Psychic Forestry

Walking Sticks for Security

2007-12-17T23:46:00.000-06:00

Most of us will never be ninjas or martial artists, nonetheless we have a right to be secure and able to protect ourselves while navigating through life. I personally like to go walking with my wife and on occasion walk through areas that may be less than safe. While some believe that the only way to be adequately protected is to carry something like a gun or knife, I don't have the appropriate legal qualification to carry a concealed deadly weapon and may not want that responsibility. My concession to being able to defend myself from errant dogs and other less desirables is to utilize a walking stick. It is innocuous enough to be carried almost anywhere, especially if it is thought you need it to walk. Yet, if properly designed and strong, it can present you with a formidable tool to defend yourself.

As with any tool, one must practice in the method in which you intend to deploy it and contemplate the situations where it would be appropriate. I would warn you that you are responsible for knowing the legal implications of carrying a walking stick and the implications of any actions you make take with it. Usually the best response to aggression in these cases is to retreat via your pre-planned escape route. You know, the one you planned and thought about before hand. While retreat may not appeal to the macho side of your psyche, it usually proves to be the smartest response.

A quick search of the internet will give you many suggestions for deploying your walking stick. I would suggest a simple system which you can practice over and over until you become proficient. When faced with a threat you will tend to fall back on your training. One caveat, be sure you include in your practice assessing the situation and then taking an appropriate response. Attendant to this is developing your situational awareness, so that you have adequate warning to craft an appropriate response and deploy your tools if necessary. Keep that awareness "on" all the time, until it becomes second nature.

The latest, most suggested walking stick I have chanced upon is the MendoWood Mendocino (http://yhst-1129393017033.stores.yahoo.net/mendocino.html) a replica of an English Blackthorn made from a natural wood head and a steel pipe and epoxy body, crafted to imitate wood. Certainly strong enough for any encounter, it combines function and good looks.

Happy walking!

Pet Pic Interlude

2007-12-14T23:09:00.001-06:00

Psychic Forestry Clarification

2007-12-14T21:51:00.000-06:00

The more I thought about why I named this blog Psychic Forestry, it became evident that it had a clear link to my time as a forester. As we walked through the forest, we gained the acuity to assess the particulars of the trees we were measuring and marking. But, it also gave us time to sort through life's stories and challenges, coming up with solutions to questions that we initially didn't realize needed to be asked. So although this blog may wander about, it will hopefully allow you and I to better revel in and deal with the convoluted path of our individual journeys.

Travel

2007-12-14T21:26:00.000-06:00

Ugh, no posts for a while due to travel for work... Planes seem to be getting smaller and delays are longer. I'm a big guy so I strive for exit row aisles. But I just changed geographic areas so my premier status in one airline is now moot in this area. First thing I've done is start piling up miles with a carrier that predominates in my area. I recommend concentrating on one anyway, because as soon as you achieve premium status, it will get you options on upgrades, but more important it will assure a better seat on almost every flight. Plus, you'll get better consideration in bump situations and gnarly weather situations.

For even better insight into the best seats on the plane, go to www.seatguru.com. It will tell you the good and bad points of every seat on the plane.

Finally, I must state the obvious, the nicer you are to the front line folks at the airlines, the better service and consideration you will receive. They have a hard job, lots of responsibility, and little authority.

My Lists

2007-11-25T00:22:00.000-06:00

I'm a fan of lists.. Not out of an anal compulsion to complete them, but to keep focused on what I feel is important. With today's increasing distractions, electronic and otherwise I could spend all my time being distracted and never do what I need to do. Note that what I need to do is not necessarily what society prescribes or values. For instance, I need to play my guitar more, not to get my songs on itunes and make a bunch of money, just to play. Sometime it gets hard to discriminate between these things, and as a wise person once said, " You can do anything, you just can't do everything." Lists help me to concentrate primarily on the things that sustain my basic existence and then concentrate on what makes me smile, Like my wife's smile and playing my guitar... So , make the lists, do the things and resist the distractions. Unless they become the thing you need to do.

Photos!

2007-11-22T22:12:00.001-06:00

Take some photos along the road and share your experiences! These are copyrighted, by the way.

Blade Forums

2007-11-22T15:35:00.000-06:00

I tend to haunt Blade Forums (www.bladeforums.com/forums) for the best info and discussion on bladeware of many types. Discussions range from making knives to use for hunting, camping and defense. I'm a fan of Busse Knives, which may lead to some interesting comments, as most people like em or don't understand em ....

What Exactly is Psychic Forestry

2007-11-22T13:48:00.000-06:00

Novel name for a Blog, eh? In my younger years I worked for the U.S. Forest Service marking and measuring trees in timber sales. A great job if you like to walk through the woods for hours on end and use your brain. You choose trees according to a "silvicultural prescription" that assures a healthy forest while some trees are removed. After observing and measuring trees day after day, you get pretty good at estimating the diameter and height of trees. "Oh, that one is 65 feet tall and 9.5 inches DBH (Diameter Breast Height)." No magic, just time and experience, sorta like we all do in life. Anyway, we got really good at "knowing" the exact measurements of a tree just by looking at it. Perhaps accurate beyond what was overtly possible... Assessing things in life should be so easy, eh?! So Psychic Forestry encompasses that set of internal judgements and calculations we make every day, hopefully becoming more and more accurate in understanding and dealing with life's variables and challenges as we make our journey. At times beyond the measure of logic....

Surviving World Travel

2007-11-22T00:48:00.000-06:00

Surviving World Travel

2003 Copyright RBJ

We wound through the emerald green foliage, moisture hung in the air and our clothes were permeated with it. We had been traversing this stretch of cloud forest for three days and had gradually adjusted to the daily rituals common to many adventure travelers. Mornings began with rich, hot coffee presented to us at our tent followed by a regal breakfast prepared by our porters. We then packed our belongings and began trekking, carrying only what we would need for the day. The rest of our gear was carried for us to the next campsite. This type of adventure travel has become a serious business and many people are willing to pay for the “adventure”, as long as the risk is minimized. This is not always the case in these manufactured trips, let alone when we strike out on our own for distant lands. Remember the tourists recently killed by guerillas in Africa, while looking for Gorillas? As many readers of this magazine will agree, we should be individually responsible for ourselves whatever the locale, but that should not keep us from experiencing the myriad wonders we can see and experience by visiting other places and experiencing other cultures. By expanding your emergency skills and carrying a small number of multipurpose tools, you will have the ability to deal with almost any situation you may encounter. Most of these techniques and tools are appropriate in urban or wilderness situations; you must pick and choose what is necessary for your particular trip.

Very critical is a source of clean water. In hot climates humans can lose a gallon per day through perspiration. Your body and mind are most efficient and stress resistant when they are well hydrated. One of the most critical needs for those at high altitude is sufficient hydration because it has a tremendous affect on performance. Unfortunately, when we travel, we tend to under hydrate due to the presence of questionable water sources. What the people in Costa Rica may consider “good” water may tie me up for a week with dysentery, because my bodies immune system is not adapted to the microbiological beasties that our present. A recent study has shown that 40% of all international travelers get “Traveler’s Diarrhea”, but you have several options to assure microbiologically safe water. Purification via chemical means is cost effective and efficient, but may not be effective against some protozoan parasites. The best choice would be one of the commercial purifiers manufactured for the wilderness travel market. Note that I specified “purifiers” which will eliminate most if not all viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasites down to .004 microns in size from suspect water. Microfilters and filters only eliminate those microorganisms 0.2 microns and up in size, which will not be adequate for water which has an abundance of viruses like Hepatitis. Remember that these purifiers can be used on suspect tap water as well as water out of natural water sources.

Health concerns are the next consideration. Carrying a small first-aid kit should be mandatory for all outings as one never knows when the unexpected may strike. There are several commercially produced backpacking first-aid kits available at your local outdoor store. Being that there is no “perfect first-aid kit”, I prefer to assemble my own based on experience and training. It currently is loosely based on the “almost perfect first-aid kit” detailed in the book Medicine for the Backcountry by Buck Tilton and Frank Hubbell.

Mine Includes:
-A roll of athletic tape -Two trauma dressings
-Various sizes of sterile gauze pads -Coban elastic wrap
-Tincture of Benzoin -The Extractor Kit
-2d Skin -24 Ibuprofen
-16 Imodium -Hemostat
-Rubber Exam Gloves -24 Benadryl
-Scissors -Tick tweezers
-Sunscreen and chapstick -Serious jungle insect repellent
-Hibiclens or Povidone-iodine -Throat lozenges
-Safety pins -Prescriptions medicines that anyone in my party is taking(In the original prescription container, carried by that person)
-10 Band-Aids -Emergency dental kit
-Electrolyte replacement drink -Waterproof stuffsack
-CPR mask

This kit is based on my 20 years experience as a Red Cross CPR / First-aid Instructor and EMT. The difference you make in the outcome of a medical emergency will be largely based on your training and skill and not on the quantity of cool medical stuff that you drag with you. Don’t haul around anything with you that you don’t know how to use appropriately, as you can cause more harm than good. Remember that standards of medical care are much different in other so, before you leave get the teeth checked and have that appendix taken out by your own doctor. Also get the appropriate vaccinations for the countries which you are headed for. You can check out the current recommendations on the Internet sites that I list at the end of this article. Plan ahead as many of the vaccinations and prophylactic medications need to be taken care of weeks or months before you leave. Also make sure that your health insurance provides coverage outside the US, including air evacuation.

While we’re on the topic of health, we probably should consider food. For many people, part of the experience of exploring a new culture is to enjoy the gastronomic creations. This may include buying fried food of questionable origin from a street vendor or trying a new type of alcoholic beverage. Regardless how appetizing this sounds to you, both of these experiences may be ok because you are dealing with food which is cooked and a drink that has antiseptic qualities. However, I would be very wary of fresh fruit or vegetables unless they are peeled or washed with your safe water. Also beware of ice cubes in any drink. Don’t let the chances of getting a stomach bug dissuade you from experiencing the local cuisine, just be selective as to what you eat. You might include a few Cliff Bars or Power Bars for those days when you need the extra nutrition, but don’t want to experiment with local edibles.

Taking care of your microclimate is another important aspect of health. Depending on where you are traveling, you need to be prepared for whatever the weather may throw at you. For many travelers this includes being too hot as well as too cold. Tropical climes are very popular and you need to wear clothing that facilitates your comfort and keeps you from overheating. In hot environments this means lightweight, quick drying, synthetic garb. Shirts and pants should be loose fitting with venting options. Don’t forget the portable sun and rain protection provided by a broad brimmed hat or a small folding umbrella, especially when it’s too hot for raingear.

For the cooler conditions that may be experienced at high altitude or with a weather shift regardless of your local, be sure to pack insulative clothing and shell garments. A Gore-Tex parka and pants are the defacto standard for shell garments, although in some areas like the Alaska bush the residents will tell you that it just ain’t waterproof. But it works well for many conditions and a subdued color jacket may facilitate you melding in with the local populace a little better. Nothing beats a synthetic pile jacket for warmth and quick drying capability, plus the pants make wonderful sweatpants for those casual lounging afternoons on the veranda. Top it off with a windproof pile hat and wool ragg gloves and you’re all set. Some people like synthetic gloves, but for picking up a hot pot or greater resistance to wind, you can’t beat wool. In a fire emergency they could also protect your hands if you needed to put them in harms way while manifesting your escape. Based on that point about natural fiber's resistance to fire, always try to fly in cotton or wool clothing. In the flash fires that sometimes occur in aircraft, they will protect you much better than any synthetic and will not melt into your skin under high heat conditions. I always try to carry a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt for this purpose. Be sure to take into account the social and religious mores of the countries you will be visiting. Some cultures request fuller coverage of the body than others and it falls upon us, as visitors to their country, to investigate and conform to these standards.

To round out your specialized wardrobe, look for a good solid pair of trekking shoes, preferably with good ankle support and a fairly aggressive sole pattern. Don’t skimp on these because the condition of your feet will set the whole tone for your trip. Those of you trekking to the more remote corners of our globe will want to pay special attention to their footwear. The waterproofness of Gore-Tex lined boot makes them welcome in swampy conditions, but can also make them very hot. For many adventurers one pair of shoes must suffice for everything from tracking through the bush to attending the local concert. Working in tandem with a good pair of boots is your socks. Some prefer a lightweight synthetic covered by a heavyweight wool sock, others prefer one medium weight sock. Go with what you know, but choose socks that are durable, washable, and comfortable. Be sure to bring enough pairs.

Many items and services that we take for granted just don’t exist in some areas. Travel also instills other limitations, which include political realities, luggage limitations, and unforeseeable circumstance. Of course some would tell you that very loss of control is what makes travel so alluring. I still like to hedge my bets though and carry a few items which would support my efforts should trouble strike. I try to keep most of this stuff with me when I travel either on my person or in a medium size day pack, which easily carries my survival kit while leaving room for purchases in the market or bad weather clothing should conditions warrant it

On my person I always carry a windproof, water resistantant lighter for fire starting in gnarly weather, another critical need and skill. In a hidden security pouch rides my passport or copy if my original is stored in the hotel safe, travelers checks with the numbers recorded and stashed in my wife’s security pouch, and my credit card. I also keep business cards (good for making you look like an important person), official letters for the same purpose, and family photos to share part of my world with people I meet. In today’s uncertain political climate it’s probably best to leave the government I.D. or politically sensitive paperwork at home. A good watch is a necessity in many parts of the world where the only way to get around is my tightly scheduled train or bus. You will also need a flexible, tough, portable flashlight for finding your way around camp, and reading that romantic novel while in your bush camp bed. Finally, I always carry a good Benchmade folding knife, which has less than a 4” blade, which allows me to carry it on most airline flights without a problem.

I also recommend carrying a journal, lots of decorated pens for giving away to the local kids in the undeveloped areas, polarized sunglasses, maps, canteen, compass, signal mirror and a guidebook for the area. These items supplement my ability to keep myself secure and protected, find my way around and signal someone if necessary.

When facing critical gear or clothing repair during extended jaunts into the field, I utilize a comprehensive Wilderness Repair Kit manufacturer by Outdoor Research. It contains everything from epoxy to aluminum plate, including adequate supplies to repair most camping gear, adventure sports gear, and personal items. It’s not something you couldn’t assemble yourself, but likely at greater expense and time commitment. I supplement it with additional duct tape (you can never have too much duct tape) and a Leatherman Wave tool.

One thing that you can never have enough of is information. This should start long before your actual trip by researching on the Internet, reading travel guides, and pouring over maps. If you are so inclined, learn the language of the country you’re going to. It is the ultimate demonstration of respect to learn another people’s language and it will enhance your trip immensely. Knowing the political and social situations where you are traveling can make a big difference in your security and enjoyment of the trip. Listening to the radio is a great way to discern other people’s perceptions of what’s going on in a particular region of the world. This can also be valuable if the political situation in the country you are visiting shifts while you are there. Local broadcasters may not give you the real story, which is why I carry a compact short-wave receiver, which allows me to bolster my information base and make better decisions. The rest of the time it lulls me to sleep with music and wakes me up in the morning. A final information-gathering tool is a good pair of binoculars. They will open up new horizons that you would otherwise miss, bring animals and grand vistas close, and supplement your knowledge of changing situations. Bigger is better when it comes to light gathering capability, but I prefer a compact model with medium magnification and durable rubber armor.

A topic, which can lead to endless discussion, is personal security while travelling. Although I mentioned that I always carry a folding knife that some consider to be adequate for personal defense, I am not a knife fighter and don’t anticipate resorting to that in a sticky situation. Generally, firearms are not available for defense while traveling out of the country. Other alternatives include perfecting a martial art, which is not practical for most folks. Practicing with and utilizing common objects like a walking stick for defense may be the best option for some. Capsicum pepper sprays are legal in some countries, but many limit their use to animals. If you have it with you legally then it may be acceptable. Beware however that in some cases it is illegal to transport these sprays by aircraft.

My intent has not been to highlight all the bad situations that you can encounter while traveling, but to emphasize that it is entirely possible to explore the world and, by taking a few simple precautions, still travel in relative safety. Not everything is controllable, nor should it be. A Seasoned traveler will learn, adapt, and assume responsibility for their actions. This will demonstrate great respect for the people you are visiting, teach you a few things and make you realize that we all have more in common than we have different. Finally, remember that the two most powerful devices you have in your survival kit are your functioning brain and a sincere smile.

Internet Sites For Travel Information and Security

http://www.fieldingtravel.com/df/index.htm

http://www.fco.gov.uk/

http://www.dfat.gov.au/consular/advice/

http://www.ds.state.gov/travel.html

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

http://pgis.pinkertons.com/pgis/

http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

Book Review of Death, Daring and Disaster, Search and Rescue in the National parks

2007-11-22T00:43:00.000-06:00

Death, Daring and Disaster
Search and Rescue in the National Parks
Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 1998
By Charles R. “Butch” Farabee

For those of us who consider search and rescue a welcome daily task, or perhaps a slightly less acceptable nighttime duty, Butch Farabee’s new book provides a catalyst to revive our fervor. It provides many hours of exciting entertainment, and will hopefully enlighten a few folks outside the National Park Service’s search and rescue cadre about the risks and rewards of SAR. It encompasses not only the high profile and superior press opportunity rescues, but also the frustrating, tedious investigation driven searches, which demand our full attention and dedication.

Butch has been a driving force in the search and rescue community, both within and without the NPS. His involvement has given him a front row seat in some of these incidents and the writing reflects his intimate knowledge of the many facets of the Ranger profession. His dedication to his fellow rescuers and those being rescued is present throughout the book. However, he pulls no punches in his descriptions of the incidents, some of which reflect the lapses in judgement of rescuee and rescuer that come in high stress situations.

Butch has selected 375 representative tales from the nearly 150,000 Search and Rescue missions that have been carried out by the National Park Service since Yellowstone was first established as a National Park in 1872. His selections are written as brief vignettes, detailing the actual incident, the response by SAR personnel, snippets of the media coverage, and how things were concluded. Well-deserved attention is paid to the bravery and discipline of those who risked their lives to save others. The book’s glossary dedicates space to those individuals who lost their lives in the line of duty and those who performed other feats of valor and personal sacrifice.

One story that hit especially close to home was the death of eleven people in Antelope Canyon, adjacent to my park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, in August of 1997. It elicited memories of conversations with members of our Dive Rescue Team who told stories of oppressive heat and skin rashes from diving in the tepid water, thick as effluent with organic debris. This and others of these assembled stories truly recount the gritty reality and moments of exultation that define search and rescue work.

This is a worthwhile read, guaranteed to bring back memories of your own SAR experiences. Especially valuable for those of us who are in green and gray, this compendium of names and incidents evokes memories of pivotal events and long remembered co-workers from the past. A wonderful book for those winter evenings, in front of the wood stove, dallying with visions of near misses and grateful families.

What is it Really Like to Fight Fire in the Wilderness?

2007-11-22T00:33:00.000-06:00

A Day Fighting Wildland Fire

Copyright 2001 RBJ

A bright artificial sun protruded into my dreams as our Crew Boss shoved his headlamp in my face and told me to get my ass out of the sack. Four-thirty hours came way too quickly. In the darkness, 20 people slithered out of two or three nested rectangular white "disposable" sleeping bags. These now contained polyester synthetic fill, which was much warmer than the old, multiple layers of butcher paper. The slightly acrid smell of dirty Nomex fire resistant clothing filled our nostrils as we pulled on shirts and pants over cotton underwear. After three weeks on fires, modesty had dissolved and been replaced by indifference. Once everyone had thrown on sweatshirts or yellow Nomex field jackets, we staggered with minimal conversation toward breakfast.

The Fire Camp was laid out in a typical fashion, designated sleeping areas conveniently adjacent to constantly droning high wattage diesel generators. Food service area crammed next to the medical unit, adjacent to the Incident Command Post (ICP) (where the Incident Commander and his minions hang out, drinking endless gallons of coffee). The Porta-Potties are usually full and placed upwind from the food service area. Other critical services include Supply unit; Ground Support unit; Security unit; Time unit (calculating all our overtime and hazardous duty pay, very important) and the Showers. All these are never situated in quite the same juxtaposition to one another, it depends on the terrain and how confused they wish to keep the firefighters.

We are half a mile from the food unit, which allowed us to trudge a while in the icy gray of pre-dawn and build up some body heat. Our canteens had frozen solid that night. Our Crew Boss traditionally drug us out of our warm beds half an hour earlier than most crews so when we reached the serving trailer, the line was only 10 minutes long. Breakfast consisted of piles of buck-sliced bacon, thick slabs of ham, sausage patties oozing grease, scrambled eggs of questionable origin, toast and bagels slathered with peanut butter and Smuckers, wrapped in a napkin and stashed in a pocket for lunch, hash browned potatoes, and maybe some thick, sticky flapjacks. This accompanied by the unending stream of coffee, milk, juice, soft drinks, and the occasional hot tea for those grunts with more refined taste. Food units are independent contractors hired at fairly extravagant rates to provide 2500 calories per meal per person. They do this with creativity, though not by following the heart-smart eating guidelines.

After breakfast, we throw together our gear for the shift. Our grungy yellow daypack with accompanying military web belt slung with 3 or 4 quarts of water contains all the essentials. Foremost, of course, our compact, aluminized fabric, heat resistant, cocoon shaped fire shelters with which you cover yourself should the inferno choose to overwhelm your position. Dig your face down into the dirt, suck for oxygen and try to control your claustrophobic fear as pinpricks of deadly orange light show you where the holes in your shelter are. We also carry our sack lunches and breakfast time food booty, extra socks, earplugs, smokes for those that do, ponchos or space blankets, map and compass, first aid kits, moleskin for blisters, extra bandanas, maybe a camera. Not too much weight though, much of the line we'll be digging might require us to keep that lump of yellow pig iron on our backs. We're still wearing the stiff, soot and sweat encrusted nomex shirts and pants that we've been wearing for three days. We now add a plastic hardhat, leather gloves (turned inside out so that the seams don't rub and cause bloody blisters to erupt on our hands), goggles, bandana around the neck and maybe one on the head (hankie head). Finally, the firefighter’s trademark, our frozen stiff fire boots. Experienced folks usually have "Whites", although those with narrow feet prefer "Buffalo" brand. Newbie’s or occasional firefighters usually have a nondescript discount store brand, which inevitably sheds one or both soles after several miles of walking or an hour of digging line. Many soles are attached by adhesives, which don't stand up well to walking through hot coals.

We secure out sleeping spot by surrounding it with pink plastic flagging tied from tree to bush to tree around our chosen spot like a pink palisade. All our other gear is stashed in our bigger Red Backpacks and piled in the center of the spot forming what must appear viewed from the air to be a big, bright red boil on the earth. Usually this is all the protection our gear requires in camp, the security unit wanders about and protects our belongings. There is actually a greater chance of it getting burned up than ripped off. Wildfires burn up fire camps on a disturbingly regular basis.

We head toward our mobilization point, wondering whether we will be hiking or driving or flying today. The residents of the Command Post; Operations Section folks, and Plans Section staff determine crew assignments. They hold a briefing held just prior to the shift which is attended by various supervisors from the field, in our case our Strike Team Leader, Crew Boss and their Squad Bosses. Of course these instructions usually don't correlate with what will actually happen to us that day. Wildfire managers try to make sense of sometimes indiscernible relationships between the multitudinous components of a fire ecosystem. A high art, whose masters earn their knowledge with toil on the fireline. But, then you throw in the political ramifications of a burn-out that escapes or an increase in air pollution levels due to a prescribed burn and decisions based on experience and analytical analysis are sometimes supplanted by politics and uninformed paranoia. Fire ecosystem management by political proxy is like having a PPO lawyer decide what medication your child should take for an illness.

We are lucky on this day and will be transported by massive National Guard "Deuce and a Half" trucks to our drop off point, (DP#4) in this case. Riding in the back of these troop carriers, with no top, on an early Oregon morning, is a whole new adventure in wind chill. We are now wishing we had all those extra clothes we left in our red packs, so that we wouldn't have to carry them. We huddle together, attempting to remain warm-blooded. The young pimply-faced kid / National Guardsman driving our conveyance thinks it's a Ferrari. We slide around corners, digging dirt furloughs and throwing up curtains of dust for the crew behind us to inhale, getting a start on lung congestion for today. The roads are twelve feet wide, newly created that morning by a Cat D-9. Most of us ignore the jolts and enjoy the scenery. Firefighting is a great way to travel on the taxpayer's nickel and see our Nation's wildlands. Detracting from this, the fact that much of what we get to see is recently incinerated and the grand vistas are generally covered with smoke for most of our stay.

Luckily, this bothers us not, as we arrive at our drop point. Our simple, but demanding day is about to start. We jump off the truck, mount up our forty pounds of gear, and move up the trail at a mile eating pace. The inexperienced (usually youngsters) always take the lead and blaze upward at a fever pitch, using up their adrenaline all at once. Young heroes on a quest for the dragon. Those with a bit more savvy, place one foot in front of the other, at a pace that lets you talk, watching for deadly falling snags as we ascend. Twelve hours hence, when the newbie’s are dragging butt, the slow paced walkers, usually with a bit of grey in their hair, still continue.

After chewing up five miles of old catline we reach our assigned spot. The beginning of a new catline running upward diagonally left across the 35-degree slope. We're to "make it pretty", i.e. drag all the burnable debris out of the line, so that mineral earth presents a non-burnable area to stop the fire's spread. We must also trim overhanging branches, removing the possibility of fire spread through areas where the tree crowns touching each other. Frankly, in these stands of mature Lodgepole Pine, the fire is not spreading by ground fire, but by embers from the fire front being propelled up into the sky, caught in the massive convection currents produced at the fire's head. These embers will travel through the air up to a quarter of a mile, and some will land in the tinder dry underbrush of the unburned forest beyond our puny line and start the fire's march all over again. To avert this, after clearing the cat line we deploy our crew back into the woods on the side away from the fire to look for those embers and the spot fire they cause. Being surrounded by tons of unburned fuel on a steep slope makes us extremely nervous and we recommend to the Division Superintendent that he consider moving us to a safer area. He needs this area covered and refuses. Can't look bad for the upper echelon and the press hovering on the fringes, trying to catch a taste of the real danger

The fire approaches, spewing a column of writhing black and gray smoke, as we look nervously to our designated safety zone, a small rock outcrop big enough to safely accommodate one third of the people here. In addition, the zone is surrounded by 120-foot tall lodgepole pine trees desiccated and ready to burn and then fall upon anyone stupid enough to ensconce themselves in the safety zone. We again indicate our displeasure and the Division Sup ignores us. At this point the fire has hooked around below us and is burning uphill, accelerating, putting us in a very tenuous position. All but three of our crew moves to the safety zone and most of us are fondling our fire shelters and rehearsing in our minds the procedure for shelter deployment (shake it open; step inside; kneel down; don’t let the violent winds produced by the head of the fire blow it away from you or you die). The three absent have been scouting up above us and are picked off the top of the ridge by helicopter about ten minutes later, just before the fire shoots up a small drainage and emolates that spot on the ridge. Out Crew Boss utters a "screw this", and leads us down into an adjacent meadow, complete with no trees to fall on us and a stream running through the bottom. The Division boss is screaming when we leave, as his misguided authority over us evaporates. Our Crew Boss turns away and says, "let’s go."

We manage to skirt the still burning ridge, get back to our Drop Point and move down the road prior to the fire's run up the ridge. Three Cat D-9 Dozers burned up. This keeps that Division Sup so occupied, that we never hear word one about our abandoning the Safe Zone. Cheated death again.

Lunch break! We find shade and soft places to recline. Standard lunches are opened. They include small fruit juice, really green small apples or oranges, two sandwiches made with bread the consistency of reclaimed Kleenex fibers; cheese of indeterminate origin; and meat, usually ham or compressed loaf slices with iridescent sheen that we refer to as mystery meat; and the hallowed candy bar. Previously they would put mayonnaise on the sandwiches back at camp at the beginning of shift, but by lunch the sandwiches were crawling away on their own. Most of us eat the peanut butter and jelly bagels from breakfast and pick among the brown bag offerings. Mystery meat is especially good for the "stick to someone else's pack" game. After eating, we try to catch some shut-eye. Half a shift awaits.

After lunch and snooze our Crew Boss checks in with our Strike Team Leader, who immediately finds another assignment for us clear on the other side of the Division. No transport available, so we have to hoof it six or so miles. Its steep terrain and many of us are used to lower altitude, so even with steady paced walking, it's still drudgery. We continue up the hill, one foot in front of the other, thinking, I'm here again, why do I do this to myself? Maybe for the ability to traverse wildlands where few have trod. To live life at its elemental level, no worries hard physical labor, eating, crapping, showers, sleeping, and the stories of other fires and other firefighters which we pass along to the next generation. With that small, perpetually denied possibility of horrible red glowing death always wedged in the tiny corner of our minds. Quick (relatively), heroic, and fulfilling. No waste as our basic components are separated out and distributed back into our world's forever regenerating circle of life.

We reach the division's other side and begin a holding operation on a line some other crew had created. We patrol the fireline as another crew ignites the vegetation on the fire’s side of the line. This “burning out” will remove fuel from the path of the fire and hopefully bring this incident to a close. We stand on the line and face into the twilight, away from the glow of the approaching fire, as the sun’s red iridescence descends below the valley rim. Looking for spot fires caused by embers from the burnout shooting over our heads. No additional fires erupt and the burnout crew moves on, extending the blackened area. Twilight fades to night and the cold night air descends. Slowly, all the fuel at our backs is consumed and the fires die. Needles of cold penetrate our sweat soaked clothing and we wish for the shift to end. The adrenaline that has sustained us fades in our bloodstream and the innate boredom of much of firefighting slowly pervades our thoughts. Word comes down that we are to work a night shift, continuing to hold this area of the line for another 12 hours or so. The expectation of more money doesn't offset the prospect of a shivering night, once the possibility and danger of being overrun is diminished. One of the cardinal rules of fire is to never sleep on the line; too many things can flare up. Reality can be much different. We space out along the line, alone with our thoughts and the crystal sky. Shimmering waves of light cast from the stars illuminate our little corridor of mineral earth surrounded on one side by a macrocosm of life and on the other by it’s blackened, incinerated components. But, shortly after each conflagration, scorched earth comes alive with plants and animals again. Every time.

For now it is enough to be concerned about right here, right now. The Tao of firefighting. We line out a few hundred yards apart up and down the fireline. We can see two people in either direction and thus can allow every other person to catch some shuteye with relative safety. We settle in, anticipating the delivery of some previously warm food and drinks, which eventually come. The evening stretches on, we have survived the day’s “burning period”, a time of low humidity and high temperatures. Nothing to do but persevere until morning. Time for introspection, communing with that stark individual simplicity and lack of clutter that the wild and firefighting affords. We scoop out small holes for our butts and put on any other clothing we have, to resist the night's chill. Never are the stars so clear and immediate. My turn to sleep, I pull a smoldering log close to my belly for warmth and curl into a fetal position on my pack, for insulation. I drift in and out of the cycle of intermittent sleep and standing watch, until the stars begin to fade and the rosy signature exploding across the east draws us into the morning and a chance to do it all again.

What's In Your Pockets?

2007-11-22T00:15:00.000-06:00

I have way too much sophisticated, modern equipment. Plenty of supplies and material to face down natural and man-made disasters. All stored in a safe place, secure and protected. Of course, most of the time, I am nowhere near proximity to my caches.

Most of us have day jobs and many travel extensively. While you can carry some preparedness supplies with you, space and weight restrictions are growing ever more stringent. With the advent of additional security, questions might be raised if you are found to have these types of supplies on your person or in your luggage.

Besides, most disasters catch people with nothing but the clothes on their back and what they have in their pockets. So, what can you carry with you that will not arouse the wrath of zealous security personnel, but will give you that edge in the face of unknown emergencies? This question is even more convoluted with the potential for the use of weapons of mass destruction. Personal Protective Equipment doesn’t fit in your pocket. So, we need to replace equipment with tactics gained from study and practical experience. (More on this in a future article)

First assess what you have with you now. Most of us carry a wallet, keys, maybe a small pocketknife, perhaps a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a cell phone. Lets start with the wallet, which should always contain government issued picture ID, adequate emergency funds, perhaps a credit card for big expenses (if you need to leave an area in a hurry), medical insurance identification, contact numbers and special instructions for emergencies. Those numbers might be in your PDA or cell phone, but not accessible to anyone but you. Not helpful if you are unconscious. Some city dwellers consider another separate wallet with a bit of cash and some expired cards, in case they are mugged.

My key ring is way too full and creates a horrible bulge in my pocket, but I have access to everything I need and it makes a good last ditch improvised weapon when clasped in my fist, with a few keys protruding between my fingers. If you plan on this method of defense, practice and have a plan prior to an incident. Planning and practicing ahead can give you the mindset that you need to counter a vicious attack and escape if necessary.

I also carry a wind resistant, weatherproof lighter with me, except on plane flights when I must depend on matches obtained when I reach my destination. The ability to make fire and thus create heat and light is as critical in the city as in an urban environment. Catch the video of an earthquake damaged city sometime to give you an idea of how quickly our modern infrastructure can crumble. Pick a lighter that is rugged, but small enough to ride comfortable in you pocket. My current favorite is the Blazer Microtorch, which may be a bit large for some. But, it is tough, has big reserve fuel tank and burns extremely hot. It also lights my cigars with aplomb, which is my overt excuse for carrying it. Being able to direct the flame is an advantage over the traditional lighters like the Zippo, but the Blazer’s blue flame doesn’t produce near the light that a traditional lighter does. Be wary of using a source of ignition around areas damaged in a disaster, flammable gases and fumes can be difficult to detect in the chaos of an accident.

A tube of lip balm with sun protection also rides in my left pocket. It protects my lips and in a pinch can be used as sunscreen for sensitive areas of my face. Get one with an SPF rating of 15 or more. Smeared around your nostrils, it can also cut the noxious odors from things you might not want to smell.

The final tool in my left pocket is a pocket folding knife, unless I am wearing it in a belt pouch. Usually, I carry my Ritter RSK Griptilian with a blade about 3.5” long. Made of SV30 stainless steel with the Benchmade created Axis lock it’s strong, easy to sharpen and maintain and reasonably priced.

I’m considering a tactical style pen that adds some defensive options. More on this in a later discussion.

Combine these items with a good cell phone and you’ll be ready for many normal and some not so normal challenges.

Book Review of Staying Fit Over Fifty

2007-11-21T23:23:00.000-06:00

Staying Fit Over 50
By Jim Sloan / Mountaineers Books

My metabolism has begun to fail me. I can no longer eat with the same gusto and in the same quantity that I did before, without accumulating excess mass. Those of you whose metabolisms have not yet crossed this temporal divide will no doubt snicker and consider this whining. Just wait.

I still enjoy macho outdoor activities, but hauling that extra bulk around just doesn’t make it quite as much fun. Time to do something about it. Although I have a few years before I surmount the half-century mark, Staying Fit Over 50 looked like the ticket for planning and executing a journey to the new me. It proved to be perfect.

I abhor fitness books that give you a stark regimen of exercise and diet, but don’t give you the supporting facts and rationale. Staying Fit is different. It cuts through the myths and preconceptions, giving you a deep insight into how fitness and good living can forestall many of the effects of aging. The author’s in depth research has been translated into an understandable, scientifically based essay on diet, nutrition, fitness, and anti-aging strategies. In addition the author has expanded sections on running, cycling, rowing, swimming, skiing, walking, snowshoeing and hiking, some of the primary sports that many of us enjoy and participate in to keep fit.

So, the next time you’re struggling with an athletic activity, or are having trouble breathing, while climbing a rocky trail, consider giving this book a look. It might just give you the tools and incentive to create that new you, or reinvigorate the old you!

Start Here

2007-10-31T10:58:00.000-05:00

This Blog was started on a whim, I hope to share some insights and stories, help people anticipate and prepare a bit for future unknowns, think about the now and smile.... Happy Trails!