After 101 days in the Oregon wilderness, finally one fit for a lookout cookout! (DIAL-UP WARN)

[DemoTex]

Last year there was one evening where it all came together for a lookout cookout: calm winds, warm temps, and out-of-service early enough to pull it off (and I had company to enjoy that meal then). Today was the first time this fire season all those things lined up. I milked it for the most I could: still pics and b-roll video with the Sony camcorder and the EOS 5D Mk II.

Nick ruined the audio, yapping in the background at ground squirrels (he was in the woods - 500 yards away). But I did a b-roll segment that worked his yapping in. He came up out of the woods about the time the steak was done. What perfect timing, Nick! I hope to have the video posted on You-Tube in a few days (I'll link it here, of course!).


I'm a little rusty at this!


The contrails this morning were harbingers of a fine September day. I learned this several times last September. I also know, that with this photo, the Chem-Trailers will come out of the DU woodwork like cockroaches; and then the sun will rise again tomorrow.


My "Spencer Steak" is almost ready (and I hear Nick galloping up!). I had never heard of a "Spencer Steak" before I bought one at the Newport Market in Bend a couple of weeks ago. It is a high cut of ribeye, that is as tender as a filet mignon. And, OMG!, was it good tonight! And, yes, Nick got some meat-treats.


Fire, indeed. The wildlands fireman with his fire in the wildlands. Notice the wide fire-proof area around my cooker (the little Weber is behind me here).

[onehandle]

1. Super cool as always. Great pics. nt

[Trajan]

2. Nice pics ....

Beautiful place ....

Isn't Oregon simply grand ?

[handmade34]

3. Always love your pics

[gateley]

4. That sign should read :Do Not Ascend Tower Without Oxygen Mask" -- Yikes!

Great pics! What a life! I'm envious. :hi:

[DemoTex]

5. Good one!

Better yet: "Abandon hope; all ye who enter here."

:rofl:

[elleng]

6. Happy to 'see' you!

So, where's Nick? and who was holding the camera? Person or Tripod?

Bon Appetit!

[DemoTex]

7. Nick - he is camera qualified.

Just kidding, of course. The EOS 5D-M2 was on a Manfrotto tripod and I was tripping the shutter with a remote and with a 2-sec delay. The 2-sec delay allowed me to get my hand with the remote out of the photo.

[Arctic Dave]

8. If you send me a T-shirt I will send you and Anchorage Fire Dept. one.

Deal?

[DemoTex]

11. Deal.

Check your PM.

[givemebackmycountry]

9. That is so cool....

So tell me about the stairs?
LOL

I only say that because where I live I have to trudge up three flights of stairs.
20 steps.
20 steps.
10 steps.

Five bags of groceries and a laptop bag and it's kicking my ass.

But, I am old so I have that going for me.

Give Nick a couple of thousand pets from his friends and admirers at DU.

[DemoTex]

12. If your steps are a 6" rise, you are 10 short of me.

I have 20-20-20 with a six inch rise. The floor of the lookout sits 30 feet above the top of the butte. The butte is 6470 feet, so I sleep at 6500 feet.

I haul water, supplies, and groceries up those 60 steps almost every day. That's why I lose about 15-20 pounds during the first month of fire season.

I'm no spring chicken. In fact, I am the oldest person in my fire battalion at 62. But who would know?

Consider Nick stroked! He licked his chops in appreciation.

[Historic NY]

10. K-9 camera operator...smart dog. He knows where his bread is buttered.

[Hekate]

13. How grand. Thank you so much for sharing, as always.

:hug: Always nice to see you.

[lillypaddle]

14. I always look forward to your posts & pics

They're interesting and wonderful. Good combo. :)

[Swamp Rat]

15. Thanks for the pix DemoTex

:hi:

[OnionPatch]

16. I love your posts!

I live out some of my wilderness dreams vicariously through them. Keep them coming! :)

[whistler162]

17. did you notify the other towers?

Wouldn't want a horde of firefighters descending on you, at least wthout additional food?

[Solly Mack]

18. K&R

[thereismore]

19. Fantastic picture story. Thank you! nt

[gratuitous]

20. Ditches his cape for the photos

But we all know.

[4_TN_TITANS]

21. K&R Perfect thread to kick off a Southern Labor Day weekend...

I can smell the charcoal and taste the burgers and chicken already!