Stairway to the Heavens (Sierra Buttes Lookout)
Saturday, 28 July 2018, 3:30pm
With our drive up steep and narrow 4x4 trails we'd let the gas engine do 95% of the work for us, but what remained was still intense if brief. A half mile hoof up the remainder of the fire road took us to the base of the final peak. From there it's a climb up narrow stairs, almost 200 steps to the top!
The final ascent to Sierra Buttes Lookout entails nearly 200 stairs
There are plenty of amazing views from the stairs. It's just a little vertiginous to pull out a camera and fuss with taking pictures while standing on a narrow staircase, grasping the metal handrail, and staring at drops of up to 5,000'. Here's a view from solid ground back down the first three-quarters or so of the final ascent:
Looking back down the stairs and across the (smoky) valleys below
BTW, we totally could have driven all the way to the stairs. The 4x4 trail was steep, rocky, and narrow, but well within the capabilities of our rig. Though I think if we'd driven to the base of these stairs the other hikers who'd hoofed it up from far, far below might have thrown stones through our windows in a fit of jealousy.
What is the fire lookout station anyway? Would you believe it's basically a kitchen? I wouldn't have believed, either, until I climbed all the way up to the top and peered through the windows. See for yourself.
The Sierra Buttes Lookout is basically a kitchen- with amazing 360° views
Glorified kitchen or no, it seems ironic that this fire lookout is unstaffed right now. I mean, it's not only the height of the fire season, there are several huge fires actually burning right now!
Continued in next entry: The View from the Top.
With our drive up steep and narrow 4x4 trails we'd let the gas engine do 95% of the work for us, but what remained was still intense if brief. A half mile hoof up the remainder of the fire road took us to the base of the final peak. From there it's a climb up narrow stairs, almost 200 steps to the top!
The final ascent to Sierra Buttes Lookout entails nearly 200 stairs
There are plenty of amazing views from the stairs. It's just a little vertiginous to pull out a camera and fuss with taking pictures while standing on a narrow staircase, grasping the metal handrail, and staring at drops of up to 5,000'. Here's a view from solid ground back down the first three-quarters or so of the final ascent:
Looking back down the stairs and across the (smoky) valleys below
BTW, we totally could have driven all the way to the stairs. The 4x4 trail was steep, rocky, and narrow, but well within the capabilities of our rig. Though I think if we'd driven to the base of these stairs the other hikers who'd hoofed it up from far, far below might have thrown stones through our windows in a fit of jealousy.
What is the fire lookout station anyway? Would you believe it's basically a kitchen? I wouldn't have believed, either, until I climbed all the way up to the top and peered through the windows. See for yourself.
The Sierra Buttes Lookout is basically a kitchen- with amazing 360° views
Glorified kitchen or no, it seems ironic that this fire lookout is unstaffed right now. I mean, it's not only the height of the fire season, there are several huge fires actually burning right now!
Continued in next entry: The View from the Top.