Hike Info:
Type:Lookout
Description:
I woke up around 0500. The
stars are still out, shining brightly and there is only the vagist
hint of a morning being brought beyond the crest. I drift on and off
to sleep for half an hour. By then, the sun has decided to creep over
the mountains, highlighting the clouds. I get up and do my lighting
report-don’t you get tired of me saying that? There were three
strokes, all south of Florence
Lake.
By the time I get done with
the report, it is time to make a quick trip down to the base of the
tower, to get a few things together to bring back up. Then it is back
up into the tower and getting ready for the new day. Ten minutes
later I go into service. Despite the cloud cover, it is already
getting warm-81 outside and 83 in the cab-I do not think it will get
better. Today is slated to be the hottest day of this heat wave. How
can something called a wave be so discomforting? I know, there are
also tidal waves and the like. But when you are in the middle of
something, you think this is the worst thing ever-it is not.
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Clouds above Park Ridge
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Then I start my routine of
scanning, listening to the radio. I do have a dish of granola for
breakfast. When taking a look at the weather, there definitely is a
layer of smoke, dirt, and smog a little higher than me across the
Central Valley. Also Kathy calls me and we talk for about twenty
minutes. It is always good to hear from her. She is so positive of a
person.
Last night during our family
Zoom time, Sherri brought up that Meagan
talked about Silence
during her sermon-I suspect the “her'' may be not right, after all
isn’t a sermon God speaking to us. Is the message then God’s or
it should be the congregation’s, through a messenger? I digress. I
should also say, I have not heard the sermon and probably will not
for a few more days.
That has got me thinking about
a book I am using as a source of meditation, Backpacking
with the Saints
by Weldon C. Lane. There is a chapter in there about Solitude. He
also has a great deal to say about the need for Silence. Up here in
the lookout, I definitely do not have a lot of direct human contact.
But is that Solitude? In the tower, it really is not Silence, at
least during working hours, as with the two radios going, there is
rarely time where they are silent for more than 15 minutes. And by
the time I get done, I am ready for bed. I need to figure out a
different routine.
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My "Spaceship" cloud
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Both Silence and Solitude do
not have value in themselves. Such as I can while away my time alone
playing games or reading light-weight books during my time. But does
that really count as something which anybody would consider a
splendid use of that time? And now that I am to write this, I see
that I am thinking in utilitarian terms. I suspect that “use” is
not the main thrust of either one. It more is: how do I get to know
myself better? How do I get to know my God better? That would be
where Silence and Solitude should lead me. Both “know’s” are
not quantifiable in terms of productivity and so cannot be thought
about in their utility. Rather I think times of quiet allows me to
understand more of God’s intentions in my life.
Maybe that is why it is so
hard to be still. Understanding leads to action and action with
understanding can lead to discomfort. Discomfort in that action is
change-I learned that early on in Physics. May I need to make my
life open to the changes the Father wants.
One of the things with scans
is that I am learning to observe. From a lookout, it is just a matter
of time before birds come into view. Two red-winged hawks were doing
a synchronized dance when I was looking towards Sampson Flat. They
were twirling around. I suspect they were looking for game. Last
night I was reading how hawks will use their shadow to drive their
prey into chaos, making the prey easier to spot. I guess it is not to
provide me with a few moments of awe. They quickly disappear. But
then a red-headed woodpecker appears on a dead tree to the east.
Another way to slow down and enjoy the wonder which I have been
given.
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Looking up the Kings River
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For as hot as the prediction
was, it does not seem to be that hot. I am still sweating, but there
is a pleasant breeze which gives the illusion of coolness until I
step into the sunlight. Then I know it's hot.
Just got through reading
Wendy’s staffing e-mail. I just saw that I was to go into service
at 0700. Sigh, I should have read it closer. In the past during
extended hours it has been 0800 to 2000. I was looking to see what
time they had us getting off tonight-2000. Am I getting tired of the
heat?
The heat does not feel as bad
as it did Sunday, so I am slightly more active. I do stop and lay
down occasionally in the afternoon. But those are for 15 minute
spurts-governed by my timer. Nothing exciting. There are more clouds.
I let Buck
Rock
know that I am seeing a cell going in her direction on the
Earthnetworks map.
Around 1745, I have my dinner:
skillet warmed Mexican food. Filling and satisfying. Also I end up
eating some crackers, nuts, and cookies.
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Night settling in over Delilah
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But my reverie of food and
contentment at not having anything happen in my area ends. There is a
fire called out by Sierra in the Burrough Valley area. Wait, that is
just across the lake (Pine
Flat)
from me, just short of 16 miles. But as much as I look over there, I
cannot see the smoke. The haze really blocks any chance of spotting
it. Also, I think there is a slight ridge between me and it. I call
in that I cannot see any smoke. Then about seven minutes later, there
is a plume of white against the dirty gray of the haze. There is the
smoke. Right on the mark which I had calculated it would be. I call
that in as well. That is about all I can do for this fire. If it
starts getting bigger, I will note that with Sierra.
I continued scanning until
2000. Even though as the shadows extend and the ravines get swallowed
up in darkness, the benefits of being up here diminish. At 2000 I go
out of service. After a trip downstairs, I talked with Sherri for a
while. Then it is time to drift off to sleep.
Trail Lesson: Read and understand; do not assume.
