Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Creek Fire Forces Hikers Into ‘Mordor’ Smoke and Across Sierra, Including a Boy and Dog
Fresno Bee ^ | 9/11 | CARMEN GEORGE AND JIM GUY

Posted on 09/11/2020 3:02:39 PM PDT by nickcarraway

The Creek Fire – now one of the largest wildfires burning in California – had just ignited at the start of Labor Day weekend as many departed into the Sierra Nevada, expecting three days of mountain bliss.

Instead, unaware backpackers without cell service faced an exploding wildfire that has grown by thousands of acres daily in eastern Fresno and Madera counties since Friday night.

Some are still unaccounted for. Fresno County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Botti said he thought approximately 10 hikers still hadn’t been located, but weren’t officially considered missing as of Thursday afternoon. Hiker Heather Craig, reported missing by her father, is among them.

Creek Fire firefighters, evacuees fill Fresno-area hotels. A turnaround from COVID-19 “Their families may or may not have heard from them,” Botti said. “So we keep in touch with them for updates and cross them off the list if they check in.”

The sheriff’s office is planning to deploy aircraft with thermal imaging to search for hikers, what might begin Friday, Botti said.

Of those who have made it safely home, here are six of their escape stories, including a caravan through flames and some young, brave adventurers forced to cross the Sierra Nevada for the first time.

1. THROUGH SHAVER LAKE FLAMES FROM CHINA PEAK On Sunday – the day after a group surrounded by fire at Mammoth Pool Reservoir was flown to safety – there were still many hikers in the mountains, including Pam Geisel Plemmons.

(Excerpt) Read more at fresnobee.com ...


TOPICS: Local News; Outdoors; The Hobbit Hole; Weather
KEYWORDS: creekfire; mordor; sierras


1 posted on 09/11/2020 3:02:40 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway; BenLurkin; Army Air Corps
One Does Not Simply GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY
2 posted on 09/11/2020 3:04:33 PM PDT by KC_Lion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KC_Lion
I thought they were referring to this...

A Boy and His Dog

3 posted on 09/11/2020 3:13:34 PM PDT by rlmorel ("Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies"- George Orwell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel

Oh my!


4 posted on 09/11/2020 3:39:21 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I live in the Eastern Sierra and was wondering about all the hikers in the back country. Now I know. They crossed the Sierra and came here.


5 posted on 09/11/2020 3:44:31 PM PDT by Inyo-Mono
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

This summer I have done more camping and hiking than ever before. Good outdoor activities for social distancing with just the wife & dog. Because we were getting into some more remote areas with spotty (at best) cell coverage I got a ham license and HT. The last couple of trips I had the area repeaters programmed in. Really only effective if you can get to high ground but...better than nothing.


6 posted on 09/11/2020 3:53:41 PM PDT by ThunderSleeps
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

LOL, you must have got the reference...it is definitely a cult movie!


7 posted on 09/11/2020 3:54:05 PM PDT by rlmorel ("Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies"- George Orwell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Beautiful pictures.

California’s governor was interviewed on NBC Nightly News today. To his sympathetic interviewer hee blames the fire on global warming.


8 posted on 09/11/2020 4:29:46 PM PDT by cymbeline
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KC_Lion

One does not simply walk your dog to Mordor, boy...


9 posted on 09/11/2020 4:43:27 PM PDT by null and void (The Left weaponizes everything in the service of tyranny.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel

It may not have been in good taste, but it tasted good...


10 posted on 09/11/2020 4:44:36 PM PDT by null and void (The Left weaponizes everything in the service of tyranny.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: cymbeline
California’s governor was interviewed on NBC Nightly News today. To his sympathetic interviewer he blames the fire on global warming.

My goodness! Has he forgotten to blame Trump in an election year?

11 posted on 09/11/2020 4:45:59 PM PDT by null and void (The Left weaponizes everything in the service of tyranny.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: null and void

Hahahahahahaha...my wife never forgave me for getting her to watch it with me!


12 posted on 09/11/2020 5:10:58 PM PDT by rlmorel ("Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies"- George Orwell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: ThunderSleeps

You might try a Garmin InReach with sat service. It is what I use on remote backpacking trips.


13 posted on 09/11/2020 5:32:48 PM PDT by Cheesehead in Texas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel
😆👍
14 posted on 09/11/2020 5:36:39 PM PDT by BiteYourSelf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel

It’s the first thing I thought of when I saw the headline.


15 posted on 09/11/2020 5:38:03 PM PDT by BiteYourSelf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: BiteYourSelf; rlmorel

I thought the same thing.


16 posted on 09/11/2020 8:09:19 PM PDT by kosciusko51
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Cheesehead in Texas

Thanks, I’ll check it out.


17 posted on 09/11/2020 8:11:15 PM PDT by ThunderSleeps
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: BiteYourSelf; kosciusko51

When I first read it, I actually SAW “A Boy and His Dog” not “a Boy and Dog” and I thought “Ho, this should be interesting!” until my brain figured it out, and I got puzzled and thought “That is one poorly worded title...” I know they have to sometimes compress that kind of thing for space and editorial reasons, but...that’s what they get paid for.

The visual sense is a funny one. As I get older, I will find myself glancing at a sign or magazine, and for a barely perceptible slice of time my eyes see it completely accurately and completely wrong at the same time...

My eyes SEE that sign say something, and before reality snaps into place and my mind correctly unscrambles and registers what my eyes initially sent it, I can only shake my head...

But I admit, I sometimes enjoy it. My mind, as much as I resist, can be dirty at times, and when I misperceive that sign while driving in the car, the results make me kind of snort with a suppressed laugh. I turn to my wife and say “You know what I thought that sign said???”

And the love of my life rolls her eyes at me in exasperation before she even hears what I thought it was...:)

Sigh. As you get older, you have to entertain yourself sometimes...


18 posted on 09/11/2020 8:30:13 PM PDT by rlmorel ("Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies"- George Orwell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson