Need a good book

"Buddy" wrote in
:

Of course, it needs to be available in a
lightweight paperback. Any suggestions?


I am just finishing up "Young Men and Fire" by Norman MacLean. Based on
a true story of 13 Smokejumpers who perished in the Mann Gulch fire in
1949. An incredibly well written account that is hard to put down.

"GaryM" wrote ...

I am just finishing up "Young Men and Fire" by Norman MacLean. Based on
a true story of 13 Smokejumpers who perished in the Mann Gulch fire in
1949. An incredibly well written account that is hard to put down.

Great choice, Gary. I read this several years ago and also found it
riveting. The main point I remember was the berating of Wag Dodge for being
ahead of his time, by starting a small fire to survive before this technique
was formally recognized. I also remember feeling a little nauseous every
time I read the word "upgulch," and it was used a lot. I believe MacLean
died before finishing this book and someone else actually got it ready for
publication. --Buddy

Buddy wrote:


Great choice, Gary. I read this several years ago and also found it
riveting. The main point I remember was the berating of Wag Dodge for being
ahead of his time, by starting a small fire to survive before this technique
was formally recognized. I also remember feeling a little nauseous every
time I read the word "upgulch," and it was used a lot. I believe MacLean
died before finishing this book and someone else actually got it ready for
publication. --Buddy



Thanks Buddy. I had picked it up 3 times and could not get into it, but
I started it again last Wednesday for the 4th time and could not put it
down.

Your memory is correct re Wag Dodge and I think my jaw dropped when I
read that part. MacLean does explain that the technique was used in
Plains fires by native Americans and settlers.

The families came after the Forest Service saying his safety fire
stopped the others from escaping. MacLean, by this own investigations,
found the place where Dodge set the fire (it was marked by a wooden
cross the day following the fire, and MacLean triangulated the spot
using a old photo, finding this same cross ... over 30 years on!!!). He
concluded that they could not have been impeded by it.

Your memory is also correct that the press finished it off, mostly
chapterizing it, checking and sometimes correcting facts, removing
repititions.

My favorite parts were the description of the wildfire, how fast it
moved, how it fuels itself into a whirl that can consume a square mile
in an hour.

A damn good read full of MacLean's beautiful imagery and metaphysical
language.

BTW, I looked up Mann Gulch today on Google Earth. Has not changed a bit
since the fire nearly 60 years ago ...

Gary

"Gary M"
My favorite parts were the description of the wildfire, how fast it moved,
how it fuels itself into a whirl that can consume a square mile in an
hour.

A damn good read full of MacLean's beautiful imagery and metaphysical
language.

BTW, I looked up Mann Gulch today on Google Earth. Has not changed a bit
since the fire nearly 60 years ago ...

Gary

Some friends of mine and I hiked up Rescue Gulch and down Mann Gulch a few
years ago and found all of the crosses. One of the guys in the group was
related to one of the smokejumpers (can't recall which smokejumper -
Diettert IIRC). I'll post a picture of the upper end of Mann and the bunch
of us at the cross- very near the top of the divide between Mann and Rescue
Gulch. to ABPF in a few minutes if I can get them scanned. It was quite the
interesting experience to be sitting on that ridge looking over the gulch
and trying to pick out the smokejumpers path. The walls of the Gulch are
really steep- you would have to be in pretty outstanding condition to even
think about running up the slope. For the most part the area is still
devoid of trees but obvious traces of fire can still be seen.

jh

John Hightower wrote:


Some friends of mine and I hiked up Rescue Gulch and down Mann Gulch a few
years ago and found all of the crosses. One of the guys in the group was
related to one of the smokejumpers (can't recall which smokejumper -
Diettert IIRC). I'll post a picture of the upper end of Mann and the bunch
of us at the cross- very near the top of the divide between Mann and Rescue
Gulch. to ABPF in a few minutes if I can get them scanned. It was quite the
interesting experience to be sitting on that ridge looking over the gulch
and trying to pick out the smokejumpers path. The walls of the Gulch are
really steep- you would have to be in pretty outstanding condition to even
think about running up the slope. For the most part the area is still
devoid of trees but obvious traces of fire can still be seen.

jh


They have not shown up on abpf yet, but they will be very much
appreciated when they do.

Thanks,

Gary