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Keeping with
tradition, the 2003 Western Regional Conference was another rousing
success! The event was held at the High Desert Museum, near Bend, Oregon
September 25-28. About fifty people were in attendance, although many
lookouts were still on duty due to the extended fire season. On several
occasions, special remembrances were made of early Oregon FFLA leaders
Doug Newman and Ron Johnson.
Thursday's planned tours to Black Butte and Sand Mountain were changed
since road closures due to the B&B Complex fires were in effect.
A small group, guided by host Howard Verschoor, went to Henkle Butte,
Trout Creek Butte, and Green Ridge, while others headed individually
to places such as Hager Mountain and Iron Mountain.
Friday's session began informally with introductions and a polling of
attendees as to what they would like to see from the FFLA. Other discussions
included an explanation of lightning currents and lightning protection
needs by engineer (and new FFLA member) Richard Kelson, who had recently
been involved in a project designing new lightning protection systems
for USFS lookouts in Oregona and Washington. The morning closed with
an update from the Deschutes NF Deputy Fire Staff.
The Friday afternoon tour departed for East Butte, where lookout (and
FFLA member) Chris Boring greeted the group. Due to the extreme fire
danger, the visit there was limited and the group headed on to Fox Butte.
The planned visit to Spring Butte was foregone due to a lack of time.
Saturday morning saw FFLA business interspersed with presentations and
awards. High Desert Museum personnel unveiled plans for a fire exhibit
on the grounds, including the salvage of materials from the old collapsed
Black Butte tower in the construction of a lookout exhibit. The items
for the evening silent auction began to pile up on the tables, enticing
early bidders.
Doug Newman Award
Keith Argow presented the annual Doug Newman Award to Don Allen followed
by their sharing of memories of times spent with Doug. Don, a member
of the FFLA and one of the founders of the Sand Mountain Society, is
a master craftsman who worked with Doug himself in restoring Sand Mountain
Lookout. Don had taken time off from his current project, the restoration
of Gold Butte Lookout, to come to the conference.
Don Allen receives the Doug Newman Award from FFLA Chairman
Keith Argow.
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The Saturday afternoon
tour was to Wanoga Butte, one of the two most endangered lookouts
in the country, and to Round Mountain where FFLA member and long-time
lookout Roger Miller greeted the group. A few opted instead to brave
the record high temperatures to hike to Black Butte, as word had been
received that the access had been reopened.
Saturday evening's pizza
dinner at the High Desert Museum was donated by Papa's Pizza in Bend.
After dinner, while bidding on the silent auction items continued,
the group was treated to ballads and songs by a local singer/guitar
player (and former Malheur NF firefighter). Several videos of fire
and lookout activity were also shown.
Group photo at Walker Mountain, taken as a tribute
to Ron Johnson. (Rob Hoeye Photo)
Spirited bidding at the silent auction brought in about $700 to be
used for restoration work on Oregon lookouts.
The Sunday tour began with a stop at Odell Butte to visit FFLA member
and long-time lookout Jim Shotwell. Odell is unique in that it has
two 30-foot legs on one side and two short legs sitting atop a large
rock on the other. The cab has also had noteworthy modifications improving
the field of vision and the structural integrity of the flattop design.
The next stop was Walker Mountain, a site that brought special memories
back to Howard - he had worked on a PIT project there with Ron Johnson.
A group photo was taken as a tribute to Ron, then the numbers dwindled
as several members headed home from there.
"Hard Core" FFLA Tour Group after scrambling
up to the old lookout structure atop Bear Butte. In the photo - Mark
Swift, Forrest Clark, Dave Bula, Tami McLeod, Sue Bula, Marie Hall,
Ray Grimes, Russ Campbell. Just out of view
- Ernest Knox. (Gary Weber Photo)
The rest of the group continued on to Bald Mountain, which had been
regularly staffed in recent years by Walker Range, but was in emergency
staffing status this year. After losing one more for his trip home,
the group continued on to the unique Bear Butte Lookout. After the
scramble up the hill to the structure, photos were taken of the "Hard
Core" group.
While the sun was lowering in the west, Gary Weber convinced the rest
of the group that it wasn't too late to visit Sugarpine Lookout. Even
though the staffers were off duty for the day by the time the group
arrived, they warmly greeted the entourage. After watching the sun
set from the lookout, the group headed down the hill in the dark,
making a full day by not arriving back at Bend until about 10:00.
NHLR Presentation
As a tribute to Ron Johnson, one of Howard Verschoor's goals was for
Oregon to become the first state with 100 lookouts listed on the register.
Number 100 for Oregon was Lava Butte. Keith Argow presented the Lava
Butte certificate to Howard.
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