Climbed Up To Basin Butte Fire Lookout This Morning...

[quangdog]

This morning I drove up to Basin Butte Fire Lookout near Stanley, Idaho. This fire lookout was used by the US Forest Service to survey and watch for forest fires in the surrounding areas, but has been largely replaced by aircraft and is no longer in active use. Public access is permitted, you just can't go inside the lookout itself. Since I drove the Ranger up there, I thought I'd share this little video I put together from a combination of screen captures, dashcam footage, iPhone and GoPro shots. If you are ever near Stanley and want to experience a somewhat challenging climb, this is an awesome little trail. Your Ranger needs 4 wheel drive, and low range.

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[IdahoRanger]

Cool video Kimball. I'll have to add that to my list of Fire Lookouts to visit.

The one I was a volunteer lookout at (Strawberry Peak) was much easier to get to.

 

[quangdog]

Cool video Kimball. I'll have to add that to my list of Fire Lookouts to visit.

The one I was a volunteer lookout at (Strawberry Peak) was much easier to get to.

You were a volunteer lookout there! Sweet! I've often wondered just how boring / awesome that job would be. On the one hand, amazing views. On the other hand, would be hard to stay focused.

Is the road to Strawberry Peak public access? Looks like there is a LOT more infrastructure up there than at Basin Butte.

 

[stringbreaker]

Would have been cool to hear how the truck was responding (ie) engine rpm and such
Very cool video though

 

[quangdog]

Would have been cool to hear how the truck was responding (ie) engine rpm and such
Very cool video though

I thought about it, but I had 3 other people in the truck and conversation was ... lively.

 

[IdahoRanger]

You were a volunteer lookout there! Sweet! I've often wondered just how boring / awesome that job would be. On the one hand, amazing views. On the other hand, would be hard to stay focused.

Is the road to Strawberry Peak public access? Looks like there is a LOT more infrastructure up there than at Basin Butte.

Yes, we allowed visitors as access was easy. Keller Peak near Running Springs also got tons of visitors. On a weekend shift could see as many as 100 visitors. Tons of radio towers and repeaters for ham radio, TV, etc. Went home radioactive!

Was super fun and met great people from all over the world.

Only fire I called in was the Pilot Fire: https://wildfiretoday.com/2016/08/07/pilot-fire-burns-vigorously-near-crestline-california/

 

[Tracy Bowman]

This morning I drove up to Basin Butte Fire Lookout near Stanley, Idaho. This fire lookout was used by the US Forest Service to survey and watch for forest fires in the surrounding areas, but has been largely replaced by aircraft and is no longer in active use. Public access is permitted, you just can't go inside the lookout itself. Since I drove the Ranger up there, I thought I'd share this little video I put together from a combination of screen captures, dashcam footage, iPhone and GoPro shots. If you are ever near Stanley and want to experience a somewhat challenging climb, this is an awesome little trail. Your Ranger needs 4 wheel drive, and low range.

Great video!

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