Summer Thunder, Lightning and Rain this morning in Yosemite

Waking up to the welcomed sound of rain this morning....... was peaceful.

• The rolling thunder...... was gentle.
• Lightening...... always gets my attention.

Yesterday, I took some pictures of colorful clouds.....a storm was approaching. The streaks of light painted across the clouds reminded me of lightening....from Crosby and Nash...Page 43  Look around again....rainbows all around.....can you find the silver and gold.....life is fine.....even with the ups and down. The NPS plane looking for lightening strikes flew over Yosemite West at about 5:00pm. today.

While hiking on the McGurk Meadow on the 4th of July, I noticed a small area marked with ribbon... labelled as a fire.....but no longer burning.

New Yosemite Fires

The Fourth of July holiday thunderstorm activity did produce 6 new lightning-caused fires. 

• Indian Canyon - Mariposa Co. is at 7200’ elevation between the Tioga Rd and the Valley. It is less than .1 acre in size. It is smoldering and creeping, with a low rate of spread, and is burning in two snags within timber and needle cast. This is an area of few recent fires. As the atmosphere dries out, smoke may become visible at higher locations in the park, in particular from Glacier Point.
• McGurk - Mariposa Co. is at 7800’ elevation and less than .1 acre in size. It is off the McGurk Meadow trail to Dewey point from Glacier Point Road. It has low potential for spread, and found to be in a single green lodgepole pine. It is surrounded by green grass, and is smoldering in a short needle/lodgepole pine forest around the meadow. It has little potential for spread.
• Porcupine Flat - Mariposa Co: is at 8000’ elevation. The top of a single green red fir tree was struck by lightning. There is no ground fire, but smoke may be seen from the Tioga Road. It has low potential for growth.
• Smokey Jack - Tuolumne Co. is at 8000’ elevation. A single tree was struck. This fire has low to moderate spread potential as it is smoldering and creeping with no visible flame lengths.
• White Cascade - Tuolumne Co. is at 9000’ elevation. This remote fire is near Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp. It is creeping and smoldering through surface fuels. It poses no threat to trails and has a low spread potential.
• The Deer Lick Fire, along the Wawona Road, north of Wawona was suppressed by Yosemite Valley Engine crew Friday night. It was near the Wawona Road and south of the community of Wawona.

 

Hikers and backpackers may see these fires as they hike through the various locations. They are urged to pass through the area quickly and not hike directly into the fire areas. It is possible other fires may be found in the next few days or even weeks as the remote wilderness areas of the park dry out from the thunderstorm activity. Visitors may also see smoke from various high vistas within the park.

All of the lighting caused fires in late May and early June have been declared out.  For further information please contact:  Gary_Wuchner@nps.gov – 209.372.0480 (G. Wuchner)

When you visit Yosemite, stay in a comfortable Scenic Wonder vacation home.  Enjoy a peaceful night's rest....especially during storms.  Life is fine ......even with the ups and down.  With the rainbow clouds before the storm.....and the rainbows afterwards....life is fine.  The gentle Yosemite wilderness is very welcoming......as is Scenic Wonders.

  Another terrific day in Yosemite