The Quintessential PNW Wildland Fire Lookout Tower in Morning Smoke Layers

[Bo Zarts]

And there is plenty of smoke in the Pacific Northwest, but rain today helped. This might even be a short fire season.
© 2023 Bo Zarts Studio

[3catwoman3]

1. How long do you stay there?

All of the pictures you post are so lovely .

[Bo Zarts]

3. Thanks 3cw3 ..

I'm here until they call fire season over. Probably another month or so .. but we have a lot of rain forcast for the next few days. Could end earlier.

But in the short term, I'm up for three more days (unless we have lightning). I'm working a MAX-FLEX 13-on, 1-off schedule this season. That is not as bad as it sounds.

Bo

[3catwoman3]

7. I hope you don't mind a few more questions.

1. Do you have to bring enough food for 13 days at a time?
2. Are you there all by yourself?
3. What about sleeping while on duty?
4. What do you do when it’s not fire season?
5. How did you get started doing this?

[cilla4progress]

2. Which fires?

We are getting smoke in the Wenatchee Okanogan National Forest from the Sourdough fire on Lake Diablo in the North Cascades.

[Bo Zarts]

4. You are considerably west of my location ..

Due to some security issues from earlier in the season, I'm trying to be a bit oblique as to my specific location. That said, I am getting smoke from new starts in Washington, the Idaho panhandle, and western Montana. That should narrow it down.

But we had rain today, with cold temps and high relative humidities. The next two days have a flash flood advisory in effect. This could be the end of my fire season.

Bo

[cilla4progress]

5. Good luck!

Husband and daughter have backpack trip planned for the Idaho Sawtooths in a couple weeks. Smoke is a concern.

Hang tough!

[LudwigPastorius]

6. How did you take that picture?

Do you have a drone with you?

[Snackshack]

8. That's a cool job.

I made the wrong choice,… dang it. 🙂

[usonian]

9. If you're bored at some point,

California is calling.
Until about November.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

10. Stunning photograph!

[Bayard]

11. What a gorgeous view

Even with the smoke.

What's your elevation there?

[TdeV]

12. Aaah. Lovely!