Robert D. Hubble

Farmer, soldier, firefighter, author :– grunt

Somewhere along the way, between two miserable stomach surgeries and a successful spinal fusion, I decided to write not one, but three books, thinking anyone can write just one – and discovered anyone can also write three. Then I rekindled my intense interest in the American West, where for many years I was very fortunate to have worked, and began writing about those hardy characters and the tough land on which they lived, struggled, thrived and died. And writing such as:

"May be told by a soldier who is no writer to a reader who is no soldier." – Ambrose Bierce

A Western: 1862-63
A Western: 1863-64
A Western: 1864-65
Churchill's Gold: the Ripples of War
Limey Smokejumper: Fighting Wildfire in the Rockies
Inside the Great Game: the Fight for Oil and Pipelines in Central Asia

Robert D. Hubble - Amazon

  Having been a Smokejumper in Missoula, MT much earlier in my career - late 60's and early 70's, I found this book to be an excellent portrayal of the job a lot of us described as "the best job we ever had." When I was jumping (like most during the 60/70's) it was during college years - only to support college expenses - and I never went back after graduating and getting a "real job." Today, most of the Jumpers do so as a career/job - even though most are seasonal - working less than 6 months per year. Seasonal Jumpers either live off their short seasonal income, or supplement with school teaching/other winter occupations. This is a job that America should be thankful that these "very dedicated individuals" are out there who risk life/injury, but receive no retirement/health care benifits from performing.

The author does an outstanding job describing the intense preparation and training needed to perform the very physical and mental aspects of the job. As he described (paraphrasing), the job training is much like airborne training in the military - but on steroids. A jumper spends an enormous amount of time preparing for a short parachute jump into usually remote/rugged wilderness areas- but one that could cause him/her to land in a 200+ foot Doug Fir/Pine tree, middle of a lake, or crashing down on hard rock/logs in a strong wind - but what a way to "get to the job"!

The author also describes, unfortunately, the many bureaucracies that have crept into a very fine organization (US Forest Service and BLM)- like any big government agencies. If true, and I don't doubt it a bit, decisions being made by non-jumper bureaucrats are causing great harm to the great camaraderie and team-work that existed in the past. I hope that has changed since Mr. Hubble left jumping in 2002. If not, maybe some of those bureaucrats need to read this book - to find out what it is really like performing the job.

Overall, Mr. Hubble is an excellent writer and I hope to read his other books - and future ones as well - Nikey Mikey 

Robert D. Hubble grew up at a time when people told it as it was, and weren't afraid to. He grew up in a household with grandparents and was grateful then as he is now for that experience. He grew up to be a farmer, leaving his London school at the first opportunity to do so. Immediately after college, however, life forced a change and Robert served as a sapper in Britain's Corps of Royal Engineers. Then, still with a desire to farm, he left England to help run a Midwest dairy farm among the frozen lakes of northern Minnesota, before heading off to the rugged wilds of central Idaho, where he fell in love with the magnificent mountains and the gritty physical work of fighting wildfires. A job that eventually enabled him to experience many years as a U.S. Smokejumper in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. Where he now lives with his wife Christina, who has twice nursed Robert back from the edge and given him time to write these six books.

The original R. Denis Hubble

British Pathé has stepped into the 21st Century:

...and you gotta love that Benny Goodman, Sing Sing Sing

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