Anatomy of a wilderness fire lookout post

[Bo Zarts]

1. Solar panels (State Fish & Game radio repeater)
2. Cedar shake roof
3. Solar panels (US Forest Service radio repeater)
4. Cab/Cabin (Living and working space)
5. Smoke in the drainages
6. East Peak
7. Solar panel rack (personal gear)
8. Pulley hoist system
9. Solar panels (US Forest Service lookout interior batteries)
10. Very heavy, lockable trap door (top of steps on catwalk deck)
11. Steep steps
12. HF radio antenna (personal - inverted V for 20 meters)
13. Generator (on bare rocks for fire restriction compliance)
14. Lower steps
15. Gasoline for generator
16. Water “cubies” (5 gallons/ea .. 40#/ea)
17. Storage and radio repeater equipment
18. Catwalk .. 360° around lookout
19. Solar panel (Portable personal 200-watt panel)
20. USFS VHF radio antenna
21. Guy wire support
22. Guy wire
23. Road/turnaround/parking
24. Tripod
25. Fire ring (public use off season)
26. Drone operations pad
27. Outhouse (60 yards)

Bitterroot Range - Idaho Panhandle/Montana
©2023 Bo Zarts Studio

[underpants]

1. Very cool.

[yonder]

2. This is interesting, thanks.

It makes sense having the repeater stations up there. Are there any more other than the USFS and IF&G?

[Bo Zarts]

3. No, those are the only repeaters .. thankfully.

Some lookout tower environments have so many various repeaters that RF exposure is a big issue. Bigelow Mountain lookout in south Arizona, for example, was closed down because of RF levels too high for safe staffing.

[marble falls]

4. Way cool. Oh to be young and indestructable again!

[Bo Zarts]

5. I'm neither young nor indestructable anymore ..

But I'll be up there again next year, at age 76, if it is not bad luck to try to plan that far ahead!

[Callalily]

6. Wow! Quite the operations.

But . . . couldn't the outhouse be a little closer! hahahahahaha

[MichaelSoE]

7. # 27 reminds me of the old best selling book

60 yards to the outhouse by Willy Mayket and Kenny Holdit

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

8. Very nice!

Great information for us inquisitive types!

Thanks!

[Old Crank]

9. The outhouse distance..

I think I would need a pot to pee in for nights there.
Great views.