The Good 'OL Days: Mendocino Hotshots 1978 - 1984

Well, I will start way back...no, make that WAY WAY back...during my hotshot days on the Mendocino National Forest. These came out surprisingly good even if I did scan them on a kodak pic master machine at Wall Mart.

For the most part, this was Home sweet home for the duration.  Alder Springs. It looks alot different now as the state took it over for a con camp. From the roof you could see 4-5 different firwork shows on 4th of July out in the central valley.

Left: Our fearless leader struttin his stuff.  A great candid shot from the Cap fire Tahoe NF, 1978.  Below: A great crew pic from the same fire. I am standing 2nd from right

One of my favorite shots. One of our sawyer teams showing fatigue after a grueling shift of cutting line. I beleive it was on the Grider Fire, Klamath NF 1981

Boys will be Boys. A dunking in the fold-a-tank could be a sign of acceptance by the crew or a sign that you need to start pulling your own weight. Those that got dunked just hoped it was early in the season and not late in the season after that water had been sitting stagnant out in hot sun for several months.

Another shot from the Grider fire. Luckily for us, our assignment was along the the pacific crest trail. The other poor saps had to work the slopes.

The Klamath River (I think) runs red with retardant during the Five fire Klamath NF, 1982.  Thousands of steelhead were killed...we ate good that nite. Saw the EP folks walking in the following day. Never heard if there were any repercussions.

Sucking smoke on the Wright fire, Eldorado NF 1981

A great sillouette from the Silverado fire in CDF R-1, 1982.

I cant take credit for this photo. It was taken by one of the rotor heads while on a fire just outside the forest boundary. Great shot though.

Enjoying the traditional first fire of the year stogie on the Matilija fire, Los Padres NF 1983.  Thats yours truly on the far left. ...and NO! not the guy in the convict suit!

Of course it was not all smoke and flame. This picture is from some site prep project where we were preparing a block of harvested land for controlled burning prior to being re-planted

One of my favorites. While cutting hot line on the Hammerhorn fire on the nearly asbestos Mendocino NF 1983

Another great sillouette. This one from the Lowrey fire on CDF R-II in 1984

And of course more often than not quittin time mens it was miller time (or michelob or coors or budweiser or whatever) out at the 'ol fire pit

I bleieve this was during my last season on the hotshots, 1984. I am on the far right.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.......those were the days!

Fast forward 20something  years In June of 2002 a bunch of us got together for a mini-reunion. Never ceases to amaze me the camraderie still felt even afer not seeing people for that long.

The grub was as good as ever

Swappin' old war stories. Its funny how folks were telling the same story but their own twisted version that had evolved over the years.

The proof was in the pictures. A few photo albums brought along brought back more sweet memories...or proved the truth from somebodies old war story.

All in all it was a grand time ejoyed by all who were there. Well, I guess thats about it..hope ya enjoyed it!