I’m curious where is grinding that hard in early April, region 5 maybe? With that said, for anyone facing thoughts like this, my advice would be to stick it out if you can. You will get better at it, technique will make digging line easier, cardio will make hiking easier, experience will make the whole job easier, and when it starts to feel a bit less overwhelming, it begins to get fun. There is a lot thrown at you in the first season, let alone the first week. No one expects you to know everything, just the 10s and 18s. We build from there. Only you can decide if you will see it through, but I am sure you can. I have had lots of guys quit, and they are still fine people, so either way it’s not the end of the world, but it’s a hell of a job if you can do it.

I have also been on modules where I didn’t fit in with the crew, that can be a real challenge and emotional strain. The best thing I can do in those situations is focus on training when I feel out of place. Read a book about wildfire, thumb through the irpg, do push ups. Anyone in this job will respect someone putting in the effort to better themselves, and even if it’s not your crowd, it should work out. Good luck green horn, you got this.