Oregon fire lookout update.

I drove out to the lookout today to unload my truck. I unloaded in off-and-on snow squalls (30-degrees and blowing like stink). I only spent two hours out there. I'm back in Bend for the night. I'll provision-up tomorrow and return to the lookout to spend the night (and many, many more!).

It is very, very wet here. Good news: very low fire danger. Bad news: scrub fuels grow like crazy with the moisture, then they dry very quickly in the high desert, increasing the fire danger.

My Oregon buds are pumping me for info on the BP oil spill (maybe "pumping" ain't PC on this issue). I guess my brother's Gulf coast house qualifies me as an expert. That and relative propinquity, being from the South.


The lookout survived a tough mountain winter (Friday - Canon 5D MkII w/ 16-35mm f2.8)


The quick unload between snow squalls. This photo captures the reality of the deal. (Friday - Canon 5D MkII w/ 16-35mm f2.8)


Bend's "Powerplant" retail district (Friday - Canon 5D MkII w/ 16-35mm f2.8)


Perrine Bridge over the Snake River at Twin Falls, Idaho (Wednesday - Canon 5D MkII w/ 16-35mm f2.8)

How peaceful and quiet.

Enjoy your mission, and thanks for posting!

:hi:

What lens?

(I just love my new 7D --- great camera.)

I also have a new Canon 70-200mm f2.8 MkII zoomer. Heavy glass for a heavy photo mission. But the 16-35 is my go-to lens.

I shot these in AUTO/JPEG. I post-processed in Lightroom 3 (Beta). As soon as I get set up in the lookout, I'll start shooting camera raw and post-processing with Lightroom and CS-5.

:-)

We have a batallion meeting Monday at the Bend compound. An old hand told me today that there will be 40 newbie firefighters there. Oh, Lord!

:hi:

while the old hands want to just drill.

Have fun!

:applause:

:hi:

Ah, these are great shots! I love the old brick building that houses REI, and the bridge over the river, wow!

The open end of your station wagon sure says serious work is at hand too...

I'm so glad you're back in Oregon, and I will be watching for your posts!

Thanks for keeping us lucky DU'ers in the loop...

:hi:

:hug:

I donwanna be smellin' any damn California drift-smoke up in my tower like last year. It makes me sneeze. Know what I mean?


Drift-smoke rolling in from the Tumblebug fire last September

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I don't want to smell it either!

If I have anything to say about it, lol, you won't!

That's a great (and scary!) picture...:scared:

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if it's the one I'm thinking of. Main drag north out of town connecting to I84, - US RTE 93 right? There's a golf course just downstream on the south bank and another on the north bank. I've played the south course 3 or 4 times. It is about a mile and a half downstream from where Evil Knievel did his famous attempt to jump the canyon back in 1974.

Demo, you certainly do have a cool summer gig. Have fun and skritch the pup pup on the ear for me.

I'd forgotten about Evil's stunt across the Snake.

Nick sends a lick.

I hope you have a wonderful Summer and an uneventful one. Did you take your dog again?

:hi:

Great photos! The power plant is a wonderful photo!

-Hoot

I love it too! Great snack in the wilderness. Thanks for the reminder. It just went on my list.

I don't want to lose anymore beautiful trees.
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I love 'em and I hug 'em. That's why I am here.

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