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


  I enjoyed this book. One of the many books about wild land fire fighting. knowledge is power and I learned a good deal from this book. All while being entertained. Great combination - Anthony Misner

Found the book very informative. This is a little know craft and we should all appreciate the work these men do - Harold Simon

Well written by someone who spent a good amount of time on the job. Would be interesting reading for anyone who wants to know about smokejumpers - Charles N. Sheley 

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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Bitterroot Valley Cabin - Raspberry Pines, Victor, Montana