Solving problems the old fashioned way (triangulation)

[DemoTex]

Today, plotting a fire, the old-fashioned way, deep in a drainage about five miles to my east-southeast. It was a lightning fire that I would never see, unless it got really big. Various fire crews called in azimuths from high points where they could glimpse the elusive smoke.

The fire was eventually located. But a big difference (31-degrees) in a shot taken 1/2 mile from where they actually located the fire - a shot down another drainage - has convinced me there is a second fire over there. A helo recon is ordered for tomorrow morning.

This is just about as much fun as you can have in a fire lookout. The team work is amazing. All of this is done on a tactical frequency, so officialdom is cut out until determinations are made. It was an intense day, but a different "intense" from yesterday's 1500+ strike lightning bust.

This plotting board reminds me of my aircraft cockpit in Vietnam. But that was then; this is now.


GPS vs. Map? HA! Try this with your GPS.

[littlemissmartypants]

1. I love maps. nt

[TexasProgresive]

2. As I was reading that I was thinking

it would remind you of charting a flight path. I was never a pilot or navigator but I repaired and maintained nav gear. Also I took a boating course that required a lot of plotting.

I had a nice conversation with a C-5 navigator. I asked him if GPS had replaced Inertial Nav gear. He said they had GPS but always used the I.N.S. -Made my day. GPS is like cell service-great when it works and sucks when it doesn't.

So glad to read your posts and view your great pics from the fire station.