Current fire danger: EXTREME. Current wind: NNW 15 GUSTING 25+

[DemoTex]

The high desert of central Oregon is a tinderbox today. It is a damn good thing that the lightning the NWS had predicted for yesterday and today did not happen. But the lightning will come, and probably before the extreme fire danger abates. That is life in the desert.

I had “house” guests all last week. My B-I-L and his daughter came on Monday of last week and Dr. D. joined the group on Saturday evening. There were four of us sleeping in the 15’X15’ lookout tower.

Well, most of last week it was just three: my B-I-L, his daughter, and me. Dr. D. joined us on Saturday night. Saturday and Sunday night the floor of the lookout looked like a can of sardines: three of us on the floor in our sleeping bags and Dr. D. on the bed (in her sleeping bag) with Nick on the bed with her. But it worked. We slept like babes from sundown to sunrise.

My B-I-L and his daughter stayed gone all day, every day. They hiked Tumalo Falls, Mt. Bachelor, Benham/Dillon Falls, Smith Rock, Crater Lake, and others. B-I-L departed Monday. Dr. D. left today for Los Angeles. I am relaxing with the wind howling in the wires of the lookout tower, on fire watch until 8 pm PDT.

I got a new telephoto lens for my Nikon D-70. It’s not real fast (f/4.5-5.6 55-200 Nikkor Zoom), but it will allow me to practice in good light. To that end, here are the first shots with the new telephoto taken today from the lookout tower:


These vultures soared the updrafts around the lookout tower for two hours this afternoon.


The bird that reminds you exactly where you are: In its desert.


I want my hawk back!


Ft. Rock, a formation from an underwater volcano millions of years ago (22 miles south of the lookout). It is fairly easy to see where the Deschutes NF ends.


The Three Sisters in the Cascade Range. Cinder Hill and Lowulio Butte are in the nearground (L & R).


Mount Jefferson 80 miles away.


Mahogany Butte, on the edge of the serious desert to the east of me. All of my area of operation is desert, but most of it has Ponderosa and Lodgepole pine trees (but no water).

My thanks to EarlG for allowing these dispatches to appear in GD.

[havocmom]

1. Stay safe.

Lots of us worry about you.

[opihimoimoi]

2. Excellent shots...:o)

[Born_A_Truman]

3. Looks like the Turkey Vultures we get here in the Mojave...

As always, enjoy your posts and pictures. Give Nick a head rub for me.

[Bobbieo]

5. We get the vutures in Yuma from Nov. to March. How can anything that is so ugly on the

ground be so graceful in flight. They are a joy to behold as they circle over the area with as many as 60 at a time.

[DemoTex]

6. Many people think that vultures/buzzards are "circling a meal."

The truth is, to be anthropomorphic, they - like all soaring birds - are lazy and smart. They circle in thermals or on updrafts (ridge soaring) like occur on this butte any time the wind blows. In the desert, like on the road, there is plenty of carrion for a tasty meal. Burp!

Ask not for whom the buzzard circles; it circles not for thee.

[MajorChode]

16. They circle for the same reason gliders circle

Updrafts generally happen in invisible narrow columns. When you find one you keep circling and ride it up as far as it will take you.

When flying gliders, I look for the buzzards and other soaring birds to help figure out where the thermals are. Many times I've shared a thermal with a buzzard. They don't seem to mind at all.

[handmade34]

4. yes stay safe

thanks for the pictures, they are awe-some

[Canuckistanian]

7. Great shots

I like the vultures.

You might want to consider a UV filter though, especially at your altitude. It will cut down on the haze a little.

[DemoTex]

9. Got it right here .. I forgot to put it on!

I was so excited about my new toy that I forgot the UV filter that I ordered with it. Tonight I'll read the manual on the new lens too.

:hi:

[spanone]

8. beautiful...take care out there DT

:patriot:

[DemoTex]

10. The wind is now gusting to 35+ .. the lookout is rockin'!

But the work day is over with only two fires: one long-range smoke out of district and one small arson fire off China Hat Road near where the arsonists struck last week (if they get in the forest proper, we are screwn).

I'm heating up a USGOV MRE. Funny, those vultures are back.

[Gman]

11. Meanwhile, here in Texas...

it was another 100+ degree day with 105 - 108 heat indexes. I've lost track of how many record highs that have been broken so far this year, beginning in about late February.

Enjoy where you're at!

[DemoTex]

12. Sorry 'bout that!

High today: 72 (at the lookout .. 6500' MSL)
RH: 18%
Low tonite: 45 (forecast)

[DemoTex]

13. A low-light snap a few minutes ago ..

Right now is the time to switch to an f2.8 and a tripod. But I have my 20x60 binoculars on the tripod for star gazing later tonight. Dark night, clear sky here. But that wind!

[crickets]

14. Gorgeous.

I really enjoy reading your posts and seeing all of the beautiful pictures you share.

[AlecBGreen]

15. wo chi cu

我吃醋 It literally means "I eat vinegar," meaning im so jealous my mouth is watering. I love Chinese :)

[DemoTex]

18. Are you familiar with Gary Snyder?

Poet.

[AlecBGreen]

20. no

what should I know? :)

edit - ps the only poet I know and love is Walt Whitman. He makes poetry dance and sing and come alive. All others... well, lets just say Im a fan of books, not poetry

[DemoTex]

23. Snyder is probably the only "beat" poet still alive.

He was more into Zen than into likker, which saved him. Gary was a friend of Kerouac's and a character in Kerouac's books. He was at the October 1955 reading at the "Six Gallery" in SF where Ginsberg did "HOWL!"

Snyder was also a fire lookout on "Sourdough" in the upper Skagit (Kerouac was at Desolation Peak and Philip Whalen was up there, somewhere, too) in the early 1950s. He applied for a second season, but was black-balled by the USFS because of old union affiliations dredged up by Joe McCarthy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. THanks, while you deal with the tranquility of nature

I get the fun of Comicon International San Diego.

Just a paltry 120,000 attendees, (not counting staff, professionals and a sundry others, perhaps 5K more) over the course of the weekend.

Today it was a zoo, even early on... and Thursdays are the easy and slow days.

Saturday should be fun.

Why do I post this, for contrast.

Oh and the funny thing of the day. Many people wear costumes.. ranging from Superwoman to Klingon to Star Wars. EMTs walk by pushing the gurney while standing in line... (hurry up and wait is operative at Comic Con)"Those are very real costumes, oh my."

It took a little not to laugh too hard.

[DemoTex]

21. Well, you could quit - hop a jet - and come up here and smell some wood smoke!

That would rejuvenate you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Ah the memories,

after that parents are coming to visit.

And I have to be there for bidness. On the bright side I got to listen to Michael Stransisky talk of writing today (Babylon five). So it is not all bad.

A few years ago the security actually challenged a cop, in uniform, since he didn't have a Con Badge... that was oh so much fun. Especially when the Fire Marshall showed up... shall we say the city got even.

[elleng]

19. Good to hear from you, as always!

Was in Canada for a few days, and your story of visitors reminded me. Met with a bunch of Golden Retriever friends, and one a GSD friend who's a DUer, too; we thought of you and Nick! Have some pics of 10 +- sleeping at our feet!

'Your' birds are great!