USFS 1919: The Ranger, the Cook, and a Hole in the Sky Summary

The summer Norman is seventeen he works for the United States Forest Service. Norman spends most of his days blasting a road that will never be used and his nights playing cribbage with the Ranger, Bill Bell. Norman greatly admires Bill because he is a packer. Packing is an art form that has become obsolete with the advent of roads and large trucks. Before this, however, it was necessary to carry large amounts of supplies on the backs of animals, mules and horses. In order to keep the animals from suffering injuries such as pressure wounds, it was necessary to pack the supplies in such a way that it would keep the packs steady and even on the animals' backs. Bill is an...