It’s been way too long since I’ve gotten on here and updated… sorry Andy and Emily- since I’m pretty sure you two are the only people who even look at my blog. But on that note, if ANYONE happens to stop by, whether I know you or not, PLEASE PLEASE just drop a line- a word even! Just let me know that there are people who read this occasionally. It is a lot of motivation to keep updating this just knowing that there is even one more person who looks at it!! Pretty Please…..
Ok, so. I have been having anxiety thinking about all the stuff I need to catch up on and I know that by the time I get to the present events, they will be in the past and I’ll really have a hard time catching up. I decided to just do a quick re-cap of stuff just to get up to speed. Sorry for not elaborating on any one event but that’s just going to have to do. So here it is ESPN highlight style:
ALASKA- LAST 3 WEEKS:
Fought a couple more fires, had some good times, got to see some AMAZING country!
en route to fire
Flying low to kick out some cargo out to the guys on the ground who just jumped
Home away from home
Warm Day!
Cold Day.... and REALLY windy
That'd be in the AM... about ready to tent up for the night.
Middle of the night, dirty, cold, tired, and absolutely loving it!
The game its self is easy... put lots of money in the middle of a circle of people, flip a quarter. If it's tails you're out, if it's heads your still in. Last one in takes cash. That one ended up being about $6,400.00
The end of Mustache May (which, I must admit, bled over into June a bit..) Right before shaving it 😦
WEEKEND OFF IN BOISE:
Sometime in late June I had a weekend off… Saturday I rode my motorcycle to Wieser, ID. for the National Fiddle Championships and Music Fest! I didn’t actually see any of the actual competition part of the festival but I did spend my day watching live music on the stage outside of the comp area. Most of the fiddle competitors had their bands in tow and played for everyone’s enjoyment. The weather was amazing- it was a great day. Highlighting the day was a band called “Milk Drive”. They were amazing… I recommend them to anyone who is into bluegrass. The four of them are all in their twenties and exploding with talent. Somewhat “Nickel Creek”ish with a little more edge. Fantastic.
Sunday I was invited by my good buddy Chris to go rafting on the North Fork of the Payette. Chris, being a bartender, fly fishing guide, and all around fun lover was guaranteeing an amazing time- I was in from the words “hey do you want to…” Well, it proved to be a great time of course. All around a great weekend- just the kind you want when you only get one once a month.
Milk Drive
Gearing up for a day on the Payette
Part of the crew, about to shove off
On the water, woohoo
Chris, our skipper and party official
celebrating the triumph over another rapid
Just enjoying the summer the way it should be enjoyed!
GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO:
My first trip into the Great Basin was spent mostly in GJ, although I was in Utah and Nevada as well for short stints. Overall great- great fires, great country, great times. I was previously not much of a desert fan but I haven’t spent much time there either, or in the right areas. Colorado and Utah especially have gorgeous areas- most of them are National Parks and I hope to tour some of them on my motorcycle late this fall if everything pans out. Anyway, despite 100 degree plus temps, lack of trees, and the fact that every plant, animal, and insect is trying to poke, bite and sting you, the desert is quite nice. Quite nice during sunrise and sunset anyway.
Flying over Salt Lake
Our aerial battalion
Bad ass air tanker- Book Cliffs in the background
snakes on a plane
scenes from a loft
Red rock country
Ready, in the door, waiting for the slap on the shoulder
View from my first fire in Colorado
Whooped her again
The desert at it's best
Right before starting a 120 pound packout... that was the last time I smiled that day
BRAUN BROTHER RUNION:
For the second year in a row I took time off of work in the middle of what is typically the busiest time of the season. The reason? Only the best frickin’ three day concert in the frickin’ world, that’s why! Challis Idaho:
Amazing scenery
So, as you can see, Challis is a great destination on its own- no imagine the chance to spend three days watching your all-time favorite bands along with only a few hundred other “friends”. Well my friends, that is the Braun Brother Reunion show.
As luck would have it four of the bands- Ray Wylie Hubbard, Micky and the Motorcars, Randy Rogers, and Cross Canadian Ragweed were playing in Boise on Wednesday night, so I of course saw them all. The next day we drove the 4 and a half hours to Challis and got there just in time to see Stoney LaRue do a jaw-dropping solo acoustic set of songs requested by the crowd of maybe oh, 80 people. Unbelievable comes to mind. In the middle of his set we were visited by yet another (same as last year) five minute hailstorm that pelted everyone with grape-sized hail. It was amazing- like the heavens opened up with Stoney’s angelic tunes…. Ok, so maybe not, but it was effin’ rad anyway.
It was like having one of your very favorite musician's come over and play in your living room.
Next was Ray Wylie Hubbard. This guy is a true Godfather of the Texas brand county rock that is, in my opinion, the best music on earth. On stage with him was his 15 year old son playing lead guitar. This kid was a prodigy. Some of the best guitar I’ve heard came from a kid who was probably learning geometry in school… unbelievable.
Ray Wylie and his boy
Well, I could go on forever, in great detail about the amazing weekend and all that happened but I’m keeping it short remember… Let’s just say it was 72 hours of beer, thrift store shopping sprees, kick ass music, great friends, and more beer. Use your imagination…
One of the coolest tats I've ever seen!
The best find of the weekend! Behind the whiskey is says "FLY WILD" and on the back is a flying "V" of ducks.
Breakfast cocktails and a rousing game of horseshoes to start the day off...
getting wild in three, two,......
Livin' it up
Smock gettin' into it!
Taking a little beer break in between sets
Meet Cody, he and his girlfriend are the coolest. We hung out all weekend and luckily he lives part time in the Boise area so we can party again. GREAT PEOPLE!!!
Reckless Kelly going off!
Cody Canada from Cross Canadian Ragweed and Smock partying together... practically.
Well, I’m sad it’s over but I WILL be back next year, you can bet you ass on that.
Well, that about wraps it all up… that’s been my life for the last 2 months. Hopefully it wasn’t too abridged… who am kidding, any more detail and you would have X’d out of here long ago, haha.
Life and Times of a Smokejumper 