Things are improving in Oregon, but it was still a rough day. But at least we’re headed in the right direction. \nI wish the Lane county officials who monitor these situations would just admit what everyone I know has figured out, we live in valley and that makes these smoke events extremely difficult to predict.

When the creepy moon makes its appearance at dusk you know it hasn’t been a good day. The air quality reading was over two hundred most of the day. Got as high as 270. Nothing to do but just wait it out.

High was 92. Air Quality Index about 160 most of the day. It can get worse here. Unfortunately in August and September these smoke events have become an annual occurrence in this part of Oregon. \nCan’t go outside for more than ten minutes at time. A bit longer if you some sort of face covering. I saw bicyclist wearing a gas mask as I was leaving a local bookstore. Not a bad idea, but a really weird image.

Took my dogs to Spencer’s butte this morning and the air was very good. At some point the wind shifted and smoke started blowing in from the cascades. The air started deteriorating this afternoon. These steps were gone before noon. We’re closing in on unhealthy air now. And the forecast calls for near 100 weather the next three days. \nThis week’s a loss step size. I live in the Willamette valley of Oregon . These events tend to linger. \nLooks like Rachmonoff gets more attention this week. I need to seriously cut the step goal in half until the end of fire season.