General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAfter a three year hiatus, I'll be back working in a fire lookout this summer ..
I'll be working the Idaho high-country, in one of the highest fire lookouts (at 9945 feet!) in the US. I'll have views of the Salmon Mountains, the Sawtooth Range, and the River-of-No-Return Wilderness. I'll post more details as fire season gets closer.
kentuck
(111,110 posts)DemoTex
(25,403 posts)USALiberal
(10,877 posts)DemoTex
(25,403 posts)Probably 10 days on & 4 days off.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)JohnnyLib2
(11,212 posts)being a displaced desert kid!
livetohike
(22,163 posts)struggle4progress
(118,338 posts)blm
(113,091 posts)But, sure love your dedication and your photos.
DemoTex
(25,403 posts)But my last lookout was at almost 9000 feet.
blm
(113,091 posts)As always.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,377 posts)Yes?
peacebuzzard
(5,182 posts)Great to hear the news.
inwiththenew
(972 posts)I hiked up Mt Washburn in Yellowstone and they had one of those up there. Pretty neat to see.
AnotherMother4Peace
(4,251 posts)skip fox
(19,359 posts)Seriously.
DemoTex
(25,403 posts)erronis
(15,328 posts)I remember reading this in the late 60s and loving the views of nature, and the human kind.
I think I have an autographed copy somewhere unless one of my countless kids has made off with it.
skip fox
(19,359 posts)Backseat Driver
(4,394 posts)Lonely digs on those mountaintops. We count on your expertise and observations across the forests. Keep those peepers open and send down those fantastic photos!
Karadeniz
(22,572 posts)Measures you can take!!!
DemoTex
(25,403 posts)I'll acclimate to the altitude very quickly. I'm just worried about the cold temperatures, but the lookout has both a wood burning stove and a propane heater.
lpbk2713
(42,766 posts)I've been around them but never flew in one before.
DemoTex
(25,403 posts)NAF Cam Ranh Bay
Vietnam - 1970/71
lpbk2713
(42,766 posts)flotsam
(3,268 posts)or is that nacelle damaged?
FirstLight
(13,364 posts)How did you get into this job/gig? It's awesome, I look forward to your updates!
Bob Loblaw
(1,900 posts)Thanks for the work you do, and for your artistry.
mountain grammy
(26,648 posts)berni_mccoy
(23,018 posts)Throck
(2,520 posts)The girl who sat behind me in homeroom got a job as one and moved to Montana. She loved solo hiking, planted a garden at the base of her tower. Ultimately got married to a firefighter, fellow fire watch guy she met. Haven't seen her at recent reunions but her brothers fill me in.
How long is a shift? Are you allowed to read? Are you allowed to nap? Do you have to work during thunderstorms?
marieo1
(1,402 posts)I have worked fires for Minnesota. In fact, I went to Miles City, Montana a couple of times as a dispatcher. It is exciting but it would be so rewarding to have such wonderful views. I envy you!!!
Botany
(70,581 posts)DemoTex
(25,403 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)2naSalit
(86,775 posts)I haven't been over that way in a few years, not many really. You'll get to hear wolves at night!
I might have to come out and visit you! It's not that far from me even though I'm not in Idaho.
Can't wait to see your new pictures!
ETA: It's pretty chilly much of the time over there. I've spent a couple summers in that area, working and doing research. Bring plenty of base layers!
marble falls
(57,204 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,706 posts)Love your posts and photos. Be safe and enjoy!
shanti
(21,675 posts)I bet you have lots of strange stories about things you've seen from your times in the wilderness.
B Stieg
(2,410 posts)Blues Heron
(5,940 posts)totodeinhere
(13,059 posts)One summer I was on Green Mountain and another summer I was on Miners Ridge. Both are in the North Cascades in Washington State. When I was on Green Mountain I had to hike downhill for a mile to get water from s stream, then pack it back uphill on my back. Quite an experience. Author Jack Kerouac had been stationed as a lookout at Miners Ridge at one time. I could still see his signature on old log books stored at the lookout.
warmfeet
(3,321 posts)Nice gig.
CabalPowered
(12,690 posts)Congratulations! That's some of the most beautiful country in the lower 48..
elleng
(131,107 posts)Your pics are one of the best things about summer!!!
blogslut
(38,016 posts)democrank
(11,104 posts)Great photos
AllaN01Bear
(18,384 posts)Hekate
(90,793 posts)Stay safe, too. Looking forward to your reports.
wysimdnwyg
(2,233 posts)I always appreciated your threads from the lookout stations you visited.
Sloumeau
(2,657 posts)flying_wahini
(6,646 posts)Presumably you have an internet connection? Alone the whole time?
Regarding 10 days on& 4 off schedule... what do you do when you are off? When on duty-
Do you have to stay up there the whole time? Can you leave at all?
DemoTex
(25,403 posts)There is cell service and internet. I'll take ham radio equipment and Sirius radio. While on duty, my hours are 8-4:30. After hours I can explore. I am planning to do some fly fishing on nearby waters. But once the lightning (and fires) start, I'll go on a dawn to dusk schedule, or even after dark for problem fires.
On my off days, I will hang out in Stanley and enjoy the mountain life. Some time is required to do laundry and re-provision. I can see, perhaps, going into Boise for the big stuff (Costco, REI, etc). I expect that my wife will visit, too, probably on my off days (she can't do the 10,000 foot lookout due to altitude sickness).
But, the bottom line is lots of photography and videography. Thinking about a drone. I'll do a blog, and probably a video blog.
The time will fly. Due to the elevation and snows, it is a very short fire lookout season in the high country.
trof
(54,256 posts)I'd get hypoxic at that altitude.
DemoTex
(25,403 posts)Right?
catchnrelease
(1,945 posts)I've missed your Summer reports and photos, this is great news!
burrowowl
(17,645 posts)mnhtnbb
(31,404 posts)to share with us, and do not have a busy fire season.