bad news about the needles fire lookout

read on supertopo that the fire lookout at the needles was destroyed by fire. anybody who has hung out on a sunday afternoon eating margee's awesome cookies and watching climbers through her telescope will realize that this is a total bummer.

keep margee in your thoughts as she has spent the summers of the last 20 some years up there.

After some phone calls, I was told by the station at the Western Divide Range* that access to The Needles is closed minimum 2-4 weeks for clean-up.

Margee, who lived at the fire lookout and baked cookies every Sunday for visitors is now working at the Jordan Lookout. If anyone is out that way, she'd probably love a visit with home-made cookies for her.

• If anyone wants to call for status: 559.539.2607 x 0

wow that is sad to hear. I was there early season and unfortunately never got to meet her. That tower though is iconic, as is the woman who ran it!

Major bummer, anyone have other details about the burn? Like, how much burned?

Truly, Margee and her fire lookout are/were iconic to The Needles. I met her and had a nice chat just once last year, though not on "cookie day" (Sunday).

Anyone who befriended Margee could probably call the number I provided at the top of this thread and get an address for the Jordan Lookout (where she is currently stationed) to send her cookies. :]

Safe & Happy Climbing Everyone...

Peggo wrote: 16,442 acres burned. Here's a link w/ report. inciweb.org/incident/2043 Truly, Margee and her fire lookout are/were iconic to The Needles. I met her and had a nice chat just once last year, though not on "cookie day" (Sunday). Anyone who befriended Margee could probably call the number I provided at the top of this thread and get an address for the Jordan Lookout (where she is currently stationed) to send her cookies. :] Safe & Happy Climbing Everyone...

Not true, the linked report is from 2010 and is not in the needles. The burn was limited to the fire lookout station, it was not a forest fire, it was only a structure fire. I was up there last weekend (8/5 - 8/6) and the needles was closed while they are cleaning up.

is/was there another forest fire up in that area recently?

slim wrote:is/was there another forest fire up in that area recently?

No, not in the immediate vecinity. There was a lot of smoke in the area, so I'm sure there is a fire somewhere nearby, but you couldn't see any fire or smoke sources from Dome Rock. I know there was a small fire just off of the trail of 100 giants (a couple miles up the 107 from the 50), but it was nothing to worry about.

A few weeks ago there was a fire a couple drainages to the north. I'm guessing it was probably 15 miles away. Sure made the place smoky though.

kennoyce wrote: Not true, the linked report is from 2010 and is not in the needles. The burn was limited to the fire lookout station, it was not a forest fire, it was only a structure fire. I was up there last weekend (8/5 - 8/6) and the needles was closed while they are cleaning up.

Thanks for the correction. That link was posted by someone on Supertopo regarding the inquiry, and I didn't notice the date.

However, the phone number I provided is correct, and I was told by the ranger yesterday as posted.

Wow, I can't believe this. I had my first Needles trip in June and got to meet Margie. She showed me and my partner all of the formations and even told us how to approach the Witch. Great lady. Too bad she and the amazing firetower won't be around.

My understanding is that they haven't cleared all the debris from the top of Magician and don't want to risk some of stuff tumbling down onto the slabs that the climber's trail crosses when it's in use.

When I called yesterday to ask for a mailing address to send cookies to Margee, I was told that as government employees they are not allowed to accept gifts. The administrator said that perhaps if anyone wants to help, there might be a foundation to contact later on. If anyone is interested, they can call the number I provided at top of this thread.

RE: clean up. I was told be the administrator at the office yesterday that they have to arrange for a hazardous materials crew to clean up debris such as burned up batteries from the lookout, etc. At that time yesterday, there was no certain date.

Have a great day everyone.

Can someone give me an update on the status of this situation? I'd like to climb at the needles this weekend. I haven't been there before. My understanding is that the upper road 21S05, is closed, as is the trail starting at the end of this road. Also, the Magician is closed for climbing. Is this correct?

With that in mind, is it possible right now to climb the other formations? I haven't been to the needles before. Can you get to the needles by parking somewhere on the lower road, 22S82? Is the trail starting at that road open? How do you find that trail?

I would wait call that number tomorrow, but I'm impatient and would like to know asap, and if there is a way to climb there, I'd like to hear other people's opinions of where to camp.

Also, if there is no way to climb at the needles right now, where should i climb instead in that general area. Would be looking for routes 5.9-11a. Dome rock Maybe?

supertopo.com/climbers-foru…

just happened to read that st thread.

i'm also headed there this weekend for the first time. gonna stick to dome rock and the lower road spots like voodoo and merlin. can't wait.

i think there is plenty of dispersed camping in the NF (finger's crossed)