2018 Fire and Smoke Impact Reports

Questions and reports related to Sierra Nevada current and forecast conditions, as well as general precautions and safety information. Trail conditions, fire/smoke reports, mosquito reports, weather and snow conditions, stream crossing information, and more.
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maverick
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USFS Lions Fire Update 6/27

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USFS:
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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gary c.
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Re: 2018 Fire and Smoke Impact Reports

Post by gary c. »

Thanks Maverick
"On this proud and beautiful mountain we have lived hours of fraternal, warm and exalting nobility. Here for a few days we have ceased to be slaves and have really been men. It is hard to return to servitude."
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maverick
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Lions Fire 6/28 Update

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USFS:
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Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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maverick
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USFS BlueSky

Post by maverick »

Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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maverick
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Lions Fire Update 6/29

Post by maverick »

USFS:
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Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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rlown
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Re: 2018 Fire and Smoke Impact Reports

Post by rlown »

Nice viewer Mav. Right now I'm more worried about the smoke and heat tomorrow here SW of the Pawnee fire.
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maverick
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Lions Fire Update 7/1

Post by maverick »

USFS:
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Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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maverick
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Lions Fire Update 7/2

Post by maverick »

USFS:
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Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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cthenn
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Re: 2018 Fire and Smoke Impact Reports

Post by cthenn »

Well, thankfully, though the wind did turn NW on 6/29, we were able to summit Mt. Abbot, and the smoke was held at bay. Eventually it did come over us, but it was about 2PM before I noticed it. By then we were way down, and weren't taking in full lungs worth of smoke...I'll tell you the smoke modeling websites are dang accurate. If anyone needs to use them in the future, these are really helpful:
https://haze.airfire.org/websky/v1/#status (click on the CA/NV 2-km model)
https://hwp-viz.gsd.esrl.noaa.gov/smoke/index.html

And this is the best real-time Hi rez satellite I've found, GOES-16. Takes a little time to figure out how to use it, but it's extremely powerful.
http://rammb-slider.cira.colostate.edu/ ... mmb-slider

A few pics:
IMG_9939-001b_crsm.jpg
IMG_0015b-001sm.jpg
pan3bsm.jpg
pan5-001bsm.jpg
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Harlen
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Re: 2018 Fire and Smoke Impact Reports

Post by Harlen »

Mav writes:
Please report here any fires or encounter smoky conditions during a recent trip to the Sierra.
Good idea, as we were left wondering about the nature of the recent Lions Fire.
We had arranged to pick up our permit in the night drop box, and so never spoke to a ranger. We saw a fair amount of smoke approximately 15 miles to the south of our route, but nothing dramatic to indicate a raging fire, so we proceeded cautiously on.

We saw a few folks that first day, but got pretty shaky info from them. They had heard that the fire was "50 miles west of Mammoth, and contained, when from Mav's reports, we now know it was closer, and had not been contained. In fact, it soon doubled in size. After we crossed North Glacier Pass, we met no one else for 6 more days and nights.
Had we checked in here at HST before leaving, we might have learned more.

Below are a few photos showing conditions along with the dates. All but the final photo are looking south in the general direction of the Lions Fire:
Bench Canyon 239.JPG
My wife Lizzie on a clear seeming morning- June 25, with Mt. Banner above 1000 Island Lake.
Bench Canyon 262.JPG
Next morning- June 26, at Lake Catherine, the smoke was still hidden.
Bench Canyon 287.JPG
Mid day June 26, Carleton on the slopes of Mt Davis, with a clear view of the real amount of smoke from the Lions Fire.
Bench Canyon 288.JPG
(6/26) Farther up Mt Davis with the smoke building. We had to wonder whether it might take a run up the North Fork of the SJ, where we were heading.

The final photo from June 29th shows that the smoke hadn't ruined the views to the east- what a great view of the Ritter Range from that side. We were now headed away to the north, away from the fire.
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