Prospect Ranger Station

I may be no Ranger Station aficionado, but I sure as fiery forest know great customer service when I see it.
We were on our way to a remote-​ish campsite whose Google maps directions were sketchy, to say the least. After taking an initial stab at it, and immediately failing to earn my Orientation badge, I decided to turn around and stop at that station we’d passed on our way into the woods. Best decision of my week.
The friendly folks who greeted us were manning the fort with ease, despite a crazy-​ass series of fires that had been burning all around us and had shifted the Forest Service’s staffing needs every which way. One of the rangers was down from Eugene, covering the desk while the rest of the local crew was out trying to cut through smoke in Grants Pass.
When we mentioned the site we were trying to find, one of gents in the office knew exactly where we were going. He started out by drawing us a map, and then asked if we had the key to get into the gate. There was a moment of confusion about a new lock, and the ranger made a call and got us all sorted out.
After the little mix-​up, though, he wanted to make sure that we’d get there OK. So instead of just packing us off with a map and good luck, he got in his truck and led us all the way there, and made sure that we got in the gate before he left.
During our 5-​day stay at the absolutely beautiful site, we ran into just one other ranger on the road, and he was super kind, too.
The folks here make you feel safe — which when you’re camping in a forest where you know there are wildfires is HUGE — and at the same time, they gave us our space — which when you’re camping at a remote site in the woods is totally what you want.
Oh, also: taxidermy. Thumbs way, way up.