Welcome to Awe, Nice! where we highlight moments of wonder while working outdoors.

I've been turning my attention to wildland firefighters, several of whom I met this summer on the Stoner Mesa fire, which burned over 10,000 acres north of Dolores. I work as a hand up there on a grazing allotment. One of the people I met was Steve Nicholson.

Here, Steve shares an anecdote from the 2012 fire season, which as listeners may know, was the 3rd worst in US history.

Though he wasn't positive, he thinks it unfolded on the Wenachtee Complex, multiple fires which burned 56,000 acres in central Washington in September of that year.

He was a senior member of a hotshot crew charged, on that day, with cold trailing. Cold trailing is following the black of the edge of the fire, identifying hot areas, literally laying hands on the ground for hot spots, and making sure the cold edge is solid and cannot rekindle. This involves cutting down trees, clearing brush, and lots of digging.

The terrain was precipitous and rugged.

For those unfamiliar with the terminology, a chute is a steep, narrow gully, often between two rocky walls.

Steve is now a division supervisor. He told me it's not uncommon to have close calls on hotshot crews, so after the incident, there weren't any real deep conversations. But, he said, it's not like someone would have walked away with a dislocated shoulder when the rock came down. It would have been a big deal.

Next week, Steve shares an elk-hunting moment, so make sure to tune in.

Awe, Nice! welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, contact us here.

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Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.