So along the way of doing these smoke/pit firings, I consulted others doing it across the US.  On the east coast and west coast, I found these two fellow potters who had lots to share about the process:

Robert Compton of Vermont:     http://www.robertcomptonpottery.com/Method%20of-Pit-Firing-Pottery.htm

Eduardo Lazo of Belmont CA:     http://www.eduardolazo.com/pitinstruct.html

Even after doing this for so long, I still confuse firing temperatures, here’s a good chart for that: 

http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/materials/art/Husby/FiringTemperatures.pdf