Arizona Fire Lookout Towers

[chumley]

Ok, so there's an awesome new feature on the TrailDEX Map, and I think it deserves its own thread.

To quote Joe: A BIG thanks to coanbru for honest feedback and great ideas
Here's an example of AZ Fire Lookouts, created by coanbru ( future eagle )

So, I was just perusing many of the towers that I've been to and noticed that the Big Lake Knoll Lookout isn't marked. I spent an hour up there watching the Nuttall-Gibson Complex Fire on Mt. Graham in 2004. It seemed so close, and the view was one I'll never forget.

[joebartels]

I hope he's okay with me making that public
He has a nice Rusty Angel map too that really shows off My Routes

It was nice to look up Humboldt after our AZT hike, I wasn't aware it's so close to the valley.

[Al_HikesAZ]

Great addition. Thanks Coanbru and Joe.

Have we plugged Eileen Moore's book "Standing Watch - The Fire Towers of Arizona" ISBN 0-9672576-1-1
( dead link removed ) scroll down a little on the page
I don't think Amazon carries it. I think Eileen sells it through her publishing company.

[chumley]

Humboldt is great. Can't get up it because of the FAA radar site (I will climb some fences but post-9/11 that's not one of them!) but when Horseshoe is full the views are extra nice.

[The_Eagle]

@chumley
The official list I took these from has two towers with either "Big Lake" or "Knoll" in the name.

Big Lake
Active
N33.28235 W110.82144
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

PS Knoll
Inactive
N33.75444 W109.39833
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

Is it either of these?

[JimmyLyding]

Great addition. Thanks Coanbru and Joe.

Have we plugged Eileen Moore's book "Standing Watch - The Fire Towers of Arizona" ISBN 0-9672576-1-1
( dead link removed ) scroll down a little on the page
I don't think Amazon carries it. I think Eileen sells it through her publishing company.

I think Cindyl has mentioned it, and I may have as well. The dude manning the tower on Bill Williams Mountain showed me his copy. Looks very cool, but my backlog of books is out-of-control right now so it will have to wait. Is there a way to link photos to this cool new feature?

Big Al, I'm heading to your alma mater on Saturday to watch the big Arizona-Stanford game!

[Al_HikesAZ]

When I was there, the fight song was Uncle John's Band by the Dead. I understand they have now changed it to "It's all right now" by Free. Sure beats "Bear Down". And there's a new beer drinking game at the tailgaters that we didn't have when I was there.

[chumley]

@chumley
The official list I took these from has two towers with either "Big Lake" or "Knoll" in the name.

Big Lake
Active
N33.28235 W110.82144
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

PS Knoll
Inactive
N33.75444 W109.39833
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

Is it either of these?

Looks like a data error. The one currently marked as Big Lake (and those coordinates) are actually the "Ferndell/Pinal Peak" tower. You'll see that there are two marks at the top of that peak.

The coordinates for the Big Lake tower should actually be here, as you can see the tower is even marked on the topo map.
N33.862 W109.391

[Sredfield]

Have we plugged Eileen Moore's book "Standing Watch - The Fire Towers of Arizona" ISBN 0-9672576-1-1
( dead link removed ) scroll down a little on the page
I don't think Amazon carries it. I think Eileen sells it through her publishing company.

Wish you wouldn't do that, now my backlog of books is one more.

[chumley]

I just found this awesome resource published in September 1989. There are some amazing historical photographs of towers that no longer exist, or have been replaced by newer models.

Wrightson, Baker, Promontory, Bill Williams, "Blue Ridge Cabin Tree" , Lemmon, Greens, Escudilla, and a bunch in New Mexico.

Fascinating stuff for fire tower nerds like me

[big_load]

Those lookout trees wouldn't fare well in an OSHA inspection.

[chumley]

@big_load
Meh. Clipped in with a harness and it's all good!

[Alston_Neal]

That is really a cool read. I could spend the summer in a few of those places, especially Monjeau lookout. Now that is living. I also found it interesting seeing the cisterns. Great find.

[Farwalker]

Thank you for access to that document. My husband and I are ex helitack working out of Hannigan Meadows in the late 1970's and early 1980's. I can't wait to show him this. He may have seen some of these towers or the remnants of them.