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Photographer Dion C. McInnis, '03 shared these wonderful progress photos for Bonfire 2013 with us. Dion was Head Stack, '03-'04 (first such off-campus), and is a Bonfire and Aggie photographer and documentarian.Read Dion's Student Bonfire Q&A on Good Bull HuntingLearn more at studentbonfire.comSee all of the photos and follow progress on http://www.flickr.com/photos/dion-c/sets/72157635811612196/Follow @StudentBonfire and @DionCGallery on Twitter.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
The tractor sits ready to begin hauling logs out of the Woods.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
The tools of Bonfire at rest.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
Controlling the roll. After swamping a log out of the Woods, a Crew keeps their hands on the log as they test its roll.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
A Brown Pot on the move. Their work at Cut is tireless, roaming endlessly through the Woods assisting Crews and working the only chainsaws at Bonfire.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
Motivational Bonfire ACe rests at one of his many pit-stops. The border terrier rescued five years ago by an Aggie on Northgate, today is Bonfire's dutiful companion.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
Working the wedge, a Butt Pot demonstrates proper technique in finishing the front wedge.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
A Butt Pot looks on as a tree is cut. The spirit of memorial and remembrance is a motivating and grounding one for participants.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
Thousands of times a year, Walton will toss log after log onto the truck. Leadership and experienced participants man the truck, catching and redirecting the thrown trees. A series of commands and cues, delivered with military precision, choreograph the process.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
Making the table, the back wedge is carved toward the front. Shortly, this tree will succumb to its own weight, and the precise placement of the two wedges will guide its safe fall.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
"One, two, on the Truck!" is the command that launches another tree to Truck's waiting hands. The Truck will "catch" the log, directing it downward to its preappointed final destination. The Truck is an adrenalized place to be, where the safety of the "Meat" is the Truck's highest priority, calling for laser focus and intense mental and physical discipline.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
Everything at Bonfire ultimately falls to the students, including maintenance of a sturdy but aging garage where even "new" equipment is old.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
FHK swamps a log out to their skids. Arranged "trees on stumps, stumps on trees" (tall people on the stump end, short on the other), each member carries an equal weight and responsibility. Their buddies rely on them, and they on their buddies. As they step forward, each participant also warns those behind of the terrain ahead. Like Aggie Yells, communications are passed back down the log in a steady stream. The sum effect is another of the many examples of unity, and common purpose at the heart of Bonfire.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
Snapping free of its stump, a tree is one step closer to its great reward on the Bonfire Stack. Where once Crews were instructed to continue swinging on trees as they fell to insure their separation from stumps, leadership abolished this practice a few years ago. Now Crews watch and listen closely for signs of a felling, and when the wedge begins to crack and open, all step back to watch the fall.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
At Stack Site, on "Three, Four, Aaaaaall the way up!" the Crew at the always-unforgiving Unload shoulders another log to be moved to the skids for further sorting and clean-up by the Browns with their chainsaws.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
As another loaded truck grinds it way toward Stack Site, a JRP marches out to meet it for Unload.
Photo copyright Dion C. McInnis, '03 from the Dion C. McInnis Gallery (http://dion-c.me)
The side of the Como Shack, the original. In here, the rigging and tools of Stack are stored. And the JRPs. Throughout Stack, there is always at least one JRP on-site at all times. The Como will be their shelter.