Oral History Interview with Chuck Sheley, 1984 October 1

Chuck Sheley compares his eight years (1959-1966) smokejumping from Cave Junction, Oregon, with his four years (1966-1970) jumping from McGrath and Fairbanks, Alaska. He describes how a small base like Cave Junction promotes a tight sense of camaraderie unlike larger bases. Sheley discusses how differences in terrain and climate impact in different regions of the United States impact regular smokejumper activities such as firefighting, let downs, and packouts. He also compares the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), particularly the differences in their bureaucracies and finances.