July 3, 2025 - Park Ridge Lookout

 

 Title: July 3, 2025 - Park Ridge Lookout

Hike Info : Description : Background : Menu : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

It is a busy morning. I woke up at 0515 and started on the lightning report. Lots of stops and starts to it. There were 550+ strikes yesterday in our area. I did a partial report without all of the details. There was just too much with the laptop I have. It has got me wondering, should I get a different laptop? Can I do the report on my tablet? Things to ponder.

 Today will be a long day. I go in-service with both Sequoia National Forest and the Park at 0800. I am the only lookout I heard going into service at this time. Later on Jeff at Buck Rock reports a fire, but I did not hear him going into service. The fire I heard reported is behind Maddox Mountain. But initially I could not place it as I was only given the lat long. But I gradually worked out where it was. The smoke has not risen to where I can see it. It was probably caused by yesterday’s lightning. Division 3 takes charge and orders up a team. They will hike in a couple of miles over Marvin Pass to the fire.

In the meantime, the Big Stump Incident Commander is reporting on the prescribed burn. Even with the wind last night, the lines held and they will mop up. I add I saw some smoke around 1910, but it died down. He indicated that the wind had kicked up some embers, but it died down again. I confirmed that he wanted to know about any smoke there

Park Ridge Greeters

Then it is the normal routine stuff. Scan, listen to the radio, take the weather. Oh wait, I am late in doing the latter. Still not a big issue as things are pretty calm. The Gammon fire is a little interesting, but now that the crews are mobilizing, there is not much radio traffic. That will come this afternoon when the crews have tackled the fire and report back on what they found. When I asked Buck Rock where it is, he said it was a bit south of Shark Rock-I do not know where this is.

At 0931 I took the weather-nothing unusual today. Then at 1000 the weather and staffing is reported by Porterville. I got some company about 1020-a crew from PG&E had come up and was clearing the brush and tree limbs from the power lines.

But that is not my only entertainment. I watch a couple hawks gliding around the air current off towards Buena Vista Peak. Then they swoop down in front of me and disappear for away, only to reappear to do their sky dance.

I must be getting really bored. The lookout at Delilah, it is his first day soloing, so I call over to see how things are going over there. Finally a bit after noon, I got my first visitors. They ask questions and I try to explain the functioning of a lookout, along with the territory they are seeing.

We hear a little more about the Gammon Fire. The crews have made it in and gave a size up on it. It is 50’x50’ with a fire burning in the top of a tree 30-40’ up. They intend to secure the lines around the area and then hike out, starting in 2 to 2.5 hours.

Elwood Fire

Patrol 33 over in the Big Meadows area has her hand full. There is a report of a downed tree across a road. She goes out and clears it. Then found another one. An engine wants to put signs around saying no off-road vehicles-does Patrol 33 have any? None today-she usually has everything in her truck.

 

Elwood Fire after 30 minutes

I have continued doing my scans. There is a lot of haze, but I see a bit of something unusual around Tivy Mountain. I call over to Delilah and ask if he sees it. He does now. Buck Rock says that CalFire is responding. Delilah will call in a confirmation. SQF personnel start to respond. After about 40 minutes they are called off.

Park Ridge Lookout

The Big Stump burn reports in. I later told him that I had been seeing puffs of smoke all afternoon. Apparently that is not what Ash Mountain wants to be hearing as Wendy calls me up. She got a call and is relying on that they do not want to hear about the smoke on the prescribed burn. 

Evening

 

A little before 1900 I go out of service with Ash Mountain. But I keep on scanning until 2000 for SQF. Then with Buck Rock, I go out of service.

Today after putting stuff away, there is time to go for a short walk just down the road to the base of the knoll the lookout is on. Then back up to the cab. I talked with Sherri for a little bit. Then back down to the ground. I tried to get some pictures of the stars, but no success. But I did get one of the lookout. By the time my head hits the pillow it is getting close to 2200.

Background

Not really background, but as I am trying to find where the Gammon Fire is, I wonder, can I build a spreadsheet which will compute the lat/long based upon the azimuth and distance from a location? I already go the other way and compute the azimuth and distance from a lookout, based upon the lat/long.

Menu

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Granola	Peanut Butter and Nutell along with some sun chips	Quesadilla	Granola, ritz crackers Jelly Belly

Extra Photo's

Park Ridge Lookout at Night

Morning to the east

Sunrise

Sunrise

 

 

November 1, 2023 - Crescent and Other Meadows

 

Title: November 1, 2023 - Crescent and Other Meadows
Hike Info : Description : T  Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Crescent Meadows Parking Area

Trail: Crescent Meadow, Circle Meadow,  Trail of the Sequoias, Log Meadow

Destination:  Wander

Distance:  5.95 miles 

Start Time:  11:05

End Time:      3:43

Travel Time:  4:38 (1.28 mph)

Moving Time:   3:43 (1.60 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,173'

Descent: 1,194‘

Maximum Elevation: 7,344'

GPS Tracks

Sherri on path

Description:

It has been a couple weeks since we went hiking. Also about this time the broadleaf trees should be turning into more autumn coloring. It will be just Sherri and I. Also, it is the first day not doing a lightning report for the fire lookout-we went out of service Monday.

But I still get up before 7. Sherri gets up about half an hour later. We left our house at 8:45 with me driving. Once we get to the foothills, we see smoke and it is getting pretty dense towards the Redwood Mountain area which means it could be either or both the Big Stump prescribed burn or from the Rabbitt Fire. When we got up to the Park's entrance there are signs saying don't report the smoke as these are known fires already. We definitely do not have the car windows rolled down. When we drive by the Buena Vista area, we see small columns of smoke rising from blacked stumps and branches. But as we moved towards Giant Forest, away from the fires, the smoke decreased.

Sequoia at end of Circle Mdw

We talked about doing a loop we have done a couple of times. But the KNP Complex fire a couple of years ago did a number to parts of the trail. So we parked at Crescent Meadow Parking Area at 10:50. Even though it is not smokey, maybe a bit hazy, here, there is a slight acidic smell which I identify as smoke.

At 11:10, our boots hit the dust. Usually we have gone somewhat counter-clockwise. Today we start off the same way the clock does. We head along Crescent Meadow. The meadow is in its seasonal decline. Most of the grasses and ferns have faded to a yellow. But then the Sequoias which ring the meadow just show that much more.

We bump over a low ridge and come into Circle Meadow. We take the trail to the east of it. The trail goes up and down to avoid trampling on the meadow. The meadow is in the same seasonal status as Crescent. But this one is a bit longer, so we look down the length of the meadow, seeing Sequoias showing off.

There are two things which cause us to pause. The first thing we have seen is the burnt remains of a Sequoia. This gets me to wondering how this tree caught fire and burnt so badly. The tree seemed so isolated as there were no other seriously burnt trees close by. It takes a lot to burn a Sequoia. Later on there was a large area where there were many more burnt trees. I think this area was a large and maybe intense spot fire from the KNP Complex.

 

Chief Sequoyah Tree

The second thing is the number of freshly fallen trees. These are monster size Sequoias, looking like they have fallen within the last six months to a year. Some of them still had greenery on them. I started wondering if a Giant Sequoia fell and if nobody was around, would it still measure on a seismograph? (By the way, the answer is yes.) The thought I really had is if these giants could topple over after standing centuries or a millennium or two, what chance do I have for standing up against time and the elements?

Just before we hit the Congress Group, we stop and have lunch. There was a nice tree to sit on and it was pleasant enough in the area. Before taking off again, I shed the pants legs and hike the rest of the day in shorts and a T-shirt. Not bad for the first day of November.

When we get to The Senate Group, we branch off onto The Trail of the Sequoias. The Chief Sequoyah Tree starts us off. While not the most awesome tree in the forest, it is a tree of significance. Chief Sequoyah is who brought a written language to the Cherokee and was subsequently adopted by other Indian nations. He is also who the Sequoia trees are named after.

 

The Trail of the Sequoias now ascends up the ridge above the Congress Grove. When we get to the top of the rise, we come across a whole area-several acres-which were burnt during the KNP Complex. It does not feel like this was the main part of the fire, but maybe a spot fire? We met a guy from Los Angeles. He did not think this was a spot fire. Later on looking at some of the fire maps, I think my guess of this being a spot fire is correct.

Gary wandering the paths

Still the area looks so different than the last time we were here. Not only coming up from a different direction, but the extent of the burn. There is a majestic tree right at the top. It had been previously burnt, but now it looks so much more black today. After ten minutes of walking, we leave the burnt area and continue on the Trail

We debated about going on the Eagle View or drop down to Log Meadow and Tharp's Cabin. We decided that we have walked enough for now. So we dropped into Log Meadow. As we descend, we see some color we have been looking for come into view. It looks even more impressive when the background is a giant Sequoia which fell a long time ago.

A short walk away is the cabin where Tharp Summered in the area. I am always impressed with how short Tharp must have been. Now we are less than a mile away-even though the sign says 0.08 miles-it is more. But the walk is pleasant as the sun still provides some warmth for us weary travelers.

When we get back to the car, I see that SEKI Fire is here, particularly BC-3. I met him a couple of months ago as I was going into Park Ridge and he was coming out. He was over at Eagle View to observe the Redwood Fire-it is still going, sending up columns of smoke, but not really much volume.

 

 We take off for Fresno about 4:00. We both are a bit hungry, so we stop in Yokut or Squaw Valley at Bear Mountain Pizza. The pizza was better than the last time we were here. On the way back to Fresno, we join the family Zoom call-a good way to end the day.

 

Extra Photo's

Giant Sequoia

Burnt remains

Freshly fallen giant

Tree at the end of Circle Meadow

Castle Rocks across the Kaweah from us

Gary on the trail

Another burnt tree

Sherri, Gary and the Chief Sequoyah Tree

Chief Sequoyah Tree

Sherri

Creek into Log Meadow

Gary at Log Meadow

Giant fallen long ago at Log Meadow

Log Meadow

Gary walking through a Giant Sequoia

 
Flowers and Plants

September 21, 2023 - Park Ridge Lookout

Title:  September 21, 2023 - Park Ridge Lookout
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

Woke up a bit after 0500 and puttered around for a while. It was too late to go back to sleep, too early to get up. I ate breakfast and finished loading the car. Even with the early waking up, I got out a bit late, about 0715. On top of that, I got behind several trucks which slowed me down. Big Stump could not be passed up, after all it is tradition. Then made it to Park Ridge Lookout a few minutes before 0900.

I started lugging stuff up, but paused to take the weather-48^o with 82% humidity. Pretty cool. At least there is no wind. I continue until 0930 when I go inservice. Buck Rock goes in before me. There is about 4 miles of visibility, maybe a bit more north of me. Still pretty limited. I heard Patrol 32 trying to get a hold of Buck Rock. When Patrol 32 could not raise Buck Rock, I tried without success.

I got a couple of scans in. But then at 0952 I called both Ash Mountain Fire and Porterville that I was in a cloud with no visibility. There is a sense of calm when in a cloud. I can see outlines of trees, then they suddenly come into view and then leave. I can see the Grant Grove area mostly, as it comes in and out of view.

I spend the time trying to get a few things done to be productive. Such as Buck Rock contacts me and we go over a few things. Otherwise, I do not think I am successful in this endeavor being able to spot smoke. I do talk with Sherri about some lights which we have up in our backyard. The ones I saw at Costco were similar, but different.

 

 

About this time, I get some visitors, so I stop the chit-cat with Sherri. This is the start of a string of visitors, eleven people in six groups spread from about 1100 to 1500. A couple of middle-aged females from Reedley and Clovis talked with me at length. As they started walking back down the road, they saw me looking around and asked for my picture. I guess I am on the road to stardom. In between, times, I eat lunch, talk with Sherri a bit more, answer a question from Wendy. But there is really no need to do extensive scans-I cannot see anything.

After the visitors leave, I wash the windows. It does not look like it really needed it. But since I did not do it last time I was here, I thought I would relieve any minor guilt I had. (The next day, I noticed in places how streaky I had left it.)

SEKI issues a BOLO. I should have been more alert from the start. When I realized that it was something imported, like a wanted person is in the area, the description had already passed me by. Shortly afterwards, SEKI restricts the command frequency to emergency traffic. This lasts for about 15 minutes. By the way, BOLO means, Be On the Lookout-that should be a fire fire lookout short hand, always.

The clouds have only faked that they would lift. The sun peeks through and then disappears. To the south and west, nothing but shades of gray and white. To the east, I can see a hilltop a mile away. Then to the north, Grant Grove still is hazy, but at least visible. And now it is approaching 1800 and I am going out of service. And as I go out of service, I notice that Buena Vista Peak is now visible.

Dinner is a quiche and biscuit. The quiche is a trial run. My daughter wants Sherri to make them for the day after her wedding. This is to see how they will be as a stand alone fare. It defrosted nicely and tasted like quiche. Probably for dinner, it needed something more, but it would be good for breakfast.

Before dinner I noticed that a pickup had parked by one of the propane tanks and he was working on it. I watched them for a few minutes. After cleaning up the cab, I go down and wander over to talk to him. There are a couple small leaks in the propane lines which he is trying to track down. He was the same person who could not get to Delilah while we were there over Labor Day-he did get there the Tuesday after Labor Day.

His wife was with him. She had not seen a lookout before so I took her up and showed her around. The clouds started to clear up and we were able to see some of the peaks surrounding us. And then the sun started setting, right above the clouds-nice exclamation for the day. This gave Lovewell time to figure out a plan for the leak and get ready to leave.

After that, I walked a little ways and then back. Took some pictures of both the lookout, the evening glow and the night sky. Then it was up to the cab to get ready for bed and my call with Sherri. We talked for almost an hour until 2115. And now to crawl into bed. I must be getting old if a 2115 bedtime sounds attractive.

Extra Photo's