by Ericka Kastner
Lovers of four-wheeling, hikes above treeline and ridiculous views of the Continental Divide should put this adventure on their to-do list.
The highest fire tower in North America sits on Fairview Peak at 13,214 feet in elevation, just north of the town of Pitkin. This one-room stone hut, constructed in 1912 (just seven years after the establishment of the Gunnison National Forest), holds the record for being the highest lookout by nearly 1,000 feet. Retired fireman, fire tower researcher and author Ray Kresek has speculated the Fairview Fire Tower may be the highest in the world.
High atop this peak on a clear day, visibility seemingly exceeds that of any Colorado fourteener. When we summited on Sept. 20, in addition to gorgeous fall color, we had clear views spanning from Capitol Peak, the Maroon Bells and Taylor Pass to the entire Collegiate Peaks Range. To the east we could see Pikes Peak, and to the south, the Sangre de Cristo Range. Far below, we could easily discern the expansive blue waters of Taylor Reservoir.
Erected from rocks on site, and mortared with native soil, silt, sand, lime and water, the lookout originally contained a cupola large enough for one man to stand watch from dawn till dusk. Due to frequent lightening strikes on the peak, the tower was ultimately manned for less than a decade.
During the 1960s, the USFS converted the hut into a radio repeater station, and the cupola was removed at that time. Ground wires were installed to address the lightning issue. The location proved to be effective for radio service, but access became a challenge; eventually the radio equipment was relocated to other, more accessible stations, and the lookout ceased to be used.
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Forest Service officials added the fire tower to the National Historic Lookout Register on Dec. 7, 2007, and they began restoration work on the lookout in 2008. During repairs to the walls, Portland cement was added to the mortar for strength; and earlier this summer, Historicorps preservation workers and Forest Service staff hauled 1,000 pounds of lumber to the summit and reconstructed the cupola.
Funding for the rehabilitation came from a combination of Forest Service budgeted resources and a 50-year Lookout Preservation Grant. An endowment has been set up for donations to preserve the lookout. To contribute to the project, or for more information about the tower and ongoing restoration, email Justin Lawrence at jlawrence@fs.fed.us, or call 970-641-0471.
To access the peak from U.S. Hwy. 50, turn northeast onto FSR 76 east of Gunnison. The road is well marked to Ohio City and Pitkin. In about 15 miles, at the town of Pitkin, take 770 north for 10 miles until the road ends. Four-wheel drive is recommended for this road, and high clearance four-wheel drive is necessary for the last mile and a half of the drive. Park here, and hike from the end of the road. Initially the trail is not clear, but look for a large cairn on the ridge and head toward it. Once you reach the cairn, follow a well-worn trail through the scree and to the summit. Hike time from the car to the peak is approximately 45 minutes.
While doing research for this story, Ericka Kastner took an entirely different road to access the peak and ended up lost for several hours, which didn’t worry her one bit. She loads her pack and writes for Colorado Central inside her loft in downtown Salida. To view her work online visit erickakastner.com.
