Regional discussion and conditions reports for the Golden State. Please post partners requests and trip plans in the California Climbing Partners forum.
Pulled into Ottoway Lake Sunday afternoon Aug 23 under relatively clear skies. Set up camp with a planned hike to the summit of Red Peak the next morning. Around midnight I noticed lightning flashes on the horizon. By 2 am we were in the middle of a serious lightning and rain storm. Arising the next morning visibility was poor and there was a strong smell of smoke in the air. Due to the unusually warm temperatures (even at 9,700') the rain of the previous night was completely dried. Fearing a nearby lightning sparked fire, we packed up and retreated to our Base Camp at Lady Lake and then out to the Fernandez trailhead the next day. Soon after the Creek Fire closed the Minarets Road trapping backpackers and the Minarets Pack Station in a cul de sac. Ironically, the day after I left (Aug 18) for this backpacking trip my wife and daughter had to evacuate our home in Vacaville due to fire. In the future I believe I will be scheduling backpacking trips earlier in the season. Even if you aren't threatened with entrapment, I'm tired of dealing with the smoke.