HIking in smoke

[Npike]

I apologize if this is in the wrong area, I figure its not a condition report, so... wondering, since there is an active fire in a pretty popular area (one that I have a trip planned next week), what are safe levels of smoke to hike and camp in? Do you all completely avoid anywhere that seems smoky? what measurement do you use (just visual? Ranger input? PPM levels given by an agency?) At what point do you call off a trip or resort to plan B? just curious- I want to follow through with my trip out of Agnew meadows on 7/6, but am starting to develop backup plans.

[AlmostThere]

The wind blows the smoke wherever it will. I was just at Edison Lake and the smoke was causing a haze one out of the six days. It might be slightly hazy, it might not be - I would talk to the FS office in Mammoth about it, they are probably hearing all about that area from all the hikers - thru and otherwise - who are frequenting those trails.

[AlmostThere]

Inyo is also sharing updates on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/inyonf/

[cgundersen]

Npike,
Three years ago, I got caught in a HORRIBLE smoke plume in Gardiner basin; wind had shifted the smoke from the huge fire burning near Hume Lake and it was almost unbearable. The arguments I typically abide by are first, that it's hard enough getting oxygen at higher elevations, and smoke does not help, and two, if the smoke is wiping out the views, really, what's the point? And, not to whine, but my buddy and I had chosen Gardiner, because when we arrived in Bishop, the whole basin was invisible from the town (owing to smoke from the same fire). So, we opted to go in at Kearsarge (vs Bishop basin) and that worked fine for 4 days till the smoke plume shifted. So, you can try to guess how conditions are going to evolve, but for something like the Lion fire, it could still become unpleasant. If it were me, I'd be aiming for far South, or far North. Cameron

[SSSdave]

I greatly dislike backpacking in smoke because breathing smoke is not only unpleasant physically but seriously reduces my strength and endurance. Additionally as a serious photographer, smoky skies make capturing strong subjects well, impossible. Thus in this era as late season fires in our state regularly plague the Sierra Nevada, I am backpacking less and when I do pay close attention to weather information especially forecast wind directions. That noted, due to the variables in wind direction, smoke can vary considerable day to day and even morning to afternoons while at other times when the state has large fires in several areas it is obviously going to be hopeless.

[maverick]

The views from the webcam in from the Mammoth Mountain Ski area, shows quite a bit of smoke. You can use the other link to access some webcam in other parts of the Sierra.
https://www.mammothmountain.com/winter/ ... ation/cams
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... _XDv6kiONF

Also look at the bottom section of the Smoke Outlook Report under "Actions to Protect Yourself". Also, any smoke will ruin visibility, making photography impossibly.

[Npike]

Great info, thanks to those that have chimes in. I think I’ll have to make a gametime decision. Good thing is that I have a room booked in mammoth and I can go to the ranger station first thing if needed to get a walk up permit to somewhere else. May opt to spend a few days in dusy basin, seems far enough south not to have as much effect. Being flexible in these situations is key

[balzaccom]

We've changed our plans because of smoke twice, and in each case within two days the wind changed.. and we were in the smoke. Your plan is a good one. Just be flexible, because the weather can be fickle.

Hiking in smoke isn't fun.