Tag Archives: Erik Berke
Deer Park Wildfire – Chopper Rescue
One of our lookouts got pinned under a 200lb boulder while climbing to a higher position to observe a burnout we were doing. The LifeFlight helicopter that came to airlift our injured personnel landed and tipped backwards onto its tail boom. A second chopper lifted our personnel to safety, but the first was in a tough position which we remedied using a variety of methods: some tree levers, rocks, ropes and good old fashioned dude power.
Hot Springs Trip
Hot springs strip to an ‘undisclosed’ location on the Salmon river pretty close to the River of No Return wilderness. First stumbled upon in 2004, used my brain to get back 6 years later and ran into a Dee Synder look-a-like at the gas station. Made this trip with a clan in the bus. Of course the VW felt right at home and the terrain was no problem. As usual the Waters of Enlightenment were plenty and much was learned and seen.
That tarp and rock shack is a backwoods steam room in which the water comes out damn near boiling, flowing under your ass, then mixes with the creek. It’s in Panther Hot Springs if you want some info on it.
Cabin Life, Keep the Fire
Life as an amateur ski race announcer, devoted US Forest Service Saw-man, and professional US Forest Service Firefighter– we find ourselves squatting in a lot of cabins. Some are nicer than others. Up to 14 days on the trail at a time. Anyone who has spent any time in the wild will recognize a constant: the source of warmth (usually a fire) is always the social focal point. Always lifts the spirits.
Hero Shot
Just another day at work. Flathead Hotshots. This was the Deer Creek fire, Sawtooth National forest, Sub alpine Fir and Douglas Fir, torching, spotting to 1/4 mile, isolated runs. Hot as fuck, steep. There for fourteen days, hiked about 500 miles. Actually lit a lot of stuff on fire on that one.
