August 15, 2019 - Delilah Lookout

Title: August 15, 2019 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Menu : Animals 

Trail head: Delilah Lookout

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

There is a sense of timelessness when you are in a lookout, particularly after several days up here without seeing others, besides yourself and your wife. I woke up this morning wondering what day it was. And then wondering does it really matter?

Early morning Moon

 

Not saying there is no time element here, as there is: 0910-take the weather; 0930 go inservice; 1000-listen for today’s weather and staffing; 1100-check in with Sierra; 1300-take the weather; 1600-weather and lookout check in; 1800-go out of service. Still other times, there is nobody checking in on you. And then one day being interchangeable with the next leaves one a bit disoriented chronologically. I like it.

This morning, I wake up before 0600 and just enjoy the early morning. We have not been in a lookout for four straight days before and I am looking forward to experiencing it as well as going home this evening. I wash up this morning, but why? Only Sherri is here and she is in the same situation. For all of the visitors coming my way? Only person whom we have seen is Zach on Tuesday delivering a part. Still, I feel better for it.

Moon setting over Bear Mouontain

Sherri is waking up, but she feels it is way too early to actually move. A luxury we have up here, watching the glow of the sunrise. Then a hummingbird pops up making the perfect setting. So good that God gives these moments of beauty, even for an audience of one. My lesson today is to learn to cherish such times as His gift to me.

Breakfast is the normal stuff-oatmeal. Then we start getting the excess gear down to the truck, some go down via the pulley system rigged up at Delilah by some enterprising and talented engineers and engineer wanna be’s. But some go down via air express. one actual hits the target-the bed of the truck.

Laundry Service at Delilah

Kathy has expressed some concern about us being up here four days in solitude.But I do not see why. I think things are pretty normal, at least for me. Sherri forgot to bring down last night’s pee can for emptying. So I transform from being Window-Washer Guy-vision an ugly male Wonder Woman now doing her twirl-to PeeCan Man as he races down the stairs with his hazardous canister to the outhouse. After this, he goes takes a lap around the lookout before being driven back by the flies to the safety of the lookout. But here he finds a new deadly peril, a huge ugly bug has Sherri cornered. Never fear! PeeCan Man is here. He swifty captures the bug and throws it to the breeze outside of Delilah’s cabin. He can now return to being a mild mannered retiree, hoping his eyesight is good enough to see a wisp of smoke.

It is now 0900. Time to the lookout ready for its purpose. More of the same: weather, go into service, listen to weather and staffing-staffing is pretty sparse today, only the duty officer and an engine from down south.

Let me just say, this paragraph is more of a warning to myself than anything else. The incident which is talked about was probably a training drill which got overheard. We got a phone call which asked had we heard about the control burn which got away? Also one fire fighter got burnt over 20% of his body. It was said that this was heard on a channel we do not normally monitor at Delilah. But the incident was said to have happened within an area which is under our general viewing. The particular place where the prescribed burn was said to take place was behind a ridge, where we cannot see. But we have seen a smoke there before once a fire got going. We kept looking in the direction, but could not see anything. I texted Kathy and Wendy asking if they had heard. These two have lots of contacts and they started calling around. None of them had heard of this incident, nor did I see anything on WildCAD about a prescribed burn. After Wendy and Kathy investigated, the conclusion was that maybe what was overheard was on a radio channel which is used for training. Lesson for Gary: When you hear something, observe - think - report. Just like one of the signs at Delilah says.

While this is going on, we also heard of a smoke report-which got changed to a smoke check-on the Sierra side of things. Usually Sierra lookouts are paid professionals and when they report a fire it is spot on with the description and location. But they also have volunteers over there as well. This smoke report was a lesson for me in how not to do a report. Just from the sound and the uncertainty of the report, it sounded more like a smoke check. Then Sierra dispatch had the lookout confirm the azimuth. It was 20 degrees different from the first reporting and I think the distance was different as well. Also he was not sure about the color of the smoke-was it white or brown? This makes a difference on if it is a vegetation fire or dust being kicked up by machinery. Three engines were sent out to see if they could find something. In the 15-30 minutes for them to arrive, even the lookout could not see the original cloud. Gary’s Lesson: When reporting a smoke, be as accurate as the circumstances allow. What you do not know, don’t oversell.

We have visitors! Three of them from Los Angeles and their dog named Buddha. They had gone up to Buck Rock yesterday and was told about Delilah. So they made their long trip from Dorst to Delilah. So good! They stayed over an hour. Got to talk about the history of Delilah, the Rough Fire and and different aspects of being a lookout. They seemed to survive us pretty well.

Wendy also sent out a congratulations on a good job to Park Ridge for yesterday’s smoke report on the Highway Fire. And then things quieted down again. We took the weather reading a bit late, around 1330. And then continued our scans-even with the visitor’s here we would look around and eyeball the area. Listening to the Sierra radio, the Peak Fire is getting a lot of attention. Looking at WildCAD, it still is pretty small, but hard to get to.

The next couple of hours go by fast and it is getting close to 1600 when Sherri and I will shut down Delilah early. At 1550 we go out of service before Sierra and Porterville do their lengthy reports. By 1620 we are in the truck and on the way back to Fresno. At 1810 we arrive back at the house, ready for a shower and dinner out at Casa Quintero. Sherri is watering the plants-it is our night to do it. By 2200, I am in bed, reading and ready to sleep. Sherri must have more energy because I am long asleep before she joins me. A long, but good four days. I am glad we extended our stay.

Trail Lesson: 

Cherish times of beauty as a gift from God.

When you hear something, observe - think - report. Just like one of the signs at Delilah says.

Menu

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang.	Ritz Crackers, Peanut Butter, Nutella	Casa Quintero	Cheese, jerky

Animals

No matter how early this hummer is, it will not get the sugar water

Faun

October 10-11, 2016 - Delilah Lookout

Title:  October 10-11, 2016 - Delilah Lookout

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

Hike Info:

Type:  Lookout

Description:

October 10, 2016

Tonight we stay overnight at Delilah. It is something I did not think we were going to be able to do this year. But a couple dates opened up and we were able to arrange Mom Care while we are gone. This should be fun. Also the 11^th is Sherri's birthday. A good way to celebrate-at least in my mind.

Smoke? No Contrail

We leave around when I think we should and get to Delilah about the same, around 9am. Sherri gets her birthday coffee from Starbucks on the way. Besides traveling right into the sun, we do not encounter any problems going in. We do see one white truck on the way in. But not a problem-probably a hunter. We do the normal stuff: weather, scan the area, looking at the log and white board for fires already spotted.

After checking in, we go searching for the Dorst Prescribed Burn. But we do not see any sign of smoke over Big Baldy-the direction Dorst is from us. But over Grant Grove, that is another thing. We see a column of white towering perpendicular to Park Ridge. But it does not look like smoke. With binoculars on, it looks like a cloud, but all the other clouds are parallel to the ridge. I call Buck Rock and Mich answers. She sees it also, off in the distance, on the other side of the Great Western Divide. She says it is a contrail. That explains the strangeness. But that tail must have been gigantic. Also Mich does not think that the Dorst Fire has started yet.

Delilah

 Sierra has sent up a helicopter with four passengers to examine the Crown Fire. We can heard the blades, but do not see him. Nor do we see any smoke from this fire. They are around for about 45-60 minutes and then leave. This is a fire which has been slowly burning for several weeks in a remote area, through an already burnt area. Sierra is letting it burn.

Delilah at dusk

Evidently they lit the prescribed burn over by Dorst. We see the smoke, not in back of Big Baldy, but a bit east of there. We hear on the radio that the General's Highway is being impacted by smoke. Then we hear there are some spot fires. The Incident Commander for the fire puts a halt to the firing operations for today so they can take care of some of the things which are not working out today.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. We did the regular stuff of looking for smokes and responding to status checks with both Sequoia and Serria National Forest.

Sunset from the road

Then at 5pm, we closed down. Normally we would go home, but since we are also up here tomorrow, we get to stay overnight. This is a pleasure. We go for a little walk-which includes going down and coming back up into the tower, plus Delilah is built on a hill, so we do get our exercise in. Sunset is nice. We see some tracks and wonder what they are-turns out to be fox tracks. Then when we get up to the top, we notice a vehicle is coming down the road. So we go down and close the gate-it is too late for visitors. The sunsets can be spectacular, not to mention the night sky. But then the city lights of Fresno and Clovis come on and we get to try to guess where everything is. Pleasant is the quiet, and the darkness. Almost time for bed.

October 11, 2016

It is Sherri's birthday today! Happy Birthday wifey!

Mill Flat Creek Haze

But also when I look out, I see Mill Flat Creek filled with haze, maybe smoke. Also there is a solid layer of smoke beyond Big Bald. Maybe this is all part of the prescribed burn at Dorst. At least I cannot find a separate source for the smoke.

Before going in-service, I go for a little walk where I meet a woman gathering wood. She gives me a hair net to cover my face from the little gnats circling around me. Sherri and I have our oatmeal breakfast and get ready for the new day. We take down our sleeping bags, extra clothing, and pee can. Then we take weather and do another scan. At 9:30, we go in-service with both Sierra and Sequoia. Still no idea where the Mill Falt Creek smoke is coming from.

Dorst Fire Haze

Dorst Fire Smoke

A little while later, Fence Meadow Lookout calls and we talk about the smoke in Mill Flat Creek. He is wondering if there was something in the Converse Basin or Grant Grove area. We are not seeing anything-no smoke from those sources. Wondering if this is coming from Dorst. He also said he was seeing puffs of smoke from the McKinley Grove area. What he is seeing may be behind a ridge where we can see.

I talk with Park Ridge to see if they can see where the smoke is coming from. They do not think it is coming in from the Dorst Fire, but they do not see a source. Maybe it is some illegal campfires from hunters? They suggest talking to Division 3 from Hume Lake District. Which I do. After we locate where the smoke is, Division 3 says that he will send a patrol over to the top of Happy Gap and have them see something. We do not hear anything more. Also the smoke in Mill Flat Creek is dissipating. So that is a bit less of a concern.

     

 After doing a couple of more scans, it is time for lunch. Its the usual, peanut butter and Nutella. Both Brent and Kathy have encouraged us that it is good to take lunch breaks outside of the cab, down stairs at the picnic bench, both of us feel comfortable with eating and cleaning up in the cab. By the time I finish my sandwich, it is 12:50 and time for another scan. Nothing but the smokey haze which we have been seeing all morning.

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 But at 12:59pm, our usually serene lookout life changes. We hear Fence Meadow calling into Sierra. He says he sees smoke at 241 degrees from him, and about 3 miles away. We immediately figure out where that is-close to Big Creek by Pine Flat Reservoir. We should be able to see it. But Oat Mountain is in the way, still we should see something coming over the top. Nothing! Are we blind? Racing through my mind, Wendy will never believe me. So I grab my camera to take a picture of what we are seeing. Between the time I step out the door and round the cab corner to face northwest-about 8 seconds, there is a large column of smoke. This is at 1:03pm.

 
 Smoke I say! And there really is a good puff of smoke right where we have been looking! So click goes the camera and then we rush to the firefinder. The idea here is to figure out where the fire is in relationship to Delilah. Then Sierra dispatch can use our bearing with what Fence Meadow says and come up with a pretty good idea of the location of the fire. Of course, Fence Meadow did a good job of pinpointing the location. Ours is more of a confirmation. We radio in the confirmation with the bearing and then sit back and listen to the radio chatter. Our call went in at 1:04, five minutes after the original call went in.

And there is a bunch of chatter! It is both exciting, entertaining-in a perverse way- and instructional. Those folks get onto the fire quickly. The first report says that the fire is 20 acres. But it is expanding quickly. Within a few minutes of the initial report, we heard the first response to the fire. Sirens over the radio and the reports of the seriousness of this fire started to filter in. In an hour, there was a report of the fire being 60-75 acres, then two hours later it had grown to 100. By this time, there was four aircraft in the air. We would hear the chatter and chart the progress of the fire.

About this time two things happened, Sierra said that all personnel associated with Prevention, Detection and Suppression will be on duty till 7pm instead of the Fall quitting time of 5pm. The other call is from Marty who will will be volunteering at the lookout tomorrow. He said he will be staying overnight tonight and be at the tower at 5:30pm. So our time will be shorter-as volunteers we could go home at 5pm, but some how we would feel guilty if we did not stay unless we have relief.

So we taker off after briefing Marty on what we knew. Then we leave. By the time we get down to Fresno it is 7:30. With the excitement of today, we are feeling hungry. So we decide to stop at Casa Quintero before going home.

Background

Our friends in the Forest Service do not go by names when talking on the radio-they use titles. Such as the person who is Division 3 today is on duty. Monday it was Battalion Chief 31. This way, if a person's duty change, you do not need to figure out who it is you are talking to-only the position.

The fire is called the Sacata Fire. It is between Eagle Peak and Big Creek, just west of Sacata Ridge. The northern boundary is Deep Creek. By the time it is contained, it will have grown to 2,100 acres.

Extra Photo's

Oct 10-Sun peaking through haze and clouds

Oct 10-West of McKenzie Ridge with big Baldy in background

Oct 10-Sunset

Oct 10-Gary trying for a picture

Oct 10-Setting sun through trees

North Fork of the Kings

Animals

August 1, 2014 - Muir Grove

Title: August 1, 2014 - Muir Grove

Trail head:

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail:  Muir Grove Trail

Destination: Muir Grove

Distance: 5.43 miles

Start Time:   10:32

End Time:      2:08

Travel Time: 3:35 (1.52 mph)

Moving Time: 3:01 (1.80 mph)

Elevation Rise: 933'

Maximum Elevation: 6,952'

Description:

Our group

Each year at our church's family camp out, a group of us goes for a hike. Sometimes it is only a few people, other times we have had 10 people. Today the hike has attracted eight of us: Jordon, Barbara, John, Johnathen, Sara, Sherri, Carol and myself. We will be going down to Dorst and hiking to Muir Grove.

It is a bit of a drive, about an hour from our campground to Dorst. We park at the amplitheater's parking lot and walk back about 150 yards to the start of the trail. Just this little walk you can tell it will be a warm hike-one report said it was 102, but that may have been Fresno.

The first little bit is downhill-I do not like trails where we go down on the way in. My feet turn to lead when we come out. But after a half mile, we start-up to the top of the first ridge. There is a nice view from here of where Dorst Creek drains out of. Plus we can see the broccoli tops of the Sequoia's at Muir Grove on the next ridge. That is always an encouraging view.

Carol and Sherri viewing Muir Grove

Barb, Carol and Sherru

By this time our group has divided like an amoeba. Those with more energy, the young ones split off and speed ahead while the more mature get to enjoy the trail at a more leisurely pace. We see things like dogwood leaves starting to change color; logs crossing a little rivulet and the wildflowers growing.

Dogwood

Lunch time

The last quarter mile is a gentle climb up to the grove. There we have lunch and enjoy the Sequoia's. Just general trail chatter goes on at lunch. So I slip off and go a little ways south and find a small social trail which I follow for just a short ways. But in that way I see many more redwoods in this little scoop of land. Also the sunlight features many interesting looking areas. So good to be out.

Carol contemplating walk-through tree

White Fir on granite

Afterwards, Carol and I go and explore the rest of the main trail. It leads us back up on top of the ridge where a giant sequoia grows despite being burnt  halfway around and all the way through. Carol, and later Barb, can walk through it. The trail continues around the ridge to a point. Even though it is hazy, we can see Alta Peak and that whole crest-line. So good to be here. Sherri joins us a few minutes later. We marvel at a couple white fir growing on what appears to be bare rock. When we return Barb comes up-she has given Sara her car keys and the speedsters are going back to camp. I accompany Barb to the point and we look around as well.

Alta Peak

 The return trip is much the same as coming. We do get to see a deer wander around the trail. Also I make snide remarks about a couple cutting switchbacks. But on the whole just a pleasant walk back to the car. When we get to the final trail sign, I glance at it and realize there was a warning sign on it. At least it looks like someone screaming in terror, but not us! Just a good trip.

Sequoia's lined up

Sunlight and bushes

Place: CA-Dorst

Dorst (Muir Grove)   
(long, lat)

Description:
Joseph Haddox Dorst, captain, 4th Cavalry, U. S. A., the first acting superintendent of Sequoia and General Grant national parks, 1891-1892; born in Kentucky, 1852; graduated U. S. Military Academy, second lieutenant, 1873; first lieutenant, 1879; captain, 1885; major, 1898; lieutenant-colonel, 1901 colonel, 1903; retired, 1911; died, 1916.  From Place Names of the High Sierra (1926) by Francis P. Farquhar

Trips:

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References:

•  NPS - Dorst Campground
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Pictures:

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