Hutch Mountain Lookout tower is one of many throughout Arizona. It is on the National Historic Lookout Registry. It was built in 1936, and still serves as a manned major viewpoint for fires in the Flagstaff area. Located off of FR3 (Lake Mary Road) at Milepost 310, not too far down a couple good dirt roads.
The day we were there there were 9 fires in the area, all started by dry lightening, including the Tank Fire. The Tank Fire was in the very same area as the Tinder Fire which devastated our neighborhoods just a month before. As an eery reminder of those terrifying days, our neighboring subdivisions CCP 1&2 were issued pre-evacuation notices. Fortunately, the fire was quickly doused and completely contained.
From the top of the tower you could see the Chinooks flying on the horizon dumping water of the fire.
The surrounding landscape is full of Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, elk and deer.
At 8535 feet elevation the days are cool, and nights brisk. Climbing the tower offers a vantage point across northern AZ.
Fall cometh early to Northern AZ. I have told anyone that would listen, winter is coming. It’s getting cold early and fast. We’ve already had overnight lows below freezing. So with it, the leaves are popping. We have been out several times to see them, and plan on several more trips. I think October 1 is the earliest I have ever seen this abundance of color. Usually it’s not until at least 2nd or 3rd week of October. My guess is by then we’ll be taking photos of snow instead of leaves.
