September 5, 2026 - Delilah

 

 Title: September 5, 2026 - Delilah

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals 

Hike Info:

Type:Lookout

Description:

Friday, September 4, 2026

I came in at the end of Delilah’s Friday shift because it is a three day weekend and the traffic is usually terrible. Sherri made me chicken cordon bleu for a lunch/dinner. I ran a few errands before leaving at 1515. While there was pretty good traffic until Centerville, it flowed along smoothly. I made better time than I thought I was going to.

Once I turned off of 180, I met no one. I stopped at a couple of places to look over things, such as the Armenian/Hye Camp and the area which Davis Road runs through.

Outhouse View

I made it to Delilah by 1715 where I was met by Richard-not that person whom I was expecting. Richard is one of the two leads for Delilah. He said that there was something which happened last night where he needed to come up. It was good that I came up early and it was good to talk with him face to face. I closed out the evening at Delilah and went out of service in quarters.

I felt tired, so I laid down for a while. Then I had a sandwich. Finally, I finished bringing up my stuff. Either I am getting weaker or packing more stuff. The stuff at the end of the pulley felt really heavy. When I was going up and down the stairs, I realized I did not bring my knee brace. It did not hurt too bad. There was a hunter who drove by. He indicated he was bow hunting and looking for deer.

After I got things sorted out, I decided to go back down and see if I could take some evening shots of the tower and stars. I was somewhat successful on the tower, not so much on the stars.

When I went back up, I let Sherri know that I was available for a call. Then I crawled into my bag and read and waited for her call. About 2100 she called. We talked for 45 minutes, then I read a bit more until shortly before 23000.

Delilah from the road

Saturday, September 5, 2026

It felt like a short night of sleep last night. When the moon rose, I woke up for a while, but not because of the brightness, but just to gaze on it. Like the sun which causes the moon to fade from view, the moon causes stars to grow dim to our eyes. Isn’t this like how heaven will be? We think we see clearly now, but we do not. When heaven comes, we will see that our current times are just a ghost of reality. What is more, even heaven will fade before the glory of God. If our hymns could only capture a bit of this!

Having rambled on with my thoughts-no apologies, just realizing this is what was going through my mind. I did look for lightning on EGP, but there was none. I had my breakfast and then went down to the ground. On the way down, I realized that things did not feel quite right with the body. Not feeling sick or bad or achy like the flu. More breathing harder than I should going down.

After taking care of the things which were on the pulley, I decided to go for a walk. Maybe that would help out whatever is happening. As it turned out, I probably walked too far and up too much. If anything I was breathing harder and not feeling better. Also the heart was beating pretty good on the uphill. At least a good part of this walk back is downhill. That helped with the breathing and heart. But there is a climb back up to the base of the lookout. Which I take easy, but I still feel winded, fortunately not lightheaded or feeling like I will faint. But I am careful not to push it. That was only about a two mile, 50 minute walk.

I still have the climb back into the tower, which I make, stopping at each landing. These stops would have been a good picture break, but I have done that so many times, not sure what would be different. When I get back into the cab, I laid down to get my body back into a comparatively normal state.

I did the normal going into service stuff-flag raising, weather taking and scanning. Then went into service at 0930. I was the last one in. Then it was pretty much a normal, quiet Delilah morning.That is until three visitors showed up. What made them unusual is they appeared on bikes, mountain bikes. They came up and I showed them around. The usual visitor, not that I would know this year, will come up, look around, ask a question or two, ask if I stay up here at night and leave. Maybe 10-15 minutes, just enough to catch a breath and go back.

These three stayed for 30-40 minutes. The three had come from Millwood and were a bit out of breath from the hills. They asked about various places and roads in the area and did not seem to be too concerned about leaving anytime soon. They stayed for over half an hour and were very content with the visit as they got to see areas around them which they normally do not see. One person was from Squaw Valley, the other two from Clovis.

And then it is back to the normal day. At 1100, I responded to the Sierra Lookout Checkin. Then it is doing the scans. I am still tired from this morning and still not feeling right. I lay down for 15 minutes until the next scan. This continues through the morning until lunch time.

At 1230 I fixed my lunch-peanut butter and Nutella sandwich along with some chips. But then I faintly hear a call on R5 Project, our off command channel calling out Delilah. Turns out it is 335 trying to reach a couple of her staff. They are down in the Kings. I try to reach out to either of them. The Kings is far enough down where we cannot directly reach them. I also try on Channel 2, which is a command channel using repeaters.I do reach them and say what the message is, but I cannot hear their replay. Porterville does get a response from them. Not sure how well I relayed the message, but the jest of what is being transmitted. I do not do many relays. I knew the mechanics, but not sure how well I would execute in reality. I gave myself a middling grade.

 During all of this, I knocked over my carton of milk. I ended up having to remove the glass on the desk and cleaning up under it, along with some papers there. Sigh, not the way I wanted to down my milk nor to conduct a relay.

I do the weather and fall into the familiar patter of scanning. About 1400, I heard the sound of a propeller. I realized it was coming out of the south, but could not see it. I am also seeing that there are hang gliders off Sontag Point. If there is something flying out there and it is low, how to warn them about the gliders. By the time I recognize it, it is flying over where Davis and Delilah Road meet. It is a helicopter and I can see the id of N551HQ on it. As it flys by I wave and they acknowledge. That makes my day much more than spilling milk. I follow them on FlightAware as they go out over Pine Flat Reservoir and head northwest.

Because the helicopter's path should have flown right in front of Park Ridge Lookout, I called over to him. He did not either see or hear it. I am a bit surprised, but I know that depending on the wind and direction and if he was busy with something else, he may not notice it. We talked for a while. He mentioned that a similar helicopter had gone by earlier that day going south. There was a SAR effort around Moro Rock which this may have been part of. This may be because I noticed on FlightAware history, it had lifted off from Ash Mountain.

I go back to my scanning. There is not much exciting. Well maybe just a little. As I am doing one of the scans, I looked over at Pine Flat Reservoir. There I see another helicopter. When I look at FlightAware, I see that it is a CHP helicopter. It flies off towards Sanger. Wonder what they are doing out there? A rescue? Looking for a pot farm? Something else illegal? I guess I will never know.

Around 1800, I prepare my dinner. This is Birdseye Alfredo Chicken Skillet Meal and a couple pieces of bread. Pretty easy, just heat it up and service. I will confess, not my favorite. But it is a good dinner meal.

As the shadows start to deepen, I continue my scans until 1930, which is the end of the shift. There was a nice sunset with a layer of clouds. Looked almost fiery at times. After I went out of service, I went down and got a few things, then locked myself in.

Around 2030, Sherri and I talk for a while, at least until 2130. I then look at my phone for a bit more before going to sleep.

Extra Photo's

 

Sunset through the trees

Sunset and Pine Flat Reservoir

Valley Lights at Sunset

 Animals

Hummers

Whose Track? I think a bobcat

November 8, 2024 - Delilah

 

Title: November 8, 2024 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's : Animals

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

View of Delilah from the road in

Description:

We begin our last time at Delilah for the season. The schedule is for us to be here for three days. With a friend coming up Sunday and having dinner with us. But until then, we need to get up there. I am a bit concerned with the cold which we might face. I think I have enough clothes.

I got up at 0525 and got myself ready. Had my normal breakfast. Sherri gets up at 0600. I have the car loaded by 0700. But we do not leave until 0715. I am thinking we are running late, so I do not suggest a stop at Clingan’s Junction. The road to Delilah has improved during the past year. Instead of taking 45 minutes from getting off of 180, we make it in just over 30, About 0850. Then it is the usual, hauling stuff up, both on our back and through the pulley system.

At 0928 we go in-service to both Porterville and Sierra. About this time I see where Richard, who is the Delilah lead, says that with the storm coming in Monday, Delilah will close a day early. Now to figure out arrangements with our friend.

At 1000, Sierra catches me a bit off-guard. At 1100 they do their lookout check in, but I guess with shorter hours, it is 1000. But I recover fast enough and answer their call. Shortly after this, I hear Porterville trying to reach the Happy Fire IC. I offer to do a relay and they take me up on it. But after several call outs, I saw No Contact and told Portville this. A few minutes later, there is a faint call from the Happy IC, but I cannot get a response from him.

Haze from the Happy Fire

 

Mystery Plane

Shortly after this, I hear Patrol 33 is going for a walk up to Weaver Lake. There is a small fire going through up there. An hour later we hear that the Weaver Training IC and two of his co-workers are also going up there. A couple hours later, the IC is at Weaver and notes that the fire is about 0.1 acres from a campfire. They dug a ring around around the fire.

Back to the Happy Fire. The IC initiated a test fire. This is to see if the area they want to burn will do what they want. It was successful. So they proceeded with today’s burn just before 1500, we hear that today’s burn was completed and that about 155 acres were burnt.

Afternoon Happy Fire Smoke

On our side, it was just good to be up here. We did our lookout stuff. In addition, we were asked to count the visitors we have had this year. The grand total was 219, assuming none come up tomorrow, from countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Iowa, Washington--well those last two are states, It is interesting that somebody will come half way around the world to get a view from this tower.

 

 

 

 

White Deer Road

 

While doing one of my scans, I hear a noise like a truck engine. I look around and do not see anything. But a little while later Sherri is doing her scan and is following a hawk. Then hears a sound like a helicopter. But when she points out where it is coming from, I see a very quiet plane. It leaves the area. But later on Sherri sees it again and it just goes over Pine Flat and turns back towards Reedley. Finally an hour later, I see it and it does the same thing. We are left wondering, what is it doing? My first impression was that it was helping with the Happy Fire. But after the other two patterns, it looks like it was either training somebody, mapping the area, or looking for marijuana plants. We will never know, so we are free to speculate.

Ravioli Dinner

Because of the shorter daylight time, we go out of service at 1530. Shortly afterwards, we go for a walk, down the hill Delilah is on. Normally we walk up the Delilah Road, but the White Deer Road looks like it is available and we only have gone down this road once and only for a short way. It is westward facing, so it catches a bit more sun in the afternoon.The one disadvantage to this road is that it goes down. But we go down the road, descending maybe 300-400 feet. When it gets to the place where it rounds the ridge, it continues the descent. Sherri and I looked at each other and said we have had enough downhill. We return and get back to the cab around 1700.

We read and talk and read some more. I am looking at one of Sherri’s books, Francis Collins, The Road to Wisdom. This is the optimal use of being alone, in the quiet of the lookout-to read, to think, to meditate, to pray. Unfortunately I am only good with the first. By the time I look up, it is dark. I have missed that moment of transition between day and night, that time which the setting sun exits. But we still have the moon.

Around 1800, Sherri fixed us the ravioli we were going to have Sunday with Judy. Tastes good. It is leisurely. Usually dinner at Delilah is looking out over the fading sunlight. This is darkness, a bit more intimate. We just enjoy each other’s company.

 

 Down to the outhouse we go, then lock ourselves in. Even with the moon shining pretty good, we enjoy a bit of stargazing. Then around 2100, we turned in.

 

 

Extra Photo's

Star over Fresno

Autumn Leaves

Fence Meadow Lookout

Autumn Leaves

Animal

Outhouse Spider

May 18, 2023 -Delilah Lookout

 Title: May 18, 2023 -Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

I will be opening Delilah for the season today.

Delilah, my home for two days

And I will be the only one up there. But I will not be alone. Both Greg and Wendy were there as I bounced issues off of them. It is great to have such a support team.

But first, I need to get up. That a do at 0550. This should give me enough time to have breakfast, get the remains of stuff packed and be on my way. I had gotten most of my stuff ready to go last night, so this morning is making sure I did not forget anything.

 

 

 

 

Delilah with Mt Nelson

 

I leave my house at 0705. Traffic is not bad and I make it to the Hume Lake Ranger District’s office a little before 0800. Wendy is there waiting for me. I am being the mule to take stuff up to Delilah. Things like a handheld radio and weather instruments. She also gives me stuff for others to pick up.at the lookout. Before I left, Wendy introduces me to the new information officer for the HLRD, Farrah. And then I am on my way for two days. 

 

 

 

Source of the leak

Not much traffic on the way in. Even though when I turned off on Millwood, a whole line of pickups followed me up to McKenzie Heliport. I am assuming they are part of the team working on the Davis Road. Most of the Delilah dirt road has been graded and is even better than last year. But then there are places which had have some pretty heavy runoff which I had to pick my way through. I past by Sequoia Highlands, not seeing anybody there. When I got to the Delilah Springs Road junction, there is a black car parked there with nobody in it, but the back is open. I noticed that the car is from Louisiana.

Looking up the Middle Fork of the Kings

I make to Delilah a few minutes before 0900. I retrieve the keys and start gathering my stuff to take up. And then there is the black car parked close by. A woman is driving it and has two kids.. I ask her to give me about ten minutes to get set up, which she is more than willing to.

 

 

 

I get Delilah open and now try to go in-service with Porterville. We have a new radio set up, but on the first cut, it was not working. At least I do not get any response. I eventually get it set up the old way and go in-service with Porterville. I tried to do the same with Sierra-also no response. But I now have the first visitors for 2023. Turns out her husband will be a firefighter on a strike team out here. She is doing a tour of the Western states. This is the first lookout she has gone to which is open-just barely. We talk and she is happy she came up here. She is the Louisiana car I saw earlier.

Mt Nelson to the north of Delilah

 

 

End of Park Ridge

When they leave, I am back to trying things and getting situated. Eventually I change tones for Sierra and get them to respond. I think I heard that one of their repeaters(a piece of equipment which relays radio signals) is out. So I switch tones and voila! I can reach Sierra and go in-service.

 

 

 

 

 

Rancheria Falls

But in-between all of that, a couple from Visalia come up. They are interested as they have not come here before. But I think they are really more interested in going down Davis Road. But when that did not work out, my new friend Farrah directed them up here.

 At 1101, Sierra did a lookout check in and staffing. Let me say, it was a pretty lonely feeling when the only lookout called was Delilah. On the other hand, I was pretty prominent. A bit later I heard three beeps-that means a fire is being announced. I do not recognize the name and so do not follow up very closely until I hear the fire is projected to go to 500 acres and go down to the Kings. Wait! A fire that big I should be able to see the smoke from here. I frantically scan, and still no smoke. I follow the Kings past Pine Flat-Nada! I give. So I phone Sierra’s dispatch and asked for a location of the fire. What fire? I hear aircraft being called in on R5. I can feel the dispatcher breaking into a smile. He gently lets me know that a group is doing a practice over in Blue Canyon. I should have known as it would be unusual for them to use R5 as a Tactical channel.

Little speck of the Kings River

And then relative quietness for awhile. I settle down and have my lunch, take scans, and listen to the radio (think Nancy Griffith). I then notice that my phone is not charging on the electrical outlet by the bed. And then the same at the other outlet. But the radio works, so does the inside light, but the outside light does not. Now what! Also I get some alerts that there is lightning activity in the Buck Rock territory. There is enough clouds over there that there should be. I get into a conversation with Greg who directs me to an inverter. It was off. When I flip it on, the outlets come on magically.

Clouds over Park Ridge

 

 

Delilah

But I have missed both the afternoon weather-no loss, the indices-some loss, and the Sierra lookout check in-disappointing. But on the last item, there are two reasons. First, I was on the phone with Greg resolving some issues. Second, the handheld radio’s battery had gone dead, so I did not hear it. Still, usually I check things like that before 1600. I call Sierra and check in with them, a bit late.

I am still fiddling around with the radio and using channels. I do a radio check on Group 4, Channel 4, Tone 12. Porterville hears me, but has low volume. The theory is that our output volume control also controls the mic’s volume control. But that does not seem to make any difference.

Pine Ridge, and Delilah Mountain

I hear that Tone 2-Buck Rock’s repeater-is back online. Now I wonder how they got into Buck Rock to put in new batteries? Buck Rock last I heard had 8’ of snow on the ground? (I did find out on Friday what happened.) That just leaves my repeater down.

At 1718 I hear Sierra going through their status before their dispatch goes out of service. When I say I will be in-service until 1800, they note their dispatch goes out of service at 1730. So I tell them go ahead and take me out of service then.

 

 

 

 

Sunset over Pine Flat

Greg and I have another discussion about the radio, but come to no conclusion. But it is heartening that at least Porterville is hearing us on the proper channel. I go out of service at 1754-a few minutes early.

I am beat. It has been a full day. I make myself a quesadilla. Simple and filling. A bit later I remember to take down the flag. Usually I go for an evening walk. But tonight, I just feel like getting my sleeping bag, go to the outhouse and resting up in the cab. I lock myself in for the night and read for a bit. Sherri and talk. But I am starting to fall asleep, as I enjoy the stars.