August 30, 2025 - Park Ridge Lookout

 

Title: August 30, 2025 - Park Ridge Lookout
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons 

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

 

Description:

That seemed like a short night's sleep. First my CGM went off this morning saying I had a low. I did not. Then woke up at 0530 with it starting to get light. As long as I was awake, I checked to see if there was lightning yesterday-as expected, there was none.Shortly afterwards, I got up and went down stairs. Last night I spotted some of our stools on a rock, so I retrieved them. The spot would have made a nice area to just sit and meditate at.

When I got back in the cab, it was 0700. Time for my breakfast of granola. I cleaned up and Park Ridge Lookout went in service at 0730 with both Porterville and the Park. I had low visibility, about 3-4 miles.

I should say another aspect of last night. When I went to sleep, I started smelling smoke. When I woke up at 0230, there definitely was smoke in the cab-the doors and windows were closed.Then at 0530, I was greeted with a layer of gray outside of my window. At this point visibility was about a mile. By the time I go in service, there has been some lifting of the smoke. 

 Then it is the normal stuff going on. I was up here about three weeks ago for a day. But before that, It was the Fourth of July weekend. I feel like I have not really gotten into the rhythm yet of being in the lookout.

Around 0920, E42 came up with the toilet pumping truck. Our outhouse is getting serviced! Yea! Actually, it was not too bad, but could get a lot worse. E42 also checks the water and then they are off. I will be hearing their ID called all weekend as they check out various fires. Then it is back to the routine. There are some reports on the fires in Sequoia and the Park. But they are just monitoring these, rather than fighting them.

Stock photo of plane above

One of the benefits of working at Park Ridge Lookout is that there usually is at least one incident throughout the day which is worth pausing and hearing. Today’s incident was at the restaurant at Grant Grove. Apparently someone was being disruptive there and smoking pot inside of the restaurant. Law enforcement was asked to intervene when the person would not cease smoking. The draw back?.I usually do hear the resolution of an issue. So it left to my vivid imagination to guess what happened. Of course, there was the normal stuff like medical emergencies, missing persons, and a bear deciding it owned the road-refusing to budge even if hazed.

Flag unfurled

In the 13 Summers I have been a fire lookout, I have never felt that this was a place to meditate or contemplate. Maybe because you really only get 15 minute chunks of time, with many interruptions from the radio or visitors-even though the last three days I have been up here there has been no visitors. I wonder how the lookout writers of the last century were able to do their writing?

Dinner

But I have found that I can do a bit of thinking of more prosaic things. Such as how for the last year I really have not done much physical outdoors, except some up in the lookout towers. We did a camping trip in January and in February, and went to Atlanta and Ireland, as well as an overnight backpack trip in May. The only one which really pushed me was the backpack trip. I am realizing that I am losing my conditioning. That really brings the question to mind, can I get back into condition to really enjoy myself in the mountains? Do I have the will power to do it? The mental will to do it? That is what having a few months will do to you.

Not all the time is taken up with these kinds of thoughts. As I was doing a scan around 1640, I saw a low flying tanker going north to the east of me. It may have passed over Buck Rock. I did not have my phone so no pictures of that plane. But looking it up under Flight Aware I saw that it was a contractor plane from Erickson. My guess is that it is going to the Garnet Fire. I grab my phone and resume my scan. A couple of minutes later a second tanker from Erickson came flying by, a bit higher and a bit further east. Just Wow!.

 

Evening sun with smoke plume

Flag before going to bed

Then the rest of the afternoon was sort of normal, except this is extended hours, until 1930-a long, 12 hour day. At times I am wondering if I am getting a bit too old for these kinds of hours. I did make dinner-a two egg omelet. Simple and easy and quick. I think I will add this to my lookout menu.

I talked with my relief, who will be coming in on Monday evening. Sounds like I might be let go an hour or two early. That sounds good to me. 

I go out of service a few minutes before 1930, right after Buck Rock does. I clean up a bit, go downstairs and get a few things, then forgot to lock up and so I make a second trip down. By the time I rattle Sherri's cage about our evening talk, it is 2015. Sherri and I talked until 2130. Then I read until 2200 and get to sleep then.

Trail Lesson: Those who say that age is just a number are in the lower number range.

June 13, 2025 - Park Ridge Trail

 

Title:  June 13, 2025 - Park Ridge Trail
Hike Info : Description : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Panoramic Point

Trail: Park Ridge

Destination: Park Ridge Lookout

Actual Destination: Saddle about a mile before the lookout

Distance:  3.24 miles

Start Time: 1:09

End Time:  4:08

Travel Time: 2:59  (1.09 mph)

Moving Time:  1:46  (1.83 mph)

Elevation Rise:  605'

Descent: 595‘

Maximum Elevation: 7,720'

GPS Tracks

Description:

A month ago I fainted. I was hoping to be able to stress myself during this time just to see if my body reacted or came close to reacting the same way to the stress. Unfortunately, today is the first time I have had the opportunity to do so. A couple of weeks ago we went to Big Stump for a short walk which showed I could at least hike OK.

We have a few things we want to do before we go up to Panoramic Point and start our walk. I do my lightning stuff, take Friday for a walk, and spend time weeding. Sherri works around the house and does some trimming of the lavender out in front. By 10:30, we have done the needed chores and we get ready to go. We leave our house about 11:15 with Sherri driving.

She drives all the way up, including the narrow road up to Pan Pt. This may be the first time she has driven it and I am happy that she is doing it. She parks the car and we find a log in the shade and have our lunch. As I wait for Sherri to return from the bathroom, I talk with a couple who;we license plate holder says Drink Coffee. Read a Book. Be Happy. I comment on it and we talk for a while. They used to live in Coarsegold and now are in Ventura. It is their first time in Kings Canyon and are wondering about some easy hikes. I give them the Indian Basin Grove Interpretive Trail. I guess I cannot help being a tour guide.

We start our own hike at 1:10. We have walked this trail so many times, you can see the description on my other blog entries. What seems different today is how I am affected by both the altitude, about 7300’, and the uphill. I am glad when we reach the bench at Pan Point where we can enjoy the view. Many of the peaks we know, such Mt Goddard or Spanish Mountain. What catches our attention is Buck Rock. I think our friend Kathy is there, but we do not see her-she would look smaller than an ant from this distance.

Now we start on the Park Ridge Trail. As we go up this trail, I can feel that I have not been at altitude enough and feel the lack of oxygen in the body. But then there is the thing that my body has not done much uphill and it shows. I stop and take pictures of flowers and butterflies. And also a few of the scenery. Anything to give my body a rest.

Fortunately, not all of the trail is uphill. As we head to the saddle, the trail goes on a long downhill. I do much better on this stretch. I would really hope that I would do better. Sherri has noticed that I do not have a bounce in my step.

When we get to the saddle, we find that our favorite logs have been moved around and are in the sun. But there is a stump which will suit our needs. We have our lunch and sit for a while, a long while. We have decided that we are turning around here instead of going on to Park Ridge Lookout. 

 

As we are thinking about doing our return trip. A mom and her adult son came up the Azalea trail. They look like they are wondering what to do now. I, being every so helpful, tell them about how far away the lookout is. We talk about and find out that they are from England-that part was obvious. They give us some recommendations for our July trip to Ireland. They suggested the Guinness Factory Tour, the Blarney Stone and Castle, and the Ireland Eye.

They take off and so do we. We take the service road back. There is more uphill than what I remember. But this is gradual and I do not feel like I am struggling. The road can be a bit exposed, but today it is good for our strolling pace. We got back to the car about 4:10.

Once we get settled into the car, Sherri allows me to drive down to Grant Grove Village. We have decided to have dinner at DNC before going back to Fresno. It is a good choice. DNC is practically empty, so we get served pretty fast. Which means that Sherri gets us to Fresno about 6pm.

I cannot say that it was a good hike, but it was a hike that I am glad we did, if for no other reason than to let me know what kind of status my body is in

Animals

Tiger Swallowtail

 
Flowers and Plants

Buck Brush

Philox

Indian Paintbrush

September 6, 2024 - Boole Tree Loop

 

Title: September 6, 2024 - Boole Tree Loop

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

Trail head:  Boole Tree Parking Lot

Trail: Boole Tree Loop

Destination:  Boole Tree

Distance: 2.39 miles

Start Time: 11:32

End Time:     3:14

Travel Time: 3:42  (0.65 mph)

Moving Time:  1:47  (1.34  mph)

Elevation Rise:  711'

Descent: 716‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,810'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Patterson Bluff

Last night my CGM woke me up with a low of 58. But all was well as my blood meter registered 40 points higher. I turned off the alarms for the CGM and slept soundly until 6:30. Today, I lounged in my bag, feeling very comfortable until the skies got a bit lighter. I then got up at 7:15.

Korra and I went for a walk to the interpretive trail. Along the way, Korra and a squirrel had a face off. I was not quick enough with a camera to capture this stare down. But the squirrel blinked and scampered away, dropping his prize pine comb. We continued on our way. I visited some relations along the trail. At this point, Korra insisted on going back, so we did.

Sherri was up and Steven followed soon afterwards. Soon afterwards, Sherri has French toast ready to eat in about 15 minutes. Steven and I enjoy the meal with Sherri following us. A good way to start off a trip. I get cleaned up and we get the camp organized. But we do not leave until after 11. We will pay for the late start.

We are going to the Boole Tree, just a few miles away. Sherri and I have been here before and enjoyed the hike. It is not a long one, but there is a good climb up to the tree. We get to the parking area about 11:20 and start walking a little after that. The drive in is not bad most of the way. That is until we pass the road to Converse Basin Grove (13S21). Then our road (13S55) passes Stump Meadow and starts a climb up to the parking lot. I noticed that there is a thick layer of dust and the car kicks into All-Wheel drive. We make it through OK. Before entering a second dusty area, I put the car into All-Wheel drive until we made it to the lot.

I thought we said we would be doing the loop counter-clockwise. This would give us the steepest, most direct route to the Boole Tree. Sherri and Steven are ready before I am, so they start in. When I start, I glance over at the trail we are going to come out and see Steven and Sherri walking westward on it. Not that it matters-it is the same distance and elevation gain. Still I could have been going a different way than they did.

That late start has me paying a price. I feel the sun beating down on me and my steps being sluggish, not that I am overheating, just sweating and drinking water a lot. I am also lagging behind Sherri and Steven, not badly, but this is unusual as I can keep up with Sherri. Maybe it is that I do stop to take pictures, but that is only a cover, I think.

Boole Tree

Even though the trail is hot and dusty, there is many places to enjoy views. Looking west, I see Patterson Bluff’s profile, unlike seeing it front on from Delilah. Then there is Rodgers Ridge. Speaking of Delilah, I look for it on the far westerly ridges, but I do not see it until we have almost gotten to the top of our climb, when it comes into view through the haze. Spanish Mountain is right across from us with all of the spurs which come off of it. Then we can see into the Middle Fork of the Kings. There is a lot redeeming about this trail, but maybe not so much today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tops of the trees

Gary in repose and Korra on guard duty

When we round hill 6872, there is a sudden cooling. We are no longer in direct sunlight and there is a bit of a breeze. So much better. Not that I feel totally refreshed or anything like that. Also the Boole Tree comes into sight. We start descending to the base of the tree and upon arrival, I lower myself to the ground and look up at the Tree. I tell Sherri that I am meditating on the tree, but it is more that I am just that tired. Tired enough that we just sat there, enjoying the tree for an hour before eating lunch of Ritz crackers, Nutella and peanut butter. The jelly belly bag had come open, so there is some consumption of them, even by Korra.

 

 

 

 We leave after 2:30, climbing the short distance out of the bowl where the Boole Tree is. Then it is close to a mile downhill back to the car. Even though there is a lot of direct sunlight, we are going downhill, so it is not very tiring. We got back to the car by 3:45, I noticed that the temperature was in the upper 80’s.

Sherri on path back to car

On the way back to the camp, I took a detour down the Hume Lake road. Last Saturday, there was a rescue of a lost person who got stuck about a thousand feet from the road on the west side of the road. I am interested in seeing what the terrain looks like. I can see why in certain places you could get stuck. What I am wondering about is that his mother also found him and got stuck.

We got back to the camp at 4:45 and just recuperated. Sherri fixed the chick garlic pasta dish. We all decided that we would wait until Sunday to go to a Dark Sky presentation at Big Stump-we should have gone, but you will need to read that post to find out why. So we just sat around until it got dark. Around 9, I said that I was going to bed. The others followed me. I read for half an hour and then fell asleep.

Extra Photo's

Patterson Bluffs

Morning at Indian Basin

Patterson Bluffs

Gary surveying the Kings

Looking towards Spanish Mountain

 

Steven on the return trip to the car

Converse Mountain Grove

Sherri patiently waiting

Steven reading by the Boole Tree

Boole Tree

Boole Tree

Top of Boole Tree

 Animals

 
Flowers and Plants

September 5, 2024 - Princess Campground

 

Title: September 5, 2024 - Princess Campground

Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type:   Car: Camping

 

Description:

Today we will start our five day, four night camping trip. But we still need to get ready and packed. How long will this take? I am hoping to be packed by noon, have an early dinner and be off by 2. Will things go according to plan? We will see.

I get up at 5:40. No lightning to report, but I let my audience know that I will be gone the next four mornings and they are on their own until I get back. Becca from Stanislaus NF shows appreciation for letting them know. And Buck Rock thinks we already have had a wonderful summer.

I ate my breakfast and gathered a bit more stuff. Since nobody else is up, I go for a one lap walk. Along the way, I get called over by Hillary and the Audibon lady. We talk for at least 20 minutes and then I go on. It is getting a little bit warm by the time I finish up/ Sherri is up, but not working on the food yet. So I went out and weeded for awhile-and it is needed.

 Now we start getting serious about packing. The non-food stuff is about 85% done, but there are some odds and ends. So I help Sherri with the food. At noon, I have a sandwich before gathering up the rest of the stuff. By the time we are finished packing it is about 3. So it is time to get dinner. We decided to eat Mexican at Casa Quintero. Very filling.

After finishing up our dinner, we come back and we stuff the last of the stuff into the car. We managed to leave at 4:15 with me driving. Sherri, Steve, Korra and myself are the folks on our trip. The drive is uneventful. We get to Princess campground about 5:45.

We are at site #4. I think this is the one we had a couple of years ago. It is a comfortable place. Looks like the campground is half vacant. Steven puts up his hammock and we our tent. With the Exped blower, the Mondo King mattresses are really easy to get blowing up. Much easier than using the schnozzel for an hour to get it satisfactory.

Once set up, we lounge around for awhile. The evening is coming along fast. Sherri suggests we go for a walk, so we walk a couple of loops before going to be. Bed time is at 8:45. I lie in bed for awhile, reading and just enjoying being out.