So, though we have owned a TT for 15 years, we have only ever used it in our business/pastime of showing dogs. So we were always camped at a show site where power and often full hook ups were available. With dog shows being cancelled we decided to go truly "camping" with our camper. (a 26RBPR) It turned into one exciting week-end.
Left Thursday for the Uncompahgre National Forest so as to find as nice site before the Memorial week-end rush. Great place on the side of 13,000 ft Lone Cone Mountain. We took 3 of the Shepherds and stayed for 3 nights. Absolutely beautiful views and great get away. About 600 yards from us and over a rise where we could not see or hear were a large gathering of family and friends who apparently always camped at that spot every Memorial week-end. Must have been 6 campers plus tents and people of all ages. But that was OK as I said we did not really hear or see them except passing on the road. Now there is a drought happening here of some magnitude. Enough so that DW and I decided no campfire. We took along a scout vehicle so we could drive to hiking trails around the mountain. On the second day we started out early and as we got to the main forest service road DW exclaimed "what the .... are they doing!"
looking to my right I was shocked to see about 150 yards away through the trees flames 12 foot high starting up into the Ponderosa's and their entire camp trying to hold the flames back.
Yep, our neighbors had set the forest on fire.
Learned a thing here. I had not packed a shovel. Will never make that mistake again. A polaski and a shovel will become permanent tools in the truck. Fortunately they had shovels and I manned one in a fight to keep the fire contained. There were easily 15 of us. They had called for help, (first time I really appreciated cell phones. Not that long ago this fire would have turned into a major conflagration for lack of help) Took the BLM well over an hour to get there and we had all we could do to keep this thing out of the tree tops. Took the BLM crew and their tanker truck over 8 hours to put out the fire. They were joined by county fire crews.
When i first started to fight the fire Carrie went back to our camp and began packing for a quick exit. It blew a gale that day but fortunately did not start until after the BLM crew had been there about 2 hours and they had by that time created a fair sized fire break as well as dumped the tanker of water. There is a lake about 8 to 10 miles away and they would go there to refill.
Though I had taken an extra 10 gallons of water, that got used up on the fire. And as I said I had no shovel. So really two things I learned. You cannot have too much extra water if you can carry it (and I could have) and have a shovel when Boondocking.
You know, all of the post and you guys never mentioned the fun of fighting forest fires when out Boondocking.
We look forward to our next adventure.
Oak