I first began staffing the Goat Peak Fire Lookout in 2021, with no idea how profoundly the experience would change my life. It was a short season, just 18 days, cut short by the proximity of the Cub Creek 2 and Cedar Creek fires. Since then, I’ve returned every summer, watching fires and storms. Every season has its own rhythm, but each one reminds me of the continued value of human-staffed fire lookouts.
Some seasons on Goat are punctuated by quiet mornings and evenings, others by dancing northern lights or spectacular nocturnal thunderstorms. The summer of 2026 was certainly one of fire. Distant flames illuminated the night sky in every direction, valleys filled with smoke glowed beneath the moonlight, and towering thunderstorms unleashed lightning across the mountains. Through it all, I was reminded once again of the extraordinary beauty, power, and unpredictability of the wild landscape we call home.
Thank you for sharing another year on the mountain with me.
