Pine Donkey

Congratulations to the Devils! 5 of the last 7 years there has been an Arizona team in the championship series. Each school has won 2 national championships in that time. They are represnting the state very well. This year it is all about ASU. Well done Sun Devils!

I just received this mornings IR map. It places the size at 336,000. Not sure where channel 3 news came up with the 389,000.

389,000 acres. Much of the growth yesterday was backfires. They had a good evening and night, the weather calmed a bit and they were able to hit it hard around Greer and Eagar. Hopefully today's wind will not be as bad as predicted. Yesterday it ran hard toward greer, getting to within 1.3 miles, but was held at that point.

Casey is correct you need to bump the shoulder just a bit. I would turn the die about 1/8 of a turn then size a case. Chamber and cock that case, if the bolt drops easily, you are set correct, if not, take it another 1/8 turn and repeat until you get the feel you want. Lock your die in once you get it set. However, if you have more than one gun of the same caliber, you may need to adjust the dies differently for each. You will also want to keep you brass from each gun seperate.

It is good to hear you are out. The fire crews have done an amazing job protecting the houses so far. We pray the winds change and drive this thing away from Greer and RV.

Here is the same picture AZ-XL7 posted, but with the overlay of the fireline from last night's IR map. It really shows the movement.

Amanda, Thanks for notifying me today that I had won the contest. I was so busy looking at fire information I never even read this thread this week. What a suprise. I was contacted by David Frank (aka azhuntnut)and he is sending out the Rifle Railz/Loc Jaw system. I can't wait to give it a try. Hopefully we will get a day without much wind soon. I sent a text to all my hunting buddies and let them know they better listen when I judge a buck... The replys contained a lot of laughter, and comments about blind hogs finding acorns. They are not too impressed with my scoring, but they sure want to try this new system out. Thanks to all who had a part in putting this contest together. Robert

The 6:00 community meeting in Springerville will be streamed on the internet at www.wallow.us

Walker, Thanks for all you are doing and stay safe. Many of us have the highest respect and gratitude for those of you on the ground. I have several friends up there working with you. Everybody needs to be careful and make it through this tragedy.

Thats a great activity for a kid.

Just received an update on the fire. It is now 233,000 acres.

Here are a few of the 1000s of pictures we have built up over the years. Even the "bad days" like the last photo, hold special memories. View from the back porch. Black River is a family favorite. We have had a lot of good days on Tobaggan Hill What made me think I could make it through? Chrystie and the kids still remind me of this day. All good memories in God's country.

I received last nights IR image map that was taken about 11:30. It looks like the fire moved a lot less yesterday. It has reached a lot of the back burn lines, but seems to be holding on them in many places. Hopefully on those that do not hold, the backburn area will calm it down enough that it goes through on the ground gently. It was about 100 yards from our cabin, but up against what I hope is a backburn. The fire grew a bit in the Alpine area, but not real bad. Lots of backburns there and most of them look like they are holding. If anybody wants more specific info, I can look on the map which is overlayed on Google Earth. Just PM me with your phone number.

On the way home from the White Mountains we stopped by the Safford BLM office to get updated fire information from a friend. Saw this one in the parking lot.

Great video, thanks for posting it.

I thought that was hers, but did not see her in the office. We spent about 30 minutes there. I sure would have liked to say hello to her.

Here are a few links to raw video taken from Channel 15 helecopter.

Here are a few pictures taken just a bit ago in the Nutrioso area. You can see the back burns but can also see the huge front approaching.

No it is off of 88.

Tucson John that is a beautiful place. I share your sentiments completely. Our cabin has been a very special place for many friends and family. It took over 5 years to build. We worked weekends and vacations. We had some great times during some of the construction parties, and so many good times since then. My dad and I know every board, wire, pipe, screw, and screw up in the place. Here is a picture from the back showing the porch where we have had so many good times. Coffee and conversation in the early morning as the sun rises over Escadilla is one of the most relaxing activities in my life. One September night, my son Garrett, called in his first bull, right to the porch. We have also put away a lot of beer and bourbon from the porch. Hopefully all these memories will be added to over the years.

Biker, Let me be blunt...Your an idiot! Based on your narrow thought process the tornado victims in Joplin MO need to suck it up and move on. They chose to live where tornados hit, they have to deal with the dangers. I guess you could apply your same assinine thinking to those who chose to work in high profile buildings that terrorists decided to attack. Dont bother replying, we dont need to hear any more of your idiotic rhetoric.

I left Tombstone yesterday at 1:15 hoping to make it to Alpine for the 6:00 Forest Service community meeting. The meeting was cancelled but I was in Alpine at 6:00. I have never seen anything that dark in my life. Here are some photos from my trip. Here are 4 pictures taken from 191 as you head into the Black Hills (the long straight stretch) They were taken one minute apart but show how fast the plume was building. Usually you can see Escadilla when you come around this turn. Beside the fire and wind, it was a clear day. Looking toward Alpine from Luna This shows the difference in the density of the main plume and the rest of it. This is a view of Escadilla taken across Luna Lake. In the above picture there is still natural light. These next two pictures are taken in Alpine at 6:20 in the evening. This in taken in front of Bear Wallow Cafe. This picture is taken at the stopsign infront of the gas station in alpine. There were about 50 fire trucks lined up. Remember this is at 6:30 with the sun still up. A mile north of the Alpine gas station we began to clear the thick plume. Another half further it was bright skys again. At the end of a very long night we ended up at a motel in Pine Top with a load of sentemental items. I hope to make another trip back to Nutrioso very soon to take all this stuff back.

TJ, thanks for the offer. Everything is closed off and no access is allowed. So many people have made the same offer; the out pouring of support has been incredible. We took out everything that has sentimental value, everything else can be replaced. It was pretty sad last night loading things up, everything in the place has a memory attached to it. Fire can take the cabin, its insured, but nothing can take the memories we have made over the years.