Recognize Yosemite Falls, tallest in the US?  Not a drop of water descending  the 5404′.  Silence, skinny deer searching for a morsel.  We walked in the Merced River bed accompanied by the drone of fire-fighting planes… just ain’t right.

We were told this happens often in the late fall but the extreme effects of the drought are in evidence everywhere.

The fire at Yosemite that started on Labor day is threatening the Valley and still out of control. From Glacier Point we watched a Forest Service jet dropping fire-retardant, which the Park Service hates doing in a National Park.

Enjoying Taft Point with Yona and Ed. The smoke layer is heartbreaking and creates an iridescent lavender layer, and did I mention stinging eyes?

Mammoth Lakes and Devil’s Postpile were clear, hot and DRY so hiking at high altitude provided an added challenge. The aspen changing to autumn colors was a treat.

Mono Lake is so low the land bridge to the islands is nearly back, which will provide predator access to the migrating bird population. This time not because LA is taking too much water, natural evaporation is exceeding the replenishment of the drought depleted rivers that flow into the lake.

Heavenly’s Gondola ride was pointless – barely revealing Lake Tahoe hidden in smoke and haze. The workers were suffering from the smoky air.  Tahoe’s smoke is from Butte Fire in Calaveras, not the Yosemite fire.  So sad that so many people’s health and property are being devastated.

At the top – an adult playground featuring  zip lining on the 3300′ long Blue Streak.  We zoomed over trees at 55 miles an hour. Yee Haw!

Inner-tubing is ridiculously fun, especially when spinning really fast all the way.  The fire is changing our planned trip to Lassen which also has bad air quality and low visibility.