Near disaster at the lookout tower

[DemoTex]

I evacuated the lookout with Nick at 1 AM Sunday (Sunday 5/23 was opening day for the area lookout towers) in the middle of heavy snow squalls and 22-degrees. Carbon monoxide had been detected and I was symptomatic (headache and nausea). I had shut off all systems when the CO detector sounded the alarm. I opened the doors and windows, thinking that maybe with two sleeping bags we (Nick and me) could make it until daybreak to leave. The temperature inside the lookout soon fell to 25-degrees. Nick was shaking so violently and my head throbbed so badly that I decide at midnight to punch out. An hour later we departed the lookout.

I had to drive down the mountain in the snow and then drive through a prescribed burn area (with snow, smoke, fog, stump-fires, and darting deer (more surreal than the up-river scene in "Apocalypse Now")). I made it back to Bend at 3 AM Sunday morning.

The US Forest Service has closed my lookout tower indefinitely for health and safety reasons. I went back out to the lookout yesterday and today to retrieve some gear and shut off all propane to the tower.

I met with my supervisor this morning in Bend about this incident. I have requested that each propane-fueled system (heating, refrigeration, and cooking) be independently monitored with precise scientific detection and logging equipment (but, to be fair, an off-the-shelf Night Hawk carbon monoxide detector from saved Nick and me Saturday night!). I have also requested that similar monitoring be done for propane leaks inside the lookout (there is a noticeable smell of propane inside the lookout tower), above and beyond any soap bubble checks for leaks in the propane lines.

This is not that important in the great scheme of things (Katrina, oil spill, Iraq, etc), but it is the closest swipe from the paw of the Cat 'O Death since a particular mission over Laos during Lam Son 719 in 1971.

Bottom line: the lookout will be closed until the problem is fixed, period. Otherwise, I pack my shit and head back east. But the USFS is doing the right thing – so far.

Meanwhile, I'll cruise the Deschutes NF and the Cascades (when the snow melts) with my new Canon 5D Mk-II, eat high on the hog, and drink good wine with fine folks on the banks of the Deschutes in Bend, Oregon.

Life is good.


Prescribe (Rx) burn on the FS-25 road


I hiked into the Rx burn for some flame shots Saturday. This is what looked so surreal when I drove by at almost 2 AM Sunday morning in snow, fog, and smoke on my evacuation from the lookout.


Snow squalls Saturday afternoon


Saturday afternoon I had the propane heat on high


My lookout from China Hat Butte (2-miles away) today


Sweet Nick-Nick's violent shaking probably saved my life Saturday night

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Give Nick a hug for me

and a few pieces of jerky.

And do take care.

[DemoTex]

3. Jerky, hell!

That sweet boy got Copper River Sockeye tonight, filet mignon last night!

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Can't say that's a bad idea

Nick is a lucky dog, and you are lucky to have him.

[csziggy]

2. Glad you and Nick are OK - that would be a bad way to go

As usual your pictures are great!

[DemoTex]

4. Well, I've never "gone" before ..

But I think it (the CO sleep) would be better than spinning in near a Tchepone, Laos, flak-trap - on fire - in a SP-2E. But I wasn't ready then and I ain't ready now.

[EFerrari]

5. Glad you had a gadget. I lost two good friends to CM.

They were camping in Bavaria and they didn't have one of those things. They didn't have Nick, either!

[DemoTex]

6. Damn! Some asshole un-reced this!

Can you believe it? Went +1 to 0 to +2 (latest).

[Wilms]

7. :smileywitheyesbuggedout: n/t

[jotsy]

8. Glad you're okay.

Looks like an amazing view from up there.

Copper River Salmon?! Yumsies!

[Suich]

9. Heckuva way to start the season, Mac!

Glad to hear everyone is ok! Enjoy the Deschutes!

K&R!

:hi:

[DemoTex]

10. Thanks, Suich

Where is the sun?

:hi:

[elleng]

11. Didn't know you were up there, and sure glad you're not!

What an adventure you've had! Love to you and Nick!

:hug:

[madrchsod]

12. wow that was a close call....

i guess that`s why dogs are called man`s best friend.

[DarthDem]

13. Wow - - Awesome Story

I really enjoyed your updates last season and am glad to hear that you and Nick (who's so adorable) are okay. Thanks very much for sharing this, and stay safe!

[eShirl]

14. so glad you are both safe

and determined to stay that way

[Hubert Flottz]

15. Old Hubert and my side kick Willy are glad you pulled out in time.

Willy keeps an eye out for danger around here too. He barked at a 15 pound snapping turtle and let me know it was there before I brush hogged it yesterday. Willy is busy babysitting 5 baby gray squirrels that came out of the den a couple of weeks ago. We fed them peanut butter sandwiches yesterday and they loved them. I just counted 11 squirrels out at my "Bird Feeders" a few minutes ago. Willy stays busy chasing the little varmints.

I'm glad Nick looks out for you like Willy looks out for me. He really is my best friend.

[Scurrilous]

17. K & R

:thumbsup:

[The Straight Story]

18. ALWAYS look forward to your posts - thanks for keeping us up to date

A pleasure to read and see the pics.

[Born_A_Truman]

19. Wow Mac!

Give Nick a hug from me. Last year, MREs, this year CM. Hope they find the leaks quickly. Looking forward to another season of your great stories and pictures.

PS, somebody unrec'd my Silent Thread for the Gulf Coasat, so ...

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. OMG

Glad you're okay!

[madfloridian]

21. Thanks for sharing your work with us.

Your pictures are breathtaking.

:hi:

[MilesColtrane]

22. Damn, glad you're OK.

Dogs....is there anything they can't do? (besides walk themselves?)

[nyc 4 Biden]

23. glad you and nick made it out to safety! n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

24. I look outside and see no sun

The calender says it is that time, but seeing your post from Oregon makes me aware of our lack of sunshine at this late date. I hope it is sunnier on the other side of the Cascades!
Thanks to you and Nick both.

[BanzaiBonnie]

25. Glad you made it out - with you both safe

Carbon monoxide is too often deadly.

We used to take a trip to Sunriver every year. We haven't been in many years now. I do love the Bend area. The high desert is such a fabulous ecosystem.

[Dogtown]

26. K&R n/t

[woofless]

27. Howdy from Mt. Baker.

I really enjoy your dispatches from the lookout. Hang in there. We need you.

Woof

[CaliforniaPeggy]

28. Damn it, my dear DemoTex!

You scared me! That was a scary adventure, and I'm so glad you're OK, and Nick too...

GREAT pictures as usual, and keep on trucking, sweetie...

Enjoy your time off and take care, please...

We all need you, and so does Oregon!

:hug:

[RamboLiberal]

29. Glad you and Nick made it out OK DemoTex

Damn, even reading your account was scary!

You're one of my favorite DU'ers so I'd sure hate to lose you especially to something like CO after all you've been through. Always enjoyed your post on flying, airlines, planes and Ken Lay back in those days.

And I enjoyed your accounts, even envied you, with your accounts last season from the Lookout Tower. Don't envy you this one. :evilgrin:

[zeemike]

30. i hope they get it fixed soon

I think Nick likes that job.
And I have enjoyed your reports a lot.

[Blue_Tires]

31. thanks again for the update

i've been meaning to ask what's been happening since the last one...

Glad to see some alert thinking at the right time saved you and your dog...I hope they find what was spewing the CO

and I suggest you enter the 'snow squall' photo in the DU contest, or some other one...

[kurtzapril4]

32. Thank you for all you do!

I've never seen one of your updates before, but caught this one. Well written, and great pictures. Glad you and your buddy made it out of there, and glad the Forest Service is doing the right thing. I am one semester away from a degree in Natural Areas Management. The environment I'm more used to dealing with is prairie/savannah/wetland...but we do have our fires! We usually don't put them out, though. LOL!

[bertman]

33. I'm glad you and Nick-Nick made it out safely, DemoTex.

[eleny]

34. There are just no words to express how glad I am you two are safe

Big hugs around Nick's neck. And I love your photos!

[lunatica]

35. I'm so glad you and Nick are OK!

And I'm so sorry this happened. I know you love doing this. Stay smart and take care!