"Horace Albright's reply to applicants for park ranger jobs in Yellowstone in 1926."

 U.S. Army"Buffalo Soldiers" - pre-NPS park protectors

Today is the centennial anniversary of the founding of the National Park Service (NPS). We've evolved a lot this past century. Here is a reply from Horace Albright (1st NPS Superintendent of Yellowstone, and 2nd Director of the NPS) to Park Ranger applicants to Yellowstone 90-years ago:

 

early Ranger uniform

“Qualifications of a Ranger

Applicants for a ranger’s position must be 21 years of age or must attain that age by June 15th. If you are not 21, or will not be by June 15th, don’t apply. If you have the reputation of appearing unusually youthful or immature for a man of 21, don’t apply. We want men who are mature in appearance. We prefer men of 25 to 30 years of age.

The ranger is primarily a policeman, therefore he should be big in frame, tall, and of average weight for his age and height. We always prefer big men to small men, other conditions being equal. If you are small of stature, better not apply.

Clare Marie Hodges - Yosemite, 1917

The ranger comes more closely in contact with the visiting public than any other park officer, and he is the representative of the Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the National Park Service and the Superintendent of the Park in dealing with the public. Naturally, therefore, the ranger must have a pleasing personality; he must be tactful, diplomatic, and courteous; he must be patient. If you are not possessed of such characteristics, please don’t apply. Without them you would become, if selected, a failure from the beginning of your service.

Ranger talk

The ranger is charged with the protection of the natural features of the Park, especially the forests. Applicants should present evidence of their having had experience in camping out in the woods. Forestry students who have had training in forestry work and forest fire fighting are given preference to other applicants if they possess the qualifications as to age, size, and personality.

Me at Tonto Nat'l Mon.

The ranger must know how to cook ordinary foods and must have experience in kitchen police. If you cannot cook and care for a ranger station, don’t apply. You would be an unpopular burden on your fellow rangers and the butt of all station jokes should you be selected without this essential qualification.

We want big mature men with fine personalities and experience in the out-of-doors in riding, camping, woodcraft, fighting fires, and similar activities.

Duties of A Ranger

The ranger force is the park police force, and is on duty night and day in the protection of the park. Protection work primarily relates to the care of the forests, the fish and game, the geyser and hot spring formations and the campgrounds. Of equal importance is the detection of violations of the speed rules. The ranger force is the information-supplying organization. The issuance of publications, answering of questions, lecturing, and guiding are all accomplished by rangers.”

Per George Robinson, Chief of NPS Education & Visitor Services (Retired).

Then

Now

“Don’t Bury Me On The Lone Prairie; I’d Rather Play There Live…” Cosmic Cowboy

19 AUG 2016: As I sit at the Old Santa Fe Trail building’s information desk, doing a volunteer-in-parks (VIP) gig, I’m reflecting on the 100-years that the National Park Service (NPS) has been attempting to protect park areas via their legislated mandate "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." Considering present expectations of a high-octane special-effects world, that’s often tough to achieve, for so many lessons from NPS areas are subtle in nature. Many take years, decades or even generations to appreciate and understand.

Emily Erickson

It has been many new moons since I’ve posted anything, even though I’ve thought about various semi-worthy topics: old resource protection cases, archeological observations, or other non-polarizing topics  (abortion, same-sex marriage, climate change, income guarantees, gun control, etc. - NOT). So, I’ll just compose a few updates of some trips here in the southwestern part of the U.S.A. (its been fairly mundane- no dive trips or exotic destinations):

In May, I flew over to central Arizona: our goddaughter, Emily Erickson, graduated from the Gilbert Classic Academy (high school) and soon starts in the nursing program at Grand Canyon University (under scholarship: way-to-go Emily!). She and her younger brother Andrew were also preparing for a trip to London, which they did in June I believe (I bet that was blog worthy). 

I spent much of June in Arizona at two wildfires as a Safety Officer. The initial dispatch was to the Juniper Fire on the Payson/Pleasant Valley Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest (NF). The Incident Command Post was in Young, AZ, and as some of you might remember Meme & I used to own some acres in Young that we bought while working in Tonto Basin (myself at Tonto National Monument & Meme w/ the Forest Service). It was an interesting assignment, seeing the changes and/or places that looked pretty much like they had in 1978 (or probably 1938). The fire grew to about 30,000 acres and achieved many of what are termed “management objectives.” In other words… it did good. Plus there were no major incidents or injuries: well maybe one. There was a “Lesson Learned” by a UTV operator (a Division Supervisor) re: the value of wearing a DOT approved helmet. He was wearing one (instead of a fire helmet) when his ride flipped. May have saved his life or great bodily harm. We went through several transitions there, as the Incident Management Team (IMT) went from a 3 to a 2 back to a 3 during my tenure. Transitions are always a heads-up/watch-out time (more than usual), too many tragedies occur during them.

My second “roll” in June was to the Cedar Fire on the White Mountain/Fort Apache Agency. The fire was threatening the towns of Show Low, Lakeside-Pinetop and the casino at Hondah. So, this was a Type I (IMT) fire with many complex issues that come with a wildland-urban interface incident. I was assigned to work with the two structural protection groups (north & south), which made for some long days. It still feels gratifying that I can contribute in some small way, realizing that any fire could be my last. I used to be a young firefighter/Park Ranger, now I’m usually “the old guy” (but that in itself can be a walking safety message). I got to “tie-in” with Mark Harvey, a retired NPS Park Ranger that lives close to us in Eldorado: he was playing “Mr. Demob” for the incident. While there we experienced some minor issues, but while we were headed home (another transition period) there was a crew that had multiple fire shelter deployments.

July found me waiting for another assignment: I’ve been asked on numerous occasions “why aren’t you in California?” Good question, and I can only re-state there seems little rhyme-or-reason to when the phone rings from “Santa Fe Zone” (our local interagency dispatcher). So instead, I had to decide between attending my yoga class at SFCC, or trying to qualify for the Olympic Fantasy Team in “butterfly walking” followed by a pint of porter for a cool-down period. I selected both-of-the-above. I also enjoyed a day on the upper Pecos River with a fly fishing guide. Our catch-n-release adventure landed about 2-dozen rainbow & brown trout, with the largest being ca. 20” and 3-lbs. No pictures, as I was busy… The month had much hotter temps than normal, but brought on the cooling monsoonal moisture in time for our “just about annual” trip to Pacific Beach. As usual, dispatch called me 2-days before the system showed me as “not available” for a fire assignment (previous years it has been the day before we left for the coast). Tough choice, but the Pacific was calling (besides, we had Meme’s retirement from the Office of the State Engineer. Her last day in the office was the end of July, with August being an annual leave month). Besides we wanted to catch up with Meme’s brother Mark & stepbrother Charlie (still flying for Alaska Airlines), which we were able to do while enjoying the warm sand & surf.

We knew at the end of last year that the Dept. of Interior’s International Technical Assistance Program involving our work & efforts in Petra were being shut down. It became final recently when I was asked to sign a closeout contract document. I’ll miss our many friends and adventures there, and of course working with retired NPS Rangers Bill Wade & Bruce McKeeman. My biggest surprise of the summer was at our locale market (The Agora): at the frozen foods I ran into Nancy Wizner. We’d worked together at Santa Monica Mountains and she resides in western Colorado. We are going to stay-in-touch.

The second week of August we finally got up to Red River, NM (aka “Little Texas”) for a concert by Michael Martin Murphey (MMM). The town is ca. 8600’ and we stayed in a nice historic room above Texas Reds steakhouse (same Texas Red as of “Big Iron” fame). The chuck wagon dinner & concert was held in an amphitheater at an old ranch a couple miles from town (at about 10,000’ – glad we had our hoodies). It was a very casual scene with MMM talking to some of us pre-concert. Meme made a couple of requests, one of which (“Southwestern Pilgrimage”) he started off the show singing, after leading in with the backstory of how it’d been requested by a Lady from Santa Fe and he’d written it years ago when leaving Austin and its music scene in his rearview mirror for the wide open spaces and Rocky Mountains. Later in the concert, he made some conservation comments: noting that the reason they didn’t have a campfire blazing was the amount of pines around the lake & hillside that had suffered bug-kill. There were some stringers you could see during daylight. Anyway, he mentioned the Beaver Creek fire in northern Colorado (Routt NF), close to his ranch, and even though it was wet, the diseased trees were burning – over 35,000 acres. "Cosmic Cowboy" went down well all around.

Last night a bunch of Meme’s rock climbing amigos y amigas held a really nice potluck at Wolf’s hacienda off upper Canyon Road, using her retirement from the State of NM as an excuse. I think some road trips are in the works. Anyway, that is about it for now, take care and “be careful out there”…

Saving Private Punke (Michael Punke)

Paramount Ranch

Later tonight is the Academy Awards back in SoCal. When I was growing up in the “Southland” this was an exciting time of year. We had kennels in Burbank and Malibu, with many friends and associates involved with “the movies.” When I was a District Ranger at Santa Monica Mountains we also had lots of “film days” taking our attention. Later with Justin majoring in Theater (and being an extra in some motion pictures), before going to law school, we were always interested in the industry and their trends. Throughout the years we’ve watched (especially in the stormy and cold wintertime).

Earlier this month I participated in the annual wildland fire refresher course and took the work capacity test: as a Safety Officer I only need to attain a moderate level of physical fitness, If you were wondering. That entails 2-miles in 30-minutes with a 25-pound pack; no running allowed – so, it is a brisk walk (try it and you’ll see). My test time this year? 27 minutes 40 seconds. Anyway, at the annual refresher the lead instructor asked us to briefly introduce ourselves by adding what our favorite movie is and why. There were some that you’d expect (Lawrence of Arabia, Braveheart, Jeremiah Johnson, etc.) where I found myself agreeing with them, and some that T didn’t expect (“any movie with Nicolas Cage”). This was a group of 35-firefighters after all. There was one lady that picked “Saving Private Ryan” and she mentioned the intensity. I flashed back to exiting the big screen at the Lensic Theater (Santa Fe) and seeing several people of my parent’s generation sobbing in the back. I admit the story brought emotion swelling up through my eyes too. Good stories can do that. I picked Ben Hur, due to its historical nature and overwhelming message of hope... 

This past Christmas, Justin gave me the novel The Revenant to read; he knows I love reading history and historical fiction. I had several other works ahead; so, I put it in the queue (like we all do). Earlier this month I picked it up and started reading, I was familiar with some of the story re: Hugh Glass and Captain Henry. I got into it without really noting the author. When I finally did, I went “Holy Caca” (well, I actually used another excrement exclamation). The writer, Michael Punke, had worked with our “Living History” program at Fort Laramie National Historic Site. I was the Chief of Interpretation/Education and supervised that program. Many days I recall Private (Pvt.) Punke on duty at the guardhouse, bakery, or another educational program post. He was a regular part of our mountain howitzer cannon firing demonstration (which I termed “big boom interpretation”).  

Here is a photo of us before the demonstration (Pvt. Punke in foreground and Sgt. Young to his left). For-the-record: my memories of Mike were one’s of overwhelming intelligence and smiles. I think the camera must have caught him here after hearing another idiotic order coming down from command via this Sergeant (remember, “gripes go up”… orders go down). 

Michael was a deeply valued asset and teammate. The National Park Service (NPS)  & I were lucky to have him share his numerous talents with us. He had just graduated from Torrington High School when I met him, and he was “headed east” for college in Massachusetts. Besides being extraordinarily smart, with a keen wit, he was well rooted and grounded. Overall, one of the nicest persons I ever worked with (which is saying a lot). At an evaluation, I remember telling him once that I’d love to work with him again anyplace, anytime. He continued his education as I continued my NPS career.

Many times over the years I wondered what had happened to some of the young men and women that brought life to our program. I’d kept in touch with a few, and used this photo at many training sessions. Taken in front of “Old Bedlam” (Officers Quarters) before a “Moon Light Tour” of the “Ol’ Fort,” it contains among others in our cast: Pvt. Punke (fifth from left), Dr. Don Warder- Univ. of Wyoming (far left) and myself (far right). While my career trail was a step-at-a-time, his is a great one that is being well documented by the electronic-media.

After college and law school he was a senior advisor in the Clinton White House (yep, while most of us watched “The West Wing” he lived it). He wrote several books (I’m reading), and has maintained a noticeably low profile during the media-frenzy around the story he wrote and the movie nominated for Best Picture. The talk has been about his consideration for ethics issues, as he is now the U.S. Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO). I think of it as being the young guy I knew so many decades go, a classic young Punke scene: doing his job and being with family & friends; Saving Pvt. Punke (or the private life of Punke, if you will).

I wrote him a thank you letter earlier this month (11 Feb.), but it was returned as “No Mail Receptacle – Unable to Forward.” No worries, it isn’t time sensitive and I’m sure he is receiving a plethora of salutations: I just want to say THANK YOU for your continued public service and well done from an old NPS colleague (and soldier) to another. “Well Done ! Michael (and  thanks for turning-me-on-to U2 so long ago)…” 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/27/movies/the-revenants-author-has-a-day-job.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/12175994/The-Revenant-Leonardo-DiCaprio-Oscars-book.html

Twenty-Fifteen

Phil-Justin-Meme after Justin's "swearing-in" by NM Supreme Court

Annual disclaimer: I know that you are used to partial truths and downright fabrications & lies, but the following were some of our experiences this year.

UNM Law grads

Justin completed law school classes at UNM one-term early last December. He utilized Spring semester time to study for, and pass, the NM Bar Exam.  It was with great pride that we witnessed him being sworn in before the NM Supreme Court (and noticed that of the few that had “sponsor” introductions made to the Court, his was the only one by UNM Law School faculty). Before graduation, or Bar results, he started work with a small law office in Albuquerque that specializes in Social Security disability. As promised for graduation, he is now the owner of the Porsche (2002 Boxster).

Meme continued her efforts with the Office of the State Engineer, managing Water Rights in northern NM. She plans to continue until about mid-year and then have more time for rocking-on (climbing adventures), with some yoga thrown in.

Phil shares periodic yoga poses, and had another year of college tennis umpiring (+ the State High School tourney: a lot of fun) and fire assignments. This year’s Safety Officer mobilizations included the Frog (Modoc NF) and River Complex (Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers NF’s) with some incredible people. It was nice being back in the Humboldt area, and visiting the good folks of Willow Creek & Denny (where hot shootin’ water wars continue over irrigating your cash crop (and competing with “The Cartels”).  Plus, I continued to teach heritage resource protection: NAU, NM Dept. of Game & Fish, site stewards, etc. In February the kid-from-the-kennel received the State’s David Matthews Award for stewardship (after he’d nominated someone else), which was the first time it had been awarded in many years.   http://travelranger87508.blogspot.com

Mom & Bedlington

Margaret & Chuck

 In May we lost Phil’s mom: Margaret Ann (Newlin) Young Renihan had completed 90 trips-around-the-sun, and was halfway through another, when she journeyed-on. Thanks to sisters Laura & Chris and the hospice team, her last days were peaceful ones. The wonderful sister-wife-mother-grandmother-great grandmother and AKC breeder & dog show judge is well remembered by many; several testimonials, celebrations and memorials. She was extraordinary, and is now one with the ages, with Dad. A few months later Arlene Medici (Meme’s step-mom) left to be with Chuck (Meme’s Dad).

They’ll both be well remembered.

Malibu Beach Inn area

As you may have noted, no dive trips or sojourns to Pacific Beach this year; hope to “make bubbles’ again semi-soon. We did manage to make it to Phil’s high school reunion (BHS ’65; no, Peter Pan wasn’t there) and had a brief stay in October at the Malibu Beach Inn (next to the pier), and Lucy just keeps with her theme: “Girls just want to have fun…” Her favorite game? Basketball- she plays a tight one-on-one (dog-on-person) defense and doesn’t give up the ball easily…

Lucy

Thoughts-n-prayers to you-n-yours in 2016 (and of course ALL our friends in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: Inshallah!)   Meme & Phil

Mom & Dad early 1960's