Back to the business of wild-land fires, if only for one day (DIAL-UP WARNING: PICS)

[DemoTex]

My lookout tower is still uninhabitable due to a faulty heater (2010 redux).
So today they sent me for a one-day relief gig at Lava Butte, about 10 miles south
of Bend (Oregon) on US-97. Keep in mind that I did not even know how to get up to
this lookout, much-less find the gear, maps, and radio freqs I would need to be effective.
But, I think the prevailing attitude was that old Mac in that lookout would be better
than an empty lookout.

Duty at Lava Butte lookout is intense. I spotted my first fire climbing the stairs
early this morning (after an hour drive from Snow Creek). It took me
35 minutes to position the fire because all of Lava Butte's maps are
hung upside-down, with south up! That makes the text on the maps
upside-down too! How crazy is that? But I finally found the fireman's
maps that I could unroll on the bed and make sense of the situation.

The first fire was an all-night party bonfire near Horse Butte, left
burning by the young revelers (how do I know they were young? I
don't. But ..). The next fire was a IOB (Illegal Outside Burn), also
near Horse Butte. Since Horse Butte is almost synonymous with
"trouble," we sent a USFS fire crew there. Bend Fire Department (BFD)
also sent a truck because of a complaint from the public.

And so it went. Many, many outside burns (some legal (LOBs) and some
illegal (IOBs)), and I had to plot every one and plot every Bend and
La Pine/Sunriver fire departments' tone-outs for fires, and plot
those.

However, two areas had so many smokes that we just monitored them:
Deschutes River Woods (DRW) and West La Pine. By the end of the day I
was worn out! I returned to Snow Creek, took a steak out of the
freezer to thaw, put a potato on, and went out back to Snow Creek and
fished for about 45 minutes. I caught three little Rainbows, which are
non-keepers in these waters.

Life at East Butte is SO much easier. Did I say that I opened a bottle of
Toasted Head Merlot?


Mid-week at Snow Creek Guard Station Nick played in the snow


Snow Creek in the snow on Wednesday (I fished it late today in short sleeves!)


At my lookout on Thursday, wishing it were heated and opened!


Lava Butte Lookout, where I spent today (Saturday) on a one-day assignment


Cascades (far) and lava fields (near) views from Lava Butte


The Lava Butte volcanic crater as seen from the lookout (I hope this sucka don't blow!).


Black Butte (37 miles to the NNW) sits in front of Mount Jefferson (60 miles away). This is a whole different world from my lookout tower.

[aquart]

1. So, a nice change.

And it's only young people who think all-night parties are a good thing.

[DemoTex]

2. A nice change, indeed ..

But I do still know some old codgers who party way too late into the night!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear DemoTex!

I know how hard it is to work someplace outside your comfort zone...

I think you did well...

And these pictures!

Wow.

Mt. Jefferson and your view from Lava Butte are just breathtaking!

Nick looks like he hasn't forgotten how to be a pup.

Recommended.

:hi:

[DemoTex]

4. Hi Peg

Lava has much better vistas that my lookout, vis a vis the Cascades. But, then, I have that wonderful desert on the eastern side of the Newberry volcano. I'll take my "East Butte" any day.

Mac

:hi:

[Zorra]

5. Is that the Sisters out there?

Been awhile since I've been to the Bend area. Spent some time on the river, liked the lava caves a lot, especially like the brewery. Bend sure grew fast, we called it Californicated back in the day. Nice country there, did some backpacking up river toward La Pine ate trout and crawdads from the Deschutes more than once. An ex had relatives that had a place at Sunriver. I don't admit that often;) I'm from north of there, up 97 about 300+ miles, but I live in AZ now, (spent a few too many winters in the cold and snow).

I love Eastern Oregon. Hart Mountain, Steens, Warner Lakes, the Blues, hot springs, lots of strange special cool secret places where the rivers flow through the high desert.

You sure do have a great job. Nothing like getting paid to hang out in the woods.;)

I really enjoy your posts from the NW, they always remind me of home.
:hi:

[DemoTex]

7. The 3 Sisters, indeed: Faith (N), Hope (M), and Charity (S)

The greatest of these - as the Bible says - is Charity, the South Sister.

[steve2470]

6. always wonderful pics, thank you nt

[mzmolly]

8. Stunning

photos. Thanks for sharing, as always. :hi:

[Scuba]

9. Awesome pics. Thanks for your posts. n/t

[QED]

10. Wow! These are great photos.

This looks like a great job - do you have time for reading or hiking or are you glued to the scenery 24/7?

[lunatica]

11. I don't recall any snow shots from previous years

Is that because you're there earlier this year, or is it unseasonably cold? Or is my memory faulty.

Love to see your photos DemoTex! And hugs to Nick!

[DemoTex]

12. The snowfall here has been phenomenal this Spring.

I had a few snow shots the last couple of seasons, but nothing like this.

:hi:

[LWolf]

13. The late cool, wet weather has extended the burning season,

that's for sure.

It's June and still cool. I'm told it will be a wetter than usual June. I hope we don't get the crazy thunderstorms we got 2 summers ago when it heats up; I've replaced most of the fried equipment, but don't want to have to do it all over.

Welcome back.

[kentuck]

14. Great photos!

kick

[stevedeshazer]

15. I'm late to the party, but thanks for the great photos.

Never climbed Hood or Jefferson, but Black Butte is in the bag (the head of the Metolius)along with South Sister.

Lava Butte is where my little brother and me nearly were eaten by tame ground squirrels. They seriously wanted our PBJ sandwiches. They used to let you drive up there, now you have to take the shuttle, right?

:)