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.

---

 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

October 8, 2016 - Wawona Meadow

Title: October 8, 2016 - Wawona Meadow
Hike Info : Description :   Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Wawona Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail:Wawona Meadow Trail and Mariposa Grove from Wawona Trail

Destination:Loop

Distance:  4.90 miles

Start Time: 8:59

End Time:   11:34  

Travel Time:  2:35 (1.90 mph)

Moving Time:  1:51 (2.65 mph)

Elevation Rise:  793'

Maximum Elevation: 4,580'

GPS Tracks

Description:
For such a short hike, Dana and I have gone through a lot of iterations on how to do this hike. This is mainly because after we scheduled the hike, there was a prescribed burn set to go at Mariposa Grove, just a couple miles away. We examined several options and then after consulting Yosemite Fire decided to do the Wawona hike we had originally planned with a Red Rocks Falls as an alternative.  As it turned out, the alternative planning done was not to be used. We did smell a bit of smoke at the entrance station, but once we got to Wawona, the skies was mostly clear.

But I am jumping the gun a bit. We met at Eddie's Bakery and leave about 7:10. Stopped in Oakhurst at Starbucks and then off to Wawona. It is a bit chilly when we first get out of the car, but once we start moving things are good. I am in shorts and a T-shirt from the start. Dana is going through a process to be able to put on her own hikes with the Central Valley Hiking Group. She gets us together and lays out the plan for the hike. I will be at the head of the pack and Dana will make sure nobody is left behind.

From Jerry J-Fence along Trail

We cross the golf course, admiring the mountains around us. Then head off parallel to the meadow. The trail is really an old road, a bit up and down, but nothing violent. So we make good time and I get to talk with Kara and Becky who rode up with Sherri and I.  Talking on the trail seems to make you a bit more relaxed with each other. So even though we just met this morning, we are talking about things which concern us. I love walking with others. Someplace in here Kelly also joins the group.

From Jerry J-Autumn Colors

 When we reach the end of the meadow, the main trail curves around and heads back to where we started. But today, we are talking a little bit less used trail. This one is about a mile long and cuts up to the trail which goes from Wawona to Mariposa Grove-we will not be going that far today. Bruce is now behind me and we talk about some hikes he is planning. Interesting to see what others are doing to help you discover places to go for yourself.

From Jerry J-Tree and Light

The reason why I like this cross-over trail is that the forest is cleaner, with low level bushes, such as mountain misery. The less dense covering of trees allows more light in, but not too much. Pleasant and relaxing. When we reach the road, we wait for those who are enjoying a slower pace. One question which comes up is where will we stop and have  a snack? I thought there was a place across the road, but when we cross, it is not very attractive.

So we start our final leg of our hike: returning to Wawona. This is about a mile and a half more, almost all down. Now I get a chance to talk with Rose. We have backpacked together a lot during August-enjoyable. So we now discuss some future plans for hiking. It seems like we have just started talking and we get to Wawona. That is the nature of walking.

From Jerry J-Gary and Sherri

Back at the car, we discuss what to do next. It seems like we should go on another hike, but I do not think anybody has that in their heart. So the next best thing is where to eat. We decide El Cid's. When we stop there, the restaurant has a large  group and it will be over an hour wait. So on to another place called Pop's. Once again, there is a long wait. We figure out that there is a marathon being run today so there is a lot of hungry runners. Being somewhat on the ball, I suggest we get out of Oakhurst and go down to Coarsegold. There is a pizza place called Gold Mine Pizza which I have been wondering about. When we get there, we are the only ones there. Food is good; service is slow. We got back to Fresno about 2:30, tired, but not bad.

You may notice that there is a lack of my pictures. There is two reasons: 1) Wawona has a subtle type of beauty, not the Jaw Dropping kind of the Valley. It is a bit harder to capture. 2) Since I was at the start of the pack, it is a bit harder to drop back and take pictures without hold everybody else up. But friends come along and help you make up for your lack. Many of the pictures in this blog entry is from Jerry J-thanks.

Mt Savage and Wawona Meadow

 
Flowers and Plants

October 1, 2016 - Yosemite Valley Loop, West

Title: October 1, 2016 - Yosemite Valley Loop, West
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons :  Background :  Extra Photo's 

Trail head: Bridalveil Falls Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail:Valley Loop Trail

Destination: Loop

Distance:  12.50  miles ¹

Start Time: 9:40

End Time:  3:39

Travel Time: 5:58  (2.10 mph)

Moving Time:  4:38  (2.72 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,219'

Maximum Elevation: 4,126'

GPS Tracks
 ¹This was slight exaggerated since I went back a time or two as we were getting close to the end.

Description:

Merced River at the Pohono Bridge

Sherri and I have done this hike maybe eight times in the last five years.  Each time we make things a bit different: going counter-clockwise instead of clockwise, cross the Merced River over Swinging Bridge, Sentinel Bridge or other bridge. Also sometimes it is by ourselves, other times it is with our meetup group. We go clockwise and see things like Bridalveil Falls, Pohono Bridge, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Valley Chapel and Cathedral Rocks. You know,  the usual Yosemite Awesome Beautifulness (YAB).

This meetup hike started out when it got posted with 25 people going and 10 people waiting to get on the list. But by the time our boots hit the trail, we have 10 people. But may I say, they are 10 fun and interesting people which I am glad to walk with. At 7:10 we leave Eddie's Bakery in Fresno and then hit Judy's Donuts in Oakhurst for coffee and donuts, but no bathrooms. So we stop in Chinquapin to relieve ourselves. Then on to the Bridalveil Falls Parking Lot. By the time our 20 boots start walking, it is after 9:30.

One of the highlights, or from Sonya and Sherri's perspective, lowlights, happened less than a mile from the start. We were getting close to Bridalveil Meadow when I saw a hole about the size of a basketball right next to the trail. Then I turned around to check on everybody and saw a few bees coming out of the hole. That's strange and in that brief 2 seconds, the bees were starting swarm. I yell out "BEES!" and most of our people start to scurry out of that area. That is except for the two at the end: Sherri and Sonya. They have been in deep conversation and did not hear my frantic call. So they leisurely went through the swarm of bees until the bees started attacking. That is until they got stung, when they got frantic.

When they stopped, several of us started swatting what looked like small honey bees off of Sonya and Sherri. Each had been stung at least once and that part of their bodies started swelling a bit. Also there was a couple of bites where the bees had bit through the fabric. As soon as we got done swatting off the honey bees, we would find some more. Finally after about 20 minutes of swatting, Sherri and Sonya were done with the bees. They were given some benadryl.  Over time, this helped some.

We moved on, a bit more alert to the dangers in the area. But fortunately that was as bad as they got.  Both Sherri and Sonya were able to continue on with the walk, a lot more achy and a bit drowsy. They do make it all the way around.

Climbers starting the Nose route

Above the Nose

One of the advantages of hiking with a group is you have a wide assortment of experiences. Sonya has climbed rock before and a friend of hers is an experienced El Capitan climber. So Sonya gave us a lot of background on what we are seeing. There is a group of climbers going up the Nose. Sonya's friend will be going up the part of the wall to the west of the Nose. A little ways further, we saw a couple climbers doing a route called the Zodiac-that is there is a big white circle on the east wall which looks like a zodiac sign. Glad there are people along who are sharing their experience and knowledge. Much more fun than listening to my babbling all day. Later we pass through Camp 4 and I talk with Cindy and Sherri about some of the persons who used this as a base for their climbs.

El Capitan East Wall-Zodiac close to middle

Zodiac Route

Japanese Wedding by the Merced

Yosemite provides enough of its own beauty without too much of man's help. But on occasion, you see something which compliments the beauty of nature. As we were walking through a lightly forested part of the trail, close to the Merced, we could see a wedding party by the beach.. But we did not see the bride and groom, but the festive colors of oriental umbrellas. We quietly stopped, enjoyed the sight and then continue on.

A ways a way, we come to Leidig Meadow. To me. this is THE View of Half Dome and the eastern end of the Valley. The lushness of the grass, even in October. Trees ringing the meadow and North Dome, Clouds Rest, the Quarter Domes and Half Dome all there before you. No wonder Muir called these mountains his cathedral. As a note: there was two people in the middle of the meadow. I can well understand the draw of wanting to be out there. It was calling me. But maybe in another time this would be acceptable. Now with 4 million visitors each year, this sight would be destroyed if we all did it. Even with the people in there, it is a sight to behold.  I have Photoshopped the people out of the picture at the bottom of this section.

Fall Color

On the north side of the trail, there was hints that Fall was about to take place in the Valley. But when we crossed over to the south side, we started having more color. With the sun playing hide-and-go-seek with the south rim, you get some effects of light streaming through the trees.  I try taking some pictures with El Capitan in the background and the colored leaves in front of it, but the contrasting just did not come out right-mostly El Cap just faded. But a few pictures do give a hint of how things looked.

Beginning of Autumn Leaves

As we round the corner near the Valley Chapel , there is a discussion about seeing the Chapel from the trail on the South side of the Valley. Once when we did this trail, I temporarily lost three groups of people because they did not see the Chapel. While it is visible, if you are looking, it is not right in your face. So I do understand why people did not see it.

Cavity of Ribbon Falls

As we  finish up the trail, most of the group is going pretty strong. I think most are glad for the 12.5 miles and not 13.5. But we all look in good shape when we come in. By the time the last of us come in, some of the people have taken off. Others want to join us at El Cid for dinner. It has been a pretty good day-one which I enjoyed talking with so many people.

View from Leidig meadow

Trail Lesson:
Be aware of the surroundings and the dangers even in beauty. After all, there was a snake in Eden.

Background

There is so much history in Yosemite Valley, that whole books have been written around this subject.

Birthday. 126 years ago today, Oct 1, 1890 Yosemite became the fourth National Park, signed in by President Benjamin Harrison. Before that, it was a State park. For more, you can see History.com


Valley Chapel. The original location was close to the start of the Four Mile Trail. It was built in 1879. For more background, you can see the Valley Chapel web site and my blog-more references than information.

Camp 4. This is the name of a walk-in camp on the north-side of the Valley, close to Yosemite Falls.  People like Royal Robbins, Warren Harding, Yvon Chouinard, Chuck Pratt, and Jim Bridwell, all started their historic climbs from here. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places. References can be found on my blog.



Extra Photo's

Is our way blocked?

Sept 2, 2016 - Delilah Lookout

Title:  September 2, 2016 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description :  Background : Menu : Extra Photo's

Burnt Forest from Rough Fire

Hike Info:

Type:  Lookout

Description:

This is a typical day in a fire lookout, at least our experience. Calm and peaceful is good; exciting tends to say there are things which we do not care to have going. Times are expressed in military time.

• 0730 Left home in Fresno right on time. But need to stop and get gas.

Road in to Delilah

• 0845 A bit later than I should be here. On the dirt road to Delilah, back end of truck is fishtailing-there is no weight back there. Driving slower. Get in later than expected.

• 0930 In cab, 80' off the ground.
• 0931 Go In-Service both to Porterville(PV) and Sierra National Forest (SNF)
• 0940 Taking Delilah weather. I am 20 minutes late on this. It should be done by 0920
• 0946 Buck Rock Lookout (BR) In-Service and notes Sentinel Fire has lots of smoke, reducing viability in his area. From Delilah, we do not see it, not it's effects.
• 0951 Starring first scan. While I looked around when I first came in, this is the first time I get to examine my area in detail.
• 1000 PV gives fire weather and staffing
• 1017-1023 continue scanning

  

  Gary at the Osborne Fire Finder

• 1024 talk with BR to confirm about where the Sentinel fire is and where the smoke is going. The bottom line is that it is beyond several ridges where I cannot see it.
• 1030-41 Scan
• 1049-1100 Scan
• 1101 SNF morning checkin
• 1115-1129 Scan
• 1130-1145 clean windows
• 1150-1211 Scan. But interrupted by listening to BR and Prevention-31 talk about campfires around Big Meadow, Horse Corral, and Buck Rock campgrounds
• A weather front is coming in on the West. Wind is picking up, maybe to 10mph. A slight sway to the tower.
• More cleaning windows
• 1225-1241 Scan
• Lunch
• 1255 Wendy called. I may need to stay to 1900 because of Labor Day weekend. It is time for extra precautions.
• 1300 Delilah weathe
• 1313-1327 scan
  1346-1356 scan
  Finish cleaning windows1415-1425 Scan
  1445-1500 Scan
  Wendy called and said PV requested we stay in service until 1900. Ok
  

  

  End of a Day

  1535-1555 Scan
  1600  SNF is being alerted to an incident outside of my area called the Gap Incident.
  1604 PV fire weather and danger rating
  1610 SNF lookout check in
  1620-1634 Scan
  1640 SNF Triangle Incident, 5 miles from Signal Lookout at 255.5 degrees. Vegetation fire. This is up near Mariposa-outside of my area.
  1645-1702 Scan
  
  • Distraction: hawk soaring on the wind.
  1716-2729 Scan1735-1750 Scan
  1754 SNF evening check out. Delilah in service till 1900
  1803-1816 Scan
  Starting to cleanup lookout
  Lowered and fold flag
  1843-1855 Final Scan
  
  • Closing up
  1900 Out of service to both PV and SNF
  2035 Back home in Fresno

Delilah Lookout

Background

Delilah Weather Can be found by searching for: nr6g-12 - this is a RAWS site. Some places which you might find it is at:

• FindU
• APRS

Some of the lingo:

• Scan. When we are in a tower, there are two types of smoke scans we look for. The first is that even if we are doing something else, such as monitoring the radio, identifying landmarks and the like, our eyes are going over the terrian to see if there is signs of a smoke. The second we try to do three times an hour. That is taking our binoculars and go over everything we can see section by section. This will take between 10-20 minutes each time. Each 20-30degree angle you look over from top to bottom, making a telemark type of pattern till you reach the end of the section, then it is on to the next section. What we look for is smoke, not fire. Smoke you can see a lot more and earlier than a fire.
• Smoke.  Different types of smoke and how it drifts tells what kind of fire it is-dark usually means man-made materials burning while lighter may say it is vegetation or trees which are burning. A straight column says that no winds are present while a chopped off top says there is an inversion layer.
• ERC-energy release component
• BI-burn index

Extra Photo's

Finger Rock and Mt Hoffman from North Side

Mt Hoffman and Finger Rock from South (Delilah)

Loper Peak: From the North(top) and Delilah from South (bottom)