Flag Day at the lookout tower (with a fire)

[DemoTex]

Today is flag day, and the U.S. flag is flying high on the lookout's Lodgepole pine flagpole. The wind is really whipping it now (8 PM PDT).

We had a near-acre fire today (0.8), about 23 miles from me on an azimuth of 329-degrees. Another lookout tower crossed with me on the difficult-to-see smoke (looked like dust), and we nailed it!

I was just on the phone with yet another lookout, and a small bobcat ran through the manzanita about 100 yards east of me. Of course, my camera has the wide-angle lens attached.


Flag Day at the lookout


A big campfire about four miles away last Sunday morning


The Three Sisters (left), Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Hood (right)

[freshwest]

1. I hope you don't have a bad fire season. Love all that there.

[DemoTex]

3. Thanks, freshwest

But they already have a severity code for this weekend's staffing (more crews and more O/T). That is kind of unusual for this early in the season. But this wind and low relative humidity are sucking the moisture out of the low fuels.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. These are wonderful, my dear DemoTex!

I especially like the last one of the mountains. The Cascades sure have more than their share of gorgeous peaks!

Thanks for sharing...

[DemoTex]

4. Thanks Peg

Wish I could get some photos of the unbelievable sunset over the Cascades that I am witnessing right now, but I'm way to tired to go out into that cold wind to shoot tonight. There will be more sunsets.

[boppers]

5. Love the pics!

Thanks for keeping an eye out (and reminding me of what I'm missing, I'm no longer working in Bend.)

[DemoTex]

7. Damn! And I keep looking for you!

I no longer stay downtown. I found a great little lodge on the Cascade Lakes highway - cheap and in the woods!

mac

[Tinksrival]

6. Hi DemoTex!

Always a nice surprise to see your posts. We have had a moist spring in the Willamette Valley. Funny how the rain just can"t make it over the mountains. It was a great sunset on the west side of the Cascades too! Hahaa!
Thanks for sharing from the lookout!

[DemoTex]

8. Most non-Oregoners think of Oregon as lush and green

I did, before I got here in 2009. Oregon is 25% DESERT, and I'm there!

West of the Cascades is lush. East is another story. The Cascades Lakes region of the Deschutes National Forest gets about 115 inches of rain a year. I am in the SE corner of the Deschutes, NF - east of another rim (the Newberry Volcano) - where the average yearly rainfall is the minimum to sustain a Ponderoda pine .. 12-inches! Read The Oregon Desert by Jackman & Long.

Mac

[fizzgig]

9. i'm looking forward to another summer of your lookout posts

i love em

[cwydro]

10. Very cool.

You're very fortunate.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. Such spectacular pix, DemoTex!

Your views are always breathtaking! Great job spotting the fire! I've been following the news from Colorado, since I have family there, and the fire there doesn't look even close to being contained.

I've never been to Oregon, though I'm determined to get there someday. I'm in NY, but feel close to both Oregon and Washington State, since I used to be responsible for the television listings in the newspapers.

[stevedeshazer]

12. Ya'll left out Three-Fingered Jack and Mt. Washington. And Olallie Butte.

And Black Butte, all visible in that fantastic pic you have there.

I appreciate your posts and e-mails. I'm just catching up here, a lot of stuff going on with my family and death and stuff.

But I am glad DemoTex is on the job and Oregon is better for it. Have a great summer, man.