September 2, 2023 - Delilah Lookout

Title: September 2, 2023 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description :  Background : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type:Lookout

Description:

I woke up a couple of times last night to go pee. But at 0400 I woke up again and realized a couple of things: I needed to go pee again and it was raining. The first I try to ignore, but the second becomes urgent when a light flashes across my eyelids: lightning! The opening of my lightning report says it well

Clouds below Delilah

There is nothing like the gentle patter of rain on a tin lookout roof to awaken you at 0400. And then the flash of lightning at 0415 to get your heart beating faster. And now there is the gentle sway of Delilah in a pretty good wind to get me going. And when I opened the door this morning, there was the smell of smoke-but none observed yet coming from the ground. So you are getting this lightning report straight from a direct observer as well as my usual source. Even as I am writing this email, the area around Buck Rock is getting additional lightning-looks like on Spanish Mountain.

For the next hour I sat on a lightning stool. Sherri stayed in her bed. Once the threat of lightning went away, I fired up my trusty laptop and put together my lightning report. And now my troubles begin getting out the report. I got a couple of strikes from yesterday, which does not surprise me. But where are the strikes from this morning? Maybe I tried too quickly? I inquired again and again for another hour, and still got nothing. So I issued the report with only yesterday’s lightning with the caveat that this morning’s lightning was missing.

Where is Smith Meadow

We have our breakfast of oatmeal, granola and a cinnamon roll. Then after Buck Rock goes in service at 0728, we go in at 0730. Buck Rock does not have visibility-and as it turns out this is for most of the day. We both have had precip-he reports wind and we report lightning. And now begins our long 11 ½ hour day on duty.

 

 

Gary trying to see smoke from Smith Mdw

Most of this time is spent doing scans, listening to the radio and lounging around. Our visibility is about 10 miles, But there are so many water dogs and low clouds that I am not sure we would be able to find a fire even if there was one. Several of them give me pause, such as one on Dude Ridge where the water dog looks like it comes from a stack of wood. I stared at that for a long time before deciding it was not a smoke. We also took the weather-no worries about low humidity.

Ar 1000 there is a report of smoke at Smith Meadow. Where is that? Once we figure that out, we start looking for smoke in that area. Smith Meadow is just south of Wishon. We cannot see into the meadow, but the area around it. There is a big, long, gray cloud stretching from where the meadow is westward to close to Black Rock. We radio in what we see. Also if this is a smoke plume, which we have our doubts, that what we are seeing is a smoke. Sierra gets a response team to identify where the smoke is. There is an occasional question throughout the next several hours on what are we seeing? Just more clouds. Also one of the patrols emails me and wonders if I have anything further on the lightning from this morning-nothing. By mid-afternoon, clouds have come into the area. Also the roads in the area have been impacted by Hurricane Hilary. So they have looked over the area, they call off the search for the fire.

Could you spot the smoke? Bottom frame-filtered

While we are looking into this area, we scan in other areas with negative results-like a COVID test, this is good. But we do pay attention to what is going on around us. Near Woodward Creek, there is a tree threatening the General’s Highway. So Division 3 gets a crew together, including a borrowed frontloader to bring down the tree and clear the highway.

Or later on that afternoon, there was a report of a lost group down in the Millwood area. So a patrol is sent down road 13S70. He eventually found them: in Abbott Creek. First the people had gotten hung up on a log and in the process of freeing the vehicle, it ended up in the creek. This was a job for tomorrow to bring in a tow truck to get the vehicle out. Tomorrow there will be a continuation to the story.

Then at 1627 there was a report of a fire in Watts Valley. We should be able to see this. But there is a lot of haze today which is blending anything white with it. But after looking for about 5-7 minutes we are able to see it coming over a ridge to the east of Hog Mt. We report what we see to Sierra. It is a Fresno-Kings CalFire incident. So we tune into a CalFire station. We see the smoke decrease and disappear.

We usually go out of service at 1800. But being a holiday weekend, we have been asked to stay on until 1900. This is better than the 2000 which we do on other holiday weekends. Nothing else happens to us. There is a fire in Sierra National Forest called the Providence fire, but it is beyond what we can see. Sounds like it is a single, large tree.

We have our dinner, a pulled bar-b-que pork for dinner. No, Sherri did not roast it up here, but had made it Thursday night for dinner. Still tasty after a long day. After going down, we hit our beds around 2100. It has been a tiring day.

Background 

 Lightning Stool. I should add or chair. While the lookout is pretty well grounded, occasionally a lookout is struck, after all, it is a steel structure sticking high up in the air. To doubly secure the lookout, there is both a stool and chair in each lookout with the old glass electrical insulators attached to its legs. The idea is that if there is any electrical seepage from a lightning, the glass insulators will provide a barrier to electricity.

 
Extra Photo's

Evening Clouds

Looking east from the base of Delilah

Clouds by Goat Saddle

Park and McKenzie Ridges

Where we were trying to spot a smoke

Pine Ridge Clouds

Clearer picture of Watts Valley Smoke

September 6, 2020 - Delilah

 

Title:  September 6, 2020 - Delilah
Hike Info : Description 

Trail head: Delilah Lookout

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Please note: This is not a record of the Creek Fire. We were at Delilah Lookout, 25-30 miles away from the action. Below is a combination of my recollection, Forest Service radio communications, text and e-mail conversations with those who know fire. Consequently, this blog entry should be read from the perspective of a person who had a narrow, but interesting window into fighting the Creek Fire and the rescues which all the first responders achieved.

 

Description:

A new day. What will it bring? Smoke obviously. But will there be good news from the Creek Fire? Will there be an expansion? How about all of the people who needed to get out at Mammoth Pool or China Peak?

The sun gives a hint about the smoke. It rises right where the moon rose last night, over Converse Mountain. Today it is a fiery red ball with the trees being silhouetted.

Both Shuteye and Mt Tom Lookouts are now endangered. Shuteye has left its lookout and is heading down the mountain. He has not been heard from in a while. Mt Tom is leaving soon. At 0848 there is good news that the Shuteye lookout has been heard from and is safely out of the danger zone. We follow on the radio Mt Tom’s lookout leaving. He stops on the way out and finds a car covered in ash. No trace of the occupants.

We go inservice at 0800. Once again, we have a low RH-17%. Not a good sign. At 1020 we notify Porterville that we only have 2 to 3 miles of visibility. It is hot! Outside, it is 96⁰. But inside it is over 100⁰. and it is going to get warmer. Fortunately, we have been able to cool it down a bit to about 96⁰. Usually the mornings are hot at Delilah followed by breezes going up the Canyon, cooling down the tower. But today those breezes do not come up. And at 1500, we have even less visibility.

 

And then there are the people at Mammoth Pool and China Peak. Mammoth Pool looks like a large helicopter came in and lifted them out-maybe several trips. Not sure. But it sounds like there may still be a few more people down there. If this is true, that has got to be an amazing evacuation. My understanding is that they still cannot get into Mammoth Pool via a land route-the fire is still raging there.

On China Peak, it sounds like they were able to get people out last night with their vehicles. From what we heard is that they brought people up 168 until Tamarack Ridge and then took some of the Dinkey Creek roads down to where Dinkey Creek is. On the other hand, I heard they brought out the Wishon and Courtwright people down Black Rock Road to Balch Camp. When Sherri and I did this in June I was glad we were going up it, not down it. I think the rangers agree with that assessment as it was reported that a group of campers-found some drivers who were soberish to drive down Black Rock Road.

There are also backpackers coming out of the backcountry. Some are congregating at VVR. Also at Florence Lake. We also heard them say that they should stop at Blayney Meadows. I have got to assume they will airlift them out as well.

Fog or Smoke?

 

1530 and we see a blanket of smoke enveloping the tower like a fog bank. Even though it is hot, we have closed all of the windows and the door to keep out the smoke. Our inside temperature climbs from about 94⁰ to over 100 ⁰. We cannot tell how hot-the indoor thermometer only says “Hi”. We have a discussion first between Sherri and I and then with the group about vacating the lookout. We decided that if the conditions are the same at 1600, we will vacate-probably not coming back up tomorrow as we will not have visibility.

1600 rolls around and no improvement. We notify our group of plans. Wendy says that BC32 is in agreement. When I talk with him to confirm our decision, he also says to let Div 3 know when we go out of service. We go out of service a few minutes after 1700.

We made it back home by about 1930 with no problems. Wonder if we will be back up at Delilah this year?

===========

I thought I might venture a trip back to Delilah on Labor Day, Monday, Sept 7th. Looking at Delilah’s webcams, there would be no value as it was very much all smoked over and no visibility.

Woodchuck Country 5 Day Trip

 
WoodChuck Country - 2016
From August 25, 2016 through August 29, 2016

Starting: Woodchuck Trail head outside of Wishon Reservoir
Ending:  Woodchuck Trail head
The Hike : Our People : Trail People :  Trail Lessons : Trail Log : References : Abbreviations

The Hike:
 Rose, Sherri and I started the JMT. But after four days, we decided it was better to come off the Trail for an assortment of reasons. But it was not because we did not want to hike. So as soon as we got well enough to go again, we started thinking of another place to go. Rose suggested the Woodchuck Country area. This is an area I have not hiked in so I was all set to go.

We think we will try to make it to HalfMoon Lake, but after talking with some folks, we decide on an alternative of Woodchuck Lake. This is a good thing since we are in the last part of August and the area is pretty dry, except for the lakes and Woodchuck Creek.

We get a late start, which in retrospect is good. We stopped at the last water until Woodchuck Lake. That would have just about done us in I think. Instead it cut the mileage and elevation gain in almost half. The elevation gain is almost the same as what we did from Little Yosemite Valley to Sunrise Camp.

Our lunch view, near Moore Boys Camp

Woodchuck Lake is a great place to camp. Lots of flat places with scenic views. It looked like anybody else who came up slept on the East or South side of the lake, giving us all of the north east side of the lake to ourselves.

We did go on a day hike to what we thought was Crown pass. We reached the right elevation, but did not get to the junction of Crown Lake, which is where the Pass actually is. Still we got great views.

Sunset Woodchuck Lake

The return back is a series of downhills which tired us out in a different way than our going up. We debated on going past the Aug 25th campsite, but decided this would split the trip in half so we stayed put.

On the whole, the walk is not very memorable, but there are places which we all felt we needed to return to.








Our People:
 There were three of us:

• Gary - myself, an old time backpacker with an old time Kelty backpack. First time in this area
• Sherri - my wife, also first time in the area
• Rose - our friend from the Central Valley Hiking Group. We started on the JMT together, but needed to come off because of feet problems. Rose is the one who has been in the area, but that was many years ago and on horseback.
  
  

Sherri                                              Gary                                              Rose

Trail People:
We only were in conversation with two people throughout the trip: Jason and Adam. They are cousins from Southern California. They were introduced to backpacking via Jason's father. But the father cannot go anymore. We camped at Woodchuck Creek both on the 25th and 28th, but they were not really a presence. Also on the night of the 27th they were at Woodchuck Lake. In between they made it to HalfMoon Lake.

Woodchuck Lake

Trail Lessons:

Crown Lake

Time moves slower on the trail. You measure your your progress in steps, in what you have seen, and the conversations your companions.
  


Trail Log:

Our journal is given by each day. Most mileages came from our GPS.



 

Date	Campsite	Miles Walked	Elevation Gained	Max Elevation
Aug 25, 2016	Woodchuck Creek	5.72	1,806'	8,076'
Aug 26, 2016	Woodchuck Lake	4.92	2,039'	9,909'
Aug 27, 2016	Woodchuck Lake	4.90	744'	10,306'	Day hike to Crown Pass
Aug 28, 2016	Woodchuck Creek	6.21	446'	9,976'
Aug 29, 2016	Trail Head	5.72	360'	8,076'
	Total	27.47	5,395'

More Sunset

Our total walking was 47.47 miles, Our "average: day was 5.5 miles with an ascent of 1,079'. 

References:
For those of you who might be interested in hiking this hike, here are some references which you can consult:

• Sierra South by Kathy Morey and Mike White. See hikes 4, 5, and 6

Abbreviations:

• NPS - National Park Service
• NFS - National Forest Service
• DDG - Drop Dead Gorgeous, usually when we are looking at a view
• JDV - Jaw Dropping View
• JMT - John Muir Trail 

Alpine Glow on Woodchuck lake

August 29, 2016 - Woodchuck Trail Head

Title:  August 29, 2016 - Woodchuck Trail Head
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Background : Menu : Extra Photo's : 

Trail head:Woodchuck Creek

Hike Info:

Type:  Backpacking

Trail:Woodchuck Lake

Destination:Woodchuck Trail Head

Distance:  5.72  miles ¹

Start Time: 9:10

End Time:  13:10   

Travel Time:  4:00 1.43 mph)

Moving Time:  3:14  (1.77 mph)

Elevation Rise:  360'

Maximum Elevation: 8,076'

 ¹I was trying another setting on my GPS, but it did not work out as I thought it might. The setting was to record the tracks by time, rather than "Auto". Instead of the 5.72 miles which we got coming in, it was 2.95 miles.

Description:
Time moves slower on the trail. You measure your your progress in steps, in what you have seen, and the conversations your companions.

I got up around 6:10 this morning. I had my quiet time which I enjoyed. Afterwards, I took a peek at the night pictures from last night. Not bad.

Frankenfilter

Our filter has lasted 11 days or more accurately about 35 person days. Over a year ago, Andrea and I discussed adapting my Katedyn Base Camp system to using a Sawyer filter, Today I try it out for real. The result is satisfactory water flow. I call this adaptation: Frankenfilter. Let the world be on guard.

The trail

Yesterday we realized that we had miscalculated how much breakfast we brought. Today, we face the music for our error. My breakfast was peanut butter protein mix tortilla and Nutella-we seemed to have enough lunch, but not enough oatmeal. Rose gave Sherri some oatmeal. Thanks.

We three started out of camp around 9 o'clock.We probably should have gotten started a little earlier to beat the heat. But it should not be too bad as it is almost all downhill. We do start off pretty good.

Sherri waiting

But the strange thing about downhill is that it wears on you. There is the constant jarring of your body as those feet have a little extra to drop before hitting ground. Also the heat does work against us. Also since we know we are on the home stretch, this part of the trail just seems to go on forever. My mind starts to wonder, why didn't we make it to Blizzard Camp last night? (Probably because we would not have wanted to start this morning.)

Deer Rose

One of the things which happens with your mind is you start seeing optical illusions. Such as, is there antlers growing out of Rose's head? Strange thoughts which make the questions about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin seem strangely relevant. But those thoughts do not go very far and you get back to just appreciating your surroundings.

Blizzard camp

Now we descend to Woodchuck Creek. After crossing the creek-me with appropriate grace and the ladies with more caution, we go around a horseshoe turn n the trail. On the map, there is a historical marking saying that Blizzard Camp is to the east of the trail. But there is a small ridge up there which the women challenge me to find it. I do go up it while Sherri and Rose continue on. While there may be a place in an emergency to camp, there is nothing I would want to camp at. But on the west side of the trail, there is a nice camp spot. I think that is where Blizzard Camp is. Then it is off to catch up with them.

Trail Crew Remains

Creek Crossing

While in the the process of catching up, I come across some trail crew tools with some cut logs. Now I am wondering where the trail crew is. But I do not have to wonder to long-it is a good thing, you know how my mind wanders while I wonder. There is two men rebuilding a platform which I had noticed was falling down when we came across it last Thursday. Also they are helping Rose across that section. I stop and talk with them-surprise! They were wondering where we have been and how we liked things. One of the men is from North Fork.

After talking with them, it is time to play catch up again. But we are going down and my legs are long enough that I catch up soon enough. Now we are just making time to get back to the car at Woodchuck Trail Head, close to Wishon. Which we do. As we are going to the bathroom, another vehicle comes in. This group is picking up their other car as they walked from here up to Edison Lake. Not a bad jaunt.

We got in a little bit too late to go to a place in Shaver Lake which Rose wanted to go to. But we head on down to Prather and eat at Velasco's. Then it is time to get back to Rose's and to Fresno. The end of our five day trip. Enjoyable. We will go back up to Woodchuck again.

Trail Lesson:

Time moves slower on the trail. You measure your your progress in steps, in what you have seen, and the conversations your companions.


Background
About a month after doing this walk, Sherri and I were in Delilah Lookout. There was a report of a fire, about a mile east of Wishon Lake, around Woodchuck Creek. It was a small fire, but called the Woodchuck Fire. It was man-made and put out within a day.

Menu

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal from Rose and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang. Also Peanut Butter and other misc items to make up for mis-calculation on oatmeal.	Velasco's in Prather		Clif Bar, GORP, Propel, CytoMax, Scrytch, Coffee Candy, Jelly Belly

Extra Photo's

August 28, 2016 - Woodchuck Creek

Title:  August 28, 2016 - Woodchuck Creek
Hike Info : Description : Menu : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head:Woodchuck Creek

Hike Info:

Type:  Backpacking

Trail: Unnamed

Destination:Blizzard Camp on Woodchuck Creek
Actual Destination:Woodchuck Creek, same place we camped on Aug 25, 2016

Distance:  6.21 miles

Start Time:  9:35

End Time:  3:42   

Travel Time:  6:06 (1.02 mph)

Moving Time:  4:39 (1.34 mph)

Elevation Rise:  446'

Maximum Elevation: 9,976'

GPS Track

Description:
As I was getting out of my bag to do some business in the middle of the night, I realized that with my new camera, there is a night/star mode. So this is a good time to try it out. Fortunately, it was not too cold-just cool enough that I did not want to mosey too long. So I was able to shot a couple pictures-one at 60 seconds; the other at 15. They look pretty good.

Night Sky at 60 second exposure

I suspect that we can never describe the glory of my Lord. That we get a brief look at glory is grace to us. No wonder God had to shield Moses when he passed by. When at sunrise, when the sun starts to bask the mountain sides, this is when I get reminded of the beauty which is His.

I got up around 6:30. The light was already starting to shine but not directly on me yet.  Loper Peak catches the light early.  I had my quiet time just asking in these mountains I time alone just pondering.

Sun on Loper Peak

So once again we are little bit lazy in getting started. We have our breakfast, well some of us did. We shorted our oatmeal and so Rose have gave us some oatmeal also. By the time which we got packed and ready to go it is 9:30. But we are not worried about the times it is mostly downhill today. We should get to where we camped Thursday without too much problem. The question is will we get all the way out today and do we want to?

One of many meadows

We leave the same way we did yesterday, that is along the west side of the lake, not following a trail for the first third of a mile. It is fine just walk along the rocks picking our way through. Eventually we hit up the trail and get up to the trail junction. This is where we split from yesterday. Instead of going to Crown Pass we head west and head back to Wishon Reservoir.

Talus field

Going down a different trail is interesting and I keep in the back so that I can stop and look around. While there is not a lot of variation to scenery, it is good to just to feel for this area. Like a lot of the High Sierra's, there is a sparseness to the trees which makes the forest seem open and and alive. The open part of the trail is good, letting the clean air infiltrate our lungs.  The decline is moderate. We pause once before the junction to Chimney and Marsh Lakes. Now the trail goes down a little bit more. We stopped and break a limit for a few minutes.

Loper Peak

Here Sherri, before an interesting grouping of rocks, she discovers that her camera lens will not retract. After much work, I was able to get the lens to retract somewhat properly. But the thing about this kind of probably, you never know if the camera is focusing properly or is a bit off.

Snow sign at Lunch Meadow

Rose

As you go down the trail it doesn't get steeper but the side of the mountain does. But the Forest Service has done a great job of grading the trail so that it will be a gentle decline. I'm not sure I would want to come up, but at least it seems like it would be a good climb rather than something which will leave you whimpering. We get to the meadow which we ate at Friday. We stop and eat here also. Sherri has been walking pretty good and she got here about 10 to 15 minutes before Rose and I did. So she is all rested up. Lunch is peanut butter and Nutella and crackers.

Sherri and Rose leave a few minutes before me. I catch up on some some of my blog entries-recording them rather than trying to write them in with my fat fingers into a tiny cell phone keypad. Also The Lord of the Rings has been calling me, so I spend more time reading. So I'm about 10 minutes behind them but that is good because I can go at my own pace and enjoy a little bit longer stride.

Rose resting

Hiking around a tree

After about a half an hour I catch up with them. They are now going down the steeper parts of the trail. Eventually we stopped and rest maybe about a quarter mile above where we camped Thursday. Rose and Sherri take off again. They are a few minutes ahead of me. I should have realized how close we were to our old campsite, but I did not. They continue on past our old campsite. When I come to it, I recognize it and then chase after them, literally whistling them down.

Sherri trucking on

Is this man happy?

After returning to the old campsite we talked about what we want to do. The consensus is, why hurry and push our way back? Even tomorrow we can get back before 5 and still be good. On the plus side, we can spend one more night in camp-isn't that a good thing? So we decide this is a good place to stop for the day. We are about 5 3/4 miles from the car and it should take another 3 hours to get back. So I get to enjoy another day of rest. how do I do this? By laying out on a rock by Woodchuck Creek and continue my reading.

While we are setting up camp, Adam and Jason come by. They are also looking for a place to camp and I show them where we have looked last Thursday. They seem to be okay with that place. Our camp is set up and we are content just to relax until dinner time. After dinner, all go to bed, except for me. i am waiting for the dark to try some more night pictures.

Mountains beyond Wishon Reservoir

Menu

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang.	Ritz Crackers, Tortillas, Peanut Butter, Nutella	????	Clif Bar, GORP, Propel, CytoMax, Scrytch, Coffee Candy, Jelly Belly

Animals

Morning Glory

 
Flowers and Plants