In Memory Of...

USFS File Photo.

In memory of Shane Wyrsch. A devoted United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer, husband, father and friend.

Shane was killed two nights ago (March 19, 2007) while driving home on Highway 410 just outside of Buckley, Washington.

He was killed by a drunk driver with a suspended driver's license. A person who should never have been on the road!

Shane and I were friends, fellow "timber cops". Quite often our professional paths would merge on "assignments, details" that necessitated the U.S. Forest Service and State of Washington's joint participation in law enforcement functions on state and federal lands. Many of these functions lasted weeks without interruption on the hottest, muggiest or the coldest, wettest days of the year.

We'd chase "bad guys" around in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest who were doing things not allowed by law on public lands and we'd have a ball doing it. Shane was always up beat, tireless, tenacious and focused.

I first met Shane when he attended a man tracking course I was co-teaching with David Scott Donelan in the mountains of Morton, Washington. I brought my son, Justin along with me to help teach.

Shane immediately hit it off with him. He was impressed by Justin's youth coupled with his knowledge of the outdoors and his overall wilderness abilities. Over the years when I'd meet with Shane... when we'd call one another to share some information or simply to check up on one another he'd always ask about Justin. Not about "your son" but about "Justin".

When he learned from me that Justin was being deployed to the Middle East shortly after 911 he shared his concern. He was relieved when I told him Justin was "out" of the military. Shane was always trying to recruit Justin (through me) into the United States Forest Service as a Law Enforcement Officer... not a bad idea.

Shane was a friend. He was a fellow cop and he was always there if I needed him for anything or needed information.

Dammit!

I drove past the accident site yesterday while I headed north to meet with some folks. In fact, after the meeting I was going to see if Shane was available for a visit, a brief chat... being as I was in his area.

I didn't know it was Shane's accident site when I drove through... I just knew it was the site of a recent, serious accident.

You can tell. There's gouges in the pavement, reference points painted on the road's surface by the investigators, skid marks, shards of glass, un-collected plastic, chrome... spent flares. I remember seeing the remnants of the flare pattern that suggested the Highway was blocked for a period of time while the investigation was completed.

I remember seeing those spent flares and thinking to myself that the accident must have been "pretty serious". I hoped for the best for those who were involved, not knowing who they might have been at the time.

When I arrived at where I was driving to I was told by another good friend that Shane had been killed "...last night. A drunk ran into his truck on the highway outside of Buckley."

I remember hearing Chuck tell me... remember how he said it. Almost not believing what he was saying.

I didn't at first. It didn't register. I asked him "Shane who?"

"Shane Wyrsch, the Forest Service officer".

Then it all came together. Shane, the accident site, highway 410, Buckley, drunk driver, flares... serious accident. It all made sense!

But didn't. It never will make sense! Never!

Here's the story as told by King 5 News:

U.S. Forest Service officer killed in crash
06:16 PM PDT on Tuesday, March 20, 2007
By: BERNARD CHOI / KING 5 News


"BUCKLEY, Wash. – A suspected drunk driver involved in a horrific crash that killed a respected law enforcement officer should never have been on the road.

The Washington State Patrol says U.S. Forest Service Officer Shane Wyrsch was driving home on Highway 410 near Buckley Monday night when a pickup crossed the center line and slammed into him head-on. Witnesses say the man who hit Wyrsch was driving very erratically. Troopers say he was likely drunk, and driving with a suspended license.

All that's left of Shane Wyrch's truck is a mangled pile of metal.

Shayne Wyrsch was killed in a head-on crash near Buckley Monday night.
The 16-year veteran patrolled the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest and the communities nearby.

"Each and every one is like a brother, and losing Shane will be very similar to losing a family member," says Enumclaw Police Officer Don Banner.

"He lived in this community and anything he could do to further make it a good place to live, he never hesitated."

Wyrsch died Tuesday morning, leaving behind a wife, two children and countless colleagues.

A spokesperson says the entire U.S. Forest Service family is devastated by Wyrsch's passing. The State Patrol plans to investigate this as a vehicular homicide."

Dammit!!!!

I HATE drunk drivers!

You're going to be missed! Rest in peace Shane.

It snowed...

...upon the ground last night!

I know, I watched it fall!

But when I opened my curtains wide

it wasn't there at all!

I wrote this poem years ago when I was in school. Probably in the mid 60's. Yeah, I think it was somewhere around then.

Either way, that always seemed to be the case! It would start snowing at night and my brothers and I'd watch the snow fall through our bedroom windows, the lights out so we could see better.

We'd stare into the darkness pressing our faces against the glass trying to catch glimpses of those snow flakes as they floated to the ground. We could never tell how deep the snow was getting, just that the ground and trees were turning whiter and whiter... which was good enough for us... that meant the snow was getting deeper by the flake!

We'd go to bed content that the snow would be there in the morning. But when we woke up the snow would be nowhere in sight!

Those snowy nights were some of the most frustrating memories I had as a child when it came to our Washington winters.

I like the snow. I always have.

So when it started snowing last night I didn't expect much.

Andrew did... and I relived a bit. He went to bed excited. I went to bed wondering how I was going to explain the wet morning grass.

When we woke up... well, let's just say the snow hung around a bit.

Andrew and Chief got right out there in it. Andrew wasn't quite sure how to make a snowball but after a little bit of coaching he mastered the art.

It wasn't much snow. Maybe a couple of inches at the most but as the day wore on it got to become pretty good "packing" snow... if you know what I mean.

Andrew and Chief buddied up all day in the stuff, coming indoors from time to time for some hot chocolate and a bit of thawing. Then when warmed, dried, recharged and insulated they'd charge back out, brave the elements and try a stab at making "snow angels"... well, at least Andrew did.

Chief... he wasn't too sure about this whole "snow angel" thing but he surely enjoyed watching as Andrew did his thing.

And what else happens in the snow? Well, it just isn't a real "snow day" unless you build that snowman or two.

Andrew started small. He rolled and rolled and rolled the ball of snow.

He was patient! Determined!

Chief wanted to help but wasn't sure how. He'd try to nip the ball of snow... unsure exactly what Andrew was trying to do with it. Thinking Andrew wanted to play.

But as the snowball grew...

...as it gained size and shape it all came to pass. Chief watched as Andrew built a living, breathing snowman!

Andrew packed it here, smoothed it there... chopped it with his hand... grooved the joints out with his fingertips.

He was the creator! The father of this snow... "person"!

And Chief stared in awe!

After Andrew completed his first live snowman he tried to get the little guy to chum around with him and Chief.

Andrew offered up his skateboard and hat!

He and Chief tried to help their newly created friend up onto the board...

...onto that bone breaking, skin scraping, tooth chipping piece of plywood with roller skates.

But Frosty would have nothing to do with it. Nothing at all!

Nope, Frosty wanted a more timid, laid back friend. Not that he had anything against Andrew and Chief...

...not that at all. He simply wanted a companion that was a bit more errr, well quiet and inactive like himself.
Someone sooo much like himself.

Creator Andrew (and Chief) went back to work.

Rolling, packing, poking, prodding, grooving, chopping... doing it all over again until...

...VOILA!! Frostess the snowgirl was born!

And so goes the story of the night the snow fell in Olympia...

...and hung around a bit the day after!