July 5, 2013

Sad Flags for the 4th

Ford Madox Ford's opening line of his 1915 novel "The Good Soldier" says it best: "This is the saddest story I have ever heard."

July 2, 2013

Today: worse than the worst of Vietnam for me (Granite Mountain Hotshots)

Today has been like Vietnam, only worse. I remember the gut wrenching days after we lost air crews and/or friends. I remember the plaintive, begging MAYDAY calls. I remember watching helicopters go down, and 'chutes from battle-damaged RF-4Cs. I remember the 37mm and 57mm on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, at night.

All bad memories, but nothing like today. The news says the worst loss of firefighters since 9/11. True in raw numbers, and if you compare apples and oranges. The 19 killed in Arizona were primarily wildland firefighters, and off the top of my head it is the worst loss of wildland firefighters in my memory.

Steel up, people, for more bad fires. Look at what is happening with climate change. The time will come, and soon, that all the brave Hotshot crews in the world cannot help. I am a forward observer on the very front line of this war, and it is getting ugly.

Meanwhile, Peace be with the families of these brave firefighters. I, for one, will dedicate my efforts for the rest of this fire season to the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and all other firefighting crews.

RIP. And never let this happen again.

June 26, 2013

How the world looks today, from a wilderness fire lookout tower (PIC HEAVY)

These were taken over the last couple of years and posted today to celebrate the SCOTUS decision on DOMA and Prop 8.

June 16, 2013

Last night's sunset over the Three Sisters

June 13, 2013

Back in the fire lookout for the 2013 fire season

I'll be posting again, from time to time. Look for much more night photography.

May 6, 2013

On my way to the Western Fire Season 2013

Looks like a barn burner this year (pardon the pun). NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center) puts Oregon and California in high threat forecasts. My fire lookout tower is in the Red Zone.

Nadin will be in SoCal, and I will be in Oregon. That is a good start in fire season coverage for DU.

I'm in Big Spring, TX, tonight. Hope to make Tucson tomorrow. I got a stopped in a speed trap in Union Town, Alabama, yesterday. Classic shakedown. I was doing 6 mph over in a taper-down area (61 in a 55 zone, coming off a 65 into a 45). No slack at all. The only thing good left in Alabama is Trof! I'll find out tomorrow how much $$$.


Pole Creek fire in the Sisters Wilderness, September 9, 2012

January 17, 2013

A hard cold rain is falling (snow coming) - PICS

I just dumped the rain guage five hours ago. It's now raining an inch an hour and it's 40*F. Winter storm flags are flying for tonight. But I'm warm and toasty with a mug of coffee (is it wine time yet?) and a bodacious fire.


Drying my feet after walking Nick in a cold, wind-blown rain.


I have had almost eight inches of rain since Sunday night.