Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
jstan
climber
|
|
https://fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5213173.pdf
The above link is to a title II Project submission form dated 2010 for Sequoia and Sierra National Forests for a “Fire Lookout Restoration Project. It involved repair of the Fence Meadow, Delilah, and Mt. Tom Lookouts. The request for Title II funds came to $13550 dollars and the projected total cost was a little over $10000.
That quote was for repair of three lookouts.It listed contributions apparently from other sources with the total final cost of just under $30000. There have been many changes and pressures since 2010. If I stick my finger in the air to detect the wind direction I would have to guess a full reconstruction of the Needles Lookout might be in the neighborhood of $50000. Don’t quote this number. A lot of much better work is required to scope this.
A critical cost element involves which paperwork functions will be billed directly to the project.
Probably no way to predict that.
Overhead
Overhead
Overhead
|
|
Michelle
Social climber
SH60091
|
|
wow. I always wanted to go there. Thanks for all the updates and Im glad to hear her spirits are up (though I don't know her).
keep keepin us posted!
|
|
StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
|
|
Needs to be put back.
|
|
The Wedge
Boulder climber
Santa Rosa & Bishop, CA
|
|
This sucks.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 1, 2011 - 12:02pm PT
|
Thanks for the link and info, jstan.
I'll be on the phone with Allison, author of that proposal, later today or tomorrow and will get her input on that overhead cost..
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
If replacing that came in a penny less than $200K I'd eat my shorts. Even if
the kit only costs $15 by the time 20 bureaucrats sign off on it and you helo
the stuff up there...
The clean-up has to cost a pretty penny too.
Granted, the FS won't honestly acknowledge the overhead.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 1, 2011 - 12:57pm PT
|
The clean-up has to cost a pretty penny too.
|
|
Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
|
|
"If you build it, she will bake." I love it. Let's get this thing rebuilt. I'm looking forward to the day--not too far away--when my kids are old enough to make that hike and get a cookie. Please keep me in the loop.
|
|
em kn0t
Trad climber
isle of wyde
|
|
Ditto on previous posts offering to help with rebuild. Perhaps it could be an Adopt-a-Crag event?
Hang in there, Margee. So glad you and your kitty are safe.
|
|
k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
|
|
On the "Gear at the Needles" TR thread, Ksolem posts this:
The same person tells me now that the dirt road, camping area and trail are all closed indefinitely.
Yeow! This is interesting news. Can they really "close" the camping area?
Ksolem, keep us posted please.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 1, 2011 - 05:01pm PT
|
I just spoke on the phone with a very helpful employee at the Tule River Ranger District. She explained to me that the upper access road (21S05) and trail (32E22) are closed right now due to the hazardous situation of debris and falling debris.
She told me their target date to reopen the area for climbing is Aug 12th, one week from Friday. I also asked about access from the lower road, as for Voodoo and was told "No, the whole area is closed." I'm not sure she quite understood that part of my inquiry and I didn't want to go into that any deeper since actually the lower road is in a different Ranger District.
I would definitely call to be sure the area is open before going up there even after the 12th. Please be friendly and polite, if they get it open on schedule this is a remarkably short closure considering the incident.
Tule River Ranger District
Springville, CA
(559)-539-2607
|
|
selfish man
Gym climber
Austin, TX
|
|
Kris,
what a terrible news. It was good to hang out with you and Margee at the lookout a few weeks ago and to enjoy the beautiful view from the top. Can't believe it is destroyed.
Dima
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 1, 2011 - 05:47pm PT
|
Hi Dima!
Yes it was great to see you. 'till next time...
|
|
rincon
Trad climber
SoCal
|
|
Ok, call me a curmudgeon, but I think what's left of the lookout should be permanently removed, and not rebuilt.
Just think if there had never been a lookout, and now they were proposing to build one...the uproar against it would be enormous, don't you think? I mean building a structure atop such a beautiful formation? no way would that be acceptable these days.
The old lookout was special, magical sort of, and Margee was the best person in the world who could have been stationed there. But that old lookout was built 73 years ago, and had style and charm like no new metal prefab is going to have. I heard they don't need the towers anymore for spotting fires, and the Needles lookout served mostly as a radio backup for firefighting.
It's going to be weird not having it there, that's for sure...and don't get hurt cuz it's going to take a lot longer to get out a call for help. But on the bright side, there'll be less tourists there kicking up dust on the road through camp!
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 6, 2011 - 09:33pm PT
|
Yep. Yer a curmudgeon for sure!!
;-)
|
|
TGT
Social climber
So Cal
|
|
Today I was climbing at Tahquitz and Tom and his brother hiked up to the Tahquitz lookout while The Princess and I were climbing.
The scuttlebutt from the lookout, who knew about it and even had pictures, is that it will not be rebuilt.
No Budget.
The unfortunate thing about this is given a reasonable regulatory climate and cooperative government agencies, I'll bet this little group of miscreants could have it rebuilt before the snow flies.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 7, 2011 - 11:52pm PT
|
I mean building a structure atop such a beautiful formation? no way would that be acceptable these days.
We'll see what happens with the Needles lookout. I for one am in full favor of a rebuild, and I am told that it can be done in an authentic style although much of the internal structure would be modern.
TGT's account contradicts what I am hearing from various sources but it is too early to say. Already many people and organizations are anxious to contribute so the "no budget" may not be such an issue.
Right now there is quite a serious clean up effort up there. People are doing dangerous work in an exposed situation. I hope everyone is safe.
Regarding "less dust by tourists in camp," by far the largest group to visit the lookout have been hikers. Many hiking clubs, scout and school and church groups visited the lookout every year. I for one don't begrudge these people the excitement they get by visiting the lookout just because they are not climbers.
The lookout is a Needles icon. If it can be rebuilt - not as a new steel eyesore but in a similar style as it was - then I support that effort.
Anyone who wants to see Margee will have to visit the Jordan Peak Lookout. She will be there soon, for the rest of this season.
|
|
Mary Moser
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, CA
|
|
|
Aug 16, 2011 - 11:02pm PT
|
My first climb in the Needles back in 1996 was Black Magic. After a very long day, we topped out at the lookout tower. There was Margee with her freshly baked cookies! I thought I had died and gone to heaven since I had never been so hungry after climbing that formation. I am so happy to hear Margee is okay and I seriously hope we can get the forest service to rebuild.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 16, 2011 - 11:54pm PT
|
Mary - The first documented technical climb in The Needles was done in 1969, a resequence of your dates. It was Dan McHale and Joe Brown who climbed Sidewalk Magic ending at the lookout.
I have it by word of reliable mouths that there was climbing done there before that, but that is the earliest which anyone recorded.
In a couple days I will post here a link to a website so people who want to see the lookout restored can contact the right people.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!