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FIRE LOOKOUTS By Rick Baugher

  By the 1930's the Forest Service had a goal to "put a firewatch on every mountaintop". Idaho ended up with 989 fire lookout structures- more than any other state in the Pacific Northwest. Of southern Idaho's 128 lookouts, 36 were above 9000'. Red Wings at el 10910' was the highest. Twin Peaks el 10340' is the highest fire station in America today. By the 1960's many of the old lookouts were destroyed in the name of progress, but fortunately, a representative sampling remain today- at least until the elements ultimately win. 
  Everything you'd ever want to know about lookouts is contained in the book "Fire Lookouts of the Northwest" by Ray Kresek. You can reach Ray through his Historic Lookouts Project in Spokane, WA. In doing his research Ray has climbed over 1000 mountains. He knows what he's talking about. 
  As mountain users, sooner rather than later, we have an encounter with lightning. In his book Ray describes one of those terrible nights in a shack on a summit, something like this: 
  As the lightning approached, the firewatcher would pull the "go to hell rope" to disconnect all appliances. The copper wire grounding system would 
  begin to hum and glow with dancing St Elmo Fire. At this time, as your hair began standing on end, you'd hop on a glass legged insulated stool. 
  For the grand finale the blinding white light would cause anything metal to sizzle. The cabin reeked of foul ozone. After several minutes your sight 
  and senses return....and leave you something not to forget in a lifetime. 

L to R from top: 
  WILDHORSE PEAK el 9546' White Knob Mtns This fire lookout is preserved as a national historic monument. 
  TWIN PEAKS el 10340' Idaho's highest outhouse provides a contemplative view to 10442' White Mountain, range highpoint of the Salmon River Mtns 
  SLEEPING DEER el 9881' in the heart of the Frank Church Wilderness. Built in 1935. Still active. 
  SAL MOUNTAIN el 9593' Lemhi Range This 10'x10' lookout was built in 1926. The USCGS triangulation signal is from 1945. These are the first 
  Idaho mountains to be seen and described by a white man. Cresting Lemhi Pass on Aug 12, 1805, Meriwether Lewis records:   "I discovered immence ranges of high mountains still to the west of us with their tops partially covered with snow". 
  BLUE NOSE el 8677' ID/MT An oddity- this lookout was split down the middle by 2 states, counties, National Forest ranger districts & regions. The 
  lower floor acomodated livestock. The brass benchmark in foreground was set by USGS' TM Bannon in 1912. 
  MOUNT GREYLOCK el 9857' Left to the elements. 
  By Rick Baugher, 4/24/07 

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