Colorado

My my how time flies when you're working full-time. Since returning from Spain in May I immediately road-tripped out here to Colorado for a seasonal job with the Forest Service, Pike National Forest to be exact. Over the past couple of months I have been settling into my job duties, making friends with my fellow co-workers and bunk-mates, exploring the forest on the weekends, and training for running races.

Hiking up to Mt Bierstadt

First Fourteener of the season

Movie Night @ Devil's Head

My tent below Devil's Head Lookout Tower

Devil's Head Fire Lookout Tower

Last operating Forest Service Fire Lookout Tower in Colorado

Inside Devil's Head Lookout Tower

Channeling Helen Dowe, the first female fire lookout in the U.S. and stationed at Devil's Head. I'm using an Osborne Fire Finder here.

What an office view! That's Pike's Peak 29 miles away

My 2nd day on the job and I spotted a fire!

Squirrel cards from the Lookout

I was the replacement lookout for the weekend

Looking for smoke

The cabin I got to stay in while I was working as the lookout

I had the privilege of being a replacement lookout for Bill Ellis at Devil's Head Fire Lookout Tower in Pike National Forest. Billy has been the lookout for 33 summers and is 85 years old! Devil's Head Tower is the last operating Forest Service fire lookout in Colorado. I even spotted a smoke my second day there!

      I've also had the opportunity to get out of the office and go in the field with different departments. 

Out with the Archys (Archaeologists)

Surveying an old mining town

An old cabin at the mining town

Out with the wilderness crew. Photo by Linette

Hiking in the Mount Evans Wilderness

I also compleleted online courses, pack test, and field day to receive my red card to be a wildland firefighter. The district fire chief asked those who worked in the office to get certified and join the ‘militia’. I didn’t expect to get selected to go on an assignment, but it gave me the opportunity to help if the need arose. [fun fact: back in 2010 when I went up to Alaska for the first time, my friend and I completed the qualifications for a red card as that was our intention to be wildland firefighers like my bf at the time. We never got put on an assignment though.]

I'm having a great time out here but I'm finding that I don't have as much time as I would like to get out an explore!

Next: More Colorado....Colorado Trail and more