Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29. 8, temperature 44 degrees. Ceiling and visibility unlimited. Not a cloud in the sky. North wind at 5 knots.

The summer season 2016 ends today. Many thanks to Brooks Range Aviation, Wright Air Service, Coyote Air, friends and guests. Thanks also to BLM AKFS firefighters, smokejumpers and hotshots for providing support and information for Iniakuk Lake Fire 320. See you down river.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 30 degrees. Ceiling and visibility unlimited; not a cloud in the sky for 24 hours. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.3, temperature 32 degrees. Ceiling and visibility unlimited. North wind at 4 knots.

We took a trip around Iniakuk Lake yesterday to survey the wildfire damage. I was stunned. Somehow we were spared while 85% of the east ridge was not. We do not overlook burned out ruin. Anywhere else on the lake, that's all you see.

We are closing down Iniakuk Lodge today and flying back to Fairbanks on Monday. It's been a summer to remember, for sure. Iniakuk Lake Fire 320 is still smoldering in places. We'll see what 2017 brings.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.3, temperature 32 degrees. Ceiling and visibility unlimited, however there is a bit of morning fog on Iniakuk Lake, but that will burn off. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.3, temperature 40 degrees. Ceiling 6000' scattered, visibility 10 miles. North wind at 4 knots.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer is 30.4, temperature 34 degrees. Ceiling and visibility zero due to dense morning fog. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.5, temperature 42 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer reads 30.5, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 6000' scattered, visibility 10 miles. North wind at 10 knots.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.4, temperature 40 degrees. Ceiling and visibility zero due to dense morning fog. Winds calm.

BLM AKFS flew out yesterday in their helicopter to pick up the point protection - pumps, hoses and sprinklers. There is one stubborn fire puffing away, but for the most part Iniakuk Lake Fire 320 for 2016 is out. Many thanks to BLM AKFS, their Incident Commanders, fire fighters, smoke jumpers, Leading Edge Aviation and the Gannett Glacier Hotshots for a tremendous effort.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.4, temperature 40 degrees. Ceiling and visibility zero/zero due to dense morning fog blanketing the entire area. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.3, temperature 44 degrees. Ceiling 6000' scattered with pink, wispy clouds, visibility 10 miles. There are a few patches of early morning fog over the Alatna Hills, but they will dissapate when the sun pops over the ridge. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 2000', 6000' broken, visibility over 10 miles. Minimal low lying fog in the valley. Looking north the Alatna Valley looks clear. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling undefined in rain fog, visibility 5 miles in rain fog. It rained all night and rain squalls are passing through now. Slight south wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: This will be the last post on Iniakuk Lake Fire 320 unless there is another event. Five days of constant rain have finally put it out, or at least the fire is no longer a threat.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 46 degrees. Ceiling 1000' obscured with morning fog. Visibility 5 miles. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: It rained a good part of yesterday and rained all night. Mother Nature started the fire and she will put it out.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.7, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling undefined in rain fog, visibility 4 miles. SE winds at 5 knots.

Iniakuk Fire: It rained most of yesterday and all of last night. The fires are smoking in protest, but they will go out.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 50 degrees. Ceiling composed of rain fog at 1000', visibility 5 miles, the Alatna Hills are shrouded in rain fog.

Iniakuk fire update: Rain! Fires are gasping but still burning. More rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 56 degrees. Ceiling 6000 overcast with defined fog bank at 2000 feet. Visibility 10 miles. SE winds at 8 knots. The wind blew hard all night, but no rain.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The spotter plane flew over yesterday mapping the fire. Warm weather, no rain and stiff SE winds keep the trees torching. Rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.1, temperature 50 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast, visibility 10 miles. SE winds at 4 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Yesterday was warm and windy kicking up the fires. Rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 40 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles. Winds calm. Patches of low lying fog over the Alatna Hills and fog is settling over Iniakuk Lake.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The fires are still chugging along. Rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 42 degrees. Ceiling 6000' scattered, visibility 10 miles. There are low lying patches of morning fog over the Alatna Hills. Morning fog is starting to gather over Iniakuk Lake.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The fires continue to chug away due to warm weather and no rain. Rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.7, temperature 58 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles. North winds at 8 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Yesterday's temperatures got to the mid-70's, giving new life to the fires. They have been burning since June 26th, and are hot. More rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.8, temperature 52 degrees. Ceiling 6000' scattered, visibility 10 miles. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: A day of no rain and the trees are torching one by one. More rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles. North wind at 8 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Rain yesterday helped keep the fires low but more rain is needed to put them out. Rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 52 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles. North wind at 5 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Early evening and overnight rain helped subdue the fires. They are still burning but the north wind improves the air quality immensely. More rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 52 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast, visibility 10 miles. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Rain yesterday morning kept the fires down, but this morning I see puffs of smoke as they are starting up again. More rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 1000' in rain fog, visibility 5 miles. It rained a lot yesterday, rained all night and is raining now. SE winds at 8 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: It RAINED significantly yesterday, RAINED all night and is still RAINING. The fires are persistent, but this will really help. More rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.8, temperature 56 degrees. Ceiling 1000' of morning fog, visibility 10 miles with light smoke and patches of morning fog. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Yesterday the fires puffed quietly as they were calmed a bit by the rain. Increased humidity helps. Rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.8, temperature 58 degrees. Ceiling 4000' overcast with rain fog, visibility 5 miles with rain fog and smoke. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Rain! Our first real rain since the lightening strike June 26. Very helpful, causing a lot of expected smoke but very helpful.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 4000' undefined due to rain fog and smoke. Visibility 5 miles with rain fog and smoke. New word for today is rain fog. It is sprinkling. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The SE wind continues to blow, fires continue to crawl ever closer. BLM AKFS put up a weather station close by to keep an eye on conditions here. The last helicopter left yesterday so we're on our own to watch the fires.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.1, temperature 58 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast, visibility 10 miles with light smoke. SW winds at 5 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The last firefighters pulled out yesterday due to a persistent bear in their camp and we felt we could watch the fire and report to dispatch if it starts to run. Yesterday, with high SE winds and no rain, there was significant torching. Rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 50 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast, visibility 10 miles in light smoke. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Without rain, the fire continues to creep along.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.3, temperature 34 degrees. Ceiling and visibility zero due to dense morning fog and smoke. Wind calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: East ridge fires continue to creep and torch, over 35,000 acres have burned since June 25, with a cost so far in excess of $1.3 million. The fire is far from out.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 48 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast with light smoke, visibility 5 miles with smoke. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Another day of SE winds kept the fires cranked up. These fires will not go out if there is no significant rain.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 56 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast, visibility 10 miles in light smoke. SE winds at 15 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Unceasing SE winds continue today and have accelerated giving renewed energy to the fires. No rain.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 34 degrees. Ceiling and visibility unlimited. Light smoke and morning fog on Iniakuk Lake. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Yesterday's temperatures were in the high 70's with constant SE winds at 10-15 knots, waking up the fires once again. Many trees torched. We wait for rain.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 38 degrees. Ceiling and visibility zero due to dense morning fog. Slight north wind at 3 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Cooler temperatures are keeping the fires down, but not out. About 85% of the East ridge has burned in a mosaic, up and down pattern. We need some of the Fairbanks rain.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 42 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken with patches of morning fog, visibility 10 miles with patches of morning fog over the Alatna Hills. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The third crew change took place yesterday as this fire has a mind of its own. A bit of rain and cooler temperatures helps a lot. More rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.8, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 5000' overcast, visibility 10 miles in light smoke with patches of early morning fog. SE wind at 10 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Yesterday brought light rain and morning fog which quieted the fires. A southeast wind started up in the afternoon and trees started torching again. We need several days of rain to quell the fires.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.8, temperature 58 degrees. Ceiling 2000' overcast with patches of fog, visibility 10 miles in medium smoke. SE winds at 4 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Rain. Not much, but some, buying us time. Two brief but wetting rains; one around midnight, the other around 4:00A quiet the fire for now. More rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 60 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast with smoke, visibility 5 miles in dense smoke. South winds at 8 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Yesterday the BLM AFS Incident Commander changed the status of this fire from creeping to running. No rain, sun and increasing wind awakened all the fires on the east ridge and they advanced significantly.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast with smoke, visibility 3 miles in dense smoke. Slight SE winds.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Warmer temperatures and SE winds are kicking up the fires again. This morning the smoke is acrid, pungent and dense. No rain in sight.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 38 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles with light smoke and morning fog. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The Incident Commander boated down yesterday. He and one other smokejumper are the remaining crew. A spotter plane flies over daily to monitor and map the fire. A minimal crew is good news as we wait for rain to put out the fires.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 50 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles in medium smoke. SW winds at 3 knots.

Iniakuk Lake Fire Update: Yesterday brought a dark rain cloud that sat right over the fire closest to the lodge, and rained. My sentiments exactly! The rain didn't last long but every bit helps and buys us more time.

BLM and AFS had their third crew change out yesterday as we observed the one month mark of this fire. We hope there is more rain coming.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 50 degrees. Ceiling 5000' patchy clouds, visibility 5 miles in smoke with a bit of morning fog. The slight rain was falling earlier, but has stopped. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Unceasing SE winds with little or no rain for days has caused one of the closest fires on the east ridge to come alive. The Incident Commander boated down at 9:30p last night to let us know this was not good news and they would be back in the morning. We need a long, hard rain.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 5000' partly cloudy with morning fog bank at 1500'. Visibility 5 miles in fog and smoke. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Rain is forecast, but we don't seem to get much. Last night the SE wind cranked up to 10 knots awakening new hot spots. I watched as many trees torched in the wind. Rain would be nice.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 52 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast, visibility 5 miles, the Alatna Hills are hidden in smoke. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The forecasted rains didn't make it to us, however, temperatures and relative humidity stayed fairly low all day keeping the fires quiet. Air quality was not great during the night, a north wind will help with that. Rain please.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.1, temperature 58 degrees. Ceiling 6000' scattered, visibility 5 miles with dense smoke at the south end of Iniakuk Lake over the Alatna Hills. North winds at 10 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: A section of the east ridge closest to Iniakuk Lodge started to heat up last night. Rain is the only thing that will put this fire out. And we wait for rain.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.1, temperature 38 degrees. Ceiling unlimited, visibility 10 miles in light smoke. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Yesterday brought a brief but significant rain which helped quell the fire. Lower temperatures, higher humidity and lots of rain are what we need to put the east ridge fire out. We estimate 80% of the east ridge has burned.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 6000' with large patches of fog, visibility 8 miles in significant smoke. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The east ridge fire laid low yesterday due to cooler temperatures and more moisture in the air. We are waiting for the rain.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.1, temperature 56 degrees. Ceiling 500' with rain fog and smoke. Visibility 5 miles with rain fog and smoke. SE winds at 10 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Rain! The east ridge fire has quieted down, but is not out. The overnight rain helped buy us some time. This fire has been burning for three weeks; one light rain helps, but won't put it out.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 6000' slight overcast and smoke. Visibility 5 miles with dense smoke over the Alatna Hills. SE winds at 5 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Another hot day with temperatures in the high 80's and brisk SE then west winds kept the east ridge fires going. NOAA is reporting cooler temperatures and some rain which would make a huge difference.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 52 degrees. Ceiling 6000' slight overcast with smoke. Visibility 5 miles with dense smoke. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Yesterday BLM AFS smokejumpers started a backfire at the east Native allotment property. It was 89 degrees with a brisk northwest wind (very unusual). One spot got away from them, the helicopter based at Iniakuk Lodge flew to the scene and dropped bucket after bucket of water.

Through the smoke blanketing the lake I can see huge columns of smoke curling up from the east ridge fire. It ramped up due to the hot temperatures and wind. We are next for a backburn which is inevitable unless it rains and slows the fire.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.3, temperature 52 degrees. To the north, ceiling is unlimited. At Iniakuk Lodge and looking south, ceiling is obscured with dense smoke and morning fog. Visibility 5 miles with dense smoke and morning fog. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Temperatures soared to 89 degrees giving the fire new life. BLM AFS smokejumpers successfully set a backfire to protect the trapper cabin at the south end of Iniakuk Lake. Today if conditions permit, they will start a backfire at the east allotment to stop the march of that section of the fire.

The east ridge burned brightly all day and into the night as I watched trees continuously erupt in flames. Another lightening strike on the west ridge became active mid afternoon, was jumped and put out. BLM has added 20 smokejumpers to the Iniakuk fire making 31 in camp at the south end.

We wait for rain.

Iniakuk Lake Fire and Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 50 degrees. Ceiling obscured due to dense smoke. Visibility 2 miles with dense smoke. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The fire came awake yesterday afternoon advancing within 1/4 mile of the trapper cabin at the south end of the lake. A spot flared up again on the east ridge and I watched the fire slowly engulf trees. The smoke is thick this morning because we have no wind. We also have had no rain.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 48 degrees. Ceiling unlimited, visibility to the north unlimited, to the south 10 miles with a thick bank of smoke forming over the Alatna Hills. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The fire is laying low but continues to munch on trees and lichen on the east ridge. There is little rain in the forecast and we hope that changes. Thick smoke is visible at the south end of Iniakuk Lake where the fire advances slowly.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.1, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles. Air quality today is the best it's been in weeks. SE winds at 8 knots.

Iniakuk Lake Fire Update: We welcomed a brief but significant rain yesterday. Every bit of moisture helps damp down the fire until it finally goes out. The smell of smoke is in the air, but it's not as dense as usual.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 62 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast with light smoke, visibility 10 miles with light smoke. SE winds at 8 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: BLM AFS dropped smokejumpers yesterday for the crew changeout. Many thanks to the crew that saw us through the early days. The fire moves slowly at the south end of Iniakuk Lake and patches flare up on the east ridge as we wait for rain.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 48 degrees. Ceiling 6000' scattered. Visibility looking north is unlimited, looking south is 5 miles with thick smoke. A thick band of smoke is settling on Iniakuk Lake. The Alatna Hills are not visible, too much smoke. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Today marks the two week point since the lightening strike and there will be a crew change. BLM will change out the smokejumpers on Sunday. The fire has kicked up to the south, marching ever onward. Many thanks to the first team of smokejumpers, we will miss you.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 46 degrees. Ceiling 6000' scattered, visibility 10 miles with smoke at the south end. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The fire continues to burn around the corner, out of sight. Last night we spotted smoke plumes from trees going up. Rain would really help.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 52 degrees. Ceiling and visibility zero due to dense morning fog and light smoke. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Eighteen smokejumpers are at Iniakuk Lake monitoring the slowly encroaching fire. A brief rain, cooler temperatures and higher humidity buys us time until a soaking rain puts the fire out. A partial crew climbed the ridge to put out spot fires but found there was too much heat. So we wait for rain.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 6000' scattered, visibility 5 miles with dense smoke. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: East ridge flames kicked up again early yesterday evening. Around the corner, out of our sight, the fire soldiers on, advancing slowly. This morning dense smoke is settling on Iniakuk Lake. The smokejumpers keep us informed.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 52 degrees. Ceiling and visibility zero due to dense morning fog and a bit of smoke.

Iniakuk Fire Update: The east ridge fire laid fairly low yesterday until a T-storm blew up late in the afternoon. The fog is thick with the smell of wood smoke and visibility is zero. I will post when the fog burns off and I can see.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 58 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken with smoke, visibility 5 miles with dense smoke. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Fires on the east ridge were calm until late afternoon when a brisk SE wind blew up. The ridge lit up again with many trees topped out in flames. Then thunder and lightening and . . . rain. Enough rain to push the flames back down for the night, but there is still plenty of smoke.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.8, temperature 60 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast with smoke, visibility 5 miles in dense smoke. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Last evening buffeting SE winds lit up the ridge like a Christmas tree. We all thought that would be the end of the east ridge and then couldn't see anything because of the dense smoke.

The smoke cleared a bit to reveal most of the active fire had gone out or laid down considerably. The smokejumper told us later that it had rained for 15 minutes right over the fire. That made a huge difference.

This morning the east ridge is still smoldering and with some wind could spark right up. Rain would help.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.8, temperature 60 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast with thick smoke, visibility 4 miles with thick smoke. Slight north wind.

Iniakuk fire update: The fire finally topped out on the ridge and crossed over in several places. We watched the trees catch, explode, then the wind changed and the fire has cooled somewhat overnight. I am still seeing flareups. Whether the fire will slowly consume the east ridge remains to be seen. The scooper aircraft were on another fire last night. They might make it here today if they can see to fly.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.1, temperature 56 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 8 miles with a thick smoke bank over the south end of Iniakuk Lake and the Alatna Hills. North winds at 3 knots.

Iniakuk Fire Update: Smokejumpers worked through the sweltering heat putting in fire breaks, laying down hose, sprinklers and pumps to protect the buildings. They called in the Fire Bosses last night to dump water on the fire and have requested they return today. These next few days will be pivotal.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.1, temperature 60 degrees. Ceiling 5000' broken with thick smoke. Visibility 3 miles with thick smoke. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Fire: Additional Smokejumpers came to the lodge yesterday to GPS the place for laying out hose, pumps and sprinklers. The fire sparked up again in early afternoon racing up a ravine behind Mt. Hal Waugh only to run out of fuel at the top.

Smoke density this morning is intense.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.1, temperature 50 degrees. Ceiling unlimited, visibility 10 miles with smoke. Winds calm.

We have a small city of Smokejumpers at the south end of Iniakuk Lake. They are here to cut fire breaks, install pumps, sprinklers and 'tons of hose'. Three of the Smokejumpers motored down last night to introduce themselves and let us know the plan to defend our property. The Iniakuk River fire is still burning, just laying low for now due to cooler temperatures, a bit of rain and no wind.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 40 degrees. Ceiling 5000' diminished with thick smoke. Visibility currently 4 miles and constantly changing due to thick smoke. Winds calm.

Yesterday and until late last night, the Fire Bosses scooped and dropped as the Iniakuk River fire started up again with a vengeance. A recon helicopter pilot said the burn had reached 600 acres, the fire was staffed and air support would be back in the morning.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 58 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles. SE winds at 4 knots.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

The official report from Alaska Wildland Fire Information website, akfireinfo.com - Iniakuk Lake Fire (Tanana Zone) – Reported by a local resident via Brooks Range Aviation in Bettles. A ridge separated the fire from a cluster of structures about a mile away, including the Iniakuk Lake lodge, which sits on the east side of the lake. The fire was reported to be about 43 miles west of Bettles. Eight smokejumpers were deployed to the fire, along with four water-scooping aircraft. The smokejumpers were able to cut a line around the perimeter to discourage further spread. Suppression operations will continue into Sunday and the water scoopers will be close at hand for support.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 50 degrees. Ceiling and visibility unlimited; patchy clouds over the Alatna Hills. Winds calm.

Last night around 10:30p a significant lightening strike started a fire over the ridge on Iniakuk River. The plume quickly grew, we called Brooks Range Aviation, Judy called it into BLM, and within an hour they had jumpers out here who put out the fire. It helped that the wind had died down. For awhile, there was a lot of smoke in the air, the Alatna Hills were not visible, everyone was concerned.

Many thanks to Brooks Range Aviation and BLM for seeing that the fire was put out. There is no trace of smoke this morning.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 60 degrees. Ceiling and visibility unlimited. Slight whiff of smoke in the air. Winds calm. It's going to be a hot, beautiful day in the Alatna Valley.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 40 degrees. Ceiling and visibility unlimited. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.1, temperature 40 degrees. Scattered Clouds. Ceiling and visibility unlimited. Slight haze over the Alatna Hills. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 40 degrees. Ceiling and visibility unlimited, not a cloud to be seen. Wind from the north at 2 knots.

The past two days were spent trouble shooting our HughesNet Satellite Internet. The system status showed nothing but red flags. Fortunately we had a very capable person in Ben, from Black Rapids Lodge, who changed out the radio arm (we happened to have a backup). He found a critical component cracked and filled with water, thereby causing the illusion of a huge rain cloud blocking transmission and reception. The component had the durability of a communion wafer which makes no sense for equipment that is out in weather all the time. Be advised!

Update: Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Ceiling has gone back up to 2000' undefined, visibility 10 miles. Conditions are likely to go up and down with the rain. SE winds at 4 knots.

Update: Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Ceiling and visibility just went to zero with morning rain fog. It is raining and there is a lot of moisture in the air. I will post when conditions improve.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.8, temperature 50 degrees. Ceiling 2000' rainfog, visibility 10 miles. It rained steadily all night, there are patches of ground fog. NOAA forecasts heavy rainfall in the Brooks Range over the next few days. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 58 degrees. Ceiling 6000' overcast, visibility 10 miles. SE winds at 8 knots.

A  big system blew in last night with light rain and sustained winds of 35 knots. Looked a bit smokey for a time but the weather has settled for now.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.0, temperature 58 degrees. Ceiling and visibility unlimited. Slight north wind. A perfect day in a perfect place.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 56 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 54 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles. SE winds at 2 knots.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 30.2, temperature 46 degrees. Ceiling 6000' broken, visibility 10 miles. SE wind at 2 knots.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 52 degrees. Ceiling 6000' patchy, visibility 10 miles. Slight SE wind.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 38 degrees. Ceiling 6,000' broken, visibility 10 miles. Slight smokey haze. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 44 degrees. Ceiling 6000' slight overcast and possible smokey haze. Visibility 10 miles. Winds calm.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Barometer 29.9, temperature 36 degrees. Visibility is unlimited. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Bugs are minimal so far, a bear crashed through our electric fence last night and Ellie, the perimeter dog, ran him off.

Iniakuk Lake Weather, Brooks Range, Alaska

Good morning, Coldfoot, Bettles, and the Alatna Valley! We arrived yesterday with 2600 pounds of freight and are so glad to be back for another season.

Barometer 30.0, temperature 36 degrees, visibility unlimited. Brisk north wind at 7 knots.

Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge Summer Season 2016

 My mind has already flown north and has landed on Iniakuk Lake. The rest will follow on June 8, weather permitting and hoping the ice has gone out.

See you soon!