Paper short abstract:

Attuned to passing clouds and atmospheric conditions of fire weather, fire lookout observers offer interesting perspective to explore interstices of weather, place and practices through the lens of shifting light and perception in different weather.

Paper long abstract:

Immersed in mountain environments for five to six months of the year, with many fire lookout observers returning for over three decades, their accumulated experience speaks to mundane weather punctuated by the extreme, fleeting moments of morning dew to the deep time affects of a windswept ridge. The weather, and wind in particular, moves lookout observers around, prompting how much time they spend inside or out in the open, also influencing the creatures they engage with: flight patterns of resident and migrating birds, the stagnation of mosquitoes on the lee side of a building or scents carried to potential predators in nearby forests. Responsible to watch for fires within a 40 km radius of their mountaintop cabin, lookout observers have sharp eyesight, a strong ability to see colours and a sound sense of depth perception. Their view is ever changing with the shifting light of the day and seasons, in which weather plays a pivotal role. Experiences of being socked-in in fog to the clear-cut visibility of a gusty day, invite a range of feelings and moods deeply entwined with the responsibilities of the lookout observer job. In this paper I explore how lookouts come to know about wind and weather through a series of practical and multi-sensory engagements, often lending to diverse creative practice. This work draws from participant observation and conversations, hiking, learning, and living with Fire Lookout Observers along the Eastern Slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.