A smokejumper lands in a large gravel circle after leaping from an airplane during a training exercise at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 6, 2016. On a 100-degree day in early June, eight experienced firefighters did sit-ups in a semicircle training to parachute into a wildfire. Better known as “rookie candidates”, they were determined to make it through the five-week program at North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, where the first experimental jumps occurred in 1939. “It's sort of the spiritual home of smokejumping”, said David Ryder, who photographed the latest group of rookies. “These guys are the elite of the elite”. Ryder said covering the record-setting wildfires in his home state of Washington over the past two years made him want to learn more about the people behind the acts of courage he had captured with his camera. These rookie candidates were required to have basic firefighting skills; two seasons of forestry experience, one being a main fire position; be 5 feet to 6 feet 5 inches (1.5 to (1.9 m) tall; and weigh between 120 and 200 pounds (54 to 91 kg), according to the base. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





A smokejumper navigates towards the ground after leaping from an airplane during a training exercise in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 6, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Smokejumper recruit Ross Lindell untangles his parachute after landing in cow manure during his first training jump from an airplane into a field adjacent to the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 7, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Smokejumpers celebrate a successful training jump at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 6, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





A smokejumper recruit lands after leaping from an airplane during a training exercise in a field adjacent to the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 7, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Smokejumpers exit an airplane during a training flight in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 6, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





A smokejumper prepares to leap from an airplane while flying above Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 30, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Spotter Daren Belsby communicates with a smokejumper preparing to complete a practice jump from an airplane while flying above Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 30, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





A smokejumper recruit lands in gravel while practising parachute landing fall techniques at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 7, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Smokejumper recruit Leo Brett winds up a hose after cleaning equipment at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 7, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Smokejumpers navigate towards the ground after leaping from an airplane during a training exercise in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 6, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Assistant spotter Scott McClanahan (L) and spotter Daren Belsby (R) size up the landing area for smokejumpers preparing to complete a practice jump from an airplane while flying above Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 30, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





A smokejumper recruit trains by jumping from a large tower while attached to a zip line at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 6, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Rookie smokejumper Brian Anderson (R) prepares to jump from an airplane with fellow smokejumpers while flying above Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 30, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Parachutes ready for use are seen in the parachute loft at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 6, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Smokejumpers gather for a meeting in the parachute loft at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 6, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Smokejumper recruit Jeff Rasmussen does squats with a large rock, punishment for dropping his helmet from atop the practice tower, during training at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 6, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





A smokejumper leaps from an airplane during a training flight above Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 30, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Smokejumper recruits clean their sweat-soaked equipment after training in extreme heat at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, United States June 7, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





(L-R) Supervisors Daren Belsby, Inaki Baraibar, and Fidel Verduzco observe a smokejumper recruit as he jumps from a training tower while connected to a zip line at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 7, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Smokejumper recruits enter the parachute loft during training at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 7, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)





Smokejumper recruit Ross Lindell lands after jumping from a large tower while attached to a zip line at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 6, 2016. (Photo by David Ryder/Reuters)