September 3, 2023 - Delilah Lookout

 

Title: September 3, 2023 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description :   Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type:Lookout

 

View from my walk

 Description:

I woke up a little after 0600. I checked for lightning and there was lightning reported, even the ones missing from yesterday! It took me about two hours to produce the report. The turmoil and trauma of using a small laptop. But if this is the worst my life has, I will not complain.

During producing the lightning report, the skies went from having a high cloud ceiling to enveloping us. Also there was some precip which blessed us. By the time we went into service at 0930, we reported .02” of rain and limited visibility.

 

 

 

 

Lookout view

When I finished my report, we had breakfast-oatmeal, granola and a cinnamon roll.The same as yesterday. While Sherri went downstairs, I washed dishes. It is going to be that kind of day where you get to hear about the minutiae of life in a lookout. Sherri heard some voices-turns out there were three motorcycles down by some trees at the start of the loop around Delilah. They do not come up-I do not blame them with our visibility.

Delilah in a cloud

When Sherri came back, I went down. I also went for about a half an hour walk down into our saddle, beyond and up. Usually there is two to five deer wandering around the lookout. On this trip, I saw only one and he crossed my path on the walk. Even though it is a bit late in the season for wildflowers, there still was a couple

 

Lunch

When I got back, we settled into life in white out. That is, I have my quiet time and work on my blogs. We listen to the radio and wonder how a car got stuck in Abbott Creek last night. But then even more so, how did it get beyond a place where a tow truck got stuck today? The things we hear. As a note, later in the day, we heard that another tow truck was sent to bring out the first on. The car? I think they will wait until things get dried out to bring that one out.

And then there is the continuing saga of the Province Fire. The firefighters brought down a 100’ fir tree which was burning on top and now are dealing with the fire on the ground. They could not bring in aircraft because, you guessed it, no visibility--too much cloud cover. We were then hearing about activity around a Lost Meadow. After searching for this meadow on a map, we found it. The question in my mind is, if we found Lost Meadow, is it lost any longer? There is smoke reported back in there as well-it is only about 2 or 3 miles southeast of the Province Fire. In looking at my lightning report, there is also a strike someplace in that area.

 

 

The Outhouse View

We decided that since we are not doing anything, lets have dinner now. Sherri heats up soup and fries us a grilled cheese sandwich. A pretty good meal to have on a cold day.

Surprisingly, we have had two sets of visitors-one person from Clovis and two from San Jose. There is some disappointment in traveling all this way just to see the white of the inside of a cloud. They both had been to lookouts before, without our view, I am left to babble and there is only so much I can say before they look at me and I look at them.

After the last couple of days, we are a bit lethargic. We read and write and just enjoy the down time. There is something hypnotic about being surrounded by a sea of white. No temptation to dive in. Maybe if it was a bit warmer. With the temperature outside hovering in the low 50’s, there is not much temptation to go outside. I do take a nap, which terminates about the time the San Jose visitors come up.

Around 1700, the clouds start to part and we get to see the land again. Even though we have seen this land for many years and have had no reprieve the last two days, it looks different now that we have been deprived of it. Is this true of what is common becomes desired if we cannot have it?

With the land visible, I start to do scans. I do not expect to find any fires. First, with all of the clouds, there has not been lightning in our area. Second, the area has been pretty moist, so it will be hard to start a fire without human aid. It is Labor day weekend, so there is bound to be someone who doesn't believe they could be the villain. Part of our task to find if this happens in Delilah territory.

At 1900 we go out of service. Even with the lack of visibility, I enjoyed the relaxed nature of the day. We finish out the day with a peanut butter sandwich. Then we go on a short walk.down to the saddle . Sun sets when we reach the saddle and in the fading light we make our way back up to the lookout for the night. It is dark, but it seems too early to call it a night. So we read and talk. I lay down around 2115 and fall asleep at 2200-Sherri is making sounds like she is asleep well before me.

 

 

Extra Photo's

All we can see from the catwalk

Start of no visibility

Gary at lunch

Animals

 
Flowers and Plants

Clarkua biloba

Common Madeea

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 1, 2023 - Delilah Lookout

 

Title: September 1, 2023 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description : Background :  Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type:Lookout

Description:

Inversion layer over Central Valley

I get up at 0535, before my alarm goes off. This gives me time to do a relaxed finishing up on my packing and loading the car. Last night I sent out a partial lightning report, but there was nothing really to report. We were ready to leave the house by 0712. There is not much traffic so we made good time. The dirt road to Delilah is more rutted than when I was up here in May. Still we got Delilah safe and without incident by 0850.

By the time we got our basic stuff up to the cab, did the weather and completed a scan, it was 0920. We went into service with 6-10 mile visibility. At 0943, Buck Rock calls to say there is a fire called the Ram Fire in the Blackcap Basin. It is behind Castle Peak at an azimuth 47 deg, 42 minutes at 26.3 miles away. The smoke will need to be pretty large and high for us to see it.

Southern Calif Edison Helicopter

At 1000 Porterville gives the weather and staffing. I was able to get it online. That is a big help. Then at 1100 Sierra has the lookouts check in. We have our peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches for lunch. At 1235, a minor point of excitement: a Southern Cal Edison helicopter went by to the west of us. Then at 1315 we took the weather. Besides that, we were experiencing a quiet day. Even with it being calm, there are clouds all around us. We are a patch of sunshine of what looks pretty ominous. We see rain coming down a little past Park Ridge, also towards Big Baldy. This is making us cool, unlike last year’s 100+ degree temps. Also there is a bit of wind, but no fires.

Ar 1600, Sherri did the Sierra lookout check in. At 1604 I took the indices and weather from Porterville. And then it was more of the same until we went out of service at 1900. Poor Buck Rock is on until 2000. Not sure why he is being picked on.

Sherri and out lasagna dinner

 

We have a lasagna dinner with bread and then get ready for bed. With driving up and the extended hours, it has been a long day. But the clouds give a good framing of the evening sky, and then the close to full moon is simply gorgeous. It makes it worth spending the time up here. We get to bed at 2130 and I fall asleep at 2215.

 

 

 

Background

Extended Hours. Normal Summer lookout hours are 0930 to 1800. During holiday weekends we go either from 0730 to 1900 or 0800 to 2000.

Extra Photo's

Clouds over White Deer and Oats

Rain falling to the east

Looking up the Middle Fork of Kings

Clouds over Spanish Mountain

Rain falling over Big Baldy direction

Rain falling beyond Park Ridge

Ghost Forest on top of Redwood Mountain

Clouds reflecting the sunset

More sunset colored clouds beyond McKenzie

Sunset

Delilah in the early evening

Delilah at night

Stars and part of Milky Way

Moon behind the clouds

Mostly full moon

Sherri and Gary and the moon

August 14, 2023 - Drive along Oregon Coast

Title: August 14, 2023 - Drive along Oregon Coast
Hike Info : Description : Background

Hike Info:

Type:Car

Description:

Today is a travel day. I get up once again at 530 to do my lightning report. Once again, this morning’s report is humongous. Seems like all of the Sierra got hit which makes for a long report. But people seem to find it useful, so I continue to produce it. I miss going for a walk with David and only finish up when he comes back from his walk.

At 9, Sherri gets a call from Social Security. We are reaching that age where we will get that income. But apparently Sherri’s case is not straightforward and the guy will need to call her back.

Kevin comes by-it is good to see him. After he leaves, I finish packing the car and we say goodbye to David. We left his place at 10:30. Social Security is to call back around 1, so we need to be in a place which will have cell connection. While the coastal redwoods are beautiful, we are on a mission to have cell connection at 1. We get into Crescent City at 12:30 and find a Burger King. It is very slow. We finish eating by 1:15 and shortly afterwards are on the road again.

Apparently Social Security called around 1:30, but there was no ring tone and Sherri missed that call. She tried to call back immediately afterwards and was not successful.

 

By this time we had passed into Oregon. I think this Social Security thing is draining on Sherri. She sleeps about half of the remaining trip up the coast. We passed through an area where there has been a recent fire. Hoses still ring the area, but there is no visible smoke. But I cannot find information about it. Shortly afterwards, we came to a construction site. We just miss being the last car through, so we get to wait about half an hour to be let through. But the flagger and us kept each other entertained-her being apologetic. We are just being good natured.

One thing I noticed was the car’s recording of the outside temperature. At times the temperature dips to 64 degrees and then in a couple of miles it soars to 85. This goes on all along the road. Wondering what our campsite will be like?

We get to Florence and Jessie Honeyman State Park at 5:30. The poor student worker has a hard time with us. Evidently Andrea arrived right before us and checked in, We got that straightened out and got to our campsite, 73. Andrea is already there, just starting to get unpacked. It is a joy to see her, even if it has been only a few weeks since she was in Fresno.

After getting the campsite set up with tents pitched and sleeping bags unstuffed and cook gear out, we settle down to the serious business of enjoying each other. None of us are too hungry, so we just have an assortment of peanut butter sandwiches.

We talk some more, then go on an evening walk around the campground. At the far end are a couple of short trails up to the top of the dunes. We climbed them and enjoyed the colors of the sun which had already set. By the time we get down, it is dark going down the trail, but it doesn't bother us. It is sort of enjoyable for me.

And now it is time to get ready for bed. We turn in at 9:30. I finish reading at 10 and turn off my phone. Sherri is still reading when I fall asleep.

Background

Crescent City Burger King. Ordinarily I do not write a review of fast food places. The expectations for the food gets pretty much met. This Burger King did not meet expectations. Fast was not in their repertoire. Then it seemed like almost everything was out. You needed to go up to get your soda/tea refilled instead of from the soda machine and many of the flavors were not available. This is on my list of places not to stop again.

August 13, 2023 - Eureka

Title: August 13, 2023 - Eureka

Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type: Visiting

 

 

Description:

I woke up at 5:30, not sure if I really wanted to wake up or not. Then I remembered all the lightning alerts from last night and decided that I needed to get up and work on my lightning report. It is a good thing I did. It took me a full two hours to produce it.There was that much lightning. By this time, Sherri was up and David had already gone for his morning walk. I had my breakfast. Then after talking for a little while, we got ready for church.

 This would be at the First Baptist Church of Arcata. David went to church here when he was in college. The sermon was on Psalm 28. The pastor talked about the need to rely on God during our times of need, I think the music ensemble was meant to inspire more college students, which I am far from being. There is a reason why I stick with First Pres Fresno: the music there is much more in line with what reaches me.

When we got back to David’s house, it was a bit after noon. I am feeling tired, so I take a nap. An hour and a half later I got up. Sherri and David have gone for a walk at Sequoia Park and have already returned.

At least I feel a bit better.We will have an early dinner. David BBQ’s chicken breast in his Traeger and Sherri cooks the Fresno corn. Me? I just loiter around, tagging along with David. The food is good.

After our meal, we went for a walk at Sequoia Park. This is a jewel. The redwoods give a feeling of an old forest inside of a populated area. We walked around for about 50 minutes. I feel pretty good.

When we get back, I take a shower. Then fiddle around with the laptop. We then get on our Sunday family Zoom call. Always good to see our daughters. By the time we get off, it is 8pm. I read for a while. We talk and then David goes to bed at 9 and we start heading to bed at 9:45. Glad we are up here, even though it is a non-eventful day. Just a good day to be with my brother.

 

August 12, 2023 - Drive to Eureka

 

Title: August 12, 2023 - Drive to Eureka

Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type:Car

 

Description:

We are starting off on our 14 day journey to Andrea’s and Lawrence’s today. We will take two nights at my brother David’s place, then four nights camping along the Oregon coast-two with Andrea, four nights with Andrea and Lawrence; one night with the Rose’s; and two nights at Castle Crag before we make it back to Fresno. Sounds like a long trip.

We finish loading the car a little after 9. The car while not packed to the roof, it is stuffed with some spilling over into the backseat. We say goodbye to Steven who will be here alone for the two weeks. We leave close to 9:30, about half an hour later than I thought.

I start off driving-I actually end up driving all the way. Sherri is pretty tired. She was concerned last night that she had everything we needed. We stopped at Turlock’s rest stop. Then continue on up highway 99. In June we started a similar trip, but got in an accident where we were all OK. When we reach Ripon where the accident happened, I am a bit anxious to get through it, even though I know that all the other times I have driven that area, nothing bad happened. Still, it is a relief to get through.

In that June time, we were discussing stopping in Elk Grove. Today we made it tol Leatherby’s. We stopped to share a sandwich and a sundae. The sandwich was a Chicken Pesto and the sundae a Black&White with touches of tan (carmel). It is a good way to start our trip.

After lunch--it is 1:20, we continued on to Woodland where we filled up with gas. It is 2:10 by now. This should get us to my brother’s in Eureka. At Williams we went off of I-5 and onto Highway 20. There we passed Clear Lake and made it to Highway 101. Our pace picked up, plus it is a lot more of a scenic drive. That is until I need to make use of a State facility in Laytonville. But then it was smooth driving.

We got to David’s around 6:00. David got us a pizza from Babe’s Pizza. It is pretty good, even if it had a few of my undesirable elements to it. Sherri and David enjoyed those things. It is good to have a brother which you can talk with. And that is what we did until 9:30 when I started to nod off.