CHELAN COUNTY
ALPINE
Wenatchee National Forest
27N-16E-28
27N-16E-28
June 20, 1924: “Forest Supervisor A.H. Sylvester has virtually completed the placing of summer employees in the Wenatchee National Forest.” "Chiwaukum District – Jim Murphy is lookout at Alpine Peak." (The Leavenworth Echo)
1963: "
THE FIRE LOOKOUT’S LIFE (title added)
To whosoever in the years ahead
may occupy this goat-infested place.
To who in the long hours may watch the trail
for the sight of some human face.
To he who may sit so all alone
and stare through the window pane.
The anguished soul eating beans from a bowl
while silently praying for rain.
To the person in this plight who even at night
lie in bed and gaze at the ceiling,
while letting his mind roam to the comforts of home
and the absence of a destitute feeling.
To he who will arise and with sleep-dimmed eyes
proceed to pull on his pants.
Then while still blinking and without even thinking
survey the surrounding expanse.
To he who will then tackle the detestable job
of preparing for breakfast some detestable gob.
Then when he’s finished and hunger diminished
turn his thoughts to the long day ahead.
And, in his lonely dismay might disgustingly say;
“I think I’d be better off dead”!
Oh, here now, my lad, Things aren’t really so bad.
Conditions could be far more adverse.
So, I’m saying to you, so alone and so blue
just pray that they never get worse!!
Sue Johnson
USFS Alpine Lookout 1963
Wenatchee NF
(I found this note on Alpine Lookout in 1963 when
I went up to close the station at the end of the season.
It was written on an extra page of the Daily Log that
Lookouts kept. I added the title. -- Elmer Larsen) "
To whosoever in the years ahead
may occupy this goat-infested place.
To who in the long hours may watch the trail
for the sight of some human face.
To he who may sit so all alone
and stare through the window pane.
The anguished soul eating beans from a bowl
while silently praying for rain.
To the person in this plight who even at night
lie in bed and gaze at the ceiling,
while letting his mind roam to the comforts of home
and the absence of a destitute feeling.
To he who will arise and with sleep-dimmed eyes
proceed to pull on his pants.
Then while still blinking and without even thinking
survey the surrounding expanse.
To he who will then tackle the detestable job
of preparing for breakfast some detestable gob.
Then when he’s finished and hunger diminished
turn his thoughts to the long day ahead.
And, in his lonely dismay might disgustingly say;
“I think I’d be better off dead”!
Oh, here now, my lad, Things aren’t really so bad.
Conditions could be far more adverse.
So, I’m saying to you, so alone and so blue
just pray that they never get worse!!
Sue Johnson
USFS Alpine Lookout 1963
Wenatchee NF
(I found this note on Alpine Lookout in 1963 when
I went up to close the station at the end of the season.
It was written on an extra page of the Daily Log that
Lookouts kept. I added the title. -- Elmer Larsen) "
