Now I'm guessing the smoke at Dunderberg might have been from the Creek fire. Wasn't bad in the morning. Back at the Coleville staging area there were a lot of hot shot crews that I'd never heard of getting their morning briefing before heading out. Monitor pass was still open, yay, but the smoke on the west side was heavy.
Past where the dozer trailers were I saw flashing lights. Odd place for a fire engine I thought but it wasn't a fire engine. Sheriff was at the scene of a motorcycle accident. Bike didn't look damaged and they guy (wearing full gear at least) didn't appear to be seriously injured. Probably got into the gravel and laid it down. Not going to have a good weekend.
Wolf creek road was open. Lots of campers, fishermen and even some backpackers at the trailhead. Kinda wonder about the safety of that. Checked out the new bridge on the Dixon Mine road. Thought about hiking down to the mine but didn't. On the way out a FS fire pickup guy was watching the smoke from the fire. CHP in a sedan came down the road. Didn't expect to see that.
Tons of people out everywhere as you'd expect on a holiday weekend. Going up the grade to Carson Pass a truck pulling a trailer pulls off into the last, and thankfully empty turnout. I thought he just wanted to check out the view until I noticed the wheel on his trailer sitting at a 45 degree angle. Another guy not going to have a happy weekend but at least it didn't fall off in a much worse spot.
Silver Lake was jam packed. Good thing I did the brakes on the truck a couple weeks back. I needed them to avoid an idiot there.
I make the turn into my fall back spot off the Silverfork Road. A couple of bowhunters in there but no one camped, at all. Almost smoke free air and no neighbors. I got lucky. Finished reading The Last Season there. I bet a few of you have met Randy Morgenson at some time.
Finished off the leftover breakfast from the Bridgeport Inn (only place open serving a full menu and pricey too) before heading home. As soon I get cell coverage my phone lights up. My brother texted me. Creek fire 36,000 acres. Creek fire 90k acres and campers evacuated by helicopter. Dang, things happen fast in CA. Then I turn the radio on hear about the fires in Socal. Just can't catch a break in this state.
East side of Monitor Pass