Comments for Baby Boomer Ranger http://www.cawblogsierra.net Cindy Blogs the Sierra Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:05:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on We’re 206 and Striving for 216! by Howard http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=128&cpage=1#comment-2317 Howard Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:05:24 +0000 http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=128#comment-2317 Well, and it is not just paperwork: it's attitude as well. I don't know if you noticed it, but I thought that the response from our leaders smacked strongly of "Hey, you employees, buck up! Everybody knows this is a gret place because we said it is, and you'd better get with the program!" If the employees rate the agency low it is simply because they don't understand that we said it is actually high, and therefore it is. Well, and it is not just paperwork: it’s attitude as well. I don’t know if you noticed it, but I thought that the response from our leaders smacked strongly of “Hey, you employees, buck up! Everybody knows this is a gret place because we said it is, and you’d better get with the program!” If the employees rate the agency low it is simply because they don’t understand that we said it is actually high, and therefore it is.

]]> Comment on Mountaintop Transformers by Howard http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=133&cpage=1#comment-2316 Howard Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:54:22 +0000 http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=133#comment-2316 I've been to a number of lookout sites, some with the building intact, and some with only lightning-blasted remains (even while the newer installations are maintained). A piece of infrastructure that is usually not noticed at these places is the USGS triangulation station that inhabits most sites along with the putative tower. Actually, that is a little incorrect: where they are noticed they have commonly been torn out, presumably as a valuable-looking souvenir (I've had to replace a few). In the larger scale of things (mapping, monitoring the earth's changing shape) they may be more important than the lookouts themselves, though less honorable, I suppose. Another item that resides on mountaintops, and more often those without towers, are the "visitor cairns", often consisting of a metal box containing paper and pencil, that is used by those who venture to the top to record their wraithlike passage. I met a guy last summer in Kings Canyon who claimed he had been to one that contained John Muir's name, although one could detect a fair amount of the blowhard in his other conversation. Still it is possible. The stories of mountaintops inhabit the margins of history, though they often loom large in mythology: certainly no one can deny their continuing attraction for some of us, whether you drive or hike there. I’ve been to a number of lookout sites, some with the building intact, and some with only lightning-blasted remains (even while the newer installations are maintained). A piece of infrastructure that is usually not noticed at these places is the USGS triangulation station that inhabits most sites along with the putative tower. Actually, that is a little incorrect: where they are noticed they have commonly been torn out, presumably as a valuable-looking souvenir (I’ve had to replace a few). In the larger scale of things (mapping, monitoring the earth’s changing shape) they may be more important than the lookouts themselves, though less honorable, I suppose.
Another item that resides on mountaintops, and more often those without towers, are the “visitor cairns”, often consisting of a metal box containing paper and pencil, that is used by those who venture to the top to record their wraithlike passage. I met a guy last summer in Kings Canyon who claimed he had been to one that contained John Muir’s name, although one could detect a fair amount of the blowhard in his other conversation. Still it is possible.
The stories of mountaintops inhabit the margins of history, though they often loom large in mythology: certainly no one can deny their continuing attraction for some of us, whether you drive or hike there.

]]> Comment on We’re 206 and Striving for 216! by Cindy http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=128&cpage=1#comment-2201 Cindy Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:14:28 +0000 http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=128#comment-2201 You have a point. Two out of ten are actually required. The eight out of ten are made up. Fault has little to do with it. It may be "nobody's" fault, but it exists, and the question is "who really cares?" That's the problem. No one cares that it takes so much paperwork to get something done. /Cindy You have a point. Two out of ten are actually required. The eight out of ten are made up. Fault has little to do with it. It may be “nobody’s” fault, but it exists, and the question is “who really cares?” That’s the problem. No one cares that it takes so much paperwork to get something done.
/Cindy

]]> Comment on We’re 206 and Striving for 216! by Anonymous http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=128&cpage=1#comment-2200 Anonymous Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:48:36 +0000 http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=128#comment-2200 Hey, but some of those things aren't the Forest Service's fault--you'd need a passport and liability waiver to go on an expedition with any other group too! Hey, but some of those things aren’t the Forest Service’s fault–you’d need a passport and liability waiver to go on an expedition with any other group too!

]]> Comment on We’re 206 and Striving for 216! by Anonymous http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=128&cpage=1#comment-2199 Anonymous Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:47:17 +0000 http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=128#comment-2199 Hey, but some of those things are the Forest Service's fault--you'd need a passport and liability waiver to go on an expedition with any other group too! Hey, but some of those things are the Forest Service’s fault–you’d need a passport and liability waiver to go on an expedition with any other group too!

]]> Comment on “Caring for the Land and Serving Coffee” by Annette http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=126&cpage=1#comment-2195 Annette Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:26:06 +0000 http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=126#comment-2195 Hi Cindy - I've worked my 40 hours this week and actually have a 3 day weekend to enjoy. Thought I'd get caught up on your blogging world. This really sounds like a cool adventure. Do you know exactly what it is you are going to be doing? I am reminded of the family I lived with in the Philippines while a Peace Corps volunteer. They had many coffee trees, and would pick the beans and spread them out on their driveway to dry in the sun. When it was time to grind them up and make real coffee, there were all kinds of goodies included: bugs, rodent turds, animal pee, etc. This was the best coffee ever. I learned really fast (my first cup) that you did not drink past the half way point, otherwise you were going to need a spoon to finish it off and have the smile of someone who chews tobacco. I hope you have a great adventure, and I'll be looking forward to hearing all about it when you return. Behave yourself over there... Annette Hi Cindy – I’ve worked my 40 hours this week and actually have a 3 day weekend to enjoy. Thought I’d get caught up on your blogging world. This really sounds like a cool adventure. Do you know exactly what it is you are going to be doing? I am reminded of the family I lived with in the Philippines while a Peace Corps volunteer. They had many coffee trees, and would pick the beans and spread them out on their driveway to dry in the sun. When it was time to grind them up and make real coffee, there were all kinds of goodies included: bugs, rodent turds, animal pee, etc. This was the best coffee ever. I learned really fast (my first cup) that you did not drink past the half way point, otherwise you were going to need a spoon to finish it off and have the smile of someone who chews tobacco. I hope you have a great adventure, and I’ll be looking forward to hearing all about it when you return. Behave yourself over there… Annette

]]> Comment on Power to the People by Cindy http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=118&cpage=1#comment-2141 Cindy Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:51:27 +0000 http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=118#comment-2141 Justin, I am so with you! Here today - hopefully gone tomorrow. A few years back, I started a project of getting the Sierra National Forest Communication Site Plans updated and current. My goal was to identify what was there now so future Forest Service employees can track changes to these sites and assure that the only changes are approved changes. While visiting one of the communications sites, and hearing about how fast technology is changing, I had a daydream about a time when a Forest Service Ranger would be reviewing a Removal Plan for all those towers, dishes and wires hovering over our public lands. When I asked the technical expert about the possibility of all this equipment becoming obsolete, he assured me that it would be around for a long time. I though to myself, maybe a long time, but not forever! One day, maybe the National Forest skies will be filled with trees, not towers. Justin,
I am so with you! Here today – hopefully gone tomorrow.

A few years back, I started a project of getting the Sierra National Forest Communication Site Plans updated and current. My goal was to identify what was there now so future Forest Service employees can track changes to these sites and assure that the only changes are approved changes.

While visiting one of the communications sites, and hearing about how fast technology is changing, I had a daydream about a time when a Forest Service Ranger would be reviewing a Removal Plan for all those towers, dishes and wires hovering over our public lands.

When I asked the technical expert about the possibility of all this equipment becoming obsolete, he assured me that it would be around for a long time.

I though to myself, maybe a long time, but not forever! One day, maybe the National Forest skies will be filled with trees, not towers.

]]> Comment on Moving On in a Virtual Forest Service by Cindy http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=116&cpage=1#comment-2140 Cindy Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:44:04 +0000 http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=116#comment-2140 Ken, Thank you for your kind words. I do need to say that I am moving on - not dying. I'm going to keep blogging about my work, about what I see and about " Caring for the Land and Serving People." Also thank you for your suggestion on self publishing my book. I agree that it is a great new way to go. If you visit my photo website, on my first page I have a link to my first self published book "Water - Power - Folly." I used Blurb and I love the results. Currently, I am collaborating with a friend to take all my "Cindy Blogs the Sierra" posts and get them in paper print using a service like lulu or Blurb. It is really exciting to have that long term, paper product to pick up an peruse at will. So, don't go away and I'm sure your hear more about the High Sierra Trail Crew and the Sierra National Forest. Ken,
Thank you for your kind words. I do need to say that I am moving on – not dying. I’m going to keep blogging about my work, about what I see and about ” Caring for the Land and Serving People.”

Also thank you for your suggestion on self publishing my book. I agree that it is a great new way to go. If you visit my photo website, on my first page I have a link to my first self published book “Water – Power – Folly.” I used Blurb and I love the results. Currently, I am collaborating with a friend to take all my “Cindy Blogs the Sierra” posts and get them in paper print using a service like lulu or Blurb. It is really exciting to have that long term, paper product to pick up an peruse at will.

So, don’t go away and I’m sure your hear more about the High Sierra Trail Crew and the Sierra National Forest.

]]> Comment on Moving On in a Virtual Forest Service by Ken Murray http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=116&cpage=1#comment-2139 Ken Murray Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:04:35 +0000 http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=116#comment-2139 Cindy, it was a real pleasure for me to meet you momentarily in your office in Clovis (with Shane), if only for a few seconds. Little did I know at the time, that you'd be moving on. One thing I'd like to pass on, as a very small payback for the enjoyment I've gotten from your blogs, is a very easy and inexpensive way to get a book published. The hard way is summarized in a book titled "The Awful Truth About Publishing" You don't want to go there. However, there is a new way to go, and it fits with you perfectly: online instant publishing. I've had several friends do this, and their results are impressive. One can publish a single copy of a book, or thousands. Around $7/copy. Perfectly suited for your needs. One of the best out there is www.lulu.com Cindy, it was a real pleasure for me to meet you momentarily in your office in Clovis (with Shane), if only for a few seconds. Little did I know at the time, that you’d be moving on.

One thing I’d like to pass on, as a very small payback for the enjoyment I’ve gotten from your blogs, is a very easy and inexpensive way to get a book published. The hard way is summarized in a book titled “The Awful Truth About Publishing” You don’t want to go there.

However, there is a new way to go, and it fits with you perfectly: online instant publishing. I’ve had several friends do this, and their results are impressive. One can publish a single copy of a book, or thousands. Around $7/copy. Perfectly suited for your needs. One of the best out there is http://www.lulu.com

]]> Comment on Power to the People by Justin http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=118&cpage=1#comment-2138 Justin Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:31:57 +0000 http://www.cawblogsierra.net/?p=118#comment-2138 Great photos - neat and creative layout on your blog site too. I have enjoyed working with you so far and hope we can continue to strive to efficiently and effectively analyze these important projects, and allow them to be built in a sustainable manner that puts into practice true conservation of the resources with which we are entrusted as public servants. I take pride in my work and I get the sense you do also. I have always identified with multiple uses of the public's land and feel strongly that powerlines in some cases do represent the greatest good, for the greatest number, in the long run. I find my job interesting, challenging, but most of all, satisfying, and it's nice to see that I share those sentiments with other employees of our proud agency. I take heart in one fact as we look to a future where we may not have to have miles of steel towers and wires strung across our landscapes. Fifty years is a long time, but even a federal easement from the US Forest Service does not guarantee that these powerlines will be permanent. For today, they are they way our society gets its energy and are crucial to the larger efforts to make sources of that energy more renewable. I would like to see them built with a hope that maybe future generations of Forest Service employees will entertain projects to remove them from our National Forests, and return the land to Mother Nature. Great photos – neat and creative layout on your blog site too. I have enjoyed working with you so far and hope we can continue to strive to efficiently and effectively analyze these important projects, and allow them to be built in a sustainable manner that puts into practice true conservation of the resources with which we are entrusted as public servants.

I take pride in my work and I get the sense you do also. I have always identified with multiple uses of the public’s land and feel strongly that powerlines in some cases do represent the greatest good, for the greatest number, in the long run. I find my job interesting, challenging, but most of all, satisfying, and it’s nice to see that I share those sentiments with other employees of our proud agency.

I take heart in one fact as we look to a future where we may not have to have miles of steel towers and wires strung across our landscapes. Fifty years is a long time, but even a federal easement from the US Forest Service does not guarantee that these powerlines will be permanent. For today, they are they way our society gets its energy and are crucial to the larger efforts to make sources of that energy more renewable. I would like to see them built with a hope that maybe future generations of Forest Service employees will entertain projects to remove them from our National Forests, and return the land to Mother Nature.

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