush and there were still stumps of brush on the ground. We needed to watch our feet so we did not trip over them.

 

 

Note: I dumped my track from 2017 and the 2017 and 2026 tracks are almost identical. Not sure where I thought there were switchbacks.

 

Tracks from 2017 which look almost the same ass we did in 2026

 

Twin Sequoias

Still, I am not complaining. Once we finish our descent, the trail levels out and we enter the grove. Anytime I am among Sequoias, there is a sense of how majestic they are and how small I am. The trees in Little Boulder Grove are young. There are no gigantic old trees whose base has widened with age. Instead, these are slender. Some of the trees have burned; damage from the Rough Fire back in 2015, at least that is what I suspect. We tried to figure out which tree we sat at in 2017. In retrospect, this was a futile task as I think the brush got burnt away in the 2015 Rough Fire. It now has had nine years of growth.

We are content with crossing a small rivulet and finding a clear space in the shade to have our lunch. We lounged around for a while, content with not going back into the heat. But we know that is counter productive as the longer we wait, the hotter it will become. I decided to walk about ten minutes further up the trail, just to see what is on the other side of the ridge. What is over the ridge? A creek, Buck Rock Creek which feeds into Little Boulder Creek just down the slope from us. But I do not descend down to the creek, only look. By the time I get back, Sherri and Steven are ready to go. We were at the spot for about 40 minutes.

Almost back to car

At 12:20, we started out, making our return trip. Once again, it is nice walking among the silent Sequoias. But then we have to ascend up to the upper part of the trail. I start lagging behind. This is mostly because my left knee has some pain. This is not the first time. When we were in Minnesota going up stairs, I had the same pain-that was not the first time. I just move slower when I put stress on that knee.

I quickly catch up when we reach the more level upper portion of the trail. I look around and there are impressive views of the mountains on the other side of the Kings-I do need to find openings in the trees to catch the view. Also there are some flowers such as the lupine and indian paintbrush along the way.

We get to the car at 1:30. It certainly is hot inside-and the water bottles will not provide relief and refreshment. Fortunately Steven has an insulated thermos which has kept the water cool. He generously shares it. I start to drive as I want to figure out where a trail is. I did not see it. So Steven drives us home. Shortly after he started driving, I figured out where this trail is, a mile further on. This trail meets the road up to Buck Rock.

Steven asks about stopping at Bear Mtn Pizza. We are all in, until we figure out Korra would be stuck in a hot car. We decided to forgo the pizza. I have Steven stop at the Ranger Station where I tell the information officer that Little Boulder Grove is hikeable now. We get back home about 3:30. I promptly chug some cold sun tea, feeling so much better

Extra Photo's

 

Korra

Sequoia

The one dead Sequoia we saw

Sherri and Steven on trail

The first Sequoia we came to

Buck ROck

Sherri and Korra in car on way to the trailhead

View of across the Kings

Lunch break with a Sequoia

 
Flowers and Plant 

Lupine

Little Princess Pine, I think

July 1, 2026 - Delilah

Title: July 1, 2026 - Delilah
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type:Lookout

Description:

It was a warmer night last night. Even the floor was not cold when I got up at 0510. I checked for any lightning and found none. In the process, I realized that how I was interpreting EGP was incorrect. I need to investigate more. But I think that even when I specify a map set, it is not using it to what I specify rather what is on the screen. That explains that when I pull data, I get outside of the parameters that I specified

I have a leisurely granola breakfast and then go out for a walk. I go further than I have on my last several walks and had more of an incline. Does this mean I am getting into better shape? Probably, but neither does it mean I will be going out tomorrow with a full backpack going up a good slope for 10 miles. It is an improvement and I am glad for improvements.

I got back into the cab about 0830. While the walk was good, the trip up the stairs left me pretty tired for 15 minutes. By 0900 I was doing a scan, then took the weather and went into service at 0930, along with Park Ridge Lookout.

Not much went on in the morning. I continued to do the scans and stuff. Buck Rock did not hear who the duty officer was during the 1000 staffing report and asked Park Ridge who also did not hear. I had recorded the staffing and played it back, so I could hear who the duty was-BC31. When Buck Rock asked me, I could tell her.

On the day when I am leaving, I have my dinner at lunch time. Today it is a repeat of Monday: enchilada and Stagg chili beans. By the time I ate and washed up everything, it was a little past 1300. So I took the weather. The relative humidity is still high compared to how we usually are around here. Then another scan and time for a 15 minute rest time.

 

 

Goat Saddle area

A few more scans. I had just finished one of these scans at 1400 when I heard CalFire, FKU, say that there was a wildland fire called the Guide Fire. I could not decipher the location, but it sounded like it was local. I started scanning, but did not see any smoke. This is not unusual as Pine Ridge blocks about 80 degrees of the area to the south of Delilah. Then Porterville calls it out and the smoke starts to rise up over a branch of Pine Ridge called Dude Ridge. I am able to confirm the smoke. In about seven minutes, that puff was gone, before I could get a good picture.

The area I saw the Guide Fire smoke, mostly dissipated 

The rest of the afternoon is normal stuff. Well sort of. At 1525, while I was doing my scan, I saw something big fly across my binoculars field of vision. There are two hawks gliding around, flying the air currents. Then one of them sees something and makes a beeline into the trees below the tower. I never saw it again. But it was fast. Then the second dives into another set of trees to the west. I lost them then. I guess that is the end of the saw. When I looked up the birds in my John Muir Law’s book, I was wondering if it was an eagle of some type.

At 1600, I responded to Sierra’s lookout check in. There are four of us: Buck Rock, Delilah, Miami and Signal. A little while later Mt Tom went into service. It has been awhile since I heard his voice. I have never met the man, but it is good to have him back.

Sometimes during the afternoon, I heard a report of smoke from Miami Lookout. I have a special interest in Miami. We have hiked up to it several times, but it has never been open. I think starting last year it was being staffed. The lookout was reporting a smoke a half a mile from his lookout. A short time later, he gives a legal location, which puts it at Metcalf Gap. I think that is pretty close to the road we walked up to get to the lookout. If I was him, I would not be very comfortable. Sierra and MMU get right on it and nobody sounds panicked.

As the time of 1800 approaches, I get my stuff together and then clean up the lookout. Of course, I am doing my scans. But the last few scans I may not have been as diligent as earlier in the day. I go out of service with Porterville and Sierra. Then take my stuff down, while locking up. As I am about to climb into the car, I find I still have the lookout keys around my neck. I now had to go back and put them away. Then it is time to drive home. I arrived a few minutes before 2000. That shower felt good.

Extra Photo's

Morning view from the outhouse

The early hummer gets the sugar water

Early morning view of the crest of the Sierra. Split Mtn is part of this view

June 30, 2026 - Delilah

 

Title: June 30, 2026 - Delilah
Hike Info : Description : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type:Lookout

Description:

It was a bit cooler last night than I expected. Still I kept warm, I just kept inside of my bag. While I can sleep with a light on, if I poked my head out of the bag, the moon was still going strong. It probably will be the same tonight.

I do wake up before the sun rises, at 0500. I had checked last night and saw that there was some lightning yesterday, both in my local area and in Stanislaus NF. The local one is outside of my vision. It stretched from the upper Middle Fork of the Kings to east of Florence Lake. The question is how to do the report. Yesterday I realized that the travel laptop I have did not have all of the files which my home computer had. Last night I had decided on how to jerryrig things to get something useful. I was able to get to mostly working and get the information the lookouts needed.

 

Delilah

By the time I was done with the lightning report-I had eaten breakfast while working on the report-it was 0800. I decided to go for a walk before getting into lookout mode. Of course, when in the tower, there is a reflex of looking around and seeing if all is right with the world. I am gone for about 40 minutes, having gone just to the saddle and back. Then I clean up the cab and get ready for the day.

Nothing special to start today off. I started off doing a scan, then took the weather. Nothing alarming with either. At 0930 I go into service with both Porterville and Sierra. Then I look at the fire weather forecast and see who is on in the Sequoia Forest. The “who is on” is what staffing there is around me and most importantly, who the duty officer is on duty. It looks awfully sparse as far as staff in this area. The radio traffic from Porterville at times can have a lot of static. This is one of those times. I have a habit of recording the staffing, so I can play it back and make sure I hear the staffing correctly. Evidently Buck Rock had the same issue as they called me up and I told her what I heard.

 

Smoke in the Valley

When I am at a lookout for more than one day, I try to clean windows. I am able to do Delilah’s windows in a couple of hours, between other duties. Well, after finishing, I still see places for improvement. At 1230 I have my lunch. Then at 1309, I take the weather. Not too much different than this morning, except more breezy. I am hearing on the radio that the duty officer and a work group is gathering at the McKenzie helipad. That is on the road into Delilah. I wonder if they are going to head this way? Am I getting lonely? I do not think so after all the isolation of Delilah is one of its attractions for me.

I do have two 15 minute rest periods, between scans. During my scans, I see a wide variety of land. There is the Valley land, filled with orchards, farmlands, and ranches. We do not report fires in this area. Then comes the foothills, above the Friant Kern canal. For the most part, these lands hold only some interest-the people I know and the history which is part of the land. Then there are the mid-mountains where Delilah is. I have traveled through some of the areas, both in a car and on foot. It is fascinating and not many people go over to Patterson Bluffs, nor into Millwood or any of the places which this lookout is part of. Finally, on a clear day, I can look up the Middle Fork of the Kings all the way to the crest.

And that is where my heart is. And why this train of thought came as I looked over the areas which I love? I wonder if I will ever be able to go back there? It does require strength and endurance, things I am losing. There is a bit of melancholy with that thought. The reason which I love that area is because I have been able to experience it, it became part of who I am. In stories you read about how a hero cannot go home and looks longingly towards the place he cannot return to. I can place myself in the hero’s shoes.

But I am fortunate as I can still do so many things I love to do, such as hike be in a lookout, read, and the plethora of interests I have. Also I have family and friends who love me. I am not despondent, just yearning.

Evening view from outhouse

At 1600, I responded to the lookout check in from Sierra. I spot two smokes, but neither are reportable as they are in the Valley. At 1716, I called up Porterville to say I am overnighting here, my last planned night for a little while. I do have a lot to be thankful for. At 1755 I went out of service with Sierra and Porterville.

Most days after I have been in the lookout all day, I am spent. Not because I am doing anything terribly physical, nor mentally challenging. I think it is because of always being on: listening to the radio and constantly looking out for smoke. Very little real downtime during the day. Yesterday evening, I was spent. Tonight, after finishing up everything, I got right to the business of eating the quiches Sherri had sent me.

98.9% of a full moon

After washing the dishes and putting away everything, I went for a walk. I was thinking I would be about half an hour, but I was gone for over an hour. Wendy and I had a light and fun text conversation. Each of my replies would give me an excuse to pause while going up the hill which is Mount Sampson, not that the road goes over it.

When I returned, I talked with Sherri for about 45 minutes. Since I have waited this long, I think I will wait for the moon to rise. It is to rise at 2119 and be 98.9% full. Maybe not as nice as yesterday, but there will not be clouds getting in the way. By 2140, I am in my bag.

Flowers and Plants

Grove of Dandelions

Milkweed

Foxtail

Google says it is Penstemon, I am not that sure

June 3, 2026 - Park Ridge Lookout

 

Title:  June 3, 2026 - Park Ridge Lookout
Hike Info : Description :  Background : Animals 

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

Today is the first day of being in a fire lookout this season. I am going up to Park Ridge Lookout. The past couple of days I have been gathering my supplies and think I am ready as far as being able to be comfortable up there. Monday night Wendy sent me a refresh quiz, things I should know. When I looked it over, I was thinking how much have I forgotten and how will it come back?

Burn scar on Mt Campbell from a June 2nd fire

 

I get up at 5:35. I finished loading up the car with a few last minute things, plus the food in the refrigerator. I think I am ready to go. Now to get into the car, but first I need to find my wallet> When did I last use it? After a ten minute search I found it. I cannot even say it is old age.

I left a few minutes later than I thought I would, taking off at 6:50. The drive up goes fast. I realize I have not gone this way in a while. When I get to the entrance station, I am waved through, even though there is a line. Do they recognize that I must be royalty? Probably not, they just see my Buck Rock door magnet and know that I am volunteering up here.

Source of Faucet Problem

I get to Park Ridge Lookout at 8:40. One of the things which I was going to track down was if I could determine why the cell phones were not working. I called Sherri-I can contact Verizon. At 8:45 I entered the cab and then brought my stuff up for the next 36 hours or so. This includes food and water as well as a sleeping bag and clothing. Took me at least four loads. Much better than going up and down Delilah's 80 stairs.

I looked at the cell phone, just checking on the status and I saw everything was good. I then phoned it with my phone. I got through! Then phoned Wendy on the the lookout phone. She is happy that the phone actually works! We talked a bit more

 

I have ample time to do the things which I should do before going into service, such as taking the weather and scanning for smokes. Also I got my paper work all in order. When 9:30 hits, I go in-service with Ash Mountain Fire and Porterville.

The plumbers unit

While we do not use the water from the lookout faucet-it is considered soapy water and non-potable, we do use this water for cleaning. The water is running slow. Our Buck Rock Foundation maintenance team descended on the tank and pump which services the lookout.

Neil, George, Richard and Jan work on it for much of the morning. They will replace something and call up asking if that is how the flow should be. Sometimes there is a slight improvement, other times it goes from bad to worse. This gets a bit more frustrating to the team. I wonder if the issue is up in the cab under the sink and I play with the shutoff under the sink. But Neil comes up with the solution: the screen on the faucet is clogged with rust. Once he cleans it out, there is a good flow. The team thinks that one of the parts they replaced was the main culprit, but in fixing this, it dislodged the rust which clogged the screen. It works and everybody is happy.

 

 

Marmot Buddies

While all of this is going on, I still have the tasks to do which is why I am up here. At 10:00 both Ash Mountain Fire and Porterville both did their weather and staffing-at the same time. Plus there is the background plumbing going on. Fortunately I had most of the information off of a couple web sites I know about. Shortly after they finished, Buck Rock asks, who is the Hume Lake Ranger Disrict’s duty officer? I had seen it was Division 3, but I must have sounded unsure as Delilah chimes in to confirm.

I get back to the things I look out for: looking for smoke. I also regained familiarity of being in a lookout after a eight month hiatus. There is very few people on the District, hume Lake Ranger District, today. It is easy to keep track of where they are. Patrol 33 is all over the place-down in Eshom, then up to the Chimney Rock, and over to Big Meadow. From there, Patrol 33 goes to Hume Lake and then down into the Canyon. I wonder who she is giving the grand tour to? Later on I see a Facebook post where our friend Judy has spent the day with Patrol 33.

By 11:30 the plumbing situation had been resolved. Both Richard and Jan have gone on to Buck Rock. Neil and George decide to have lunch at the lookout. George comes up to the cab and we talk out on the catwalk. We both are feeling some of the effects of age. We commiserate that after we end our time in the lookout, we need some time to recuperate. It is good to talk with him.

Flag at Sunset

Around 12:30, Neil and George left me to be the sole commander of this outpost. The first thing I do with this immense power is to have lunch. By the time I finished with lunch, I did a scan then took the afternoon weather by 13:15. Then the rest of the afternoon is doing the basics-isn’t that what a lookout’s life really is? I did more scans, more quizzing myself on the landmarks which I see, and talked with visitors.

On that last part, I had a variety of them. Each year there is an annual inspection of the power lines for hazardous trees. One of the guys recognized me from last year and I recognized him. They came up to the cab and enjoyed the sights. Then a couple from Cleveland came up. They are interested in the hikes and places to go around the Park. Of course I provide. It must have been an Ohio day as a family from Cincinnati came up. As we talked about the wildlife-and no I do not see bears up here-they mention that there was a rattlesnake on the trail.

Towards the end of the shift, a couple from Boston doing the van-life thing come up. They spent the day doing things around the Visitor Center and wanted to go for a hike. That led them to this lookout. We talked for a while and I answered questions. Evidently he has a YouTube channel which is a blend of satire and travelog. He is interested in doing a short interview with me and I accommodate. He said it will take a while for him to edit and get it up, but I can find his channel by looking for Matty Appleseed.*

Before the end of the day, I did several things. The Forest wants to know if we are staying overnight in a lookout. At 16:36 I phoned Porterville Dispatch and told them I am overnighting. They wanted to know if I am going out of service now? No, not until 18:00. Then Jeff calls and asks about propane. I find what he is looking for. While the last visitors are here, I go out of service with Ash Mountain Fire, then with Porterville. I am out of service by 17:53. The last visitors leave at 18:15.

So what do I do with the remainder of the daylight hours? Jeff had planted the idea of going out for a hike. But first, I want to have dinner. Then my calendar alarm goes off and reminds me I have a family Zoom time. There is an advantage of being at this lookout-the Verizon tower is just 50’ away so I have great reception. Family takes priority over hiking-I love it that my children want to connect with us. David, Sherri, Andrea and I talk for about an hour while I eat my quesadilla. By the time it ends and I do a bit of cleaning up, the sun is low in the sky. Time for the reward for staffing a fire lookout: the sunset! And then darkness. By 21:30, I am in my sleeping bag reading and doing those kinds of stuff.

Background

*Matty had asked me what I did in my time. I rattled off a variety of things, including leading a House Church. This led me to a question of what Bible story do I like best.Questions like this, my mind usually draws a blank and it did this time. But for some reason Jesus’ parable of Lazarus and the rich man came to mind-which I butchered. But it led me into talking about the need for honesty and righteousness in one's life. This seemed to resonate with him. Luke 16:19-31.

Animals

Marmot