A Birthday Greeting

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Kicking Ash...

September and Red 124 is still smouldering.  I had an opportunity to receive a crash course on Hazard Tree Assessment from a couple of BC crewmen, known as experts in this field.  Hazard trees are not just the obvious leaners... so I learned.  

Destination...
750m portage trail between Murdock and Larus Lakes along the Bloodvein River

We picked up the crewmen John and Marcel from their fire line camp on Murdock 

I was given a tour of their camp.  Some rehabilitation pointers were communicated to the crew... small steps to consider when comes time to demobilize their camp. 



Restoring the camp and helipad areas to their most natural state will reduce the impact on the land and on the minds of those who may come across these sites in the future.  Unfortunatly, this creative mail box will be cut down and left behind to be reclaimed by the land. 

Out on the trail 

The trail and forest I knew so well were unrecognizable

The fire was so intense that it gutted trees that then collapsed unto themselves... turned mosses and duff into a layer of ash

An interesting burn pattern

Yet, just barely a week after the fire impact, new growth is found.  

Hard to miss this splash of bright lime green in a dark charcoaled forest. 

This is a great opportunity to re-route the portage trail. 
No trees to blaze therefore flagging required.  Will need to return to cut the new trail.

 

 

The crew got to work, first scouting and assessing....

then cutting the hazards

 

 

This hazard is no brainer to me.. its roots grappling at nothing.

As we were working, a black bear came out from the forest across the river and swam to our side and quickly disappeared again.  It was cleary on a mission to get out of here in search of greener pastures. 

It's time to head back

Looks like I got a little dirty

Thanks John and Marcel for imparting some of your knowledge

It was all good

Family Trip

 

Ray, Starr and our grandson Adam just completed a "boys only" trip to Waterton National Park at the south end of Alberta right against the US/Canada border.  

First the long drive across the prairie provinces... with its own beauty. 

Finally in the mountains

Picked up a campsites and set off hiking.

Waterton National Park is gorgeous

Waterton townsite

Where deer lay in the shade like dogs

 

A full day of hiking and sight seeng resulted in some pretty bad foot blisters for Ray.  So the next day, they opted to stay off their feet and ride horses.

Like a scene from Bonanza - awesome.  Turns out Adam is a natural in the saddle whereas Grandpa nearly fell off his horse at some point.  That is the story I heard.

The ride got better and better

And then the ascend - they had to dismount their horses to help with the climb.  So much for resting the foot blisters... ouch!

But they finally reached the top

The setting and beauty was worth all the pain...

It happened to be Starr's 14th birthday... Happy Birthday

You can see the town of Waterton down below

The next day, Ray opted to soak in a Hot Springs while the boys took in a game of golf nearby... Starr first time golfing.  Adam shared a few golf tricks with his little uncle Starr.

All too soon, it was time to head back east.  En route, they dropped in "Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump" interpretive centre.

And after 2 weeks away from home, they were welcomed to freshly picked blueberries and homemade blueberry pies.

  

Power of Fire

It has been a hot stretch in Red Lake.  Last significant rain fall was back in June.  The water levels are low and with every passing small electrical storm, 100s of lightening strike hit the dry forest, igniting more forest fires.  

And so began a seemingly innocent lightening fire in Woodland Caribou Prov. Park. 

It smouldered for a few days under the watchful eye of forest fighters.   Then one gusty day set it roaring.  It took off and roared over 10 kms of wilderness.  

The smoke came down heavy over the whole town of Red Lake.  

I was sent out to look for paddlers and divert them away from the fire.  

Over the next few days, I flew over the park, dropping on folks, relaying updates on the fire, reassuring them that they were not in harms way despite the smoke they experienced.

Our fire crews did an awesome job protecting values under intense conditions. 

This particular photo is becoming famous in the media.

I watched as 1 fire fighter single handedly got a sprinkler system going again after the water pump had run out of gas.  Sprinklers keep the values wet in an attempt to keep the fire from engulfing the buildings. 

They also had to drop water around the cabins. 

All values have been saved so far.  The fire keeps burning but has slowed down somewhat.  It has grown to just about 20,000 ha in size.   I'm now working in the Food Unit at the Fire Centre, overseeing the packing of Food Kits for the many fire crews on fires.  I should be at this post for the next several days before returning to my normal Ontario Park duties.  Carrots anyone?