steve1

Made it back from Lost Prairie. Took my camper and boat this year, so things were a lot more comfortable. My daughter and I camped at Little Mcgreggor Lake. What a beautiful spot. The jumping was fun as usual. Was in a 29 way Pops load with Amazon. A lot of people were out so I guess it doesn't break the old state record. These were my first 40 way loads, so I felt privilaged to be invited. Watched a 39 way build from the ground. One guy was out. Was part of a hybrid state record attempt, but a few free flyers were out so it didn't build. I went on one tracking dive for a change of pace. Made a bunch of jumps with Mad John. He must be one tough dude. I mean he's no spring chicken, yet he's still able to organize, and make ten jumps a day (or more), and then celebrate into the wee hours of the morning....(For seven or eight days straight). I wish I had endurance like that. Did I mention I had a cypress fire? Sucked in down way too low, and landed with two out. There were three cypress fires and a lot of malfunctions this year. I missed Sunday so there may have been something exciting happen that day. I made one jump with Dave Dewolf, Scratch Garrison, and Scratch's wife. These are truly nice people with tons of memories and stories from the old days. Bill Vonn and Amy were there. Amy organized a few all girl loads. I think they're on there way to another boogie today. I talked to a few other DZ.Com folks but can't recall all their names. Amazon and I had trouble getting another boat for the water jumps this year, so they are postponed till next year. So I guess that's about all I have to report from Lost Prairie......Steve1

Prior to quitting jumping back in the 70's I developed a crappy attitude and didn't log about 50 jumps. So the exact number is lost. I know a few other jumpers who quit logging years ago. When you ask them how many jumps they think they really have, the number is almost always exaggerated. I know one guy who claims to have more than two thousand when in reality only has maybe 900. I was talking to Greg Nardi the other day and he said this is quite common. Many jumpers feel like they have a lot more jumps than they have in reality. I now accurately record every jump. Otherwise I may feel like a sky god when I'm really not.....Steve1

When I'm around ninety, with my French jump boots on. But then again since no one wears Frenchies anymore...maybe with my tennis-shoes on. But then again.....dying in the saddle with a beautiful young woman would also be great...(with my Frenchies still on, of course) Or maybe having a heart attack at age 90 after flying in 500th to one of B.J. Worth's record attempts. (as long as I'm dreaming I might as well dream big). Going suddenly, in my sleep, dreaming of skydiving, or good looking women might not be too bad. I mean what else is there in life. Just as long as I don't have to do any suffering first. Oh hell, I just can't decide...maybe I'll live forever....Steve1..

It seems like one of the "crappiest" thing about the military is that you often have to hurry up and then wait for long periods of time. But then again almost everything has it's down side. If I had it to do the military over again I think I'd pack a book with me where ever I went. We didn't have computers in the olden days. I was once an E-6. To tell you the truth I kind of wish I was still in. Being able to jump at a place like Raeford would be a great incentive to stay in. Maybe when you are forced to do something real boring, think of all your past fun jumps and the ones you are going to make in the future. This may help to pass the time. A lot of us felt that when we got out of the military life would be good. I remember ending up working nights in a saw mill mill after I got out while going to school during the day. Believe me, it really sucked. I remember one night when I was stuck puttying boards in the finished part of the mill. Talk about boring. As I worked away at this shit job I started BSing with another guy who was doing the same thing. Come to find out he was a former fighter pilot with over a 100 missions in Nam flying a phantom jet. He went from that to patching lumber in the saw mill while he worked his way through Law school. I think we both wished we were still in the Military at that moment. Hang in there. Things will get better....Steve1

My back-up rig has an old Falcon in it. It also opens kind of hard. I hardly ever jump it, but since my other rig is at the riggers, I'll have to use it for a few more days. My question is, is it okay to pro-pack it rather than the recommended flat -pack (for F-111 material). Actually I psycho-packed it for the last two jumps, and it opened perfect. Soft and on heading. Everyone I talk to at our DZ says that this may be a "no no"....Thanks for your input.....Steve1

I've spent a lot of time in the back-country of Montana, Canada, and Alaska. I've never had any serious run-ins with the wildlife, but shit can happen, so it's good to be prepared, just in case.... We had our back packs raided once by a wolverine, and he returned later that night for more. My Dad had his camp raided once by a Grizzly in the Bob Marshal. I saw a camper trailer ruined by a Black Bear who crawled through a window. All these occurances could have been avoided by keeping a cleaner camp. You might want to keep your food in plastic bags, and hang it high up away from your camp. I usually carry a large caliber pistol or a shotgun with slugs for bear. In a National Park, bear spray may be a better option. But again, I've never had to use a weapon in a self defense scenario. Just remember not to run from any predator. There's a good chance they'll come after you if you do. In Moose country, it is best to run away from them, if they come after you. Usually they will stop after a short distance. I know one guy who thinks moose are more dangerous than a Grizzly, in the Spring. They can rear up on their hind legs and strike at you with their front hooves. More than one fellow has been stomped to death by one. If you don't crowd them they are usually very docile. A cow with a calf can be very dangerous. Even Mountain Goat can be dangerous. They have very sharp horns and they have been known to even kill wolves. Most all these critters are usually scared of people. My advice would be not to worry much and have a great time in Glacier Park. The Going to the Sun Highway is something to behold. I've never hiked any of the trails in Glacier, but I'd like to some day. This park is one scenic place....Steve1

What's another Californian! Half the people who are now calling themselves Montanians are former Californians. Before I returned to jumping I complained as loudly as anyone else about people moving in and ruining the hunting, fishing, personal freedom, and open spaces that could be found here. I couldn't figure out how anyone could stand to live in a crowded place like California. I figured these people must surely be different than I was. I mean this developed into a huge prejudice that was based on ignorance. Lot's of people still feel that way here, and it's stupid. And then I started jumping in places like Perris, Elsinore, and Eloy. I suddenly realized, maybe there are cooler places in the world than Montana. I also came to realize that the people from other places are no different than myself. So now when I meet someone from California....I think that's cool, what a wonderful climate in the winter. What a great place to jump. There's still lot's of open space out in the desert.....Hell, I may be a Californian myself someday.... if I can jump in places like Perris and Elsinore. I hope to see you all at lost Prairie.....Steve1

I've been jumping quite a bit lately with Beesley (from Montana) who was also in this formation. He and Blaine Wright organize most of our 20 way loads. On another note Greg Nardi is bringing his King Air down to Caldwell again this weekend. It takes a little more than five minutes to get to altitude. So you may want to take this in.....Steve1

I did the same with my old Vector. I used two long strips of very rigid foam (about 3/4 of an inch thick). Now it's quite comfy.....Steve1

Happy Birthday Seb Stud Horse! (That's what we call him here in Montana)........Steve1

Back in the 70's it would have been hard to find a rigger who didn't smoke the stuff in my club. I was about the only Redneck in it. As long as they're not under the influence it wouldn't bother me to have them pack my reserve. The big thing to me is the quality of their work, and whether or not they know their stuff. Some riggers do a better job and are more observant, and take their work more seriously than others. Back when I was packing chest packs I'll admit there was a lot I never learned to get certified. I could barely run a sewing machine. The riggers coming out of training today have a much larger knowlege base than I had....Steve1

We had a guy show up at our DZ a while back who was a former recon marine and also HALO qualified. He had no other jump experience though. The owner of our club planned to let him jump after some refresher training. When I started jumping again after a 25 year lay-off I had no license. Most of us didn't bother with licenses back in the 70's. So after making 20 or 30 jumps at my home DZ (which was also a USPA club) I figured I'd do some traveling and take my rig along. I showed up at Skydive, Oregon with intentions of getting on an Otter. I had my old log books to show but the only license I could produce was an old chest pack rigger's license. The manager (Blake) wouldn't let me jump, because it was against the rules. Finally after a lot of begging he offered to take me up on a check out dive. Things went well so they let me make several more jumps even though I didn't have a license. So, I guess it depends on the DZ whether you get on a load or not without a license......Steve1

If I was you I'd come up one way and go home another. Glacier Park is more scenic than Yellowstone, but you'd see more wildlife in Yellowstone. If you get near Missoula come down to Stevensville to jump with us. Usually we jump a Cessna, but Greg Nardi will be bringing up his King Air from florida on a few weekends. There are a lot of clear water lakes to visit in the Swan and Flathead valleys. There are many outfitters available if you like to white-water raft. Looking forward to seeing you guys at Lost Prairie....Steve1

I watched an elderly lady who must of been in her 80's if not 90's make a tandem at Perris, several years ago. They brought her out of the training area in a golf cart because she had trouble walking. She looked really cute in her jump suit and frap hat. When she was under canopy a loud cheer went up from the packing area. I hope to have that kind of courage when I get that age....Steve1

I also got my slow sleeves from Shirley. Since I'm several lbs. heavier this year, I use them all the time. They definitely do make a difference....Steve1

One of my goals in life was to be a Smoke Jumper. It's very very hard to get hired by them. I made their alternate list one year, but that was as close as I got to the job. They main requirements are a lot of fire experience. Several years is minimal. There are a lot of firefighters competing for a few Smoke Jumper positions each year. When I was on a fire crew being a minority had everything to do with your advancement or even getting hired. We used to joke that if you were a disabled black woman who was also a veteran you could get almost any federal job. But if you were a white male, forget it.....Steve1

I guess I'm more of a red neck than a hippie. Most of my jump brothers and sisters (back in the 70's) might have been termed hippies. B. J. Worth was one of them. They accepted me (with all my flaws), and I had no problem accepting them. We were all skydivers and that was all that mattered....Steve1

I got a new pair of sport RX glasses to go with my Z-1. They fit a lot better than my other prescription glasses. I am careful not to shut the visor until the door is open and I'm climbing out. I also open the visor right after opening. So far I haven't had any fogging problems. Some people have to exhale out their mouth to avoid fogging. Check your helmet to see if your breath can escape okay out the vents by your mouth. Your liner may be blocking these holes. I haven't done much jumping in really cold weather, with this helmet. That is a time when they are really prone to fog up....Steve1

I think Falxori pretty much summed it up. Many of us may advise you to jump, which may not be the smart thing to do. A lot of doctors are over cautious. So this is something to think about it. I've only had one concussion, (when I landed on my head off a bronc.) Was unconscious for about 45 minutes and took the ambulance to the hospital. Broke my arm in the same fall. The doctor never said anything about taking it easy, so when I got out of the hospital the next morning, I got on the phone and entered another rodeo for the following weekend. I never claimed to be too bright. But I am a lot older now, and hopefully a little wiser. I suppose it all depends on the type of head injury you had. It would be smart to heed your doctor's advice. If you are like the rest of us it would be very hard to hang up skydiving. Dan Brodski was told he should never jump again. He broke his neck and was unconscious for weeks. He's made thousands and thousands of jumps since then. Maybe this wasn't smart, but it was worth it to him. His neck still bothers him a lot, every day, but he still jumps. So this will undoubtedly be a tough choice to make. In my mind there are better more important things in life than jumping. Your long term health is one of those. But then again skydiving would create a huge hole in my life if I quit. So I don't envy the choice you have to make....Steve1

Jeane, I wouldn't mind making a land jump on one of your rigs. I'll bring my Frenchies. If you need help repacking some of your mains, I'd love to pack a round again. I still have my chest pack rating, but it's been a long time since I've packed one of them. One time, in the 70's, we were making water jumps into Flathead lake. This is a huge lake, and you'd wonder how anyone could miss hitting it. At anyrate one load spotted too close to the shore and the wind came up. All four jumpers landed quite a ways from the lake in bare feet. One guy had fins on. Those kind of water jumps weren't much fun.... I am trying hard to get current again. After a long winter lay-off I finally got a couple jumps in earlier in the week. Then the weather turned to crap. The airport board is still trying to shut down Hod's drop-zone at Stevensville, so they may be moving to a different locale. The D.Z. in Billings is shut down entirely, so I may have to do some traveling to get current. Otherwise Mad John may not want me messing up his loads....Steve1

Sorry for your misfortune. Hope you heal up quickly. Maybe find something else to do that is fun, to help keep your mind off of jumping until your ankle gets better. Posting here may help also. Hope you're not in too much pain....Steve1

Now you have me jealous. I haven't jumped anything round in over 25 years. But when it comes right down to it, I think I still have more round jumps than square ones. Jeane, I might have to try out one of your old 28 ft. round or a t-10. I'm about 35 lbs. heavier now, but I still remember how to PLF. I don't know anything about strato-clouds. I guess I quit before they came out. I still plan on bringing my boat to Lost Prairie. I have it at Stevensville right now. So you can plan on me being part of the pick-up crew on the lake......Steve1

I haven't been to that area in almost 30 years. I'd love to go back and do some jumping and just revisit some of my old haunts for old time sake. Fayateville used to be kind of a rough place back in the 70's. I had two of my pals beat up there, and another was knifed. Maybe it's different place now. I heard Myrtle Beach is nice. I didn't get too far from Ft. Bragg, when I was there. And don't forget to take your rig....Steve1

Sounds like fun was had by all. There's nothing better than that first jump. Every time someone asks my wife to jump she says, "No, I'm keeping my feet on the ground." We've been married 23 years now also. So maybe this is the year she'll change her mind....Steve1

I've known several people who at one time in their life were serious about killing themselves. Years later nearly all said they were so glad they didn't do it. Life had changed for them dramatically as time passed. I knew one guy who had just been through a bitter divorce and he felt like he was also losing his kids. He was very close to offing himself. Years later he told me of how he was taking his son hunting and doing other things with his kids, and how happy he now was. He said it scared him to think back to how close he had come to dieing by his own hand. They did a study once of survivors of suicide. There was a very high bridge that sometimes people jumped off of to kill themselves. Not all of them died though. Someone decided to interview those who survived. One question asked, was "What was going through your head as you were falling to your death?" Every one of them said, "I wish I hadn't jumped, but it was too late." Down deep a depressed person, contemplating suicide, does not want to die. They are just tired of suffering and can't see a way out of it. Many even think the world would be a better place if they were gone. Of course they aren't thinking rationally, but down deep this is often what they are thinking. I know this is hard for many people to understand because they have never been there for any length of time. It's an extremely low feeling that often lasts for weeks or even months. Saying that we all feel bad at times, isn't going to help because a suicidal person knows you don't understand. My suggestion Kai2k1 would be to realize that there is a way out of the hole you find yourself in now. Now is the time to summon all your courage and to fight. Find a counselor that is worth talking to. Some are a lot better than others. Talking can help a lot. If you have health insurance you may be covered. I know counseling can be expensive. Also don't isolate yourself. Many depressed people do this, but you need other people who care about you (particularly now). Don't turn to alcohol or drugs...this will make it worse. You may also need to realize that you do have problems with depression. Many people have trouble coming to grips with this, because they don't know any other way of living. We all may have had fleeting thoughts of suicide. If these feelings keep coming back, and if you have a plan in mind...these are all serious signs. It does no good to deny the seriousness of all this. As Artwardo mentioned start working in a positive direction that will change all this. E-mail me, if you want, we all need someone to talk to, at times....Steve1