On Saturday, April 25th, twenty-five enthusiastic folks convened for the annual meeting of the Colorado/Utah Chapter which was held from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at El Rancho Restaurant near Evergreen, CO.
Sondra Kellogg welcomed the group and noted that there were six lookouts that were staffed in 2008 in Colorado: Benchmark, Park Point, Round Top, Zenobia, Devil's Head and Deadman. There are three nominations for the National Historic Lookout Register: Park Point Lookout in Mesa Verde NP, Benchmark Lookout near Dolores, CO on the San Juan NF and Fairview Peak on the Gunnison National Forest. There is a possibility that Round Top Lookout in Dinosaur, NM, will also be added to the register.
Justin Lawrence, archeologist on the Gunnison NF, reported on the restoration of Fairview Peak Lookout which is the highest lookout in America. In spite of the difficult terrain, incredible progress is being made on this structure. The photos that he shared were breathtaking. Another work week is planned in August. Interested volunteers should contact Justin at 970 641 3686.
Jack and Sondra Kellogg reported on the Western Conference that was held in Roseburg, Oregon, last September. Bill Gherardi gave a status report on the restoration of Squaw Mt. Fire Lookout. The next work day will be Sat., June 6th with a back-up date or possible second work date on Sat., June 20th.
Bill Little and Deb Legel told about "The Friends of Deadman Fire Lookout" volunteer program and invited attendees to visit the tower which is located near Red Feather Lakes in Colorado.
The restoration work on Park Point Fire Lookout in Mesa Verde NP was reported on by Sondra Kellogg for Allen Farnsworth, Fire Management Officer, who was unable to be with us. Photos were shared which indicated significant improvements have been made to this lookout with more to be done.
Photos were shared and volunteers requested by Mark Nelson for the W. White Pine Fire Lookout restoration. This lookout is now located on the CSU campus. Interested workers should contact Mark at 970 282 4377.
Sondra Kellogg shared a most interesting letter from Jean and John Polhamus of San Diego, CA, who staffed Round Top Lookout in Dinosaur NM in 1953. Photos were circulated that were taken when this couple lived on the mountain top in a small cabin which served as the lookout. Today, there is a superb tower on the site.
Peggy Phillips, present lookout on Horse Ridge Lookout in Six Rivers NF in Northern California told of some of her exciting experiences as did Rob Anderson who staffed Heaven's Peak Lookout in Glacier Nat'l Park many years ago. Ron Ruhoff showed photos that he took of Squaw Mountain Fire Lookout when it was staffed by Margaret and Bob Swanlund and he told many humorous tales about this couple and their time on Squaw Mt. which is located at 11,500'. It is difficult to imagine that they lived there year round.
Margee Kelly provided one of the highlights of the meeting. Even though she is a Colorado resident, she is in her twenty-second year as lookout at Needles LO in Giant Sequoia NP in California. She showed a DVD of the McNally Fire which also had magnificent photos of her lookout located atop a huge rocky cliff with two hundred stairs. This is the only lookout which receives helicopter support for food, propane, water and mail. Margee has 3,000 visitors/season and invites you to come visit.
Bill Gherardi, President of the Colorado Forestry Association, gave an update of the pine beetle problem which is devastating millions of acres of Colorado's forests as well as other "bug" problems and the effect that major fires will have on the infrastructure.
A letter from Barbara Zinn, Benchmark Lookout, was shared by Sondra Kellogg. Barbara has been a lookout in many different places and is in her eleventh season on Benchmark.
Ron Kemnow and his wife, LaVaughn, from Chiloquin, Oregon, told of their extensive research on lookouts in eleven western states that has taken place over the past twenty-nine years. They had some very unique tales to tell.
Sondra Kellogg reported that Devil's Head Fire Lookout will probably open about mid May and showed photos of Margaret Ellis with her great grandson being carried on Margaret's back to the lookout last summer. This baby was with Margaret & Bill Ellis at our meeting last year.
Chapter business meeting included thoughts of fundraising projects and the need for a powerpoint presentation of Colorado fire lookouts. Susan Epstein volunteered to help with this project.
The meeting ended with a thank you to Evergreen Rotary Club for providing the audio visual equipment and reading from "Tales of Ed Littlehales" given by Sondra & Jack Kellogg. Ed was the first lookout on Mt. Thorodin Fire Lookout in 1941. He has a great sense of humor and dry wit which is apparent in the way he describes some of his unique experiences. (On a side note, he was Keith Argow's boss in the 1960's.) When flying over Mt. Thorodin LO, Keith would make note that the tower was still there & report to his boss accordingly. Unfortunately, Mt. Thorodin LO was dismantled in 1992.
Six copies of the Mt. Thorodin documentary, created by Sondra Kellogg, were sold at this meeting with all proceeds going to the CO/UT Chapter.
Sondra Kellogg
Director, CO/UT Chapter