Trials By Wildfire: In Search Of The New Warrior Spirit

by Peter M. Leschak

Journey with Peter Leschak, wildland firefighter, as he explores the warrior spirit--a genderless code emphasizing personal integrity, responsibility, patience, will, commitment, and inner courage, forged through life's "trials by fire." Using his professional experiences fighting forest fires as a vivid metaphor for the warrior code, Peter weaves captivating tales of raging wildfires, the warm camaraderie and good-natured competition of a small-town tavern packed with smokejumpers, the clarity of the night sky, the subtleties of an ancient Chinese board game-all offering profound lessons in the quest for a new understanding of life and its purpose. To each episode, Peter brings the soul of a poet contemplating life in the face of imminent death, as well as a professional firefighter's keen apprehension of hazardous operations and fascination with the seductive allure of a blazing inferno. Readers can dip into these pages for a vicarious jolt of adrenaline-or use Trials by Wildfire as a roadmap in their own search for life meaning.

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1999