Dear Representative Inslee,
My life was potentially saved by Bryan Smith on August 16, 2007 when he put aside his own needs and safety for mine. It was amazing to me how calmly and without blinking an eye he offered to carry my heavy 55 pound pack nearly 5 miles up 2,000 feet of elevation gain safely above the expected path of the Domke Lake fire raging below. (As of August 23rd the fire has not reached the point where Bryan helped me but on the 16th everything indicated the fire would overwhelm our location soon)
Situation:
I started my solo hike on August 12th at High Bridge trail head above the remote village of Stehekin, Washington, the head of Lake Chelan. I followed the Pacific Crest Trail / Agnes Creek Trail, located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area, 20 miles to Suitattle and Cloudy Passes. I had planned to then head West to Miners Ridge and Image Lake for 4 days then return to Cloudy Pass and hike out via Holden Village about 10 miles away. Along the trail I encountered only 4 hikers during 5 days and at one point I went 36 hours without see another human. The solitude was welcome but concern set in as the upper valleys began to fill with smoke to the point it was impossible to see Glacier Peak off in the distance.
From 1973 through 1977 I worked as a Forest Technician for the US Forest Service and part of a crew that fought 22 wild fires. I experienced the potential power and danger of a wild fire in a dry forest. On the 16th of August, I carefully observed the wind blowing at a rate above 30 knots towards the fire near Holden. As I planned my escape, all of the smoke cleared but the wind continued to blow strongly towards Holden. I figured that it was safe for me to exit through Holden, expecting the fire would be moving away to the Southeast of my escape route. I was eager to complete my solo hike and started the 8.5 hike from Cloudy Pass to Holden at 5:30 AM. I was extremely tired, mentally exhausted and fearful of what may be ahead on the trail. I kept second guessing myself since I had not seen a hiker from Holden in nearly a week who could confirm the fire situation. I elected to keep moving down the trail rather than turning all the way back to Stehekin as my food supply began to be depleted. I hiked for 5 hours, past Lyman Lake, Rebel Camp and Hart Lake until I reached Bryan Smith and “Hallie” who were in route to Lyman Lake to post a trail closure notice. Bryan told me I could not get through Holden since the fire had reached the road and that everyone except two Sheriff’s had been evacuated two days earlier. Bryan said no vehicles except for the Holden buses remained and there was no hope for a helicopter due to the heavy smoke. Bryan said that the fire was now coming up the road toward Holden at a pace of two miles per day. At that time they expected the fire would reach the point where we were talking within one or two days.
I told Bryan about my solo hike, my exhausted body and my mental shape. The thought that I needed to now completely re-trace my hike back up about 4,000 feet of elevation gain and about 30 miles back to Stehekin was overwhelming. I pleaded with him to let me rest and regain my strength at Heart Lake over night. He said that he could not let that happen and it was his duty was to get me safely above Lyman Lake before night fall. It was at this point that Bryan graciously offered to carry my pack and lead me back to safety. All I wanted to do was lie down and sleep for awhile. In my mind, unless I broke a leg, it was my responsibility get myself back to safety on my own…I thought, I hiked in here myself so, I should be able to hike myself out. This time I was just beat. Bryan never mentioned my weakness and just kept saying only, “I’m here to help.”
Bryan is a hero and a fine example of a hard working US Forest Service Employee! I personally benefited by his caring heart and personal sacrifice. Unknowingly I had admired the work that the trail crew, he leads, had done on the Agnes Creek Trail during the month of July 2007. I noted how the crew took special care to restore the trail following the great wind storm of October 2006 where over 600 trees had fallen over a 13 mile stretch of the trail. The way the crew cut and removed the blocking logs took a lot of effort. The crew made the extra effort to place the removed logs and branches in such away as it was pleasing to the eye… it was just as if they were landscaping a private yard. The trees that they cut-up and moved will be visible for at least 25 to 50 years to everyone who hikes the trail. It is very clear that Bryan and the rest of his crew worked hard and loved restoring this historic trail. The work paid off since the trail became my lifeline to safety.
I only wish that Bryan can be offered a full time, permanent position with the Forest Service. He is one of many dedicated temporary employees now waiting up to 10 years to secure a permanent job while juggling private lives to reach their dreams.
I will never forget what Bryan Smith did for me. Once he dropped me off at Lyman Lake, he hiked back 5 miles to Holden to pick up his personal pack and met back up with Hallie. Then, they planned to hike North on Ten Mile Creek Trail to reach their own safety. He expected to reach their safe spot sometime near 1 AM the next day. What guy! He is a man of value and character. By the way, I mentioned to Bryan that I’m active in the Boy Scouts of America and Bryan casually said, “I was once an Eagle Scout.” I reminded him that he is an Eagle for life and that he continues to do his duty to “help other people at all times”… and continues to “do a good turn daily.”
Please acknowledge Bryan for his kind and heroic actions on my behalf and somehow find a way to reward him with a permanent position within the Forest Service doing what he loves doing most… serving others.
Sincerely,
James S. Peek
6453 Buckskin Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 817-5879
cc Linda Goodman, Regional Forester, Portland OR
Bob Sheehan – US Forest Service, District Ranger, Chelan, WA
Ken Dull – US Forest Service Trails / Wilderness, Chelan, WA
Bryan Smith – US Forest Service, Chelan Ranger District, Chelan, WA
My life was potentially saved by Bryan Smith on August 16, 2007 when he put aside his own needs and safety for mine. It was amazing to me how calmly and without blinking an eye he offered to carry my heavy 55 pound pack nearly 5 miles up 2,000 feet of elevation gain safely above the expected path of the Domke Lake fire raging below. (As of August 23rd the fire has not reached the point where Bryan helped me but on the 16th everything indicated the fire would overwhelm our location soon)
Situation:
I started my solo hike on August 12th at High Bridge trail head above the remote village of Stehekin, Washington, the head of Lake Chelan. I followed the Pacific Crest Trail / Agnes Creek Trail, located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area, 20 miles to Suitattle and Cloudy Passes. I had planned to then head West to Miners Ridge and Image Lake for 4 days then return to Cloudy Pass and hike out via Holden Village about 10 miles away. Along the trail I encountered only 4 hikers during 5 days and at one point I went 36 hours without see another human. The solitude was welcome but concern set in as the upper valleys began to fill with smoke to the point it was impossible to see Glacier Peak off in the distance.
From 1973 through 1977 I worked as a Forest Technician for the US Forest Service and part of a crew that fought 22 wild fires. I experienced the potential power and danger of a wild fire in a dry forest. On the 16th of August, I carefully observed the wind blowing at a rate above 30 knots towards the fire near Holden. As I planned my escape, all of the smoke cleared but the wind continued to blow strongly towards Holden. I figured that it was safe for me to exit through Holden, expecting the fire would be moving away to the Southeast of my escape route. I was eager to complete my solo hike and started the 8.5 hike from Cloudy Pass to Holden at 5:30 AM. I was extremely tired, mentally exhausted and fearful of what may be ahead on the trail. I kept second guessing myself since I had not seen a hiker from Holden in nearly a week who could confirm the fire situation. I elected to keep moving down the trail rather than turning all the way back to Stehekin as my food supply began to be depleted. I hiked for 5 hours, past Lyman Lake, Rebel Camp and Hart Lake until I reached Bryan Smith and “Hallie” who were in route to Lyman Lake to post a trail closure notice. Bryan told me I could not get through Holden since the fire had reached the road and that everyone except two Sheriff’s had been evacuated two days earlier. Bryan said no vehicles except for the Holden buses remained and there was no hope for a helicopter due to the heavy smoke. Bryan said that the fire was now coming up the road toward Holden at a pace of two miles per day. At that time they expected the fire would reach the point where we were talking within one or two days.
I told Bryan about my solo hike, my exhausted body and my mental shape. The thought that I needed to now completely re-
Bryan is a hero and a fine example of a hard working US Forest Service Employee! I personally benefited by his caring heart and personal sacrifice. Unknowingly I had admired the work that the trail crew, he leads, had done on the Agnes Creek Trail during the month of July 2007. I noted how the crew took special care to restore the trail following the great wind storm of October 2006 where over 600 trees had fallen over a 13 mile stretch of the trail. The way the crew cut and removed the blocking logs took a lot of effort. The crew made the extra effort to place the removed logs and branches in such away as it was pleasing to the eye… it was just as if they were landscaping a private yard. The trees that they cut-
I only wish that Bryan can be offered a full time, permanent position with the Forest Service. He is one of many dedicated temporary employees now waiting up to 10 years to secure a permanent job while juggling private lives to reach their dreams.
I will never forget what Bryan Smith did for me. Once he dropped me off at Lyman Lake, he hiked back 5 miles to Holden to pick up his personal pack and met back up with Hallie. Then, they planned to hike North on Ten Mile Creek Trail to reach their own safety. He expected to reach their safe spot sometime near 1 AM the next day. What guy! He is a man of value and character. By the way, I mentioned to Bryan that I’m active in the Boy Scouts of America and Bryan casually said, “I was once an Eagle Scout.” I reminded him that he is an Eagle for life and that he continues to do his duty to “help other people at all times”… and continues to “do a good turn daily.”
Please acknowledge Bryan for his kind and heroic actions on my behalf and somehow find a way to reward him with a permanent position within the Forest Service doing what he loves doing most… serving others.
Sincerely,
James S. Peek
6453 Buckskin Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 817-
Bob Sheehan – US Forest Service, District Ranger, Chelan, WA
Ken Dull – US Forest Service Trails / Wilderness, Chelan, WA
Bryan Smith – US Forest Service, Chelan Ranger District, Chelan, WA
August 23, 2007
Bryan Smith, US Forest Service
US Rep. Jay Inslee
403 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4701
Subject: Bryan Smith - North Cascades Wild Fire Hero / Gifted Forest Steward
Bryan Smith, US Forest Service
US Rep. Jay Inslee
403 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-
Subject: Bryan Smith -
Bryan Smith, US Forest
Click the camera to see photos from the hike