Amen, Clint. That is exactly how it was when I jumped in late in '82. Southern Cal, new franchises, seriously treed out, and all green bean ground hands got their cherry popped on a bust anchor crew for the first couple months. Foothills of the San Gabriel's probably have more auxiliary eyes in the ground than above.
Six pack for every pole you got jumped on, hell for that matter, six pack for ANY screw up. Buckets only went to trunk crews, flat beds for anyone else. Gigged for even the slightest wee-wa, even through trees. The weak were weeded out within a day, two at the most. Hats off to all those who have paid their dues, and know what being a "dawg" really means.
