High Sierra Topix

How about the link: http://sierrafire.cr.usgs.gov/swfrs/Pages/WebCam.html

Just went outside and was hammered with the smell of Smoke! Small fires to the west and east of Bend. Also saw lightning to the S. so I guess that while the high cascades are covered in snow the lower area is drying out and we may join California in dealing with smoke.

Mike

We don't have much smoke over here. I can smell it when I wake up and go outside, then that's all I notice it all day. But...we have those nice ocean breezes. I have friends in Gilroy tho that aren't even riding their horses during this. They have that Ventana fire right in their backyards! You folks just want to go on a day hike tho, come to Wilder or Rancho Del Oso etc in my neck of the woods...we're ok here...unless we get another big fire of our own, keep your fingers crossed for us!
Dee in Santa Cruz

Here is another good site that shows the fires from a satellite view:

http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/imagery ... ay=2008180

We just got back from Lassen Volcanic. Cut the trip short, getting too smoky. On the plus side -- paddling on Butte Lake was outstanding. We were the only ones on it and the water was glassy smooth in the mornings.

May try the Warner Wilderness next weekend (a 3 day. yay!!). It may be a bit clearer, farther from the fires. We'll keep an eye on the weather and fire activity this week.

I just shake my head when I realize I breathed this crap for a living for thirty years. Now I want nothing to do with it.

June 27-28: Views were great from peaks in Mammoth this weekend (blue skies, puffy clouds, cool breeze), but when I drove south towards Bishop it was ugly. I could barely see Mt Tom, and couldn't see any other peaks south of there. (~4pm Sun) Normally you can see the Palisades and peaks around Bishop Pass. Temps were in the high 90s. It got a little better as I headed south.

June 26: From Mount Dana, views were a little hazy but not as bad as I expected. Smoke only affected my photos.

Dave I was referring to the colors at sunset which can produce some very dramatic
photo's because of the filtered effects you referred to.
I to am putting off my trips hoping August will bring clearer conditions for photography
plus I really do not want to breath in all that smoke for several days in a row.

I'm really trying to decide whether to postpone my 4th of July trip to the Tablelands in Sequoia/Kings Canyon. Any thoughts?

If photography is not a big part of your trip then I would say go, though one of
the highlights of Tablelands is the view from the area above Big Bird Lake towards
the sierra crest, so if that and other views are limited by smoke why go?
You should call the wilderness office at Lodgepole the day before to find out about
current condition, and if the smoke is pretty bad then go later in the summer.

Went up to Mokelumne Wilderness (Grouse Lake, Snow Canyon) and it wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting. Generally much clearer in the morning, getting smokier over the course of the day. One spectacular sunset, but no good light from it. I shot mostly wildflowers and localized landscapes, but even managed to get a few reasonably decent distance shots.

Just got back from the Warners.

Weather was perfect. Warm and sunny, not hot. Not a trace of smoke in the air. Didn't see another soul on the East Creek Trail.