ALASKA SMOKEJUMPER 2006 SEASON REPORT

By Rob Allen

Action Summary: The 2006 Alaska fire season was not as active as the previous two years but was still a rewarding season for the Alaska Smokejumpers. Spring training began early this year kicking-off in March with the bi-annual EMT course. This was followed in April by four weeks of refresher courses and six Alaskan’s heading to Montana for prescribed fire. May produced the first fire call of the year on the 22nd day as well as the addition of five rookies to the list. Activity in Southern part of the state; Kenai and Matanuska Valley, kept the jumpers busy for a good portion of May.

In June we received 16 jumpers as a booster from the Boise BLM Smokejumpers. The fire activity was slow but the crew kept busy with loft projects, work projects throughout the state, and several projects here at the base. Paracargo kept busy with several kicks to the North Slope. The town of Nenana was close to being consumed in flames but the threat was thwarted by the efforts of the jumpers, locals and resources from the State. The later half of June and into July produced record amounts of rain throughout the entire State. July also brought about the drain of jumpers into the Great Basin vortex. This was soon followed by the call for Alaskans’ down to Region 1 (Missoula) and Region 5 (Redding). Fire activity did not quit completely up North, a bust of sorts broke-out in the McGrath Zone and in the Southwest area, producing several 2-4 manner “jumper” fires.

The Alaska Type 1 Team mobilized down south in late July taking a few jumpers with them as Operations, Division Supervisors, and Air Attack. By August about 80% of the Alaska Smokejumpers were on assignment in the Lower 48 leaving a single “hostage load” left in Alaska. Most of the Alaska crew stayed busy in the lower 48 thru the month of September with the last jumpers returning from Redding in the middle of October.

Overhead Assignments/Details: Over the last year the Alaska Smokejumpers filled the following overhead Assignments directly from our jumplist. In addition to these assignments Alaska Smokejumpers filled numerous positions As ICT3s, Div Sups, Safety Officers, STLs and other overhead after being dispatched as Jumpers. 52 Alaskans’ went to the Lower 48 this year as Jumpers, beginning in July and into October. Several Alaskans went down for different tours with the BLM and US Forest Service. We were able to provide Region 1 (Missoula, MT) and Region 5 (Redding, CA) with ten jumpers per base for an extended part of the summer.

Paracargo: The 2006 Para-cargo season turned out to be pretty slow compared to the record season we had last year. It fell right in line with the slow fire season we had here in Alaska. Looking at the bright side, we were very successful in our duties and our safety record remains strong. Our total para-cargo dropped this year was 118,099 lbs. A far cry from last years 364,676 lbs. We did not drop one pound to the State of Alaska. We started our season in the spring with five new PC Rookies, Greg Conaway, Ben Dobrovolny, TJ Gholoson, Chris Swisher and Jeff Cramer. It was good to have new blood in our organization. Although the season was slow they did a fine job. Para-cargo once again had to step up to the challenge of the changing times. Ninety percent of the rookie trainers are in the para-cargo section which made for some interesting and remarkable training schedules. The Para-cargo section heads and with the cooperation of the crew enabled us to pull off our training without a hitch. I would have to say that it was the best organized effort that I’ve seen. I had hoped that the season would have been busier so we could have tested out the program that was started last year using the past PC guys to fill in at times when the fire season dictated. I’m sure the opportunity will arise again in the future. We had the opportunity to train three personnel from the Forest Service this year. All of them came out of Region 1, Two from West Yellowstone and one from Missoula. I hope this interagency training continues in the future and also it would be nice to see BLM Jumpers from Boise get involved. This Para-cargo job that we do is probably the most dangerous part of our smokejumping mission. We were able to fully support The Northern Field Office this year due to the lack of fire activity. We made six trips to the North Slope delivering much needed fuel for the Archeologist. I commend the pilots of Big Horn and the PC crew for their professionalism and attention to detail. Having three Casa 212’s this year made our job and I’m sure operations job a lot easier.

RED EAGLE FIRE 2006: This incredible photo taken by Chris Silks near St, Mary, Montana.

end of 2006 Season Summary...

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Pre-Season 2006 Base Report

By Mike McMillan

Spring is slow to arrive with a foot of snow still covering the shack in mid-April. Alaska’s winter snowpack was moderate at best.
Our pre-rookie head count is 60, but nobody will go on record to predict another wild fire season. More than 11 million acres burned in Alaska from 2004-2005.

Spirits are high and our second refresher training is almost complete. The fastest PT run recorded this year (held in 10 degrees) belonged to Ben Dobrovolny (FBK 04) at 1.5 miles in 7:44. One explanation - Chris Swisher (FBK 03) was two seconds behind him.

Transferring to our roster in 2006 is Dawson Kelsey (RDD 95) from Boise. Dawson finally made good on his threat to join our ranks, and we’re better for it.

Alaska’s rookie trainers greet eight rookie candidates in May. In his first year as lead rookie trainer, Derek Patton (RAC 00) is joined by Mateo Corley (FBK 97), Jim Dibert (FBK 99), Randy Foland (FBK 01), and Chris Swisher. David Bloemker (FBK 97) will cameo as lead parachute instructor.

We have a number of position changes to report. Rob Allen (FBK 93) is now our operations section supervisor. Tom Kubichek (FBK 90) is our new lead spotter. Matt Allen (FBK 95) and Robert Yeager (RDD 92) are training this year as new spotters. Doug Mackey (FBK 99) is now a loft specialist.
Chris Silks (FBK 91) is currently our acting crew supervisor. Though his acting receives rave reviews, Silks says he isn’t pursuing the full-time position. “Basically it’s sitting in a fart-room behind a computer screen, getting grief,” he confessed. Nobody does it better, Chris.

Our paracargo section plans to forge five new recruits in the PC mold. Our 2006 PC rookies are Greg Conaway (FBK 04), Jeff Cramer (FBK 02), Ben Dobrovolny, T.J. Gholson (FBK 04) and Chris Swisher. Gabe Lydic (FBK 99) and Jim Dibert will spend 90 days each as lead paracargo specialist.

Our recent organizational shifts follow the departure of several jumpers. Chip Houde (FBK 88) accepted the BLM fixed wing specialist position for the state of Alaska. We still see Chip regularly and work with him closely. But his leadership and steadying presence within the crew will certainly be missed. Chip has the knack of mitigating crew wants and rants while articulating the needs of management – an elusive balance that Chip always struck with enthusiasm and respect. He lent his voice in trying times, and in countless impassioned, entertaining efforts as emcee at crew events. Off the jump list but still a strong runner, Chip again undertook his annual mission of helping returning jumpers pass their PT test, rain or shine. It’s a safe bet that Chip’s surf retreat in Mexico will remain a popular smokejumper winter destination.

Jon Kawczynski-Frisch (FBK 96) is thriving in his new position at Paraflite Industries in New Jersey. Sounds like Jon and wife Kirsten are making the best of east coast life. We couldn’t be happier for you, RB. There’s only one K-Ski and you are already missed in AK.

Mike Lambright (FBK 99) accepted the assistant fire management officer detail in BLM Alaska’s Southern Zone. Mike’s paracargo expertise and sense of humor has immortalized him in the PC ranks. His ‘Joe Lunchbox’ approach to problems helped keep PC operations running smoothly. Mike and wife Amy were married last fall in an outdoor wedding, blessed by many friends and glorious weather.

John Lyons (FBK 90) accepted a fire operations specialist position on the BLM Shoshone District in his home state of Idaho. John served as Alaska’s crew supervisor since 2004 – a position he was ideally suited for. Tough as a box of rocks but considerably smarter, John defined leadership by example while he was an Alaska Smokejumper. He also bridged the divide between crew and overhead with tact and camaraderie. John was an old school hot shot and smokejumper, but he embraced the challenges of a changing jump world. He set a standard that will be difficult to match. John and wife Ellen were recently married, and we wish them all the best.
Former Alaska Jumper Craig Irvine (RDD 75) accepted a position as a pilot at AFS. It’s good to have Craig back in the regular ranks here in Alaska.

In the loft, Gary Baumgartner (FBK 88) reports encouraging results from field tests of Millenia fabric. Jumpsuits made of Millenia are 30% more puncture resistant and twice as abrasion resistant than jumpsuits made of Kevlar, which is also more susceptible to UV damage.
Field-training continues with the Cypress Automatic Deployment Device, (A.D.D.) now incorporated into our reserve parachute system though not yet activated.

In Interagency Smokejumper Delivery System (ISDS) news, a group of seven BLM and seven USFS jumpers met in Yuma, Arizona last March to evaluate the DC-7, Eiff and Attair main parachutes, including several new models.
Our ramp will again feature three Casas and one Dornier Jumpship.
Project work last winter included burn plan writing and prescribed fire assignments in the AFS military zone. In April, eight jumpers traveled to Dillon, Montana, to help former jumper Paul Lenmark (FBK 96) implement his annual burn prescriptions. Rain hindered ignition efforts this year, but not for lack of trying. We’ll try next spring if Paul will have us.

In the realm of self-imposed adventure, starting with last winter: Greg Conaway, John Fremont (FBK 05), and Kip Sheilds (FBK 04) took an easy ride through South America on motorcycles, complete with surfboards mounted on side-racks. Conaway relayed a short laundry list of his surprise encounters with foreign drivers. “I got T-boned by a van in Venezuela, ended up on the hood of a car in Costa Rica, and had too many muddy wipeouts to mention,” reported Greg, who managed to keep his hospital stays brief. “Yeah, and we could have saved eighty bucks by bribing the Nicaraguan customs agents outright. Instead we waited two days for a court date with a corrupt judge,” added Kip, lamenting the folly of his youth.

Marty Meierotto (FBK 94) reports last winter as his best trapping season ever, nabbing more than 300 marten pelts. That’s quite a haul, one that brought Marty precariously close to breaking even on the venture. He’ll be back in the red shortly, as Marty and wife Dominique are expecting their first child in late summer.
Ben Dobrovolny spent close to three long months at a research facility in Antarctica last winter. He claims to have been doing “construction”, but insiders say scientists were studying Ben to discover how he runs so fast in sub-freezing temperatures. After he finally escaped, Ben mysteriously showed up at the shack days later - hungry, slightly confused, but happy to be home again.

Tom St. Clair (FBK 01) will lead a party of 5 non-smokejumpers to Denali’s summit in May. Their ascent up the formidable Western Rib Route will take three weeks followed by a two-day descent. Tom claims there could be cell phone coverage near the 20,320 foot peak. We hope he spares his minutes and calls upon his safe return. Two weeks before his quest, Tom declared “I’ve climbed higher and I’ve climbed colder. But it’s just like fire - it’s all about the weather. Hey, I still need to go to the store,” concluded Tom.

In wedding and baby news, Ivan Smith (MSO 95) and Stefanie plan to marry in September.
Brandon Petersen (FBK 01) and wife Lynn had their second child, son Sawyer Joseph in March.
Jared Weber (FBK 01) and wife Heather recently welcomed their third child, son Gavin.

Doug Carroll (FBK 94) and fiancé Hillary are the proud new owners of the rustic Golden Eagle Saloon, located outside Fairbanks in the gold mining town of Ester. Crew attempts to rename the historic establishment have stalled. “Homewreckers” and “Broback Bar” were the most popular entries. Fortunately, Doug’s reverence for tradition is holding fast, and the Golden Eagle still soars proudly over the new crew hot spot. “Home of the dollar beer, baby!” pitched Doug.

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2005 Season Summary

Mike McMillan (FBK-96)

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The Alaska Smokejumpers were blessed with another remarkable fire season. After the onslaught of 2004, few expected a near repeat in 2005. But Alaska’s jumplist again rolled from June through August, and we shared the bounty with scores of boosters.

We put 684 jumpers out the door on fire missions, 676 on practice jumps. Of 139 fire missions, 15 were ‘pounders’. Ninety-nine were initial attack – the remaining 25 were structure-protection assignments.

Alaska’s Paracargo Operation had its most productive year since 1988 – when larger airplanes led the fleet.

In 2005, three Casas and one Dornier – all guided by exceptional pilots and staffed by the best paracargo monkeys in the business - were responsible for kicking 365,131 pounds of cargo on fire missions, re-supply, practice and projects across the state. “And that weight doesn’t include parachutes either,” reported Mitch Decoteau (GAC -78), our newly named paracargo supervisor.

“Incredible” is how Mitch describes the performance of his paracargo crew. Mitch is recovering well after a painful tib-fib break during a fire jump in the spruce.

PC welcomed four USFS jumpers for a month, training them in the ways of Alaska paracargo - just in time to fly them into the thick of a relentless fire season.

Operationally it was mostly smooth sailing for jumpers in Alaska in 2005. Widespread smoke posed fewer problems for air travel than in 2004, but jumpers still found themselves in extended demobe situations, for better or not.

A steady stream of boosters - escaping fickle fire seasons down south - happily joined in the action. Alaska’s ready–room, loft, paracargo bay, garden, and lounge were mobbed when fire activity occasionally ebbed.

Alaska sent it's first load south to Homer on April 29 to spend a week battling the season’s first fire - a bug-killed spruce blaze snaking through meadows and melting ice bogs. Fire behavior was impressive, spawning well developed smoke columns while sparing area homeowners. Midway through the week, the eight jumpers bought matching Xtra-Tuff rubber boots to face the spring thaw. They followed the fire’s perimeter for miles, sloshing through knee-high trenches carved by a local cast of bulldozers.

From there, fire season produced many travels to memorable places. Smokejumpers protected premier hunting and fishing lodges at Selby Lake and on the Anvik River, chased several fires through the canyons and open ridge tops of the Brooks Range, jumped a fire north of Arctic Village and another on the Porcupine River. Dozens of jumpers spent weeks battling two large fires near Eagle and the Boundary Area into Canada.

Some assignments were more notable for seven-pound trout, fat King and Silver Salmon, Pike and Sheefish - all found their way to dinner in 2005.

A muskrat nearly made the menu when eight jumpers - protecting a remote trapping cabin deep in the Galena Zone - ran low on food. With half a day’s MREs left, no fish in the lake, and zero visibility for aerial re-supply, the crafty crew caught a large aquatic rodent with a snare found at the cabin. Upon close inspection, a large boil was discovered above the creature’s long fleshy tail. But the boys were hungry. “It’s not a tumor!” announced one jumper. “Maybe it’s just from a fight,” offered another. Any debate over edibility ended as soon as the abscess in question was lanced during pelt removal, releasing an odor that would have made the devil proud. No muskrat love was shown, and the carcass was less than ceremonially removed from camp.

In July, worried residents watched as flames threatened their summer homes along picturesque Wild Lake, located north of Bettles and accessible only by floatplane (or jumpship) in the summer, dog team or snowmachine in the winter. The residents were initially provided one load of smokejumpers with no additional air support. Cabin owner and long-time Alaskan Richard Wien - describing Governor Frank Murkowski as a “personal friend” – employed his satellite phone to enlist his friend’s aid in interpreting state and federal firefighting priorities affecting the remote retreat. When the smoke cleared, smokejumpers acquired two Canadair CL-215 air tankers sitting in Bettles. The mighty “Ducks” drenched several cabins with 1000 gallons per trip from the lake, making tandem two-minute turnarounds. Paracargo also saved the day by dropping direly needed pumps and hose. By day three, the jumpers had successfully defended all cabins and were rewarded with a lakeside BBQ, complete with refreshing sodas.

Officially retiring in 2005 were Bruce Ford (MSO-75) Jon Larson (FBK-89) and Bruce Nelson (FBK-81). Their dedication to the Alaska crew over the decades is inspiring. Each has made unique contributions, and their talents and personalities will be sorely missed. The Alaska crew is richer for having these great smokejumpers grace our list for so long, and we hope their exits from jumping are rewarding and fulfilling.

Eight of 11 rookie candidates joined the Alaska ranks in 2005. They are John Fremont (Midnight Sun Hotshots), Evan Karp (Arrowhead Hotshots), Dan Klatt (San Juan and ZigZag Hotshots), Brandon Kobayashi (Chena Hotshots), Rob Miller (Midnight Sun Hotshots), Matt Oakleaf (Midnight Sun Hotshots), Tyler R. Smith (Los Padres Hotshots), and Gerry Suomalainen (Flathead Hotshots).

Alaskan Ty Humphrey (FBK-97), in his last season as lead rookie trainer, described the class as “strong and impressive”. Once he loosened up, I asked Ty to describe each rookie with one-word associations. Ty chose to use two words. In the above order of rookies, they are as follows: “Pretty Speedy, Pretty Stinky, Pretty Solid, Pretty Pretty, Pretty Grumpy, Pretty Messy, Pretty GQ, and Pretty Gnarly.”

Suomalainen is Alaska’s oldest rookie ever at age 47, working 14 seasons as a hotshot. “He was gnarly in Region 1, he’s famous down there.. He cracked a rib during the final units test, but there was no stopping Uncle Rook,” added Ty.

Derek Patton (RAC-00) replaces Ty as Alaska’s lead rookie trainer. “Ty did an excellent job. I’ve got big shoes to fill,” admitted Patton.

The Alaska trainers plan 6-12 rookie candidate selections in February. This is the part of the job Ty says he won’t miss. “We’ve got paperwork for everything. You can’t take a crap after February 1st without filling out a form..”

Rookie Tyler Smith won the Big Flip, donating substantial amounts to both the welfare fund and the David Liston (FBK-98) Memorial Fund. Thanks Tyler.

2005 Jump King Pete Hearn (FBK-02) recorded 15 fire jumps in Alaska to tie the crew record. Pete then called it a fire season, cashed in his comp time and whistled his way home to Boise, just before a lingering hold was placed on all terminations. I like your style, Pete.

Requests to respond to Hurricane Katrina sent three Alaska jumpers south. Alaska's Rob Allen (FBK-93), Mike Bradley (FBK-95) and Dave Hade (MYC-77) proudly served the relief effort in management capacities.

Several Alaskans recently tied the knot, or are making plans to do so. Newly hitched - as of this writing in October - are David Bloemker (FBK-97) and Lisa, Matt Corley (FBK-97) and Lyndsey Rose, Jon Kawczynski-Frisch (FBK-96) and Kirsten, and Jeff McPhetridge (MYC-93) and Mia. Announcements are in order for Charlie Brown (FBK-88) and Laura, Doug Carroll (FBK-94) and Hillary, Mike Lambright (FBK-99) and Amy, John Lyons (FBK-90) and Ellen, Tom St. Clair (FBK-01) and Lisa Allen (NIFC-03), Jeff Stark (FBK-03) and Laura, and Robert Yeager (RDD-92) and Deborah.

I will marry my sweetheart Molly in Alaska in June, and for that I’m a lucky man.

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2004 Post-Season Alaska Base Report by Mike McMillan (FBK-96)

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Alaska was dealt its biggest fire season on record in 2004.

No corner of the state was spared from thick, choking smoke - paralyzing airports, highways and tourism, drifting south to the Lower 48 and far north into Russia. About six-and-a-half million acres burned. Despite a normal winter, drought conditions plagued Alaska, fueling huge fires and denying the efforts of firefighters everywhere.

The first fire jumped was on May 20 – the beginning of a rash of lightning-strike fires burning out west. In June, Jim Dibert (FBK-99) led a planeload to 300 yards of driftwood burning on a beach in the Bering Sea. Former Alaskan Jim Raudenbush (FBK-82) called swiftly to correct claims of ‘first jump on Stewart Island’. Apparently it was the second. Thanks, Jim.

The interior was swept with dry lightning and the brunt of fire action soon focused on the Yukon Zone, where firefighters defended the oil pipeline, native villages, allotments, towns and wilderness. Three million acres burned in the Upper Yukon Territory alone. Several fires were jumped in ANWR, two of them near Arctic Village.

Finding water sources, even map-reading presented challenges. Lakebeds dried to clearings, swamps and streams had disappeared. Black spruce forests, trees rusty and drought-stressed, dominated the fuels burned - and the tundra was dry as toast. As of October 1, sixty fires still burned in Alaska, despite freezing temperatures and snowfall.

Air Operations were shut down in Fairbanks repeatedly in 2004, forcing resources into outstations and stranding firefighters on large, unstoppable wildfires with no air support.

State and Federal Fire Managers will likely review initial attack priorities within Alaska’s Fire Management Plan. Several fires last year were plotted in monitor-only status, only to demand full attention later. Smokejumpers remain more dependable than weather forecasts.

The Alaska Smokejumpers, accustomed to stopping most fires during initial attack, faced relentless challenges in the urban interface and beyond. About one hundred boosters from the BLM and USFS joined our jump-list in 2004, the last boost arriving from Boise on August 28. More than 800 jumpers were dropped on initial attack incidents in 2004, with nearly the same number of training jumps being made. Jump kings with 13 were Bruce Nelson (FBK-81) and Ryan Ringe (FBK-01).

During the past two fire seasons, the only jump injuries to Alaska smokejumpers were a broken pinky, a strained neck, and strained shoulder.

In July, a fire threatening the tourist-town of Bettles was at one point distinguished as the nation’s top wildfire priority.

Alaska jumper Mike Lambright (FBK-99) was the incident commander - forming a Type-3 team entirely of AK jumpers and operating essentially as a Type-2 team with little support. Thanks to a misrouted box of “Tim McGraw Concert 2004” t-shirts sent to Bettles, the team was fitted with proper uniforms, complete with position titles scrawled boldly on their backs in black marker. We figure McGraw would be right proud he joined our war on wildfire. Flames gobbled 130,000 acres as crews protected structures, including the ghost town of Old Bettles.

Five Canadian Water Scooping CL-215’s and CL-415’s made a big splash in Alaska in 2004. Minimal turnaround times, tandem drops of 800-1450 gallons per load, and fire-savvy pilots made the ‘Ducks’ an invaluable addition to Alaska’s minimal air tanker fleet.

An exchange with Canada’s Search and Rescue Unit was also beneficial last year. “Mission-wise and organizationally, their program and ours have strong parallels,” said Bill Cramer (NIFC-90). Cramer credits the success of Alaska jumpers during difficult situations to the crew’s experience level. Half of our 66 jumpers are Division Boss qualified, and more than one-third are IC-3 qualified.

The town of Central was again a hotspot. Several management teams came and went as flames threatened homes and the hot springs in Circle. Noted for exceptional leadership efforts are smokejumpers Mike O’Brien (FBK-98) and Chris Silks (FBK-91), both serving as division bosses on the incident. Residents vented frustration about the number of overhead teams rotating on the fire, each using varying tactics. More than one gun-toting local leveled threats at firefighters seeking access to the fire’s path. Fortunately, folksy proclamations such as “I’m gonna’ shoot that bastard in the belly,” did not materialize. Other residents offered gratitude with food, drink, and assistance. Stress levels remained high as jumpers and crews worked tirelessly, saving all but one outbuilding.

Alaska's oil pipeline was spared despite being engulfed in flames. (See www.spotfireimages.com for photos.) Wildfires at the Yukon Crossing sent crews scrambling to save houses, villages, fish camps and the Hot Spot Cafe, a popular truck stop on the Elliot Highway.

Most jumpers in Alaska worked sixty days in the field. In August, two loads remained to catch spotfires on the Pingo Fire near Veneite. For weeks the crew was battered by cold northerly winds, whipping the camp cargo-canopy loudly overhead. Late one evening - with chill and delirium setting in, the conversation briefly turned to the subject of animal intelligence – then changed again. Minutes passed and the group fell silent. Several jumpers walked into the dark toward their tents. Boise jumper Scott Morrow (RDD-98) sat and stared blankly at the smoldering campfire, then quietly spoke. “KoKo can talk.” Nobody replied.

The jump base became memory lane last summer for a handful of former AK jumpers scabbing assignments in God’s country. Spotted in the garden shaking his head was Rod Dow (MYC-68), John Gould (FBK-81), Steve Nemore (RAC-69), Al Biller(FBK-82), Craig Irvine(RDD-75) Mike Clarkson (RAC-65), Jeff Bass (MYC-77), Tom Boatner (FBK-80), and Tom Romanello (FBK-88) were also on scene. John Dube (RAC-70) continued his archeological digs on the North Slope.

In August, booster Chris Young (GAC-92) discovered and unearthed a mammoth tusk near the Yukon River. Intact at six feet long, 150 lbs., and perhaps 10,000 years old, the tusk immediately became an object of controversy. A lively game of “Science Fair meets Keystone Cops” ensued, as various agency officials jockeyed to stake their claim. In the end, the Alaska Smokejumpers were awarded custody of the relic, on the condition it is preserved and publicly displayed within a year. Let it be done. Good eye, Chris.

EMT Supervisor Paul Lenmark (FBK-96) accepted the fire program manager position in Dillon, MT. Good luck, rookie bro!

Steve Theisen (FBK-86) accepted the FMO position on the Buffalo N.F. in Arkansas. Steve will wear the Park Service colors well, and will be missed.

The return of Buck Nelson, Jon Larson (FBK-89), Bruce Ford (MSO-75), and Mitch Decoteau (GAC-78), is questionable for 2005. Their contribution and dedication to the Alaska Smokejumpers through the decades is immeasurable.

Nelson plans to produce more of his popular hunting-adventure videos, found at www.bucktrack.com. Larson will return in the spring to retire. Ford will likely revisit the Russian smokejumpers and continue painting.

We have high hopes that Decoteau will return in 2005, simply to redeem his last paracargo mission on September 17. After spotting eight jumpers on the Pingo Fire near Venetie, the heaviest supplies were targeted for the creek bank. A box containing ten gallons of gasoline landed in hot ashes, and was quickly aflame, hissing at approaching jumpers. "KaBOOM!" is how Chris Silks described what happened next. Another explosion immediately followed, sending black smoke and rolling flames mushrooming skyward.

On the same fire, two creative quarter ‘flips’ designated Mike Lambright as the jumper who had to speak like a pirate the entire day. Mike O’Brien won the opportunity to haul all fireline paracargo to the helispot on his own. Both jumpers did their duty with dignity, mate.

Overall, the paracargo shop had a stellar year, delivering 298,000 pounds on fires, training and project missions. When reached for comment, the consensus of the cargo crew was simply, "PC rocks, dude." New on the PC roster this year are Jon Kawczynski (FBK-96) and Jeff Stark (FBK-03), both doing a great job.

Charlie Brown (FBK-88) and Steve Theisen completed their Air Tactical Group Supervisor training, and Chris Silks and Doug Carroll (FBK-94) both shined as first-year spotters.

Planning marriages are Robert Yeager (RDD-92) and Deborah, Jason Jordet (NCSB-00) and Irene, Jeff McPetridge (MYC-93) and Mia, Jeff Stark and Laura, Paul Lenmark and Trina, and Doug Carroll and Hillary. Branden Petersen (FBK-01) and wife Lynn had son Caleb. Frank Goodson (RDD-95) and wife Rebecca had daughter Madilyn Skye.

Ex-jumper La-Ona DeWilde (FBK-99) earned her Master’s degree in Biology from UAF with honors last spring.

Mike Silva (RDD-72) retired as FMO of the Yukon Zone. Heavy use of smokejumpers in recent years has immortalized the territory in our minds as “The Silva Zone.” Good luck, Mike.

Late in the summer, Dow, the godfather of ‘The Big Flip’, emerged from a pickup truck to a rowdy ovation before taking his turn at the table, and the official silver quarter. The Big Flip was ultimately won by rookie Jason Gibb (GAC-04), who had yet jumped a fire. In light of Gibb’s generosity, his jumpless status was easily forgiven. Jason donated nearly his entire winnings to several smokejumper welfare funds, including the David Liston (FBK-98) Memorial Fund, which actively seeks contributions. Thanks, Jason. Please click here for more info on the David Liston Memorial Fund.

In late August, it rained long enough for management teams to pull the plug, completely demobilizing large incidents just before fire season kicked back into gear. In turn, the jump base was again empty long enough for more boosters to arrive. This earned many AK bros long-awaited reprieves in the form of hunts and fishing trips. Moose, caribou, sheep and salmon were slaughtered as a result.
In September, Rob Allen (FBK-93) and Chip Houde (FBK-88) served as liaisons to FEMA, traveling to Alabama to meet Hurricanes Frances and Ivan.

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Pre-Season 2004 CREW LETTER (mailed 1/20/04 by Dalan Romero)

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Good Day to All,

I hope everyone has good memories of the past holiday season and the rumblings of the jump shack did not dampen any holiday spirits. That said, it may be time to listen to the rumblings of the jump shack. It will have an impact on you this season.

Let us start off with our budget. In the last crew letter, Bert gave a brief rundown on how we (AFS) got into our current situation. How that affects us is that we will have less money in our operating budget for buying loft materials, training stuff, practice jumps, 4-wheeler/van/truck repair or replacement, lawn/garden stuff, etc.

With the budget shortfall, our work months have also taken a hit. Most career seasonal employees have been given 5.5 work months (actually 6 mo. in anticipation of leave, holidays, etc.), temporary employees have 3 work months and we don’t have work months to hire rooks. An example of how this will affect a career seasonal is if their start date is March 1, their termination date would be Aug. 31. Temps starting on April 2 would be terminated on July 2. In either case, severity funding would extend the employees season. I expect severity from somewhere to kick in but everyone needs to realize that in the absolute worse case scenario (i.e. wet and rainy in AK and the lower 48), they could be laid off in the middle of the fire season due to lack of funds. An interest sheet with your current start date is included with this mailing. If you have questions or concerns about that date, give us a call.

There’s an option that may be available to us to extend the time we can work employees. Charging base 8’s to prescribed fire does not count towards our 2810 work month budget. An offer was made at the BLM Smokejumper meeting to have money set aside to cover RX costs for Alaska jumpers. I don’t know if that offer is still on the table, after the recent budget cuts, but I will find out. In the mean time, I need to find out how AK jumpers are interested and available for RX projects. Leaving it blank on the interest sheet will be interpreted as “not interested.” One possible project could start as early as February so let us know what you are thinking.

If any temp still wants to work with the Alaska Smokejumpers, the GS-06 Temp announcement is out on the street. It will be open until Jan. 26, 2004. The announcement number is BLM-FIRE-2004-010. The job title is Forestry Tech (Smokejumper).The announcement can be found at the FIREjobs website at www.firejobs.doi.gov. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

Steve Theisen is coordinating efforts with a company called Comprehensive Health Services (CHS) and the Alaska Smokejumpers, to get a physical exams schedule for all the career seasonal employees. If you are a temporary employee, the personnel office is tasked with scheduling an exam. All Department of Interior firefighters with an arduous rating on their red card will need to have a physical before they take the work capacity test, (i.e. before going on a fire assignment). There will be some lag time between the doctor’s/clinic’s submission of the paperwork and clearance to take the work capacity test. Therefore, we are strongly encouraging Smokejumpers to get the physicals done before coming back to AK or before you are schedule to start work. Given our busy training schedule/period, it is guaranteed that any delay waiting for clearance will affect unit training, PT tests, etc. You will be able to take a physical at thousands of places in the US. No accommodations have been made for getting a physical exam outside of the US, sorry JV. We will not be able to pay you for the time spent getting your physical, sorry to all.

The first physical exam in this multi-year process is called a “Base-line” physical exam. It will be a fairly thorough exam which will include an EKG, for those over 40 years of age, and a blood work up. A “Periodic” physical exam is given every 5 years if you are under 45 years old and every 3 years if over 45 years old. An “Annual” physical exam is give on years when no base-line or periodic exams are scheduled. Temps will only be given the annual physical and as the name implies, it will be necessary every year.

For base-line physicals, there is a 13 page medical history, examination and clearance form. We are sending these forms to everyone, except temps. (Forms are available on the internet at http://medical.smis.doi.gov/NIFCMedicalstds.htm. If anyone is interested in finding out more on these medical standards, this site has more information.) Follow these directions:

1. Complete all the shaded portions before you go to the appointment.
2. Take the entire packet to the physician/clinic.
3. All “yes” answers in medical history sections must be explained and may require additional information.
4. Fast. Prescribed medications only during the 12 hours prior to your blood being drawn.

If you have specific questions on the physical exam process, give Theisen, Lyons or Romero a call.

On the lighter side, guys are still having fun. Togie, D. Hade, Yeager, Humphrey, Wattenbarger, Bloemker, and B. Cramer went on a mid-winter moose hunt. No moose were taken and surprisingly, no snow machine damage was sustained. Humphrey overdressed so he added air conditioning to his new Mountain Hardware jacket. Instead of stopping and taking it off, he looked for a skewer (really a beaver lodge log) and a passing tree for assistance. It’s unclear whether he threw himself on the skewer or the skewer was the reason for his separation from the snow machine. The net effect was a decent hole in the jacket but apparently, not enough ventilation. Bring on the tree he yells. (Okay, don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.) The net effect after brushing the tree was too much ventilation, which he claims he can repair. Accompanying senior riggers and master riggers did not think the repairs would be worth the effort.

The most dangerous man alive again made the news, or rather his dog. Hooper went through a little separation anxiety over the Holidays. No, he wasn’t separated from Ivan; he was separated from another dog of the female persuasion. To show his displeasure, he tore the crap out of the walls, carpet, door, etc. of one of the rooms of a house Ivan is house sitting. After a little therapy, Ivan put him into another room and another bout of gnawing and chewing ensued. I can only wonder what the homeowner thought and said upon his return.

Togie and Bert still refuse to walk outside to start their vehicles, which is the manly way. They’ve resorted to “auto start” and are trying to convince everyone else that it is the way to go. Their confusion may stem from trying to watch multiple hockey games on two TV’s in the lounge. Gary’s goal is to have four TV’s set up around the lounge to prevent neck strain with all the training video’s we have to watch. Until the training videos show up, he’s testing the set up with different hockey games showing simultaneously.

Lenmark, Trina and Kylee have just returned from a road trip to America and back. Mitman and Annie recently returned from Hawaii with a sun tan. The only complaint, Hawaiian Vacation packs vacationers like cattle. C. Brown is rumored to be visiting Thompson in Crested Butte. R. Allen and Jennifer are soon to be bound for Belize. Houde is still in Baja, though he has to start thinking about colder climates. To lessen that painful thought, he has become the proud owner of Mexican territory.

Brandon and Lynn returned to Fairbanks just before the New Year. Their dog must have known something was up and felt it was his duty to prepare them for the future. The Peterson’s gave their dog some tranquilizers to lessen the trauma of flight. However, over dosage did occur which resulted in a huge amounts of uncontrollable crap, in the kennel during the flight, in the baggage claim area, on the sidewalk to St. Clair’s truck, in St. Clair’s truck, on St. Clair’s jacket, in the doggie Laundromat, on Brandon, on and between Lynn’s toes, etc. Oh yeah, somewhere in there, Brandon locked the keys inside the truck with the motor running. It sounds like they are ready to handle any new future additions, say……on August 12th or so. Congratulations to the Peterson’s.

That’s it for now. I’ve been working on this way too long and it needs to go out. You’ll have to call to find out anymore earth shattering news. You know our number. Don’t forget, we still have take the PT test. The first one is March 29th. Maybe the temperature will be warmer than the -38 degrees this morning. Take care.

P.S. Scratch “no rookies.” We will have four rookies in 2004. Drive on.

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2003 SEASON SUMMARY by Mike McMillan

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Sixty-five smokejumpers were on our jump list in 2003, after two chilly waves of refresher training last spring. We bid fond farewell to Mel Tenneson (FBX ’86) after 17 seasons in Alaska. He transferred to Boise as a spotter and squad leader. John Lyons (FBX ’90) replaces Mel as our new crew supervisor.

Derrek Hartman (RDD ’98) joined the Boise base after spending two seasons in Alaska. Dan Hernandez (RDD ’85) returned to Redding to jump from his home base in 2003. Dan’s brother Fred Hernandez (RDD ’88) is also missed in Alaska after taking an FMO job in New Mexico last year. We gained transfer Frank Goodson (RDD ’95) from Redding, and he’s made a smooth transition to the square parachute.

Four USFS jumpers from Missoula and North Cascades joined our ‘New-Man Ram-Air’ training in April for everything except the jumping. They’re glad they made the trip, the consensus being the experience was a step in the right direction.

Congratulations to former smokejumper Ed Strong (RDD ’75) on his promotion as the Alaska Fire Service’s Chief of Fire Operations. Promotions within the Alaska crew last season: Jason Jordet (NCSB ’00) and Pete Stephenson (RDD ’98) are now Operations (Box) 8’s, Paul Lenmark (FBX ’96) is our EMT 8, and Steve Theisen (FBX ’86) became our paracargo supervisor. New spotters kicking jumpers and boxes from airplanes last year, as well as serving as squad leaders, were; Mike Bradley (FBX ’95), Marty Meierotto (FBX ’94) and Jay Wattenbarger (FBX ’92).

Alaska’s paracargo section dropped 160,000 pounds of cargo on 92 fire and project assignments in 2003. Paracargo section rookies were Mike O’Brien (FBX ’98), Randy Foland (FBX ’01), Tony Marchini (FBX ’01), and Jeff McPhetridge (MYL ’93) . Tony also earned his senior parachute rigger’s license last season.

Five of seven rookie candidates made it through training in 2003. Congratulations to Jason Dollard, Quint Gidley, Andy Parsons, Jeff Stark, and Chris Swisher. The Alaska Hot Shots contributed heavily to the class of 2003 and last year’s rooks are a strong group.

Eight jumpers fought the season’s first fire on May 2 in the Upper Yukon Territory. The only clue at the fire’s point of origin was a pile of goose feathers near a campfire littered with whiskey bottles. By August 1, we jumped 36 fires in Alaska, sending 245 jumpers out the door. Forty-two jumpers also ‘pounded’ fires, several of which threatened structures.

Charlie Brown (FBX ’88) was IC of the Central Fire, leading three loads of jumpers on a successful scramble to save houses near the airstrip and town. The dump at Lake Illiamna spawned a fire that burned through town.

Tony Pastro (FBX ’77) and his crew managed to prevent any damage to houses, airport structures and a town full of can-do volunteers working the fire with a subdued regard for their own safety.

Wally Humphries (FBX ’90) and 7 Forest service boosters traveled into the Arctic Circle to a North Slope fire in the Brooks Range. Lightning sent flames from thick spruce high into the sub-alpine tundra, blessing the group with Alaska’s most picturesque fire assignment last season.

Fire action in Alaska was hot and cold last season with rain a key player throughout. In July, the bros were hauling 30 lb. King Salmon from the Chena River behind our jump units. Heavy rains forced our many boosters home in July, but not before Derek Patton (RAC ’00) won the Big Flip. Project work included historic building restoration in Eagle, Alaska’s first incorporated city. During the slower weeks of 2003 the crew built a wooden leisure deck beside our paracargo bay, thanks to Gary Baumgartner (FBX ’88) and his home lumber mill. In an afternoon they felled, hauled, milled and nailed the white spruce boards into place next to the ramp. The new deck could still use a good coat of shellac, but so could we. The base’s garden was blooming with huge turnips, radishes, squash, snap peas and potatoes, thanks to the AK crew’s green thumbs and the help of enthusiastic boosters to our base.

Under stormy Alaska skies we sent 60 jumpers south by late August. Five served on Alaska’s Type I Management Team and two were Air Tactical Group Supervisors. By September 1, Alaska Smokejumpers were boosting bases in Boise, Carson City, Cedar City, Ely, Grand Junction, Missoula, Twin Falls, Pocatello, West Yellowstone, and Grangeville.

We’d like to especially thank GAC Base Manager Robin Embry (GAC ’85) and The Nez Perce Smokejumpers. They welcomed a crew of Alaska detailers last August, and together the squares and rounds jumped fires throughout Idaho and Montana until the rains came. The entire Alaska crew jumped consistently in the Lower 48 in 2003 - the only jumpers left in God’s country chose to stay to guard the home front. Our sole injury last season was a rookie’s broken pinky on a fire jump. With plenty of wildfire for everyone, 2003 was a season to remember.

Congrats to Pete Stephenson and Dania on celebrating their marriage in Dania’s homeland of Chile with a big bash in January.

On the 2003 baby watch, congrats to: Tom Roach (FBX ’98) and wife Missy, they had daughter Zuly last April. Mike O’Brien and Janelle had daughter Hailey in June. Bill Cramer and wife Sharon had daughter Amber on November 5. Doug Mackey (FBX ’99) and La-ona DeWilde (FBX ’99) had son Waylon Voughn Mackey (FBX 2025), born December 14, 2003.

It looks like we'll see four rookie candidates in 2004. Good luck. MM