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We returned yesterday, Monday, from our 6 day Silver Divide backpack. Pretty much weather went exactly as NWS predicted. Wednesday afternoon there was still quite a lot of smoke from the Midpines fire all over the San Joaquin basin including areas east-southeast due to the west wind. There was also smoke in the San Joaquin Valley from various smoke inversion and valley agricultural burning. Twas a bit worried arriving at our trailhead as I always have some doubt with forecasts. But with the wind changing to southwest overnight, that was the last we saw of any smoke the rest of the trip. In fact had excellent clear deep blue skies with a few high clouds. Only complaint was afternoons were rather breezy which of course is common. As we left Monday atmosphere was undergoing another change with a large tropical airmass moving north.
This Coolpix pic was Thursday about 10am eastward with beautiful blues even in this poor direction partially against the sun. Note the shadows on the distant peak slopes indicating this is a backlit direction. Any particulates in the atmosphere would have been very apparent. Bistort, paintbrush, and many other usual wildflowers were peaking along our route.
This Coolpix pic was the earth shadow dawn last Friday from the lake we were at towards the southwest. I set my 4x5 up on a bit wider composition that I'll get to see the results of in a week. Cloud shapes told me some moister air was entering the flow. A couple days earlier the hazy smoky air would have muted those pinks miserably.
Lovely! We lucked out too on our LeConte Divide trip; quite clear in the mornings, afternoons there was a little haze in the distance view, but nothing like it could have been given the fires all over the state.
Just got back (Saturday) from 8 days doing GC of the Tuolumne and Ten Lakes Basin out of White Wolf. On the 2nd there was a little smoke in the air, but after that it was some of the cleanest air I have seen.
This thread has gone quiet.
Any recent reports from Yosemite/Minarets area? We were looking forward to hiking in that region sometime in the next few weeks, but it's a long drive (about 17 hours) and it'd suck to go that far and breathe smoke.
There were some good afternoon thunderstorms in that area last weekend, so the air seemed to be mostly cleaned out. A bit hazy look into Mono Lake and east, but good for back around the Minarets/RnB/Lyell and south. Before the clouds built up we could barely make out the Kaweahs on the distant horizon from Koip.
There was a fire in Lee Vining Saturday, but I think they got a handle on it quickly and it's out.
A bit hazy further south on Sunday from Gould, but not horrendous like the early part of this summer.
Moosetracks,
I especially liked your photos from Gould, because they show that the fire that's burning in Tehipite valley (and making things look messy in Kings canyon) has not polluted the entire area.
Thanks!
CG
