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rincon
Trad climber
SoCal
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 5, 2012 - 10:18am PT
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So the USFS is planning to rebuild the Needles fire lookout that burned down last summer. The tower was built in 1937 before they used modern equipment to spot fires, but nowadays it is obsolete...so why rebuild it?
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20111220/NEWS01/112200308
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WBraun
climber
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All because it's got "soul" something that's lacking and disappearing in our
so called dry. bland, stale, lifeless technological world we're so busy trying to create.
You're all going to turn into stupid robots too soon .....
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Gary
climber
That Long Black Cloud Is Coming Down
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We're all just meat robots anyway, Werner, following our programmed instructions.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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So CA is gonna spend some money it doesn't have, so we can have some man-made "soul" on top of the magnificent Needles?
I admit the place was cool, but if it's not necessary........
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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If it was obsolete why was Margee there every year?
Rebuild it.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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gotta go with WB on this one.
plus, I suspect it was quite useful since it was "manned" all this time.
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mooch
Trad climber
Old Climbers' Home (Adopted)
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......cause Margee needs a house, Bee-otches!!
Sheesh!
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Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
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spend money lavishly and unnecessarily. it's good for the economy. especially public money. man, i know all public money is closely monitored and every penny is pinched, but if we could just get over that ...
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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So CA is gonna spend some money
Well, unless CA took over the U.S. Forest Service when we weren't looking, I don't expect CA is gonna spend anything on the project aside from some manhours at SHPO reviewing the design.
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mooch
Trad climber
Old Climbers' Home (Adopted)
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CA is spending the money on survival's rehab.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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ooops...heh heh ....sorry.......
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Radish
Trad climber
SeKi, California
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I think that some money will come from private donors. And some of the work will be volunteer.
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rincon
Trad climber
SoCal
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 5, 2012 - 10:56pm PT
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Yes fire lookouts are mostly obsolete, it only takes a tiny bit of research to know that. The southern Sierra, for example, has more than 45 webcams that can be monitored by anyone, sitting at home at their computer.
If it was obsolete why was Margee there every year?
As a caretaker? No doubt she looked for fires, maybe spotted some too, but even the USFS website says technology has taken over in the science of fire spotting. Lookouts are regarded for their historic value, and as a place for public relations...which is all fine and dandy, but does it have to be atop such a spectacular and beautiful natural wonder as The Needles? I am suprised that there isn't more interest in this from the rockclimbing community, but then, The Needles are kind of off most climbers radar. Not for me, I love The Needles. It's very special place that deserves mega respect imo, and I am worried that they are going to be messed up.
The old lookout as we know it, is gone. The USFS says they will rebuild the new one with the "feel" of the old tower, but personally I am very cynical, and don't trust the Forest Service at anything. I would be amazed if they could rebuild that thing to todays safety standards, and still keep it simple. Will they put in exactly the same spot?
That is a precarious perch, and when it was placed there in 1937, they didn't have all the requirements they have today, especially if this new structure is to be accessed by the public. I bet they'll even have to replace the entire stairs structure to make it up to todays standards. That means drilling lots of big holes, and all kinds of mayhem to the stone.
And how could this happen to begin with, talk about mismanaging our public property...sheesh, a fire lookout burned down.
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rincon
Trad climber
SoCal
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 5, 2012 - 11:12pm PT
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From the Needles climbers guide...
The Needles inspired awe in it's first visitors, the Paiute indians. Inyo, the mighty spirit, was thought to inhabit the southern Sierra, and the Needles were his hallowed ground.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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They need a lookout, for fires starting in Fire Lookouts!
So does that mean they should build two lookouts?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Perhaps they'll be able to watch for invading wolves from it.
OK, scratch that. The world needs more history, poetry and romance, and the lookout sure had that. Hopefully the replacement will honour the heritage, and not look too different.
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froodish
Social climber
Portland, Oregon
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Umm, hello, cookies!
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rincon
Trad climber
SoCal
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 6, 2012 - 12:16am PT
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COOKIES!!!!!!!DOH!!!!!
Well, yeah there is that. LOL
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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LOL!! awesome, Occupy Needles look out with cookies!!!
99% of cookies consumed by 1% of cookie monsters!
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Anyone who wants to be appraised of the actual facts regarding the proposed rebuilding of the Needles lookout should send an email to:
mariannethomas@fs.fed.us
Ask for a copy of the scoping letter, and to be on the list for all future releases.
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