I’ve been thinking about doing some visiting to an area where there is some real weather – and by some real winter, I mean some snow. Coming from and living in the south, it has been at least 6 years since I’ve been in it, and oncetawhile it’s a nice thing. So I’ve been thinking “Montana.” Never been there, relatively unspoilt far as I know, seems like a nice destination.
So in order to affect my goal of seeing some weather, I start looking into cabins and whatnot, and come across multiple opportunities involving US forestry cabins. Mega-inexpensive, mega-short on the amenities, and very nearly mega-inaccessable, depending on when you are trying to get to them.
So the gq is, has anyone utilized any of these facilities? I’m thinking now MT but there are other US Forestry sites in other states. Sure they don’t promise much, but do they offer any less? Are they safe? Not so much worried about bears as I am morons – some of the forestry ops are apparently no longer available due to “vanadalism.” I’d like a day or two of nothing but quiet, lie on the roof and read in the snow, build a fire to get warm, do it again, seems like a way to get that done, but don’t know, and don’t want to have to return to civilization with a new necklace of ears. Anyone got some info? Thanks.
Well, if you’re looking for a nooky winter weekend in a US Forest Service cabin for this winter, generally speaking, you’re about six months late!
The popular cabins are, err, well, quite safe because they are popular, well-kept and jealously guarded by the very folks who use them. They are some of the hidden gems on public lands.
National Forests in the Pacific Northwest have cabins for rent, too. Go to http://www.fs.fed.us and search for the areas in question.
Am I being vague? Yep! Why, you ask? Read my second paragraph again.
Absolutely sensible response, Duckster , it’s an issue that ocured to me but I had no way to determine how large an issue it would be. I’m entirely wide open as to my availability and could go whenever, but have no notion of if I’d be, more accurately I think, one year late (given my wintry goal, you see), or if I could get a spot for a few days midweek in January or Febuary or whatever.
This first hand is what I’m looking for! Thanks. I’ve been through a good deal of the US Forest Service regional info. Alaska seems like a real op, but a little ambitious for me at this point.
I’ve done it. The best darned vacation I ever had was spent cabin-hopping in Montana. IMO, the Gem Peak Firetower was the best of the bunch. God it was glorious!
Many cabins and towers have only foot access in the winter months. And, because there are no/few amenities you have to haul EVERYTHING to the cabin yourself – on foot for miles, often uphill and probably in the snow. A blast if you ask me, but know what you’re getting into.
Unfortunately, I would imagine a lot of the cabins and towers I researched are nothing but cinders these days due to those huge forest fires a few years back. I’ll bet Jodi can be of help. She’s a Montana gal.
Enkidu you would do yourself a favor to visit those USFS web sites where you would like to stay at a cabin. Don’t assume that if the web site has no information that that national forest does not have cabins to rent. By the same token, don’t assume all cabins are gone for this winter either.
Send an email to those national forests where you have an interest, regardless of whether the web site offers a cabin rental or not. Give them a few days to respond and if you don’t receive an answer, call them! The budget cuts are hitting land management agencies pretty hard so the staffing is really down, and dropping fast. You will obtain the info you need via the phone if the email is slow or unreponsive.
Gem Peak appears to still be there, although, not to cast any aspersions, you had to skip Sex Peak Lookout to get there . . . . The firetowers look very cool. If you got one with a good panorama, seems like you could spend a day or two looking six hours in any direction … . . And packing it in is just what I had in mind. I couldn’t stand too much of the total isolation, so I need a day or so of work to get in, get situated, and start to relax, then a day or so loose, then another day or so of work to get back out again.
BTW, Duckster, I meant no offense by invoking Jodi in my post while ignoring you. I only just now noticed that you are a Montanian (is that right?) too. Sorry.
FYI, you might want to get a copy of the book “How to Rent a Fire Lookout in the Pacific Northwest” by Tom Foley & Tish Steinfeld (Wilderness Press, Berkley). It’s got chatty narrative descriptions and histories of the cabins and fire lookouts in Oregon and Washington.
Once again though, it was written pre-forest fires, so cross-reference the book with the website.
You can rent two fire lookouts near me, problem is, in January and February they are encased in ice as are most lookouts that time of year.
Are they safe? Well bears are usually sleeping, humans are a rarity and the ones you meet are friendly and not likely to give up their ears readily. (that’s why everyone’s packin’) Local hazards are avalanche and stupidity.
I have never understood the vandalism but it is a serious problem.
Forest service rentals usually don’t provide a heat source because greenhorns and fire don’t mix well and fuel can be difficult to obtain above treeline.
If you are serious though, e-mail me with appropriate bribes and I may turn you on to something you are looking for.
