Has anyone stayed in a fire lookout
 

I saw there were several fire lookouts that could be rented along the west coast, Montana and Colorado. Has anyone ever stayed in one? Is there anything you wish you would have bought and did not think about it until it was to late?

Was you ever bit by a dead bee?

Here is the link you are looking for: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/reservations/
In 2008 '09 and '10 during the summers I worked at 2 different fire towers in Oregon. It's a lot better to get paid for it than to pay for a very small hotel room with the outhouse 50 feet below you.
The fire lookout season starts in late May and ends in October with the first snow.
I do have a friend who snowshoed in to Hagar Mt. more than once. I'm happy to answer any questions about the life of a fire lookout.

Tom, what fire towers did you work at in Oregon?

I have a friend who does this down in Oregon. Sorry don't know any details, except that he loves it.

In 2008 I was the relief lookout at East Butte and Spring Butte.
East Butte is about 30 miles SE of Bend (south of US 20).
Spring Butte is about 14 miles SE of LaPine (south of Paulina Peak).
In 2009 and 10 I was the primary lookout at Spring Butte.
These lookouts are in the Deschutes National Forest.

I might schedule this hike for next August. Hidden Lake Lookout near North Cascades National Park. The accommodations are first come first serve. Might do it during the middle of the week, so I have a better chance to have a roof over my head.
http://www.oddinns.com/index.php/pag...kelookout.html

I don't think I would hike 4.5 miles from the nearest road to 6900' carrying an ice axe and all the rest of my camping gear.
The fire towers I sleep in have a bed to put your sleeping bag on. http://www.backpacker.com/2012-novem...inations/17142
East Butte and Spring Butte each have a 4 burner stove with oven, a propane refrigerator and a wall furnace if needed.
The lighting is either gas lamps or battery powered. The battery is kept charged by a solar panel.
Pack a headlamp in case you have to go to the outhouse after dark.

Gosh... This brings back memories.... Years ago we planned an entire trip from a book "how to vacation in a fire lookout tower in the Pacific Northwest".... Ultimately we stayed in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska ( tho not all accommodations were actually " towers" )... In Alaska we were dropped in by a bush pilot who landed on a lake.