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JOEY.F
Gym climber
It's not rocket surgery
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Hope all the hikers wind up ok.
There's something eerily beautiful in that pic from that Turtleback capture.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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You guys up north are really getting hit hard this summer. So far nothing major here in socal. I'm just waiting for something spark up in the San Bernardino Mtns or elsewhere. With all the Bark Beatles killing off the trees, it's only a mater of time.
Best of luck to you folks.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, all... wow, let's just hope and pray that folks 'don't get in a hurry' as, that is when accidents happen...
sounds like a hard precarious situation, getting SEVENTY, let alone a handful... oh my...
like:
how many trips would that be?
whewwww... and then, wind situations? how is that at the moment,
one wonders...
prayers for all concerned...
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BooDawg
Social climber
Butterfly Town
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About 11:30 a.m. today, my tour arrived at Glacier Point where we could feel a strong southerly wind blowing and see that the smoke from the Meadow Fire had increased substantially from 2 days previously. At various times with binoculars, we could see flames reaching up from behind the hill in the foreground.
By noon, the fire and smoke had increased substantially.
We left Glacier Point then and arrived at Tunnel View at 1:30 p.m. where we saw this dramatic change in the scene!
By the time we reached Ahwahnee Meadow which was being used for a base for helicopter operations, it was 3:20 p.m.
Leaving the Valley, the scene at Valley View looked like this at 3:30 p.m.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Thanks for that link, HT. Very inventive use of technology. Now if we could only look through the mountain instead of having to climb it...
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bergbryce
climber
East Bay, CA
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Does anyone else find the repeated occurrence of the fires in the YNP region suspicious? The entire state is a tinderbox but this area keeps seeing active fires (I realize the fire that kicked up this weekend was an old fire). WTF??
Is it because the sheer volume of (clueless) visitors in the region?
Weather patterns favorable to this region for lightning strikes, etc?
Proactive fire suppression in the region in the past? What?
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Larry
Trad climber
Bisbee
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Sep 10, 2014 - 10:48am PT
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Bonny Doon CDCR inmate camp has been short 2 crews who were sent to the Meadows fire.
So CalFire brought down 2 crews from Trinity River inmate camp (just south of the Trinity Wilderness) to fill in on our Skyline Blvd shaded fuel break projects.
They were like kids on holiday. Almost dancing and singing as they worked. First time with no fire licking at their feet in several weeks.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Sep 10, 2014 - 12:47pm PT
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hey there say, High Traverse... thanks for the update...
:)
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john hansen
climber
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Sep 10, 2014 - 12:59pm PT
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That is a really cool photo Larry
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Sep 10, 2014 - 01:19pm PT
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^^ Holy frig! ^^ Good luck, eh?
Well, at least the air is still clear by the Big Stone - thanks Boodawg!
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k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
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Sep 10, 2014 - 05:49pm PT
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The photo that Larry posted is quite the image (previous page). Click it to enlarge it--I like the look of the sun on Watkins...
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Sep 11, 2014 - 09:35am PT
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My South Skyline Firesafe Council project is getting major funding from PG&E.
A short history:
A few years ago 2 or 3 major fires were set off by power line faults. I mean big fires. Including at least one up in Tad/Timid's area.
Jump to 2011 - 2013 California budget crisis and reduced funding for CalFire. Including cutting back summer staffing at the stations.
Late 2013 Guv Brown suddenly has a budget surplus.
Plus we get the drought.
Late 2013, thinking ahead, Brown moves significant funds to CalFire to hold summer staffing levels beyond the usual Oct 30 cutoff. (CalFire adds summer staff to all fire stations, usually from April 30 - Oct 30)
Summer staffing maintained through Jan 30, 2014 at least here in the SCruz Mtns.
Then summer staff brought back on April 1 instead of May 1.
Brown then also gives major $$ to the electrical utilities, PG& , SCE etc specifically to reduce vegetation beneath "transmission" lines. I think that means everything over about 10kilovolt. PG&E hires district fire funds managers and one starts coming to our meetings. Money in his pockets.
So PG&E is committing $24K to our Firesafe Council as we're getting pretty good at running these projects.
We've got 2 CalFire inmate crews clearing ground level vegetation, PG&E clearing the trees around the lines, CalTrans traffic control and chipping and our trained crew sponsors on the job every day on Skyline Blvd. After 6 miles on Skyline we'll move on to clearing more old fire roads in the SCruz mtns and another 3 miles in Castle Rock State Park. Believe it or not, the hardest part has been getting traffic control from CalTrans. Commercial traffic control companies get several hundred $ per day for the same service.
As a non-profit firesafe council we pay CalFire $200 per day per crew. We've already spent $7K on crews and we're about 1/3 done. Pretty much on budget so far.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Sep 14, 2014 - 12:29pm PT
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#BlackFire in Mendocino county started yesterday PM. It's just N of Lake Mendocino in the Potter Valley area.
Several engines from San Mateo/Santa Cruz/Santa Clara counties formed up a strike team last night.
CalFire must have been really worried about this one.
Of course when a fire starts late in the day, the available time for air assets is limited.
Two of their engines and a pickup got cooked last night.
Both photos from Ukiah Daily Journal
Currently only about 150 acres.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Sep 14, 2014 - 01:37pm PT
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I can't say for CalFire overall but I noticed this year that the local helitack chopper (an upgraded Huey) now has a snorkel pump and under belly tank in place of the baggy bucket it's had for years.
It likely takes a little longer to fill the tank but I'm sure it's much safer since the chopper can lift without the drag of the bag. Possibly it also is more accurate on the drop.
Next time I see the local Chief (saw him yesterday at a memorial service) I'll ask.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Sep 14, 2014 - 01:47pm PT
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George Johnson, 61 years old.
stalwart volunteer firefighter for 32 years
friend
neighbor
great father
a pillar of knowledge and strength at a fire or road accident.
George died on Sept 5 after a 6 month bout with pancreatic cancer.
He spent the last months of his life with friends and family getting his affairs in order.
George remained active in our Firesafe Council until 2 months ago.
His memorial yesterday. Dozens of neighbors and family, a dozen or so local volunteer and CalFire firefighters paid their respects.
One son is a CalFire firefighter in the Sierra foothills.
His other son is a forest planner for USFS in Oregon.
His daughter April is a cancer survivor and has been his comfort and advocate through his journey.
This is her memorial to George
http://aprilandjoseph.typepad.com/my_weblog/2014/09/a-daughter-pens-her-dads-obituary-george-herbert-johnson-ghj-tree-farm.html
RIP George
you will leave a void in the neighborhood.
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this just in
climber
north fork
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Sep 14, 2014 - 03:01pm PT
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Yeah another one. This is the view of Goat Mountain from North Fork. Guess it's getting close to Bass Lake.
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