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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip on: July 21, 2010, 09:00:18 PM
caseygreene


Location: missoula
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« on: July 21, 2010, 09:00:18 PM »

Just got back from this one:
8 Forest Service Fire Lookouts in 10 days, this bike trip ran from the Selkirks in Northern Idaho to the North Fork Flathead Valley in Montana.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52249549@N02/collections/72157624423411453/
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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #1 on: July 21, 2010, 09:14:20 PM
DaveC


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« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2010, 09:14:20 PM »

Nice one!
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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #2 on: July 21, 2010, 11:09:36 PM
Singlespeedpunk


Location: Gloucestershire, UK
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« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2010, 11:09:36 PM »

Really nice photos, looks like a cool trip. So whats the score with access to the towers? Are they kept open for use by hikers (like bothies in the UK) or are they still "private" property?

SSP
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"...and yeah this fixie thing is pretty bomber" mc

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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #3 on: July 22, 2010, 12:51:11 AM
flatfishy


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« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2010, 12:51:11 AM »

some of those lookout towers are sooooo posh compared to our bothies, and i bet they're not full of drunks like you had SSP out at Nant Rhys.
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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #4 on: July 22, 2010, 07:15:41 AM
Firedog62


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« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2010, 07:15:41 AM »

Very nice Pictures. Makes me want to come out there and ride some. thumbsup
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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #5 on: July 22, 2010, 08:50:44 AM
Singlespeedpunk


Location: Gloucestershire, UK
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« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2010, 08:50:44 AM »

some of those lookout towers are sooooo posh compared to our bothies, and i bet they're not full of drunks like you had SSP out at Nant Rhys.

Yeah that Scotish guy was an ass...pretty close to me a) killing him or b) going out into the forest to bivvie in peace

Smiley
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"...and yeah this fixie thing is pretty bomber" mc

www.fixedisfucked.blogspot.com

  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #6 on: July 22, 2010, 09:54:22 AM
jhl99

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« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2010, 09:54:22 AM »

I like the windbracing cables on the privy.

Eastern US firetowers are generally only about 8'x'8' and maybe have the map table, if any furnishings.
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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #7 on: July 22, 2010, 10:52:09 AM
mattinaustin


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« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2010, 10:52:09 AM »

Nice trip Casey.  Is this going to make it into the ACA as an official route  icon_biggrin.  Did you have access to each of the towers?   

--Matt
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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #8 on: July 22, 2010, 03:47:27 PM
caseygreene


Location: missoula
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« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2010, 03:47:27 PM »

ya, we did spent the nights in the lookouts. You can rent them through recreation.gov, but they throw on a $9.00 fee. So, to get around that, sometimes you can rent them directly through the ranger district. the price of the lookouts are between 20-30$ a night.

The key for planning the trip was reserving the lookouts after the snow melted but before fire season. we ended up getting lucky and had perfect weather and the streams were all running, which was also key. To make sure we would get the best dates we booked the lookouts in january. They do tend to get booked up on summer weekends. The more remote ones less so.

An ACA route? We are committed to doing another big road route for the next 2 years. Not my idea, but ACA listens to their constituents, so if you want it, send an email to aca saying so. Seriously you should. i need to not look like i'm bat-shit-crazy when i suggest mapping bikepacking routes and others here say no one will ride it. Although i have a feeling some said the same of the GDMBR.

That does mean i won't map it on my own. i'll be going back up there soon to work on a better route with Todd Tanner, who knows the area like the back of his hand. And, we'll include a few more Forest Service lookouts and cabins. should be sweet. headbang
« Last Edit: July 22, 2010, 08:16:43 PM by caseygreene » Logged

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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #9 on: July 22, 2010, 05:22:18 PM
l-s-d


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« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2010, 05:22:18 PM »

So wonderful, thanks for sharing. That's classic old school mountain biking there, straight out of the Bodfish MTB journey guides.
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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #10 on: July 22, 2010, 10:49:05 PM
Slowerthensnot

Have fun and go far


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« Reply #10 on: July 22, 2010, 10:49:05 PM »

ya, we did spent the nights in the lookouts. You can rent them through recreation.gov, but they throw on a $9.00 fee. So, to get around that, sometimes you can rent them directly through the ranger district. the price of the lookouts are between 20-30$ a night.

The key for planning the trip was reserving the lookouts after the snow melted but before fire season. we ended up getting lucky and had perfect weather and the streams were all running, which was also key. To make sure we would get the best dates we booked the lookouts in january. They do tend to get booked up on summer weekends. The more remote ones less so.

An ACA route? We are committed to doing another big road route for the next 2 years. Not my idea, but ACA listens to their constituents, so if you want it, send an email to aca saying so. Seriously you should. i need to not look like i'm bat-shit-crazy when i suggest mapping bikepacking routes and others here say no one will ride it. Although i have a feeling some said the same of the GDMBR.

That does mean i won't map it on my own. i'll be going back up there soon to work on a better route with Todd Tanner, who knows the area like the back of his hand. And, we'll include a few more Forest Service lookouts and cabins. should be sweet. headbang

Jill mentioned this trip to me.... crazy cool pics
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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #11 on: July 26, 2010, 09:51:02 AM
caseygreene


Location: missoula
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« Reply #11 on: July 26, 2010, 09:51:02 AM »

Thanks Dave. it was pretty friggin fun. wish i was still out there!
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  Topic Name: Forest Fire Lookout Trip Reply #12 on: August 11, 2010, 07:27:23 PM
surlydave


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« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2010, 07:27:23 PM »

Thanks so much for sharing.  I enjoyed thumbing through it so much, I hit it again tonight.  Stuck here on the East Coast for now.
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