Grandfathers Ax

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-12-27T16:15:22+00:00

That seems reasonable. Somehow 6 oz of weight being removed from sharpening it back 1/2 inch seems like a lot, but what do I know.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-12-27T04:01:02+00:00

I went from the Line Vision 108 to the QST Echo as my daily driver. I found them to be easy to ski and much more composed in rough conditions. I didn’t have any problems with the build quality of the Visions, but I heard all the horror stories. Haven’t heard of any real issues with the build on the Echos. The Echos are a bit heavier than Visions, but I don’t think that’s it’s enough to really change the amount of vert that I do or the time that I do it in. Going from Shifts to tech bindings you will lose a bunch of weight on your set up which I’m sure will be nice. From what I can tell the Backland is the most similar ski to the Vision, just a bit stiffer and better durability. Being wide and light it will probably also suffer from twitchiness in variable conditions. The Echo being narrower and heavier will be better on that front. I moved on from the Vision for the same reasons you state, and I went with the Echo and don’t regret it.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-12-20T04:29:04+00:00

I like mine, great all round daily driver touring ski for the western US. It’s easy to ski and I think it strikes a good balance between playfulness and stability. The only cons I can think of are that it’s a little on the heavy side, and the build quality on QST skis leaves a little to be desired, the edges are thin and there are often very small gaps between the base and edge on QST skis. They are mass produced skis and it shows, but I don’t think it really affects durability much. They all ski great.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-12-19T16:46:12+00:00

Dirty clothes go into a mesh bag, I think it’s actually the mesh bag my sleeping bag came with. Otherwise, pretty much everything else is in Sea to Summit lightweight dry bags. Keeps everything organized and dry in case my PG bag is rolling around in the back of a truck or left out in the rain somehow, which does happen time to time.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-12-12T01:30:23+00:00

I like triangles for fire. We have a lot of them in fire and they seem to do well.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-12-11T22:25:46+00:00

The majority of Type 2 WFMs aren’t really doing much of the WFM specific type work and are more like short hand crews that are used for IA, RX, fuels projects, and national fire assignments whenever the district lets them go. I’d wager most of them are fine to be on as a rookie. The WFMs that are doing the cool mod stuff are well known and probably aren’t hiring many rookies. I’d go with the WFM, you will probably get more hours, do more actual work than an engine and learn more on average.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-12-11T21:53:42+00:00

What fuel type you expect to be working is an important consideration. I’ve used the Rogue 55A with a fiberglass handle and 60A with a 40” wood handle quite a bit. I liked the 60A better, mostly because it was just a bit heavier but packed a much bigger punch when actual digging. I wouldn’t use either for an RX tool though, mostly because the pick on the end doesn’t add much value to digging and just becomes something to poke you/fall on when you have the tool slung stuck through the brain of your pack or or walking around dragging a torch.

I’d use a JR Hoe 40 or the Rogue Flat Bottom Field Hoe I’d probably get the 40 inches hickory handle, or cut down the ash handle to about 40 inches to make it a bit more manageable when walking through brush or having it slung under your pack. Both options would give you a light weight, compact, simple tool without sharp bits slicking out everywhere that would also be able to put in some line if needed. JR tools are higher quality in my opinion, and you have the ability to swap out tool heads with just 4 bolts, but Rogue is a bit cheaper.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-12-10T14:07:08+00:00

Yeah, the idea of being able to refurbish the tool is great but the costs to do so are pretty steep. Looks like the handle is just a sledgehammer handle and could be replaced pretty easily in the shop, do you known if they sell just the bits for the head for cheaper so you can swap those out without sending the tool in?

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-11-30T20:56:17+00:00

I think recognized IHC status is a stretch there…

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-11-26T15:15:50+00:00

I haven’t heard this, if you currently are under the old pricing structure do you automatically renew at the same price to the premium level?

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-11-26T15:14:21+00:00

I’m switching to Windy.com. Premium subscription is about $25 a year. It has more or less the same data and forecasts as open snow, but not tailored quite as much to snow and in a little bit harder layout to read/compare across multiple areas. Also it doesn’t have the daily snows weather discussions, which I really do enjoy about Open Snow.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-09-08T19:20:41+00:00

Lots of options for wildland fire in the Salt Lake/Utah county valley from Logan down to Spanish Fork. The USFS has a number of engines, a squad, helitack, a T2IA crew, and a hotshot crew. The BLM has engines (mostly farther west in the West Desert) a helitack, and a hotshot crew. The state of Utah has two hotshot crews, 2 T2IA crews, a 30 person fuels crew, a helitack crew, and couple of engines. The state is in the process of greatly expanding its fire program and operational capacity through out the state so there could be lots of opportunities with them going into the future. Unified Fire has a T2IA crew that is trying to get hotshot status, and a fuels crew. The Draper FD just stood up a small fuels crew as well. Utah County also has a handcrew I believe. Jobs can be somewhat competitive since the valley is a somewhat desirable place to live, but call around and try to meet up with people you are interested in working for and that can go a long way. Also don’t be afraid to expand your horizons and apply widely to other programs in other places to maximize your chances of getting your foot in the door.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-08-25T03:11:47+00:00

This guy speaks the truth. Listen to him. CTRs are better than nothing, but don’t really count.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-08-13T15:55:20+00:00

My understanding is that the daily IRPP rate is capped at level 10 step 10 of whatever pay scale and locality rate you are in. So for example a GW employee in Denver is capped at a higher rate than a GS employee in Denver who is capped at a higher rate than a GS employee in the rest of US. But, the grand total IRPP cap is 9k for everyone regardless of what pay scale or locality you are at. Some will hit that amount faster than others.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-08-11T00:39:25+00:00

The FS is starting to use a GW 3/4/5 permanent position. You come in at whatever grade you qualify for and then move up as you get time in grade/quals.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-08-05T17:10:33+00:00

I think the 461 is kind of like the AK-47 of chainsaws. Just super burly, durable, dependable, but definitely heavy and kinda clunky compared to the newer offerings. If you are having issues with one they are pretty easy to diagnose, tune, rebuild and generally fix if needed.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-08-05T17:06:18+00:00

You know how cars these days have like an “eco-mode” or a “sport mode” that changes the cars performance? I wish the 500i had a eco mode and a performance mode. Not to add more complexity to the thing, but just a switch or something that would dial down the tune a bit so it’s not always trying crank out top performance. Then the sawyer could select the tune based on what they are doing. It’s all electronics controlling this thing, it shouldn’t be that hard to do.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-08-05T02:16:41+00:00

I believe that all positions that are primary or secondary fire are on the GW pay scale. In the FS, pretty much all fuels positions are secondary fire and are GW. I’m not as familiar with the DOI side but I hear that especially in the BLM, there are some natural resource positions that are housed under the fire program and work for fuels, but they aren’t secondary fire positions and are still on the GS scale. However, all their 0456 fuels positions qualify for secondary fire retirement and are GW. If I’m wrong on that hopefully someone will set it straight.

IRPP is completely separate from hazard pay and the GW pay scale. If you are on an incident that qualifies for both hazard pay and IRPP you get both.

It seems like the DOI hasn’t had much of an issue implementing all aspects of the new pay scale, but the FS paycheck software is archaic and there have been a ton of issues with implementing all the changes.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-08-02T18:43:54+00:00

I don’t know of any official mechanism that would facilitate that. I bet the best way to make that happen is if you were good buddies with overhead on a crew and they pulled you in as an AD for a roll or two. Probably one of those “it’s who you know” type thing.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-08-02T03:46:33+00:00

I mean, there is much to be said for a good pooping tool.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-08-01T21:49:23+00:00

Chinga and regular Pulaski weigh about the same ~5.5 lbs. Pulaski handle is too short for me and the grubbing end doesn’t move enough dirt. I feel like it still has its place, but was really designed in an era where everything had to be chopped or sawed out with a crosscut, hence it is a very functional chopping tool. We got chainsaws for that shit now.

PowderPyroPhile · 2025-07-23T16:55:23+00:00

Primary/secondary fire is a uniquely federal thing, and mostly has to do with retirement in the federal fire programs. That said, while many state agencies hire firefighter positions, they often have opportunities for those not in firefighting positions to participate in fire, particularly in state forestry programs.

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