Volunteers Needed at 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.

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 26 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

Tree Planting on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District

More than 5,600 ponderosa pine and limber pine trees are being planted mid-May in the Bellaire Lake, Dowdy Lake, and West Lake campgrounds on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest.

The trees being planted were grown from seeds collected within the vicinity of these recreation areas and were sown at the U.S. Forest Service’s Bessey Nursery in Nebraska. The Bessey Nursery is the oldest federal nursery and produces an average of 750,000 seedlings for vital restoration and conservation projects throughout the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Forest Service.

These trees are being planted to replace some of those lost to the mountain pine beetle epidemic. Many of these killed trees were removed from the Bellaire Lake Campground in January. At both Dowdy Lake and West Lake campgrounds, many older ponderosa pines have been preserved by spraying to avoid mountain pine beetle attacks. Planting at these sites provides a wide range of ages from young to old trees.

This planting is taking place by contractors with U.S. Forest Service oversight. Following planting, the new seedlings will be protected by fencing and netted tubes that surround each tree. An Eagle Scout project will also take place following the planting to install the protective nets, thanks to Troop 82. Forest visitors are asked to be careful to avoid these new trees to give them the best chance of survival. The trees will be watered periodically throughout the summer to assist in their success.

If the public is interested in planting trees for our future forest, then National Public Lands Day on the district is the place to be on Sept. 28, 2013. The Canyon Lakes Ranger District is currently planning the event to include more tree and shrub planting at Bellaire Lake Campground.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Canyon Lakes Ranger District’s Mountain Pine Beetle Spraying Has Begun - Expect Temporary Closures

Multiple recreation areas will be impacted due to efforts related to the mountain pine beetle epidemic, including hazard tree cutting and spraying more than 9,500 trees.

Contract crews are spraying trees in select campgrounds and day-use areas on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District this spring and summer. Contractors spray Carbaryl and U.S. Forest Service crews monitor operations and conditions. Spraying is very dependent on calm weather, which began April 29th. More than 900 trees have been sprayed to date, but spraying was put on hold today until May 10th due to the snow. Spraying is occurring at these locations:

* Bellaire Campground and Day-use
* Dowdy Campground and Day-use (temporary closure expected)
* Mountain Park Campground and Day-use
* Jacks Gulch Campground
* West Lake Campground and Day-use
* Tunnel Campground

Many of the district’s picnic areas and trailheads could have temporary closures throughout the spring, summer and fall for hazard tree cutting. The Manhattan dispersed camping area and Deadman Lookout Tower could also experience temporary impacts. Check the website or call visitor information specialists at 970-295-6700 before heading out. Also make sure to check the status of roads across the district, as hazard tree cutting activities will continue on Long Draw Road, closing it for the summer and fall, as well as other forest roads.

For the latest status of recreation areas and roads, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/arp or call our visitor information office. The Forest Service will try to keep the public updated of changes through our website and/or twitter account at twitter.com/usfsclrd.

Forest visitors should be extremely cautious when recreating in the Roosevelt National Forest. Avoid patches of dead trees, especially on windy days. Also, make sure to park vehicles and place tents in areas away from dead trees and take a saw or ax with you to remove fallen trees from roads to avoid becoming trapped. Remember, your safety is your responsibility. Dead and live trees can fall without warning. For additional safety information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/hazardtrees.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Lady Moon Trail in the Roosevelt National Forest Reopens

Roosevelt National Forest officials announced yesterday that the Lady Moon Trail, located south of County Road 74E near Red Feather Lakes, and the area around the trail, reopened following a fuels reduction and hazardous tree removal project in that area.

The project included thinning on approximately 200 acres, and product removal in the mountain pine beetle hit area.

The trail, popular with hikers and horseback riders, was expected to be closed through the winter, but work has been completed allowing the U.S. Forest Service to reopen the area.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com