Hazards of the profession

It was another one of those timber tramps over Idaho way for Columbia Helicopters.

Just this side of the grade that goes up to Grangeville, there's a Forest Service road to the left. Up, up through a lot of switchbacks to a big burn they were trying to salvage.

Anyway, the cutters were staying in Grangeville, a two and a half hour drive one way. Gett'n up at 3 a.m. cause you had to be on the job at 6 to get flown in.

Not me sez I, I'll camp out.

The only problem was rattlesnakes abounded. Waking up next to a slimy viper was not my idea of "good morning." Problem solved by not sleeping on the g...