Comments on: Chalk Fire News http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/chalk-fire/ Because Nature Bats Last Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:00:45 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Sapan Rinpoche - Ven. Lama Ngawang Kunga Thupten Gyaltsen http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/chalk-fire/#comment-799 Sapan Rinpoche - Ven. Lama Ngawang Kunga Thupten Gyaltsen Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:12:06 +0000 http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/?p=736#comment-799 HA! XT, if I can say so, represents a NEW Information Science modality that has impacted the way some of us are looking at these New Tools for New Times. Just compare the information exchange, on a real transpersonal level that is going on with this blog, MODIS, GOOGLE EARTH, etc., compared to where we were all at when some of you were dealing with the 1970's fires! Okay ... so we can fine tune all of this! And how about taking another look at the problems of DEBRIS! Sensors and sitecams like they utilize in Volcano Scenarios -- other tools -- might be appropriate for the FIRE, FLOOD & APOCALYPSE scenarios. We come to the SUR to escape from all of the technology, and it might be some of the technology and the genius of the community utilizing it that may help to save the SUR, and areas of similarity throughout our planet. Hmmm ... another HA! (is in order) ... Kindest regards, Sapan Rinpoche Lyons, Colorado HA! XT, if I can say so, represents a NEW Information Science modality that has impacted the way some of us are looking at these New Tools for New Times. Just compare the information exchange, on a real transpersonal level that is going on with this blog, MODIS, GOOGLE EARTH, etc., compared to where we were all at when some of you were dealing with the 1970’s fires! Okay … so we can fine tune all of this! And how about taking another look at the problems of DEBRIS! Sensors and sitecams like they utilize in Volcano Scenarios — other tools — might be appropriate for the FIRE, FLOOD & APOCALYPSE scenarios. We come to the SUR to escape from all of the technology, and it might be some of the technology and the genius of the community utilizing it that may help to save the SUR, and areas of similarity throughout our planet. Hmmm … another HA! (is in order) …

Kindest regards,

Sapan Rinpoche
Lyons, Colorado

]]> By: Mark Readdie http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/chalk-fire/#comment-616 Mark Readdie Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:28:24 +0000 http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/?p=736#comment-616 oops, "today's IAP" link is hot linked to yesterdays. <strong>Sorry about that .... guess you can tell we weren't information science majors - Xasauan Today</strong> oops, “today’s IAP” link is hot linked to yesterdays.

Sorry about that …. guess you can tell we weren’t information science majors – Xasauan Today

]]> By: bigsurkate http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/chalk-fire/#comment-613 bigsurkate Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:49:36 +0000 http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/?p=736#comment-613 Right on, XT! You can't imagine the concerns over a burnout that is misreported. That is major! Confusing the closure of day use areas, that is minor. Fortunately, locals know to contact me, re: confusions like this, and I can and do set USFS straight. I am SO glad I rolled out personally, and checked out all the areas USFS was confused about last night. But you know, I am only one person, and one tired person at that. I am committed to staying on this until all threats are removed from the western slopes of the Santa Lucias. I don't have the energy to cover the eastern slopes. I will leave that responsibility to someone else. bigsurkate Right on, XT! You can’t imagine the concerns over a burnout that is misreported. That is major! Confusing the closure of day use areas, that is minor. Fortunately, locals know to contact me, re: confusions like this, and I can and do set USFS straight. I am SO glad I rolled out personally, and checked out all the areas USFS was confused about last night. But you know, I am only one person, and one tired person at that. I am committed to staying on this until all threats are removed from the western slopes of the Santa Lucias. I don’t have the energy to cover the eastern slopes. I will leave that responsibility to someone else.

bigsurkate

]]> By: Mark Readdie http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/chalk-fire/#comment-612 Mark Readdie Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:08:40 +0000 http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/?p=736#comment-612 Hi XT, I investigated this "direct line from Hwy 1 to Twin Peak", both by phone and visually. It is true and you have the route correct on your google earth map. Six crew trucks were parked in the pullout just north of the big slide at the bottom of Twitchell's trail, north of Limekiln SP. They were building that fire break up Stone Ridge toward Twin Peak. I drove up to an overlook along the hermitage road and had a wonderful conversation with a group of USFS firefighters, including a captain. Their crews got about halfway to Twin Peak today and hope to finish tomorrow. The plan tomorrow would be to come down off the coast ridge, along the cone peak trail until it meets the saddle between there and twin peak. If they can do it, they will move across to twin peak and tie in to where they got to today (Stone Ridge summit at 2449 Elevation). If the ground crews can't do the upper section between twin peak and cone peak, they hope to just "paint it" with air support. This fire is burning in 9 year fuels this time, instead of much older fuels back in the Kirk Complex fire of 1999. So they feel more confident about this working this time (it was not an option given the conditions in 1999). IC is responding to a lot of community and political pressure to keep any more coastal watersheds and slopes above the highway from burning. So they are doing a lot of direct attack and trying to keep the fire away from 1. If this can be pulled off then the fire will be taken from Cone Peak, down into Limekiln and hopefully just put it out down in the dampness of the creek. On the east side of cone, they plan to run it up the coast ridge into the Basin perimeter and out to the Indians perimeter on Hunter Liggett. The fire has moved lower down Hare canyon now. That and a few wisps high above the highway between Limekiln and Kirk Creek is all you can see from the coast now. I also got news from those firefighters and Jeff Kwasny (USFS Resource Advisor) that the fire break along Prewitt and out to McKern road has been successful. I guess another 8% successful. By the way, I noticed that the USGS Cape San Martin topo map updated in 1995 has "Gorda" labeled at Pacific Valley. Must be where google picked it up from. There is a "Gorda BM" benchmark where what we know as Gorda is. Interesting, wonder what the name history is there... Hi XT, I investigated this “direct line from Hwy 1 to Twin Peak”, both by phone and visually. It is true and you have the route correct on your google earth map. Six crew trucks were parked in the pullout just north of the big slide at the bottom of Twitchell’s trail, north of Limekiln SP. They were building that fire break up Stone Ridge toward Twin Peak. I drove up to an overlook along the hermitage road and had a wonderful conversation with a group of USFS firefighters, including a captain. Their crews got about halfway to Twin Peak today and hope to finish tomorrow. The plan tomorrow would be to come down off the coast ridge, along the cone peak trail until it meets the saddle between there and twin peak. If they can do it, they will move across to twin peak and tie in to where they got to today (Stone Ridge summit at 2449 Elevation). If the ground crews can’t do the upper section between twin peak and cone peak, they hope to just “paint it” with air support. This fire is burning in 9 year fuels this time, instead of much older fuels back in the Kirk Complex fire of 1999. So they feel more confident about this working this time (it was not an option given the conditions in 1999).

IC is responding to a lot of community and political pressure to keep any more coastal watersheds and slopes above the highway from burning. So they are doing a lot of direct attack and trying to keep the fire away from 1. If this can be pulled off then the fire will be taken from Cone Peak, down into Limekiln and hopefully just put it out down in the dampness of the creek. On the east side of cone, they plan to run it up the coast ridge into the Basin perimeter and out to the Indians perimeter on Hunter Liggett.

The fire has moved lower down Hare canyon now. That and a few wisps high above the highway between Limekiln and Kirk Creek is all you can see from the coast now. I also got news from those firefighters and Jeff Kwasny (USFS Resource Advisor) that the fire break along Prewitt and out to McKern road has been successful. I guess another 8% successful.

By the way, I noticed that the USGS Cape San Martin topo map updated in 1995 has “Gorda” labeled at Pacific Valley. Must be where google picked it up from. There is a “Gorda BM” benchmark where what we know as Gorda is. Interesting, wonder what the name history is there…

]]> By: Mark Readdie http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/chalk-fire/#comment-610 Mark Readdie Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:34:06 +0000 http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/?p=736#comment-610 Oh yeah, I saw an example of "rollout" tonight up Kirk Creek. There was a big pop from way up the canyon and then tons of embers and burning debris rolled about 300 feet down the mountainside into the canyon bottom. I could see how trying to maintain a break with a fire backing down steep terrain is extremely dangerous and susceptible. More dangers that the crews are facing. I also heard a huge crash come out of the very lower part of the canyon, just up from the highway, as a tree came down. Made me realize how tentative conditions are in a burning forest. Oh yeah, I saw an example of “rollout” tonight up Kirk Creek. There was a big pop from way up the canyon and then tons of embers and burning debris rolled about 300 feet down the mountainside into the canyon bottom. I could see how trying to maintain a break with a fire backing down steep terrain is extremely dangerous and susceptible. More dangers that the crews are facing. I also heard a huge crash come out of the very lower part of the canyon, just up from the highway, as a tree came down. Made me realize how tentative conditions are in a burning forest.

]]> By: Mark Readdie http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/chalk-fire/#comment-609 Mark Readdie Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:29:37 +0000 http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/?p=736#comment-609 Seeing is believing! I drive down to Mill Creek every night now. Tonight the fire was a the highway at Kirk Creek. There were fire crews monitoring it. The fire is now visible up Mill Creek on the north side and a plume could be seen just over the first spur on the south side, looking from the bridge. Limekiln canyon is very smoky. But so is Big Creek. Xasuan, thanks so much for posting the IAP reports. They are very helpful. I learned that today Big Creek and Limekiln SP have their own Division. Crews are removing the rehab material from Dolan Ridge and finishing the fire break prep on the south side of Big Creek, above our structures. Notice that Division A, the one in charge of the fire in San Antonio watershed is unstaffed today. The report on inciweb also states that the fire is established there. Those who have looked down from Cone Peak road to the east into San Antonio know how steep it is. It would be so dangerous to try and go down there after fire. It seems they are taking this into consideration. Seeing is believing! I drive down to Mill Creek every night now. Tonight the fire was a the highway at Kirk Creek. There were fire crews monitoring it. The fire is now visible up Mill Creek on the north side and a plume could be seen just over the first spur on the south side, looking from the bridge. Limekiln canyon is very smoky. But so is Big Creek.

Xasuan, thanks so much for posting the IAP reports. They are very helpful. I learned that today Big Creek and Limekiln SP have their own Division. Crews are removing the rehab material from Dolan Ridge and finishing the fire break prep on the south side of Big Creek, above our structures.

Notice that Division A, the one in charge of the fire in San Antonio watershed is unstaffed today. The report on inciweb also states that the fire is established there. Those who have looked down from Cone Peak road to the east into San Antonio know how steep it is. It would be so dangerous to try and go down there after fire. It seems they are taking this into consideration.

]]> By: bigsurkate http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/chalk-fire/#comment-608 bigsurkate Sat, 04 Oct 2008 03:11:42 +0000 http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/?p=736#comment-608 8 pm, XT, you want to go to my blog and help me identify exactly where these new flames are, south and east of Cone Peak? <strong>Our guess is that it's in the upper Hare Creek drainage .... but that's only a guess. Nice photo, though (in case we haven't mentioned it, your photos throughout this fire have been fantastic - one glance at some of them is more informative than three days worth of Inciweb reports) - Xasauan Today</strong> 8 pm, XT, you want to go to my blog and help me identify exactly where these new flames are, south and east of Cone Peak?

Our guess is that it’s in the upper Hare Creek drainage …. but that’s only a guess. Nice photo, though (in case we haven’t mentioned it, your photos throughout this fire have been fantastic – one glance at some of them is more informative than three days worth of Inciweb reports) – Xasauan Today

]]> By: bigsurkate http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/chalk-fire/#comment-607 bigsurkate Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:41:30 +0000 http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/?p=736#comment-607 XT, I went out and visually checked that modis hallucination at 6 pm tonight, from two different locations, and could see nothing -- no suspicious plumes, nada. I also called PV Station, who had seen the hallucination, and checked it out and found nothing. Now, it is possible that modis is right and bigsurkate and PV Station are hallucinating, but we do have a better accuracy rate than modis. (LOL) <strong>That is certainly true. We had our suspicions about that dot from the moment it appeared, but with all the talk about the fire being most active on the southeast side we couldn't completely rule it out. - XT</strong> XT, I went out and visually checked that modis hallucination at 6 pm tonight, from two different locations, and could see nothing — no suspicious plumes, nada. I also called PV Station, who had seen the hallucination, and checked it out and found nothing. Now, it is possible that modis is right and bigsurkate and PV Station are hallucinating, but we do have a better accuracy rate than modis. (LOL)

That is certainly true. We had our suspicions about that dot from the moment it appeared, but with all the talk about the fire being most active on the southeast side we couldn’t completely rule it out. – XT

]]> By: Mark Readdie http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/chalk-fire/#comment-602 Mark Readdie Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:46:47 +0000 http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/?p=736#comment-602 That Oct. 2 6pm perimeter map on inciweb is really inadequate. I think everyone would naturally appreciate a map with at least enough resolution to read it. The maps from Sept. 28 had good resolution. What happened? That Oct. 2 6pm perimeter map on inciweb is really inadequate. I think everyone would naturally appreciate a map with at least enough resolution to read it. The maps from Sept. 28 had good resolution. What happened?

]]> By: Mark Readdie http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/chalk-fire/#comment-599 Mark Readdie Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:16:42 +0000 http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/?p=736#comment-599 Just got back from the highway along Lucia to Mill Creek. I could see the glow from Big Creek so went to check. Lots of fire spilling down all over between Hare and Kirk canyons. It's fairly complete across the ridge (Espinosa?) and those spurs leading down to the coast. I could definitely see light coming from Hare Canyon. Up Hare to the right and then a little left, looking from the bridge at Limekiln. I agree that clear information would be nice to have. We are so used to knowing fine details about the area while they use quite a broad brush to describe what they're doing and where they're working. Bit why be too specific when nothing is for certain? Best is seeing with your own eyes though. I hope the IAP is right about Vicente trail. If crews are working on that line then they must be coming down from cone peak road because I haven't seen any crew trucks at the trailhead at Kirk Creek. So, only they know. We shall stay in the dark until we see the fire either stop at Hare or keep going north. They still have to hold that fire east of the cone peak road all the way up. Way up, speaking from a northwest-centric point of view of course. Based on the lethargic way the fire seems to be moving south, I have high hopes for them keeping it north of Prewitt. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Just got back from the highway along Lucia to Mill Creek. I could see the glow from Big Creek so went to check. Lots of fire spilling down all over between Hare and Kirk canyons. It’s fairly complete across the ridge (Espinosa?) and those spurs leading down to the coast. I could definitely see light coming from Hare Canyon. Up Hare to the right and then a little left, looking from the bridge at Limekiln.

I agree that clear information would be nice to have. We are so used to knowing fine details about the area while they use quite a broad brush to describe what they’re doing and where they’re working. Bit why be too specific when nothing is for certain? Best is seeing with your own eyes though. I hope the IAP is right about Vicente trail. If crews are working on that line then they must be coming down from cone peak road because I haven’t seen any crew trucks at the trailhead at Kirk Creek. So, only they know. We shall stay in the dark until we see the fire either stop at Hare or keep going north. They still have to hold that fire east of the cone peak road all the way up. Way up, speaking from a northwest-centric point of view of course. Based on the lethargic way the fire seems to be moving south, I have high hopes for them keeping it north of Prewitt. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

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