(Kamiah, ID) If you have ever been to Pilot Knob Lookout on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, chances are you have caught a glimpse of Gary Dutcher A.K.A. “Dutch”. Dutcher, a tall, soft-spoken cowboy type with stories about nearly every drainage there is from Kooskia to Riggins, spent his adventurous childhood along the Salmon River, calling the White Bird area home. He spent his younger years working various jobs from cowboying, to mill work, to firefighting, and eventually settled down with his wife in Clearwater, Idaho. Between his home in Clearwater and the Pilot Knob Lookout tower, he and his wife raised three wonderful children. Something you may not know about Dutcher is that he has just finished his 40th consecutive season as Pilot Knob Lookout for the Salmon River Ranger District.
Now, perched at over 7,000 feet in elevation, high above the South Fork of the Clearwater River, between Clearwater and Elk City, Dutcher reflects on his 40 years at Pilot Knob.
While mulling over the past 40 years as a fire lookout, Dutcher says that not only have people and the Pilot Knob Road changed, but also the way he used radios. “Radios are way different. When I first started on the Forest, there were only two radio channels. There’re now different rules for talking on the radios, as well.” He thought back to when lookouts used to have a channel dedicated to after work talk. He smiled and told some of the humorous stories that came from those late-night conversations.
While radio communication may have changed over the last 40 years, one thing has stayed the same for Dutcher: his enjoyment of lightning storms in the lookout tower. “The years have blended a bit, but I really enjoy active lightning storms. They are some of the best times, since I normally have a lot of smoke to report out on. Watching the fire crews knock them off the books is rewarding.” For Dutcher, each lightning storm is like a fingerprint: they each have their own unique pattern unlike one he’s seen before.
Lightning storms may be some of Dutcher’s favorite memories over the years, but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t come without their dangers. “First year I was up at the tower, the fridge and stove weren’t grounded properly. During one lightning storm, an electrical arc between the fire finder and the stove made itself known multiple times.” Needless to say, Dutcher corrected the issue the following day.
Dutcher enjoys the solitude it seems and is full of great stories from all his walks in life. He doesn’t particularly care if he gets visitors yet is more than friendly if he does. Some lookouts may go without seeing another human for months, which often means they get to see other curious critters passing by. In one account, Dutcher states that he woke up to the lookout tower shaking, accompanied by a funny noise. When he went to investigate, he discovered a bull moose using the guide wire of the lookout tower to give himself a back scratch.
More recently, Dutcher and his furry companion, Smoke, a spirited blue heeler, will often catch a glimpse of the lookout’s resident fox. “He seems to be playing a game of chase with Smoke. Smoke will chase that fox down the road, and when Smoke eventually comes back up the road, he seems to be standing a little taller with his chest puffed out.” Dutcher chuckles thinking of the memory, “Ol’ Smoke didn’t know the fox could be seen down the road puffed up as well, as though he was the true winner by making Smoke run back home.”
The drive from Clearwater to the lookout is about one and a half hours utilizing the historic Elk City Wagon Road. A landscape rich in history and yet marked by the scars of recent wildfires. During the Baldy Fire in 2015, Dutcher recalls some of the folks who were working the fire came up to the lookout, as he stepped out onto the catwalk to greet them, he noticed flames coming from the decking. He stated, “They put the fire out and decided that it was time for me to come off. The burn marks are still visible on the East side of the lookout’s catwalk.” Dutcher could only recall one other time he was forced to abandon his post, which was for the China Fire some years back.
So, what’s kept Dutcher coming back to Pilot Knob all these years? In a short and sweet response, Dutcher said, “Well, I like it up here. It’s not as hot as it would be at home. I believe in my job, and I enjoy it.” Each Fall Dutcher packs up his food and bedding, closes the shutters and calls Grangeville Dispatch one last time signing off with his signature “KCR-869er” transmission, before heading home.
Dutcher extends his gratitude to his wife, Carleen; their three children, Mary, Roberta, and Dick; their children’s spouses, and their numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren for their support all these years. To show the Forests’ gratitude for his 40 years of service, employees of the Salmon River Ranger District, along with some of Dutcher’s previous co-workers, took it upon themselves to purchase and award Dutcher a custom engraved Henry Golden Boy .22 MAG rifle (pictured below).
Dutcher stands with his custom engraved Henry Golden Boy .22 MAG rifle for his 40th consecutive season as Pilot Knob Lookout.