Volunteers Needed at the Historic Deadman Lookout Tower

The U.S. Forest Service is looking for people who enjoy great views and are not afraid of heights to volunteer as visitor information hosts and amateur fire spotters at the only fire tower remaining on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District in the Roosevelt National Forest.

During the extreme fire conditions of 2012, Deadman Lookout was used by professional firefighters, along with lookout volunteers, as an active fire lookout for the first time in decades. In 2013 a record number of volunteers worked at the tower and allowed hours to be extended for visitors.

The historic Deadman Lookout, last officially staffed in the 1970s, is located 15 miles west of Red Feather Lakes at an elevation of 10,700 feet. The lookout is typically snowed in until July. It is then that dedicated volunteers keep the lookout open for scores of stair-climbing visitors through Labor Day.

Climbing into the top of the 1961 lookout is like stepping back in time. Original furniture and equipment are still usable and in place. Volunteers share fire lookout history with visitors, along with providing information on area recreation such as camping, fishing and scenic driving. Volunteers also work as amateur fire spotters for the district.

Hosts volunteer a minimum of two days per season. The lookout is open regularly Friday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosts need to be in good health, enjoy working with people, and have transportation to and from the lookout.

Evening classroom training on June 18th is required. New volunteers will also spend a training day with a mentor-volunteer at the lookout.

If interested or for additional information, please contact Kristy Wumkes at 970-295-6721 or kwumkes@fs.fed.us.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Thanks to Volunteers the Deadman Lookout Tower has Extended Hours

The Deadman Lookout Tower on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District is now open Thursday through Monday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through July and on weekends through September, completely staffed by volunteers.

Forty - a record number - volunteer hosts trained this year to staff the Lookout to provide visitors with valuable information, ranging from where to camp and fish to tips about how to become better public land stewards. The volunteers come from all over Larimer County, with some even coming from Boulder County. All the volunteers have a keen interest in helping to preserve and share the history of the Deadman Fire Lookout with others.

Those visiting the top of the Lookout, some 55 feet high, are rewarded with amazing views of northern Colorado from its 10,700-foot elevation. On a clear day, one can see landmarks one hundred miles from the tower, including vistas into southern Wyoming and the peaks of the Rawah Wilderness to the west.

Visitors can also see and use the original fire spotting equipment at the top. Volunteers are trained in the history of the fire tower, and some even have first-hand experience with fire.

The site also has a vault toilet and picnic tables, so you can make a great day-trip out of the experience. Just be sure to pack out your trash.

To confirm the Lookout will be staffed and open the day you plan to go, please call the visitor information center at 970-295-6700. As volunteers are getting fully trained, the Lookout is anticipated to be open additional days.

The Lookout is located up the Deadman Road, northwest of Red Feather Lakes. To get there from Fort Collins, take CO State Highway 287 north to Livermore. Turn west onto County Road 74E to Red Feather Lakes. Next, turn left on County Road 86 (Deadman Road). Travel on this gravel road for about 15 miles to the turnoff for Forest Service Road 170. It is about two miles from here to the Lookout.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com