we started the day with intentions to go to the Farmers Market, no real needs, just pick up a few things that may be of interest. As we got closer to town we started seeing crowding in the streets. When we started to turn into the McCall Hotel parking area, we had to stop for bicycles coming across the road toward the lake. We made the turn into the parking area and there were tents set up in the court yard, Arts and Crapt fair of some sort. Needless to say, all the parking spaces, which there are usually some, were all taken. So, we turned around and headed back to home base, to wait for a better time. Seem that in addition to the Arts and Crapt show there was a small triathlon, biking, swimming and running being held this weekend.
Around 11:30 we headed to the Smoke Jumper Base which is right on the airport up the hill from the RV park, they have guided tours most every day at 11:30. Our tour guide was Toby, in his rookie season. Hardly a rookie to fire fighting, with 5 years experience and schooling in Missoula fire school. There is a six weeks intensive training school at the base where they weed out those that can't make the grade. The lobby area contains lots of pictures of the day to day activity as well as mock-ups of the gear they wear to the fire, the suit and associated equipment that each Jumper wares weighs in excess of 90 pounds, including the main Chute and the reserve chute. We saw a short video of the smoke jumping activities including video of actual jumps. These people are like first responders that hopefully get to a fire as soon as it starts. Often they are called to a fire that consists of a single tree in hopes that they can prevent it from spreading into something bigger. The buildings in the base contain everything needed to support a 70 person team, which is a full compliment during the fire season. Most of the personnel there are on a temporary basis with a crew of about 10 being permanent and staying around year round. There is a chute packing room where the chute is laid out the length of the table and is meticulously gone over and packed with extreme care. Failures of chutes opening are almost non-existent. On the walls of the packing room are trophy heads that the people have taken during their time off from Jumping. There is a sewing room where most of the suits and clothing is sewn, along with repairs to chutes, harnesses and other wearable gear, is performed. There is a very tall, tower room, where all the chutes, after they are returned from the jump, are taken to be hung up and inspected for any necessary repairs or replacement. Chutes are retired after a certain number of years and jumps. We then went outside to the jump air plane, an Ottor, especially good for short landings and take offs, from forest type landing strips, and reliable. The plane seats 8 jumpers, two spotters and a pilot along with the cargo that is dropped at the time of the jump which consists of food, water, sleeping bags and other fire fighting gear. Everything that is taken into a fire, with exception to the packaging, which they usually burn in the fire, is packed out and is quite heavy. Also on the grounds are various towers where the Jumpers practice their skills of jumping from the plane and in the off chance they get stuck in a tree, practicing their skills of letting themselves down from the tree. There were some bronze mementos at the back of the building that were made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Smoke Jumpers.
In the evening Sharon and I enjoyed 9 holes of cheap, $10, golf at the McCall muni in perfect weather. My golf was a little better as I pared the last three holes.
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