In appreciation of the TENT!!!!

Finally he said: “I’ll tell you what happened, but you have to swear not to tell anyone.”

It had been a slow day of retail in my Moscow, Idaho outdoor store during summer 1974. All my customers were out having “summer fun.” Suddenly: there was hope! I recognized the customer who had just walked in.

He was one of three forestry students I made friends with a month before. They had won a contract with the Forest Service to “thin trees”. They would work all summer 60 miles east of Moscow: cutting down numerous small trees to give the surviving ones a better chance to grow and prosper.
These gents bought good gear: North Face sleeping bags, quality accessories, and what I believed to be the best 3-man tent then available, the Sierra Designs 3-man. I think the 3-man retailed for $150.00: which was big money in 1974. I sold them my one in stock and immediately ordered a replacement.

Today my customer wanted another Sierra Designs 3-man tent. I was excited and nearly giddy about selling another of my best and most favorite tent. He was reserved and grumpy.

I couldn’t help myself: I asked him if they had more people working with them. He said no. I asked if they had found the 3-man tent too crowded for an entire summer of sleeping together. He said no.
There was an uncomfortable silence, while he looked around the store.
After a while he “loosened up,” and told the story.

I first had to swear a scared oath to “keep my mouth shut” about it.

He explained it had been nearly a month of tree thinning and “Spartan living”, until they received their first government paycheck. Then they visited the local town of Bovill, and stocked up on food and other supplies.

Of course they bought a little whiskey.

That night the three of them, had a party in camp. The whiskey got nipped on. They built up a big bonfire. More whiskey was “sampled.”

Sometime during the fun, one of them cracked-open a new gallon of Coleman Fuel (white gas), poured some in a cup, and tossed the gas on the bonfire. The fire flared up, and everyone danced and laughed.
Sometime later, after a little more whiskey, one of them filled a used orange juice can with Coleman Fuel, pushed the top back onto it and tossed it into the fire. They all ran back from the fire, and screamed and hooted, as the slight explosion tossed out embers and flame.

They had a little more whiskey.

At this point in the festivities, my customer took the remainder of the gallon of Coleman Fuel, strode forward, and placed the sealed container in the middle of the bonfire.

After a slight pause, to reflect on the consequences: they all ran into the trees
.
Nothing happened for what seemed like a long time.

After a while, his buddies cornered my customer, and told him to run back into camp and kick the gallon can out of the fire.

He finally made the run, and as he neared the bonfire: he saw that the can of fuel was glowing “cherry red.”

As he hesitated, a corner of the gallon container finally burned through.
The gallon can “took off like a rocket.” It went about 100 feet up, then turned and plunged down into the Sierra Designs Tent, exploding on impact.
And that was why he was back in Moscow, buying a new tent.

I hope it is safe to tell this story now.

What could go wrong?