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

February 16, 2022 - Miami Mountain

 

 

Title: February 16, 2022 - Miami Mountain

Hike Info : Description :   Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Miami Mtn Road

Trail: Miami Mtn Road

Destination: Miami Lookout

Distance:  4.22 miles 

Start Time: 9:45

End Time:  1:06

Travel Time:  3:21 (1.26 mph)

Moving Time:   2:08 (1.98 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,078'

Descent: 1,061‘

Maximum Elevation:4,336 '

GPS Tracks

Description:

Start of the road up

The goal today is to hike up to Miami Mountain Lookout with our friends Betty and Rose. Woke up unaided at 6:30, my normal time. The big question is will Sherri feel like going this morning. She was a bit under the weather last night. By 8:00, I pretty much had the answer since she did not get up. 8:30 comes and so does Betty who rings the doorbell. We leave in separate cars. We come to the El Meso and 41 off-ramp and find Rose there. After exchanging greetings, I give directions on getting to the trailhead. This is one of those don’t blink, you will miss it turn offs. But we all make it by 9:40. By 9:55, or boots are starting to kick up dust.

Rose and Betty almost to the top

 

 

This route up Miami Mountain is a dirt road, some of it being through private property which allows access to the Miami Mountain Lookout. I have done this several times and know that it is a pretty good haul up the mountain, but doable. It will test how good of shape I am in, also if my lungs will hold out.

The first small section is by the home of the person with private property. A dog comes out to greet us and perform guard duty. The person I have heard is heavily involved in keeping the lookout open. Sounds like a win-win.

The air is cool, but even so, I take off my long-sleeve shirt and feel comfortable walking in the sun. A lot of times when I have done Miami Mtn, it has been 10-20 degrees warmer and there is cause to sweat heavily.

Signal Lookout

I will not say the walk is boring for two reasons. The first is because when you are walking up this road, you are surrounded by oaks and manzanita (or is there some madrone mixed in?), and other shrubbery. Lots there to keep you going. By the way, we do not see much in the realm of wildlife: a few birds and some tracks. Secondly because when you are walking with friends, there is a lot of goodness to everyday conversation: how was Hawaii? Where are you going to celebrate a birthday? How is the ranch doing? And so on. All part of friendship. So good to walk this way.

As we have been climbing for awhile, Betty makes a comment that we seem to be circling around the mountain. And yes we are. Shortly afterwards, we turn and are on the final leg of approach to the top of the mountain and the lookout. The top of Miami is fairly mild, it is a long slightly rounded top with the two story lookout sitting on its crown. There is new construction going on with the telecommunications system. The top is acquired around 11:20.

 

 

Prescribed Burn

There are several smokes showing towards the east, particularly. These are from fireplaces burning to keep the house warm. We see them all the way over to the foot of Shuteye Peak. Also, we can barely make out the lookout on top of that peak. But Signal Lookout on top of Devil’s Peak is fairly evident to the northwest of us. This is a good place to have lunch.

When we were seeing the various chimney smokes, it looked like there was one out of the ordinary to the north. After lunch, when I glanced over there, the smoke had gotten bigger and did not act as a single column, more like a wildland fire. But was Sierra NF doing a prescribed burn? Looking at Facebook, the Forest had an entry saying that starting Tuesday they would be doing a prescribed burn in the Lewis Creek drainage. . Bingo. That is where the smoke is going from. Also judging from the location I think it is in the Miami OHV area close to 41.

 

 

On the Way Down

Our trip down the mountain is much like the trip up it. Low mountain vegetation, views of snow in the high mountains and good conversation. That would be also without the huffing and puffing I experienced on the way up. We arrived back at the car by 1pm without incident and by 1:20, our cars touched pavement. The drive home was relaxed, as was I. It did feel good to park the car in our garage. I touched base with Sherri-she is feeling better. Then laid down for a little while.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Extra Photo's

Merced Peak, Triple Divide Peak and Mount Raymond

Looking West

Panorama looking east

Little Shuteye and Shuteye

November 4, 2020 - Delilah Lookout

 

Title: November 4, 2020 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description :  Animals 

Trail head:Delilah Lookout

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

Before shutting my eyes last night, there was a bright red moon-light going through smoke. Still no less awesome. I think we now know how the prophecy in Joel will be accomplished-through forest fires: The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Last Night's Moon

I woke up pretty early, around 0400, but was able to get back to sleep until 0520. Pretty rested and feeling good. In the dark, it looks like a thick layer of smoke has come to rest below me in the Mill Flat Creek area. One of the things which kept me awake, was walking onto the catwalk to investigate a light at the top of Davis Road. A car was starting to make its way down. Makes you wonder what is so interesting and needed that vehicles would be on the road that early and late last night in the dark.

I finally moved out of bed around 0620. The smoke around Delilah is not as bad as I feared, still the visibility will be only about 5 miles at its best. I read a little bit and then have breakfast, my usual of granola. I take a load down to the truck. I noticed a wire laying on the ground. I trace it out and it seems to be unattached. Once I figured that out, I reported it to Buck Rock.

 

Note that in four years the pine beetle trees have lost their needles.

 During breakfast, I listened to John Michael Talbot. Yesterday, I talked about being a lookout and being able to look beyond the current environment, particularly the election yesterday. This JMT will help move me in that direction. The first song I played, I knew I would need to make that my prayer, it is St. Frances’ prayer of peace. It is my hope that I will find a way to fulfill that prayer. Maybe being up here will help.

Autumn View towards Dude Ridge

It is time for me to be a real lookout. I take the weather and go inservice with a low RH at 16% and 3-5 miles visibility. Sort of a rotten way to spend the last day of the season up here. Of course I have been saying this for the past two months. After this, I talk with Judy who will be here tomorrow. Always good to talk with a fellow lookout and be able to pass on what to expect.

 

 

 

 

 

More Autumn Color towards White Deer Saddle

And then the rest of the day is the normal stuff. Wash windows, do scans, do housekeeping. It sounds like lots of the forest is in the process of shutting down. Yesterday I heard Signal go out of service for the season. Today E32 shutdown the station at Lakeshore, Hume Lake. Tomorrow Buck Rock goes out of service. I think this is similar feelings as when Christmas decorations are taken down for the season.

After answering a few phone calls, I clean up the cab so that Judy will find it properly sanitized. As a note, when I follow Judy or Kathy, it gives me no hope in having things as clean and wonderful as they leave it. Still I try my best. By 1615, I went out of service for the last time this season.

Your fearless lookout

I always want to say what a wonderful season it has been. It is memorable, but I have my doubts about its wonderfulness. The pandemic stopped us from being in the lookout with visitors and other lookout friends. The smoke from the fires plagued the lookouts, creating both visibility and air quality problems. Still I look forward to being back up in the cab again next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Autumn Colors

 

I think I will end this year with a Philip Connors quote:

    Time spent being a lookout
       isn’t spent at all.
    Every day in a lookout
       is a day not subtracted
       from the sum of one’s life.
Philip Connors, Fire Season, Chp May

Animals

Stellar's Jay

Places: CA-Devils Peak

 
Devils Peak-6,975' (Wawona) (37.5292392, -119.7403731)
Legal: T5S, R20E, Sec 1
Signal Peak Lookout-6,965' (Wawona) (37.5291027, -119.7404406)
Legal: T5S, R20E, Sec 1

	Deg	Min	Vertical Deg	Min	Distance	Visible
Delilah
Park Ridge
Buck Rock

Description : Trips : References : Pictures 


Description:

From GNIS:

• In the Chowchilla Mountains, 2.4 km (1.5 mi) north of Crow Peak and 3.2 km (2 mi) south of Granite Creek Saddle. (US-T121)
•  Also called:
• Devil's Peak
• Devils Peak
• Signal Peak

Trips:

• 
  

References:

• Fire Lookouts
• Yosemite.com
• California Lookouts
• 
  

Pictures:

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