ChrisT Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 I saw a nice presentation last night about staying in USFS fire lookouts. I've been to Desolation Peak a couple of years ago - one time home of Jack Kerouac. Anyone else stayed at any cool firetowers? Quote
Greg_W Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 Do you wear hotpants in that fire tower, sweetie? Quote
rbw1966 Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 Greg needs to spend more time surfing porn than engaging in right-wing diatribes and lascivious posting here. Â I've stayed at a fire watch tower in the Mt. Hood Wilderness a couple times, once to 3 days the other for 4. Awesome experiences both times. Quote
allthumbs Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 I dig fire towers. Been to Green Mtn., Pilchuck, Park Butte and Three Fingers towers. I have a really cool book called THREE FINGERS THE MOUNTAIN, THE MEN AND A LOOKOUT by Malcolm S. Bates that has all the interesting history of the Three Fingers tower. Quote
catbirdseat Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 I climbed Rainier with Mac Bates. He's a really cool guy. He works as a school teacher in Snohomish. Â Trask, if you made it to Three Fingers Lookout, you must have at least been a climber of sorts at one time. Quote
allthumbs Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 little schoolgurlz can make it to three fingers in the summer - whatchu talkin bout jackson? Quote
Greg_W Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 little schoolgurlz...three fingers... Â Sounds wrong, dude. Quote
ChrisT Posted January 8, 2003 Author Posted January 8, 2003 I've stayed at a fire watch tower in the Mt. Hood Wilderness a couple times, once to 3 days the other for 4. Awesome experiences both times. Â rbw - was it flag point, 5 mile or clear lake? Those are the ones they talked about last night. Winter or summer? Quote
catbirdseat Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 Yes, I suppose school girls could make it in summer. A Three-fingers summer is about six weeks long. However, it was an ice climb when I went last. Harold Engles was nuts when he and Harry Bedal decided to put the lookout there. Quote
allthumbs Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 Those were the days when men were men and sheep were scared. Quote
catbirdseat Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 Mac likes to tell a story about the days when he was running marathons. He had been working on the Three Fingers book and had done a lot of reseach on Harold Engles, but had never met the man. Mac was trying to run from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass nonstop and he met two old guys on the trail. They asked him how far he'd come. By this time he was no longer running and was pretty tired. He answered 40 miles. One of the two me who looked to be about 80 years old said, "I've done a few 35 mile days when I was working for the Forest Service, but never 40". Mac instantly knew he must be talking to Harold Engels. It turned out he was. At age 80 he still could hike 15 miles in a day with a pack on. Quote
sketchfest Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 Devils Peak in Mt. Hood Nat. Forest. Brutal hike in if you do it from Rhododendron, it's like 450' vert per mile. Great views of Hood Quote
ChrisT Posted January 8, 2003 Author Posted January 8, 2003 They seem like the perfect spot for a romantic getaway - but it would probably take a couch and big screen TV to get the old man up there... Quote
gapertimmy Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 b and i stayed at one of the original ranger cabins for OLY NP a few years back. I wanna say it was up the Dossewallips valley, but I can't really remember now. Anyhow, it was a nice little setup, fridge, appliances, but you had to bring your own water. Great wood stove, neat little cabin and very cheap. Quote
catbirdseat Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 If anyone is interested in helping, the Mountaineers are doing a workparty on Three Fingers Lookout in the summer. They will be rebuilding all the shutters and painting. They have a permit to allow a helicopter load of materials to be brought in. Quote
Greg_W Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 Do they need someone with project management skills? 'Cause my job may not have started up by then. Quote
ChrisT Posted January 8, 2003 Author Posted January 8, 2003 How much is it? Like a wta trip for $75? Do you have to be a member of moutaineers? Quote
allthumbs Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 Call me, I'm on ya. Oops, meant on 'it'. Quote
catbirdseat Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 Here is info on Threefingers from the Everett Branch website: http://www.everettmountaineers.org/lotm/lotm_projects/lotm_projects_3F.html  For additional information on The Everett Mountaineers Lookout and Trail Maintenance program, send e-mail to lotm@everettmountaineers.org.  Forest Fire Lookout Restoration Volunteers Needed The Lookout and Trail Maintenance Committee, well known throughout the Club and the Mt. Baker and Snoqualmie Ranger Districts as leaders in volunteer work, is always looking for volunteers to help out on fire lookouts maintained by the Everett Branch.  Step back in time and live the life of a fire lookout crew. These National Historic Buildings played an integral part in the history of the road and trail systems we have today. The passage of time and harsh environments plus the many visitors put much wear and tear on the Lookouts so there is always work to be done.  Work done on lookouts can be anything from carrying tools and materials up, to specialized construction. Most of the work though is scraping and painting involving many spectacular views. The work is very satisfying and much appreciated by visitors.  For information on participating in a 3 Fingers work party contact Louie Coglas at earthhumor@juno.com or 425-672-4521. Quote
catbirdseat Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 Chris, I didn't answer your question fully. No you don't have to be a member, but you'll probably have to fill out a liability waiver if you participate. There is no cost to volunteers. Â One of the cool things about the project is you get to rope up and hang over a 2,000 ft cliff while you work, so they kind of rely on climbers to do the work. Quote
ChrisT Posted January 8, 2003 Author Posted January 8, 2003 YOWZA! Well I better get over to Beacon Rock and learn how to do it then! Quote
sk Posted January 8, 2003 Posted January 8, 2003 Come to Smith this weekend... I can give a beginner lesson Quote
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