CA Drought and 2014 hiking season

Didn't we just see this a week ago in this thread?

–B.G.–

We saw it on the other page which might as well be a separate thread.

> I have a solution.
> Dig a pipeline trench from the ocean up to the mountain ridges. With the design of
> hydrolic'ing, start with a 4 ft diameter pipe at sea level, and keep going smaller
> till it gets to be a garden hose at altitude. This eliminates the need for an uphill
> pump.

Congratulations. You have just invented the Perpetual Energy Machine. Pity the Patent Office will reject it without further consideration.

Cheers

Doger: “The motion of the ocean will jet the pressure uphill to fill with sea water a plastic reservoir carefully hidden from disturbing a panorama.”

Caffin: “Congratulations. You have just invented the Perpetual Energy Machine.”

Wiki: Hydraulic Ram Pump

I’m not sure that Doger’s idea is sound (friction and all that), but pretty sure hydraulic ram and wave motion pumps are real.

I've been wanting to do that on my property for years, but don't think I have enough fall across my acre. They can only do so much lift. I'll have to opt for a solar pump to pump water into a tank, to be released on the weekends to water the garden.
Duane

…

IIR, 40' or 50' is about all a ram pump can lift.

So you may be about 7,950' short….

…

I'm starting April 18. I am curious if there are ever preemptive closures? Or are there just fire/stove bans?

It's crazy, I was hoping for low snow pack and never thought of the negative impact that has on the state.

Hi Greg and Rodger and all

Yes, I know about hydraulic ram pumps, but the initial claim was 'This eliminates the need for an uphill pump'. A 'hydraulic ram pump' is still a pump.

Would a hydraulic ram pump get up far enough? Unlikely. 8000' of water pressure (to the top of the ranges) is about 3,600 psi. That's static: not counting friction.

Cheers

"It's crazy, I was hoping for low snow pack and never thought of the negative impact that has on the state."

Thanks James. At least we know who to blame now! ;)

Some parks in California (like Mt Diablo) will shut down completely during extreme fire danger.

Parts of the PCT are still closed from recent fires (e.g. near Mt San Jacinto).

Best to check with PCTA for the latest news and trail closure forecasts.

— Rex

We finally had some precipitation here in California, but not enough to make much dent. And although the 10 day forecast includes some more dribs and drabs, there are no real storms coming soon. Still hoping for some redemption.

…

It’s time to call in Charlie Hatfield.

Charles Hatfied, San Diego Rainmaker, Wiki link

…

Four or five more storms like the one this past week and we’ll be in fat city! Southern Sierra is now at 26% of normal Feb 10 snowpack.

Mt Tamalpais, in Marin County got 23.51″ of rain in the past five days. Woohoo!!

Dr Jeff Masters has a quick summary in today’s WunderBlog post.

Snowfall in the Sierra was best in the tahoe-to-sonora section, and dropped off quickly south of that. So Desolation Carson-iceberg, Mokelumne, and Emeigrant wilderness areas did well and anything south not so much. Still quite skimpy compared to average.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/02/can-anybody-save-california-103544.html#.UwOia2JdUkI

and a new satellite image.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=83124&eocn=home&eoci=iotd_grid

"and a new satellite image."

Darn! It looks like the entire Great Western Divide is bare. Now THAT is depressing.

Troubled times……

If the Great Western Divide is bare, that will just make it easier on Milly's Foot Pass.

–B.G.–

Rain and snow! woot

Here in So. Cal. there's wet stuff falling from the sky!

My grandfather told me about how it used to do this when he was a kid but I never believed him.

I took my children out front to stand in it.

"Remember this day kids, this here is something special." says I.

A bunch of us were hiking in the dark here on Wednesday evening. We kept walking through deep rain puddles, but nobody wanted to complain about the water. We needed it.

–B.G.–

This afternoon was the first time this winter where we got a nice hard rain pater on the roof, and I found it very relaxing. I realized that that is the usual effect it has on me in late December when the rain (usually) first starts. By the end of February I pretty much want it to stop before I go insane. Just shows how weird a year this has been.