James T. Saban (Fire) Lookout (Tower), Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming.

I have driven over the Bighorn Mountains many times. I always ignored the sign to the James T. Saban Lookout. I thought it was just another scenic view. [Just?] But the sign is misleading. The side road leads to a fire lookout tower atop the nearest ridge with fantastic views of the countryside - which is the purpose of fire lookout towers.
It is a short drive to the parking lot for the lookout tower and then a delightful climb through a beautiful forest with a clearly marked trail. The trail can be steep and rather rocky in places, but I did not find it difficult at all. The welcoming sign in the parking lot says it’s a 15-minute walk. I took longer than that because I paused frequently to enjoy the setting and to take photos.
The lookout tower was formerly known as the High Park Lookout, but it was renamed in honor of James Torrey Saban, who died in the line of duty in 1937 while fighting the Blackwater Fire.
In the 1920s and 1930s the Forest Service began building access roads, communication systems, and received equipment and manpower to effectively control fires. But suppression still depended on early detection of fires. In the technology of the time, this required manned lookout stations.
The CCC built several fire lookouts in the Bighorn Mountains. Three remain today but are only manned in seasons with the highest fire danger levels.
The date of 1942 is inscribed in the concrete steps of this fire lookout tower.
I love driving over the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. See my recent video of that drive:
• Bighorn Mountains: Buf...
Another highway video of mine you will enjoy is “Spectacular Beartooth Highway”, in Wyoming and Montana near Yellowstone National Park: • Spectacular Beartooth ...
Enjoy my video of the James T. Saban Fire Lookout Tower!
• James T. Saban (Fire) ...
And I hope you’ll click on my Subscribe icon. I have over 120 videos on my UA-cam channel in various categories/playlists, emphasizing the Old West, natural and human history Out West, the Civil War, and others. Check ‘em out! / stagecoacher
Specifically, I have a direct link at the end of this video to my Natural History Out West video playlist on the channel. • Natural History Out West
And visit my website for details on all my Western and Civil War novels, as well as links to information on the Old West, the Civil War Afloat, fiction writing, etc. Look for the "B Troop" icon at the end of the video. jimjanke.com
Jim

[@AnaDeGraaf-w5v]

Wow to be the first comment! Beautiful scenery. 😊Ontario Canada

[@jackjohnson744]

James Saban is my great-grandfather. I'm glad you enjoyed the hike up to the tower as the view is epic. The Bighorn Mountains have some hidden gems for hiking and camping. Interesting fact, my grandfather is still alive at 94 and has written several books about the area and growing up in the Bighorn Mountains. He would take me hiking almost weekly as a kid and tell stories about this area for hours.

[@stagecoacher]

Cool! Are the books still available? List publication information in a comment.

[@jackjohnson744]

@@stagecoacher I believe he did publish some of them. Let me see what details I can get for you.