Three miles, 45 lbs, 43:35

I rocked that b*tch….There’s literally nothing I canNOT do! I wish I could describe the elation I felt during that last lap. I finally have my red card and I’ll be in Alaska in four days. This is actually happening…

Stay tuned for pictures updates and such in the next few weeks 

Special thanks to my friend Flores who talked me through the hardest laps!

So thanks to the ever helpful Chief Ranger Greg Smith at the San Antonio Missions, I have another chance to earn my Red Card. I’ve been training my ass off and everyday I get a little bit better and more confident. 

When I fail at a new endeavor, I figure that I can’t do whatever objective was presented in front of me. In my mind, I don’t have the ability to perform that task. Unfortunately, that deduction stays with me, no matter what. I understand now what people mean when they say watch your words and your thoughts. Once I put the word “can’t” into my mind/mouth it’s the first thing to blast off in my head once I attempt the endeavor again. My brain gives up faster than my body. Sometimes when  I get ready for bed I feel like I’m taking to much with me….like I didn’t leave the most I could out on the field, I could have ran a little faster, I could have studied a bit harder, I could have been more prepared for that event.

I hate feeling that way and I’m going to put a stop to it. PT is in three hours and I will not leave that field feeling like I had more to give.

What about you? Does your head stand in the way of progress? How do you fight your worst enemy is he/she is yourself?

On a cool breezy Saturday morning, San Antonio Parks and Rec. offered a group of eager San Antonians a chance to give back to their city. They brought tools, mulch, arborists, and about 300 trees to the Salado Creek Trailhead on F Street. Starbucks brought hot coffee and pastries to keep us fueled. 

I represented ProRangers and Bexar County Master Gardeners at the trailhead tree planting project. The 40-odd volunteers represented about as many backgrounds. I had the incredible fortune to be able to teach folks (the very little I know) about planting trees and learn about their motivations for getting up so early in the morning to play in the dirt!

I met representatives from the Navy (Hi Miguel and Monique!), arborists (Mr. Booker it was a pleasure meeting your lovely family, Hi Brooke, Mike, and Angelique!) SAWS (Mike, thanks for all your help! I’ve been groping sycamore trees all around the area trying to tell if which variety they are!) and folks who just wanted to spend a day with their family and teach a lesson about the value of volunteerism (Jayvon, thank you very much for helping me carry that bag mulch, it was very heavy!). I met Al and his father of Al’s Lawn Service who is a strong supporter of The Alamo and other Mission parks and acted in their First Friday Reenactments. I got to spend more time with one of my favorite ProRanger cadets Angela; I learn something from her everyday, it so great!

How did you celebrate Earth Day? Do you get the chance to volunteer often? What has been or is your favorite volunteer activity?

kcowyo:

Thunderhead and the Totem Poles in Monument Valley -

Park Rangers wear a series of hats in the execution of their day to day duties. Well there is only one hat ^^, but Park Rangers often play multiple roles within their duty parks. For example on a recent field trip, we went to the San Antonio Missions to speak with the staff and despite their specific job titles, they each play a very important role in carrying out the main objective of the Organic Act (1916):

The service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments, and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.

We heard speeches from Ranger John Lujan, the Park Superintendent: Ranger Al Remley, the Chief of Interpretation; Ranger David Vekasy, Chief of Facility Management; Ranger Susan Snow, Archaeologist; Ranger Greg Mitchell, Natural Resource Specialist; and Chief Law Enforcement Ranger Greg Smith.  

My favorite part was learning about the Park’s economical impact. Here are some quick facts:

• In 2009, The Missions employed 1,116 people and generated $98.8 million dollars in economic activity. In 2016 with park improvement and other initiatives in place, the Park is projected to add over 1000 people to it’s payroll and bring in $214.5 million dollars to San Antonio. 
• Since it’s opening in 1984 park visitation has grown by 750%, from less than 200,000 visitors per year (1984) to more than 1.76 million (2009). 

I’m quickly beginning to realize that the NPS is one of the most versatile, adaptable, and efficient government agencies out there. Year in and year out, they must deliver more and more with less and less. The NPS is not afraid to experiment with new programs and initiatives to increase park visitation and that makes it uniquely responsive and relevant to a constantly changing world.

If your boss told you that you had to take a 15% pay cut every year for the next 4 years but expected you generate twice as much productivity, how would you respond? I’d quit, but the NPS sticks it out, taking it’s aim toward innovation!

I can’t wait to be apart of the organization! 

Usually back home in Georgia, I would have spent Spring break at the Augusta National or trying to escape the hordes of golf traffic but this year I spent spring break trying to become a Wildland Firefighter.

Sunday evening, myself and 17 other ProRanger cadets caravanned our way to College Park, TX, where our Program Manager fed our travel weary bodies and briefed us on the week ahead. We were to report to Big Thicket National Preserve around 2pm Monday to meet with Ranger Monk and Ranger Jeansome per earning our Red Cards. A Red Card is like a license that says you have the appropriate training and physical ability to work on a wildland fire crew.

Monday, we met the Fire office staff and moved into our quarters, the breathtakingly beautiful Camp Urland. The first day we went swimming, hiking, and kayaking. It was awesome!

At first light it was time to rise and head over to the Fire Office for a little hand- on instruction. The 3^rd year cohort learned about tools commonly used in wildland firefighting and techniques used in controlling forest infernos.

 Did you know 99% of fires are fought with foam, dirt, or controlled burns? Water is rarely used to combat wildland fires, while water is essential to the control of structural fires. I also learn how crews  predict a fire’s behavior! It was a great class!

We then donned our PPE (Personal protective equipment) and cut a control line in the woods. I used a crow’s foot and was practically drenched in sweat by the end of It. Last but not least we had to deploy a fire shelter. Hilariously known as baked potatoes, a fire shelter is the last resort of firefighters. To quote the training, “If you have to deploy your fire shelter that mean someone, somewhere has made a horrible mistake…” It sucked being under there on an overcast 78F day. Imagine how it would feel to be under there while a 1200F+ fire was raging around you!

We met up with the 2^nd year cohort and returned to Camp Urland to help in a stewardship project where we cleaned up some campsites. Unfortunately, myself and another cadet were separated from the group. By the time we caught up with them, the project was complete. No winks here! In all seriousness we may have hiked a mile or two searching for them! The cadet I was with pointed out some deer tracks and that was really neat to look at. Thankfully we met up with the Camp’s caretaker and he pointed us in the right direction but it was too late L.

Back at camp, someone fired up the grill and we got the opportunity to bond, talk, play, and learn with one another. One of the 2^nd year cadets told me what to expect this summer in Alaska and another cadet showed some pictures and videos he had of the Last Frontier state.

The next day was the arduous duty day, the dreaded pack test. Every year, to keep their red cards current, fire fighters must walk three miles in 45 minutes while wearing a 45 lb pack, or vest.

 If it sounds simple, try it.

I carpooled to the track with three other cadets and pretended like I wasn’t nervous. I had been training with only a 20lb vest. I put on the 45 lb pack and it felt okay but that didn’t ease my anxiety. One of the Rangers was kind enough to offer his services as the “rabbit.” As long as we stay in front of him, we would pass, if we lagged behind, we would fail. If you ran you were disqualified. If you were too far behind they would pull you off the track. If you looked like you were about to faint they would pull you of the track.  There was an EMT on scene because the chance of death or serious injury was that high.

We warmed up, adjusted our packs and we were off. I had a good start but I just couldn’t pick up a solid rhythm  (my left leg is longer than my right leg and any one of my friends can attest to the resulting clumsiness, it makes for a curious tread pattern on my shoes to say the least). By lap three the rabbit lapped me and it was fight to stay focused and positive while watching him get further and further ahead of me. By lap 7 the rabbit was ahead by a whole lap and Ranger Monk asked if I wanted to stop. I said yes and took a cool-down lap around the track. Chief Ranger Regina Cline of Amistad National Park walked with me to cheer me up. She gave me some great advice about what to do differently next time and how to not let a momentary loss turn into a mind focused on defeat. Ranger Cline was great, her experiences, sense of humor, and encouragement was invaluable. I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such a wealth of insights that are held by people who love to teach! I bet you have the same access to experts looking to become mentors.     

Do you have a mentor? What was the coolest thing you learned from your mentor? If you don’t have a mentor and are in search of one, I would start at my school or go to sba.gov and check out the SCORE members in my area.  

So I didn’t get my red card but I did get a great week with some amazing people. Last Monday, I walked around my neighborhood with my 20 lb vest and got my rhythm straight. I will have that red card before May 24…. 

Is that once you get over that first one, there’s another only a few steps away…

So I made it! I’m officially a ProRanger Cadet! I passed my PEB, by the skin of my teeth, but I passed it!! Since then it’s been nothing but deliciously hard work. Things have gotten so intense, so early on, that I’ve had to move forward with alot of plans that I had in place to implement a year from now. 

My host park this summer is Wrangell St. Elias in southern Alaska. Of course I’m spazzing. I don’t like snow or cold weather and to hear last year cadets tell it, I’m in for plenty of both, at least at first. It should warm up around July. I’m so excited!!! This year I turn 25 and the epic thing I’ll do this year is to climb Mt. Solo (5800+ft), a very small mountain of course but still a mountain…or a steep hill… let’s not split hairs with the terminology here. 

^^That is totally not Mt. Solo^^

Anywho, the next hurdle is obtaining my Red Card. 

The Red Card is a certification that tells federal (and state) agencies that you have passed the necessary coursework and physical fitness requirements to occupy a wildland firefighting position.

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group offers the required coursework online:

 S-130, Firefighter Survival Training;

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

I-100, Introduction to the Incident Command System.

Once the coursework is complete, applicants have to complete a Work Capacity test aka “pack” test where you must *walk* 3 miles in 45 minutes while carrying 45lbs via vest or pack. 

As a Park Ranger having a specialty in Fire Science or Emergency Services looks really good on your resume. The ProRanger program gives you exposure to both fields. 

Next week, we are heading out to Big Thicket National Preserve to complete out training. I’m ready for the pack test. I’ve been taking fish oil in between training sessions (lugging around 45lbs will make your knees sad) and working on some fast walking techniques I learned from other cadets.

I’m ready, nervous but ready.

—Aldo Leopold (1887– 1948), from A Sand County Almanac, published posthumously in 1949 one year after Leopold’s death.

This widely cited book is considered a landmark in the American conservation movement for its call to create a land ethic. Leopold wanted to understand humanity’s relationship with and obligations to the natural world. He is also known as the “father of wildlife management.” The naturalist and author would have been 125 years old today.

(via beingblog)

Not me. I failed.

I needed to do the agility run in 20.4 seconds. I did it in 21.4

I need to run a mile and a half in 17.24 minutes. It took me 23.06 minutes. 

I can *walk* a mile in 20 min… who on this Earth do you know that walks faster than they run? 

Me, that’s who…

I was heartbroken when Ranger Cutler reported my time. I really wanted to cry but I parked far away and I was exhausted. So I just stood there sweating and depressed. Ranger Cutler then commended me on my improvement. Say Wha? Improvement? During the last test I walked for half of he distance. This time I didn’t stop running. And that shows commitment. So much commitment that I have another opportunity to take the PEB in January 5th. Wish me luck!

Have you ever been a situation when all hope seemed lost? What did you do? Were you given a second chance?

So Thursday is the day. That’s tomorrow. They make the second cut for the cadet class tomorrow. I’m terrified. I don’t know if I can do the run. I’ve been training for months and I found out Monday I’ve been “jogging” not running.  I’m freaking out and all I want is a snickers bar.

15 minutes separate me from my dreams…

Tell me about a defining moment in your life. What was it? How did you respond? how did you deal with the fear?