Hikers extinguish wildfire

Even before setting off on a six-day, seven-night trek through the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness, Darren Wilson and the six hikers accompanying him knew there might be fire ahead. Wilson, a Hamilton resident who works as a biomedical equipment technician with a budding musical career under the name Dag Zaggenz, understood the significance of Stage Two fire restrictions: Conditions could not have been more prone to wildland fires.

“It was in the back of my mind – I hope we don’t hike into somewhere and get trapped by a fire,” Wilson told Montana Free Press.

The trip began without a hitch. On July 24, Wilson departed from Middle Fork of Rock Creek trailhead alongside his wife, Chelsie Wilson, and five friends: Lacey Hilgers, Aubrey Scott, Austin Scott, Lily Schroeder, and Brittney Erickson. The group hailed from states all over the region: Idaho, Colorado, Montana, and Washington. The first night, they slept by Kelly Lake while a storm passed over them.

When they awoke, a plume of smoke trailed across the horizon. Initially dismissing it as a campfire, they continued toward that day’s destination beside Hidden Lake. It wasn’t until the group came close to Hidden Lake that they began to realize the smoke might stem from the early stages of a wildland fire.

They confirmed that suspicion just a few hours later.

“We came across multiple smoldering logs right outside of Hidden Lake,” Wilson said. A tree stood toppled, its bark cracked and splintered. Branches were strewn about with thin lines of smoke rising from glowing red embers. The group assumed it was the result of a lightning strike the night before. Chelsie Wilson, a computed tomography technologist who has worked as a wildland firefighter, sprang into action.

“I may not have a Pulaski,” Chelsie Wilson said. “But I can make a line around this thing with some sticks, get in there on my hands and knees and make sure it’s dead out.” She tasked her fellow hikers with various firefighting roles. Erickson helped her mop up the burning area with long sticks while the other five shuttled water from Hidden Lake using Nalgene bottles, bear canisters, and Platypus hydration packs.

“It was really scary at first,” Chelsie said. “And then it became fun.” After two hours, she gave her team the all-clear. They had transformed the small patch of smoldering char into a wet pile of debris.

“I think it’s one of those things we like to refer to as type two fun,” Darren recalled.

Wildfire subsequently became an ever-present theme on the trip. On a later hike, they spotted smoke rising just a few miles away. They called in the incident from a ridge with cell service. They heard a plane fly low overhead the next day.

Days later, as the group began to settle down to rest for the night, the sight of nearby smoke drove them to action again.

“We start yelling across the lake, top of our lungs,” Darren said. “‘Is there anybody there? Do you have a fire?’” Hearing no response, they initiated a then-familiar course of action. Gathering their Platypuses and bear canisters, the group rushed toward the smoke’s source.

“Like children of the corn, we come out of the trees,” Darren said, to find three men huddled around an illicit campfire.

“The guys were not very impressed with us, though,” Cheslie said. “They didn’t like our story at all.”