A Tribute to Edsel Vincent Colvin June. 2014 | Page 9

Summer Job
Edsel worked at a fire lookout on Rocky Peak. Rocky Peak was a few
miles away from Gold Beach. On Rocky Peak, Edsel had to be sent food
from a store. Every month he would go down to a local supply store and
order his supplies. He would be sent, food about a week after his order
was put in by pack mule. To keep his food supply up, he would use his
.22 rifle and hunt with it. He would hunt rabbit and deer. In some cases
he would even hunt squirrels.
One time a couple of game wardens came up to enjoy a nice meal. He
served them deer that he had hunted and prepared himself. Deer was
out of season at the time and it was illegal to hunt them out of season.
The wardens ate the dinner not knowing what it was. They thought that
it was just beef steak. After they had finished their meal, the wardens got
up, thanked Edsel for the meal, and went on their way. Edsel was very
relieved.
The lookout was equipped with a HAM radio to report fires. In the
middle was a range finder. When Edsel spotted a fire he would look
through the range finder, which looked like a sight on a gun, and zero in
on the fire. He would have to estimate how far away it was and give the
position by township and section. This was not a very accurate way of
locating a fire, but it was the best way at the time.