Month: August 2009

  • Going High Tech on the Big Meadow Fire

    Today’s modern Army rolls on the backs of satellite communications and high tech reconaissance. Likewise today’s modern fire commander has at his disposal some of the top thermal imaging equipment to help pinpoint potential problems, hotspots, spot fires and gauge the size of the fire. Here’s a thermal imaging map from the USFS (Forest Service)…

  • @TheYosemiteBlog Twitters for 2009-08-29

    Clouds and higher humidity are expected tomorrow. Let's. Hope no thunderstorms ruin it by starting more fires. # Still a little hazy and smoky but definitely not as bad as it was yesterday. # Currently the air in Yosemite is unhealthy for sensitive groups. The smoke from the nearby Big Meadow Fire is clogging the…

  • Photo of the Day: Rockscape by Tom Grubbe

    To try to keep with some normalcy amid all the fire stuff I decided to get back to posting a Photo of the Day. Today’s Photo of the Day is a beautiful shot of Lembert Dome and some glacial erratic captured by Tom Grubbe. If you’d like to see more of Tom’s photography be sure…

  • Looks Like Rain

    It sure looks like it’s raining. I don’t see anything on doppler but I hope it is.

  • It’s Almost Pretty

    So the sun is setting and the clouds are overhead. The air still smells of smoke and haze lingers. But even with all the destruction the fire brings, there is beauty in shots like this. With so many homes threatened you don’t want it to be pretty but, you can’t help it. It’s almost pretty.

  • A Really Cool Shot of the Smoke From the Big Meadow Fire

    @reeks707 captured this shot of the smoke plume from the Big Meadow Fire pushing up through the cloud layer as he flew over. Wow! Nice shot.

  • State of Emergency Declared for Yosemite Area

    “Acting Governor John Garamendi has proclaimed a state of emergency for Mariposa County due to a large wildfire burning near Yosemite National Park, according to state officials. The fire has burned 3,506 acres, threatened homes and forced the evacuation of about 500 residents, said Yosemite National Parkspokesman Scott Gediman. The emergency proclamation orders all state…

  • Big Meadow Fire Information Meeting Aug 31st

    There will be an meeting for updates about the Big Meadow Fire on August 31. This meeting will be at the El Portal Elementary School at 6:30.

  • Big Meadow Fire Update 8-29-2009 – Evacuations and Road Closures

    Here’s the word from the last NPS release on the Big Meadow Fire. Currently the fire is over 3506 acres. Old El Portal, Yosemite View Lodge were evacuated last night. Crane Flat and Tamarack Flat campground are closed. Road Closures: The Big Oak Flat Road into Yosemite Valley from Crane Flat to the junction with…

  • Pretty Cool Ride

    An United States Search and Rescue van seen in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Patrick. I didn’t know there was a United States Search and Rescue. I wonder if this is a post 9/11 thing. Either way, pretty cool van. Imagine taking the family camping in that thing. Does YOSAR (Yosemite Search and Rescue) still…