Arizona Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial

[ttora4runner]

I'm a little behind on some trips.

Last March I spent a Saturday morning hiking the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial just outside of Yarnell, Arizona. I didn't know about this area till I took an alternate way back to Surprise from a mountain biking trip to Prescott and it caught my eye. So I planned a early Saturday morning trip to visit.

Photos are in progress from the way up the mountain to main memorial site.



Parking area below










The road up the mountain - you have to make a u-turn on the north bound to hit up the parking lot on south bound side.












The sun was to my back on the way up the trail so there is a shadow in some photos

 

[ttora4runner]

Rest stop






















The main memorial










As I started back up the trail, I ran into a hiker who was close friends with a number of these and wound up talking for about 30 minutes about the area and the incident. Unfortunately, I had to cut the conversation short and continue on back home to run an errand.





Overall, it was a great morning to get out and visit the site and in one of the rare events meeting up with someone who had close ties to the tragedy.

More about the Granite Mountain Hotshots can be found here: https://azstateparks.com/hotshots/the-hotshots/about-the-hotshots

 

[AbleGuy]

Thank you for helping keep the memory of these brave public servants alive.

Reading their bios on the plaques you photographed made it painful to think of their deaths and reflect on their unselfish, dangerous, and under appreciated service benefiting the rest of us.

It brought back ancient sad memories of a USFS Hotshot friend I knew 50 years who sadly perished in a wildfire near Parachute CO, leaving a devastated lovely young wife and baby behind …

R.I.P. Tony Czak, Flagstaf AZ, circa 1976.

An experienced pilot was also killed when his A B-26 air tanker crashed on a retardant dropping mission on this Battlement Creek Fire. Two other young firefighters were killed and a fourth was severely burned while working the fire. All four ground pounders who died were members of the Mormon Lake Hotshot Crew.



The only positive thing one can take away from this tragedy is that the Battlement Creek Fire resulted in some important changes in federal wildland fire management.

Specifically , a review of this incident became the catalyst for the mandatory use of fire shelters and flame resistant clothing.

The men and women who risk their lives to fight wildfires are truly unsung heroes.



Please folks…obey the posted burn bans when you’re out camping this year and make sure you Completely put your damn campfires out before moving on to you next stop when you’re out in the woods…lives may depend on it!

Anthony A. Czak - National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

On July 17, 1976 members of the Mormon Lake (AZ) Hotshot Crew were deployed to the Battlement Creek Wildland Fire near the town of Rifle, Colorado. Members of their crew were part of a small squad that became trapped on top of a ridge by the fire. When the fire overran their position, Anthony...

weekend.firehero.org

 

[DVD]

Thanks for keeping the memory alive.

 

[MR. ED]

Always hits hard to read about those guys

 

[toddz69]

Thanks for the pics - I did that hike years ago (best to do it in the winter!) and I need to do it again.

Todd Z.

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Thanks for the post, and as well for including the plaques.

We "get" to study, and read the AAR's ( after action review) on any fatalities from the previous year. Its required for refresher training,

Unfortunately.....we have yet to have a year with no material to go over...

 

[ttora4runner]

Thanks for the pics - I did that hike years ago (best to do it in the winter!) and I need to do it again.

Todd Z.

Agreed. Wouldn't really want to hikeit in the summer.

 

[ttora4runner]

Thanks for the post, and as well for including the plaques.

We "get" to study, and read the AAR's ( after action review) on any fatalities from the previous year. Its required for refresher training,

Unfortunately.....we have yet to have a year with no material to go over...

Thats sad.