Re: Fires/Smoke Effects on Backpacking Trips
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:06 pm
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.
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.