MEMBERSHIP:

43 current members
    8 new members
    7 dropped members
    3 transferred in

FINANCIAL BALANCE:

$596.53

LOOKOUTS:

Six lookouts were staffed in Colorado: 

1)  Devil’s Head Lookout was staffed by USFS.  This was the twenty-eighth season for Bill Ellis to work on this lookout on the Pike National Forest. 

2)   Deadman Lookout on the Arapaho/Roosevelt National Forest was staffed by volunteers from the “Friends of Deadman Lookout.”

3)   Benchmark Lookout in the San Juan National Forest was staffed by USFS.  This was the eleventh season for Barbara Zinn to serve as lookout.

4)   Zenobia and Round Top Lookouts were staffed in Dinosaur National Monument.   Daniel Hazen was lookout on Zenobia where he has been the past five years.  Phil Shultz completed  his twentieth year as lookout on Zenobia. 

5)   Park Point Lookout in Mesa Verde National Park was staffed by Dani Long, a first year lookout under the direction of Allen  Farnsworth.

RESTORATION OF LOOKOUTS:

Fairview Peak Lookout located on the Gunnison National Forest continued to have major renovation under the direction of archeologist, Justin  Lawrence.  A team of Passport in Time and local volunteers packed in to the tower and spent a week working on various projects at the challenging elevation of 13,214’.  Fairview Peak is the highest lookout in America.  The stone work is complete which stabilized the walls up to the roof.  A new door and temporary windows were added.  Permanent windows are ready to be installed. Sadly, at this time, budget constraints make further work by USFS bleak.  Other funding sources are being explored. 

Squaw Mountain Lookout, 11,500’,  on the Arapaho National Forest continued to have additional work under the direction of Daniel Lovato, Clear Creek District Ranger.  Two work days were held with a crew of volunteers from our local chapter as well as the Colorado Forestry Association and USFS.  A new floor was installed in the lower level apartment as well as a new door to cab plus other maintenance projects. Vandals caused major damage which was repaired.  A new USFS staff member, Nicole Malandri, will spearhead the renovation project in hopes of having the lookout on the rental system the summer of 2010.  Our local chapter wrote a grant to the Colorado Historical Foundation for shutters for the lookout.  Unfortunately, the funds were not granted.

Chimney Rock Lookout in the San Juan National Forest may be moved or demolished due to the significant archeological findings in the area where the lookout now stands.  Our chapter has requested that the lookout be moved to another location to become an interpretive Visitor’s Center.  No decision has been made at this time.


LOOKOUTS ADDED TO THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL LOOKOUT REGISTER: 

Three more lookouts were added to the NHLR this year:  Fairview Peak, Benchmark and Park Point.  Dedication ceremonies were held at all three locations in June.  In addition, a nomination for Round Top Lookout was submitted for consideration.  A new book was published entitled: “Guarding Dinosaur” by Jean Polhamus.  She and her husband served as lookouts on Round Top in 1951. 


ANNUAL MEETING:

An Annual Meeting was held at El Rancho Restaurant on April 25, 2009 with approximately twenty-five in attendance.  Speakers, displays, a business meeting and  lunch provided an enjoyable and productive day.  The highlight for many was a DVD presentation by Margee Kelly of her time as a lookout on Needles Fire Lookout in Sequoia National Forest in California. 

WEBSITE:

A new webmaster, Susan Epstein, added significantly to the information begun by Tim Worth, Mark Nelson and Mark Roper.  Many new photos, historical information and an updated map have greatly enhanced our lookout links especially in the S.W. corner of our state.  Susan has also begun research on Utah lookouts and included information on the website as well.


Sondra Kellogg
Colorado/Utah Director, FFLA