Smoke Jumper Base, McCall, ID

While visiting with sister Sandra here in McCall, she gave us the grand tour of the area and took us out for a tour of the Smoke Jumper Base located here in McCall.  We found the tour very interesting and informative.  A young rookie from TN was our tour guide.  He was so friendly and well informed.  We watched a movie explaining how the smoke jumpers main responsibility is to try to get to remote forest fire early enough to try to keep fire from spreading ... unfortunately this is not always the case.  These people have to be in excellent shape and it is a long waiting list.   Our guide was a fireman for a number of years before ever being able to be accepted as a smoke jumper.  Only around 200 in the U.S.  They have to keep all their equipment in top shape and be ready to roll on a moments notice.  Of course forest fires are not a year round threat so many of these people have other jobs or schooling or other things they do in the off-season.  All at his base either had a college education or were in process of getting one.  We saw the sewing room where they all take a turn sewing their parachutes and the other rooms where they pack the chutes and pack their gear.  All set up on "teams" checking and double checking everything.  Well worth the visit.

Sandra has been a wonderful hostess and we have all enjoyed our visit immensely! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Taliesin West

Image
We were surprised to have Earl III come down for a very short visit in Aug 2017 and took him up to Sedona and Taliesin West to see Frank Lloyd Wright's art school.  Very interesting tour and unique setting.  Of course homes are crowding in on this area now so not the seclusion that was intended when originally built.  
Read more

Hingham, MA

Image
Before leaving Hingham I finally was able to get a picture of this sign.  Massachusetts has one for each of their towns and it's such a kick to drive from one town to another and see this sign with date of settlement started.  Hard to get pictures because you don't know where the town line begins and there is no place to pull over for a quick stop and picture.  It's a bummer. On this one I was lucky enough after a month to be driving towards sign and 1st at stoplight with camera next to me. ha!  All these towns are so historic and have some wonderful history.  Too bad so many have been neglected.  Roads are terrible in most places and some are really run down while others thrive.. just like anywhere.  Just interesting observations. I was taken so much with Hingham because we lived there for 5 weeks and it was so CLEAN!  Loved the manicured yards and over 1800 historic homes and some still in residence of 13 generations!  That is something in this young country with so littl
Read more

Mr Hawk

Image
It was a bit of a surprise to see this guy swoop down on this dove at our "quail block" the other day.  He sat there looking around long enough for us to get a few pictures then flew off to eat in private.  Thank goodness he took the dove with him instead of feasting right there.  They have to eat too; and all that but it is disturbing to come out and see a pile of feathers.  I can speak from past experience they do not leave anything behind besides feathers.. no skin or bones or waste...  Pretty isn't it...
Read more