Mountain Smoke

[Camadile]

I spent the weekend with my two buddies on North Peak in the mountains east of San Diego.  There's not much there except for a building pad, a Scamper and oh yes, electricity!  I decided to take my #2 and three racks of SL style ribs with me on the three hour drive to this amazing view spot.  (As always, getting the #2 into the truck was a bitch because I haven't worked out the handle thing yet.)

I threw together a rub and applied it the night before I left.  We got to the mountain at about 3:00pm Saturday and I set about getting the ribs settled in to their happy place in the #2.  I cooked them at 240 for five hours just like Tony said and they turned out crazy good!  The three of us scarfed down two full racks in no time at all.

I have attached some photos of this smoke for your viewing pleasure.  Sorry, I didn't take any pictures of the end result because it was a dark night when the came out.  Oh, and we were very hungry from sawing up firewood and couldn't wait so that I could take some more stupid pictures (that's what my friends said!)

I also slipped in a couple of photos of the Mojoe because I can't help myself!

Cam

 

[DivotMaker]

Man, what a view to smoke ribs by!!  Glad to hear they worked out well - guess we have another "no peeky" convert! ;D

 

[Camadile]

I swear, I didn't peak!

Cam

 

[DivotMaker]

Way to go, Cam! ;D

 

[old sarge]

SI in tactical mode.  Nice!

The area you are in looks like it is slowly recovering from a fire.  How long ago?

 

[benjammn]

Oh Hell that looks like an amazing place to be especially to do a smoke in. LOVE IT! Also love the shots of your MOJO in there. definitely adds to the overall feel of the experience. Wish I was there instead of my crappy day to day job. You have it made.

 

[Camadile]

Hi Dave:

You are absolutely right.  The "Cedar Fire" torched over 280,000 acres in the mountains east of San Diego in 2003.  There was so much underbrush that the fire incinerated everything in it's path including the oak trees which usually survive wildfires.  I went up to this spot many times before the fire and it used to be a very dense forest of oaks, cedars and pines.  My friend stored his 12' aluminum boat up there and after the fire, the only thing left of it was a small river of aluminum in the dirt.  When ever he complains about his life, he always ends with: "...and my boat melted."

We are still harvesting the dead oak up there for firewood and I brought back a trailer full that I'm going to take out to the desert house next weekend.  The forest is coming back slowly and there are many 10-15 foot pines and oaks coming up.  I'll attach some pictures that I took of the surrounding area so you can see for yourself.

Cam

 

[benjammn]

This is when Mother Nature does her thing and repairs all the things that were destroyed.

 

[Camadile]

Oh Hell that looks like an amazing place to be especially to do a smoke in. LOVE IT! Also love the shots of your MOJO in there. definitely adds to the overall feel of the experience. Wish I was there instead of my crappy day to day job. You have it made.

Thanks for the comment Ben.

I do "have it made" in the sense that I make it a priority to get "out there."  My kids are in college, I am long divorced and I am very lucky to have a group of long time friends who like to get out there too.  It's a lot of effort to pull off a smoke, fill a trailer full of oak rounds and set up a Mojoe photo shoot all in one weekend, but I love it so it happens.

One of these days, I will tell you what I do for a living (Mojoe doesn't pay any bills yet.)  I am probably one only a few people in the US that does it.  Some people think I'm nuts, some people think I'm lucky.  The bottom line is that what I do will not pay for a retirement so I'm putting everything I have into Mojoe Outfitters.

Cam

 

[benjammn]

Love it Cam!

 

[DivotMaker]

Great pics, Cam!  And yes, I'm now intrigued about what you do!  Can't wait to hear some day!

 

[swthorpe]

The SI folks should post that first pic (at the top) on their web site....great advertisement!  ;D

 

[DivotMaker]

The SI folks should post that first pic (at the top) on their web site....great advertisement!  ;D

It is a great picture!  I bet, with Cam's permission, we could get this done!  Great idea, Steve!

 

[Camadile]

Steve and Tony and anyone else:

If you want to use any of these pictures for whatever, I have no problem with that.  Go for it!  As you know, I am a great believer in promoting great products!

Cam

 

[benjammn]

That right there is an awesome attitude and gladly received by all. That is what makes this group so awesome!

 

[DivotMaker]

Steve and Tony and anyone else:

If you want to use any of these pictures for whatever, I have no problem with that.  Go for it!  As you know, I am a great believer in promoting great products!

Cam

Thanks, Cam!  I'll pass this on!