The Arduous Pack Test

C

cory

Branched out member
You've probably all seen ads for timber fallers needed during and after fire season in the western US. Or you've seen the IG posts of those who do the work. Looks like a very interesting job which requires 3+ years of experience "cutting logs" but the point of this thread is the fitness test folks have to pass to be eligible for the position. It's called 'arduous work capacity fitness test and is apparently it's the minimum fitness test for remote area firefighters, worldwide. Hike 3 miles with a 45lb pack in 45 minutes or less.

I'm trying to work up to it but it is a solid challenge, imo. Anyone else?
 
cory said:
You've probably all seen ads for timber fallers needed during and after fire season in the western US. Or you've seen the IG posts of those who do the work. Looks like a very interesting job which requires 3+ years of experience "cutting logs" but the point of this thread is the fitness test folks have to pass to be eligible for the position. It's called 'arduous work capacity fitness test and is apparently it's the minimum fitness test for remote area firefighters, worldwide. Hike 3 miles with a 45lb pack in 45 minutes or less.

I'm trying to work up to it but it is a solid challenge, imo. Anyone else?
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What kind of terrain do they do the test in? Hiking makes me think dirt/rock trails uphill. I might be able to do it depending on terrain. If it was thick smoke in the air probably not though.
 
Pls do!

Today I played around with it, toted a 45lb kettlebell around my house for a mile's worth, tracked it via Strava. My takeaway is that 45 lbs is alot of weight and I gotta up my speed!
 
I carried a USFS Red Card and Class 3 Sawyer card in 2001-2003 when the pack test was instituted. The 45# weight was used to simulate an Indian Water bag with pump. I was in much better shape then but it still took me about 40 minutes to do it, and yes, it is on flat ground. When they first started it, several people had heart attacks and died during the test.
 
I'm going to have to do pretty soon here as I'm looking falling for a wildfire contractor this year, not super excited about it I beat it makes your feet hurt.
 
islandarb said:
Would be easier with a loaded backpack.....spreads the weight. Across shoulders and is balanced. You should be better.
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Even easier with the weighted vest we used to take the test...

I had a red card for 17-18 years (never was a feller - just on a hand crew). It was more difficult at age 40 than at 25, but still had plenty of time to spare last time I took the test (I think that was 2016).

It was close to 2000 they instituted the pack test. Before that it was a step test. You had to step up and down on a bench to the pace of a metronome then take your pulse to confirm it wasn't overwhelming your heart. The pack test is a more realistic measure.
 
ATH said:
Even easier with the weighted vest we used to take the test...

I had a red card for 17-18 years (never was a feller - just on a hand crew). It was more difficult at age 40 than at 25, but still had plenty of time to spare last time I took the test (I think that was 2016).

It was close to 2000 they instituted the pack test. Before that it was a step test. You had to step up and down on a bench to the pace of a metronome then take your pulse to confirm it wasn't overwhelming your heart. The pack e realistic measure.
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Most of the fire work I did was in Arkansas and Oklahoma but my last fire was in Idaho. That was a paid vacation. I was attached to a Native American Type 2 crew and the last 2 days was put with a Shot rew to snag out line for them. Great memories.
 
I did it this winter for the 1st time ever. I went from months of couch (no work all winter) straight to the test and I passed, with a couple of minutes to spare. It helped that I was able to chase a younger guy as he set the pace. Flat pavement for my test. I was sore for 3 days afterwards!
 
ATH said:
@Analog you on a crew for the summer?
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I’m not on a crew. Not yet anyway. I took it thinking I would get my chipper signed up as a resource but then I’m learning that I need a three man crew, with each person having their RT 130 and all of the required PPE. I don’t think I’ll be able to find that in my rural area so it was an exercise in… exercise! While I’ve been an arborist for 20 years, and fallen lots of trees, I don’t technically have the required experience to get a faller cert.
 
Analog said:
I’m not on a crew. Not yet anyway. I took it thinking I would get my chipper signed up as a resource but then I’m learning that I need a three man crew, with each person having their RT 130 and all of the required PPE. I don’t think I’ll be able to find that in my rural area so it was an exercise in… exercise! While I’ve been an arborist for 20 years, and fallen lots of trees, I don’t technically have the required experience to get a faller cert.
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Find a crew to hire your chipper out through, chippers bring in big money in the fires.
 
ATH said:
How about you
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I've yet to pass the the self administered test, treework gets in the way too much and I can't pass it without training some. I think being a faller on fires or afterward would be an awesome thing to do. I suspect I have the skill having done alot of logging in the past but it ain't going to happen at my age, 65
 
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