Forest Fire Lookout

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by G. SCOTT

WIN , $5.00/YEAR, 339 Lafayette St., N.Y., N.Y. 10012

Although the back-to-the-land movement means getting away from people and moving in with trees and grass, many potential nature lovers are terrorized by thoughts of the loneliness and isolation which may be experienced. It's a real love-hate relationship. We love nature, but we feel secure in the crowds of the big cities.

Communes are an answer. But if members of a commune are afraid to be alone, I feel this may break up the very commune they want to form.

May I suggest, as one solution to facing yourself alone, the job of forest fire lookout. True, you will be trapped on a mountain with primitive facilities, but you will also know that your time there is limited, and that you are in constant radio communication with other lookouts. You will also be living in the woods during the most pleasant part of the year and you will make a substantial sum of money because you can't spend any while you're there!

Here's how you make it happen: Write the U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. and request a list of all forests which need lookouts. The west coast has the largest need and the office for all west coast forests is in Portland, Oregon. I don't know the exact address but a letter should get to the proper place if you write U.S. Forest Service, Portland, Oregon.

After you get your list of forests, write to each one and request the name of each ranger station and the fire control officer in charge.