Some of you recall, when I first came to Wyoming I lived in the small town of Dubois, Wyoming. Located on the east side of the Continental Divide, this town is dry and windy. A lightning-start fire has churned up the Lava Fire, just to the southwest of Dubois in the area of Union Pass. This time-lapse video shows some dramatic fire behavior from this fire. So far, they have not lost any structures.
Union Pass Time-lapse
Click on this link - it's cool!
Friday, July 29, 2016
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Meet Jake
This is Jake. His story is an amazing one.
Jake's mom and dad, Robyn and Jason, wanted a baby very badly. They were having a difficult time making it happen, so they took her egg and his sperm and put them in an Indian woman's body in India. Jake was born a premie and India hospitals aren't so good, but he pulled through.
Now, I am quite particular about kids, as you may know. Jake is an awesome kid. One of the finest I know. In this picture, Jake and I are sitting tall in the driver's seat of Engine 31. Jake loves fire trucks (although he hates the sirens).
There are very few kids that can make me smile like Jake. He is polite, curious, smart, and funny. His parents have raised this precious gift quite well.
I just wanted to share this with you all. In a world where so many things can bring you down, where hate and anger float to the top of the day - rotting in the hot afternoon wind - kids like Jake give me hope and happiness. I look at this picture and laugh and know that all will be just fine. Just fine.
Thanks for being with us all, dear Jake, as we struggle to remember the goodness and beauty in human beings.
Jake's mom and dad, Robyn and Jason, wanted a baby very badly. They were having a difficult time making it happen, so they took her egg and his sperm and put them in an Indian woman's body in India. Jake was born a premie and India hospitals aren't so good, but he pulled through.
Now, I am quite particular about kids, as you may know. Jake is an awesome kid. One of the finest I know. In this picture, Jake and I are sitting tall in the driver's seat of Engine 31. Jake loves fire trucks (although he hates the sirens).
There are very few kids that can make me smile like Jake. He is polite, curious, smart, and funny. His parents have raised this precious gift quite well.
I just wanted to share this with you all. In a world where so many things can bring you down, where hate and anger float to the top of the day - rotting in the hot afternoon wind - kids like Jake give me hope and happiness. I look at this picture and laugh and know that all will be just fine. Just fine.
Thanks for being with us all, dear Jake, as we struggle to remember the goodness and beauty in human beings.
Saturday, July 23, 2016
A Needed Saturday
No fire work today. Mike slept in, enjoyed breakfast and headed to the ranch. Fire is seductive. You get on one and you are sure all the fun stuff is going to happen the day you aren't there! Life goes on back at home and it's time to get caught up from the pack trip and back on line with summer things. Tonight, we will enjoy a concert at the Grand Teton Music Festival. Here's what's on the "menu" GTMF Concert .
Finally got to take a look at my pack trip pictures. Here are some of my top picks.
Finally got to take a look at my pack trip pictures. Here are some of my top picks.
The morning after the snowfall.
Bo eats out of Ken's mouth!
Thank you Mark & Sister Sandy for keeping our place intact while we were away! Great day spent with you both on the lake! Yeah, the boat is working again!!
Friday, July 22, 2016
Fire Update
Mike is back out on the line. One nice thing about having the fire so close is he is able to return home at night; albeit, he arrives at 9 pm, eats dinner, does his paperwork, showers, and awakes to a 4:30am alarm clock. He says today is his last day on the fire.....we'll see.
Today's news report can be read at Buckrail Report . Your's truly quoted.
The afternoon cold front has arrived. Wind are all over the place and lightning is hitting the ground. Here is a really cool sight to watch lightning! Live Lightning Map
Have a nice, safe weekend.
Today's news report can be read at Buckrail Report . Your's truly quoted.
The afternoon cold front has arrived. Wind are all over the place and lightning is hitting the ground. Here is a really cool sight to watch lightning! Live Lightning Map
Have a nice, safe weekend.
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Posted with BlogsyWednesday, July 20, 2016
On the Fire
Mike has been working on this fire for the last couple of days. He and other firefighters work to protect the structures sitting under a hill covered in heavy pine trees with the fire and smoke looming ominously at the top of the ridge. They have done strong work and anticipate being done today. The residents have been evacuated and watch the smoke cloud with anxiety. Here is today's report from our local news paper. Cliff Creek Fire
Meanwhile, back at home, myself and the other battalion chief were challenged with a three hour power outage in the entire county. We were able to safely and successfully extricate 5 people out of two elevators who became stuck when the power went out! Traffic was insane through out the valley. There were two medical calls and a carbon monoxide call as well. Here is the report for the power outage No Power!
Who knows what today holds.....? Most likely we will see more power outages. Certainly there will be tons of people in town, and probably, the Cliff Creek Fire will continue to grow in size. Keep an eye on Inciweb to watch this fire's progression. There are maps, pictures and news on this site.
Stay safe, Captain Trumbower.
Meanwhile, back at home, myself and the other battalion chief were challenged with a three hour power outage in the entire county. We were able to safely and successfully extricate 5 people out of two elevators who became stuck when the power went out! Traffic was insane through out the valley. There were two medical calls and a carbon monoxide call as well. Here is the report for the power outage No Power!
Who knows what today holds.....? Most likely we will see more power outages. Certainly there will be tons of people in town, and probably, the Cliff Creek Fire will continue to grow in size. Keep an eye on Inciweb to watch this fire's progression. There are maps, pictures and news on this site.
Stay safe, Captain Trumbower.
Monday, July 18, 2016
Back Home
Back home from our pack trip. More to come on that later. Yesterday's big event was the start of our wildland fire season. The forest is dry. We are in for a bad wildland fire year. Check it out at this link Cliff Creek Fire
Thursday, July 7, 2016
The Allure of a Pack Trip
It's a ton of work. Planning, buying, packing, remembering things. Forgetting things. Why take a pack trip?
Into the wilderness where the sky is big and open. The air is clean and fresh. There are very few human sounds. An occasional jet overhead.
The horses and mules graze, their bells clinging, breaking the quiet with the reassuring sound that the method of transportation has not run down the trail and headed back to the trail head (a very bad thing).
Camp chairs, cracking fire, food - lots of food - hot coffee, cold beer. Stories and tales and black nights filled with uncountable stars. The dogs sleep, tired from the day of running and river crossing.
There are frightening moments. The walk up the hill across the meadow. Alone, getting exercise, stumbling onto a bear bed. Probably a grizzly bear.
A ride down a skinny trail with a sheer drop off, hundreds of feet to a stream so far down there you can't even hear it.
A string of mules that spook, circling round and round, frightened from the lash rope that has come untied and trails on the ground. There is great potential for injury - mules, riders, dogs.
The pack horse that gets a bee sting and bucks half a meadow's length before getting shut down. Many eggs have broken in the box on his pack which carries this fragile load.
The horse that gets tangled up in a mud hole and rolls over her rider as she rolls down a hill.
The cold front comes through, cracking hundred-year old trees as it funnels down the canyon. Tents are pitched in precarious locations. Temperatures plummet. Snow falls above 8,000 feet. We are camped at 9,000 feet. The trail ahead is cluttered with newly down timber. A hand saw will be used to cut through this mess. This is the wilderness where no motors are allowed.
Following, some of my favorite pictures from past pack trips and a blessing - may we weather the storms, may we find humor in downed trees, may we relish the food we have packed, may we savor our moments together, may we travel down the trails safely and without incident, may we take deep gulps of mountain air, stare at the evening sky with wonder, may we find joy in the challenges and celebration in the things that go well, and may we always remember, WE ARE ON VACATION!!
Into the wilderness where the sky is big and open. The air is clean and fresh. There are very few human sounds. An occasional jet overhead.
The horses and mules graze, their bells clinging, breaking the quiet with the reassuring sound that the method of transportation has not run down the trail and headed back to the trail head (a very bad thing).
Camp chairs, cracking fire, food - lots of food - hot coffee, cold beer. Stories and tales and black nights filled with uncountable stars. The dogs sleep, tired from the day of running and river crossing.
There are frightening moments. The walk up the hill across the meadow. Alone, getting exercise, stumbling onto a bear bed. Probably a grizzly bear.
A ride down a skinny trail with a sheer drop off, hundreds of feet to a stream so far down there you can't even hear it.
A string of mules that spook, circling round and round, frightened from the lash rope that has come untied and trails on the ground. There is great potential for injury - mules, riders, dogs.
The pack horse that gets a bee sting and bucks half a meadow's length before getting shut down. Many eggs have broken in the box on his pack which carries this fragile load.
The horse that gets tangled up in a mud hole and rolls over her rider as she rolls down a hill.
The cold front comes through, cracking hundred-year old trees as it funnels down the canyon. Tents are pitched in precarious locations. Temperatures plummet. Snow falls above 8,000 feet. We are camped at 9,000 feet. The trail ahead is cluttered with newly down timber. A hand saw will be used to cut through this mess. This is the wilderness where no motors are allowed.
Following, some of my favorite pictures from past pack trips and a blessing - may we weather the storms, may we find humor in downed trees, may we relish the food we have packed, may we savor our moments together, may we travel down the trails safely and without incident, may we take deep gulps of mountain air, stare at the evening sky with wonder, may we find joy in the challenges and celebration in the things that go well, and may we always remember, WE ARE ON VACATION!!
New Blood - Welcome Seth & Alden!
Mike and I celebrate 10 years of marriage this trip!
The dogs. We love our dogs! (And spoil them too!)
We miss you Frank & John!
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Oh No!! Not Another Birthday!!
To My Mother On Her Birthday
Although you may not appreciate this picture that much, I post it with love and adoration. This song always makes me think of you -
Jean, Jean. Roses are red
All of the leaves have gone green.
And the clouds are so low, you can touch them and so
Come out to the meadow, Jean.
Jean, Jean you're young and alive
Come out of your half-dreamed dream
And run if you will, to the top of the hill
Open your arms, bonnie Jean.
Till the sheep in the valley come home my way
Till the stars fall around me and find me alone
When the sun comes a-singin', I'll still be waitin'....
For Jean. Jean. Roses are red
All of the leaves have turned green.
When the hills are ablaze with the moon's yellow haze
Come into my arms, bonnie Jean.
You are brave. You are strong. You are hard headed and I am proud, so very proud to call you Mother. Happy Birthday, Mom!
Monday, July 4, 2016
Happy 4th of July!
Enjoying the freedom of this country! Took a nice loop ride with the critters. Tonight, an invitation to the Music Festival. Sorry to miss you all at Red Rock! Have a great day everyone!
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Work
Duty Officer the last two days. Thank you all for giving me time to make these pack trip custom lunch sacks!
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