Customer Reviews

Two-Man Stick

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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Recommendations from ex-smokejumpers I know, including my 29-year veteran smokejumper husband, for this book are "the best book yet published about smokejumpers." The author is an accomplished jumper with insights into the wonderfully dangerous job of parachuting into the close proximity of raging forest fires. Take an exciting easy chair ride with these last best Western adventurers. Trust the technical descriptions of procedures and equipment. Feel the heat of the fire and the thrill of air rushing beneath your feet. A must read for anyone who is curious about smokejumper and why they do what they do.

I just finished reading Bud Filler's book, Two Man Stick.

Somebody has finally done it! Bud Filler writes about SmokeJumpers as clearly as Louis L'amour has written about cowbodys, and John Grisham about lawyers. The Two Man Stick is a fabulous book. Bud clearly portrays SmokeJumpers as they are. You'll learn that SmokeJumpers only get touched by the bad smells of smoke, sweat, and logging town barrooms in their nobel pursuits to fish for mountain trout and parachute their way to forest fires; and, that these noble pursuits even appear to prevail over the temptations of Viagra flavored women.

Yes! If you've been a SmokeJumper or are interested in what it might be like to be a SmokeJumper, you've got to read the Two Man Stick by Bud Filler. Bud's book is five-star-plus in every way - including excellent pictures. After your first reading, this book will be a treasure for your book shelf as a reference for technical details about SmokeJumping equipment and aircraft of the 1950's, and for re-reading the exciting stories about events experienced by Bud Filler.

As reviewed by George B. Harpole, former SmokeJumper, 1949-51, Missoula, Montana.

If you enjoyed "Jumping Fire" by Murray A. Taylor than you will certainly like this book. This book is about the early days of smokejumpers (1951). This memoir decribes the training and firefighting exploits of dedicated men who serve their country far from the public eye. I served as an army paratrooper for six years and I found the descriptions of parachute jumping the best that I've read. You will feel the breeze between your knees. The back bone of the book is cameradie of like minded men who watch each others backs on the fire line and in brawls in backcountry bars. The book describes the aircraft and equipment of the era and has many great photos. As a military trained mule packer I enjoyed the stories of the men packing out. This is a great book about a world that most people don't know exists.