The end of WFR training...on to River guide training

So the rest of the WFR course was great. I passed all of the tests and am now officially Wilderness First Responder and CPR certified. It was hard to leave the WFR class. Kind of like being at camp with new friends and then having to leave. As soon as I got back to the Ranch we left the next morning for River guide training. Jim (my brother) is now here to. Guide training went well, there were about 4 of us who helped teach the class. Chad Etheridge did the swift water rescue class and led the rest of training. The water was very high, cold and fast. The new guys picked up most of it. Our real test is the staff river day this Friday and Saturday. We will be taking 130 people down the river in one day. Brian the other head river guide will be out of town so it is up to me and Jim to make it happen. Sounds fun, I think... Anyway things are starting to pick up now that the summer staff is here. It is strange to have so many people around. I am excited about it though.

Still in Portland...

In case you are wondering I am still in Portland. The first aid class is winding down and ends on Wednesday. Then I head straight to the River for guide training. I am on my lunch break now. After lunch we get to give injections to our classmates, which should be interesting. The weather has been great the past few days. I have spent most of my time studying other than a trip to the Columbia River Gorge on my day off. The waterfalls there are beatiful (Pictures coming soon). Portland is a great place when it is not raining nonstop.

You might fit in at a WFR course if...

1) You like BMW's (Burly Mtn Women)
2) You are a hardcore liberal
3) You like extremely hot Mtn Women (unfortunately, that are weird)
4) You are into some type of Eastern Religion
5) You are balding, have 2 braids nearly to your belly button, and live for bluegrass music
6) You hike or raft for a living
7) You have no desire to ever get a "real" job
8) You are 35+ and still crazy
9) You like girls who don't shave
10) Hillary Clinton is your chief female role model
11) You eat really weird stuff for lunch
12) At one point you quit your job and moved to a South American Jungle for a year
13) You like to hug trees
14) Happy hour is your favorite hour of the day
15) You hate George Bush with a passion

What's goin on in Portland?

5/8
I drove about 6 hours today with Chris up to Portland. We ate the best pizza ever at this little hole in the wall place in downtown Portland and then went to a concert (some guy he has heard play several times)

5/9
It rained all day today. If you are in Portland it is very important to bring waterproof shoes with you. It rains alot! Met a guy in class to stay with for the next 10 days.

5/10
Got lost in Portland tonight and drove around for over an hour. It is still Raining.

5/11
I was to tired to do anything tonight. I fell asleep reading at about 9:30pm. Jim Leaves to drive to JH tomorrow.

5/12
Class did not end until 8:30pm tonight. It was scheduled to go to 10pm. I am going to bed early again tonight.

more to come...

Portland....The city of Rain

It has not stopped raining since I go to Portland Sunday for the Wilderness First Responder Course. More updates to come...

JH (slave labor camp) Ranch

We are finally coming to the end of a three week stretch of work weeks. After a fairly laid back winter they decided to push it into high gear these past few weeks. Our days have been about 3 hours longer Every day. Somehow I have gotten most of the jobs involving a pick or a shovel and I am worn out. It is rewarding though to see how much progress has been made. Things are starting to come together. As of this week we have finished the teepee, bigtop, snack shak, boat trailer, River trailer, painting at the lake, painting the flusher, and several other projects. I think the staff will be impressed when they arrive.

New Feature!!!

I added links to my photo shows. See the links to the right under My Photo Shows. Now it is easy to see my pictures.