I know I am way behind in posting to the blog but just haven't gotten to it. We have had so many problems with the coach on this trip that I have lost some of my enthusiasm for sharing our traveling experiences. But today we had a remarkable experience while visiting the Smokejumpers Headquarters here in Missoula, MT.
While we were waiting for the tour to begin, a fire call came in. Our tour guide jumped up and asked if we wanted to watch the team gear up for their assignment. She took us to the ready-room where we watched the men donning their jump suits, packing their personal equipment, and putting on their main and reserves parachutes. They were fast and efficient but took the time to inspect not just their own gear but also their teammates.
Once ready, they walked to the plane waiting just outside the doors, boarded, and were airborne in about 20 minutes after the call came it. We don't know where they were going; their range is up to 500 miles. They could be gone for as much as 14 days. They parachute in as close to the fire as it is safe but when their job is done, they have to hike out to the closest road, bringing all their equipment with them. It is a very physically demanding job.
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| Parachute Repair and Packing Room |
After the plane left, we finished our tour. There is a large room filled with sewing machines and cutting tables where the smokejumpers actually make their own jumpsuits, a room to hang the parachutes to clean and inspect them, and another large room where the chutes are repaired, if necessary, and repacked.
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| Smokejumpers Equipment Pack |
There are approximately 400 smokejumpers in the U.S., stationed in the western states. The training these men and women (about 15% are women) is extensive. They have to have 3 to 5 years of fire fighting experience before they are accepted to the smokejumpers ranks.
As part of their final tests, they have to carry a 120 pound pack for three miles in less than 30 minutes. I couldn't even lift the pack.
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