I've been researching the latest on smoke, to plan the next hike, and thought I'd pass on what I found out.
The lightning-ignited Fish Fire in the Golden Trout Wilderness in the lower Kern, that was discovered Aug. 23, is fully contained, and 2060 acres, as of 9/4. I could smell the smoke clear up Wallace and Wright Creek drainages Aug. 23 and 24, and see the mushroom cloud pluming up in the south like a thunderhead. It was getting blown up the Kern all the way from the Golden Trout Wilderness. Don't know how bad the smoke is currently, or how far it's reach, but I would expect not terrible.
Reported 9/4: The Windy Fire on the Tule River Indian Reservation (just W of Golden Trout Wilderness) was limited to just 200 acres and crews were mopping up Tuesday 9/3.
A new fire, believed to be lightening-ignited, was reported today. Called the Angora Fire, it's also in the Golden Trout Wilderness, so far 150 acres, still burning, near the top of Angora Mt.
Aspen Fire, S of Mammoth Pool on the San Joaquin, I found Aug 18 report here:
http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3552/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It said as of 8/18 it's 22,800 acres, 95% contained, and burning toward natural barriers. Pretty old report, but it sounds like it's pretty much finished.
The Rim Fire in Yosemite - an article in today's Fresno Bee said, "A layer of smoke and haze blanketed the central San Joaquin Valley on Sunday as the Rim fire in Yosemite National Park spread southward. The National Weather Service in Hanford attributed shifting winds and low humidity to the fire's increased activity. Meteorologist David Spector said the haze may remain trapped in the Valley for a few days until a stronger pressure system arrives to push the smoke east..."
Read more here:
http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/09/08/348 ... rylink=cpy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Regardless of the smoke, Central Valley temps are predicted to be 103 Monday and Tuesday, and then go down to the 90's the rest of the week. High Central Valley temps translate into thunderstorms in the Sierra and unhealthy air quality, and yes those are predicted too, for Tuesday and Wednesday.
How's the air looking in Mammoth and Bishop today? Or even Lone Pine? Hope this was helpful.