Update!

Dear Internet,

So I've known for a little bit but because I'm an awful person I haven't told you until now: Will got a job! He will be a hotshot firefighter in Plumas County, California. It's a step up from being on an engine or hand crew - a little more prestigious, and they get called in for harder work. So it's great. Plus, it pays really well.

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The downside is that it's in California, and that it lasts until October-ish. But it's good for him... so it'll work somehow.

I'm driving there with him, and we leave on Monday! The plan is to drive through Portland, OR and Eugene to see Ben, then through Crater Lake, the Redwoods, and Lassen Volcanic National Park. When I drive back, I'll go through Reno, NV to see my Uncle Glenn (maybe), and stop in Missoula for the Color Me Rad 5k and Brewfest. Should be a great trip - I'll update with pictures after I get back!

Today Will and I had a great day. He's been working at Gates of the Mountains, a really spectacular area on the Missouri. There was supposed to be a tour that we were going to tag along on, but the tour group never showed up so his boss let us take a boat out on our own. We cruised around for a while (Will learned really quickly how to drive a motorboat) and hiked at Mann Gulch, where 13 smoke jumpers died in August of 1949. I learned about that fire in fire training last year with ERT, so it was cool and really humbling to see it in person. It is REALLY steep - I would not have made it out of that fire either!

From today:

Driving the boat. Is that what you call it?

View of the river from the pictograph area

1300 year-old pictographs by Native Americans along the river

Mann Gulch. You can't really tell how steep it is from the picture.

One of 13 graves on the hill at Mann Gulch

Looking down at Mann Gulch

Another view from the ridge!

Anyway, more pictures to come!

xoxo Liz