Needles Lookout is gone

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Trad

Trad climber
northern CA
Jul 28, 2011 - 11:41pm PT
So sorry to hear it! But relieved, of course, to know that Margee (and hopefully her kitten too) is OK. I only just met them for the first time last year. Best wishes for all involved...


Fixdpin

Trad climber
Springville,CA
Jul 28, 2011 - 11:53pm PT
The Needles lookout and Margee Kelly are significant to the climbing history of the Southern Sierra in the same way that Camp 4 is significant to the climbing history of Yosemite. The Needles lookout must be restored. The Needles lookout is in the National Registry of Historic Places. I hope all climbers, whether they have climbed at the Needles or not, will rally together in an effort to do what it takes to restore that tower. What climber who has been there on a Sunday afternoon, enjoyed one of Margee's cookies, and enjoyed the view from her home, wouldn't want to have that experience again or make sure other climbers can enjoy that unique experience in the future? Restore the tower. Contact the Buck Rock Foundation at http://buckrock.org/ and begin the contributions. Just say you want your contribution earmarked for the restoration of the Needles Lookout. Contact the USDA Forest Service http://www.fs.fed.us/ and tell them you want the tower restored! As a local climber, I will do my part.
Patrick Paul

Mike Martyr

climber
Sunny Slopes, California
Jul 29, 2011 - 12:25am PT
These are from Rex Emerson:


Its good to read Ksolem replicated the information in the guides there.
StahlBro

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Jul 29, 2011 - 12:31am PT
Can't believe it :-( Glad Margee is ok, but damn
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Jul 29, 2011 - 12:53am PT
wow, unreal.

I never got a chance to go there.

Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 29, 2011 - 12:58am PT
So Rex must have been aboard this ship?

DJS

Trad climber
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:01am PT
This is my favorite place to climb. I loved giving Margee bottles of wine and getting her great cookies on Sunday.

I am so sad.

This was her home for 20 years.

Let us ban together and rebuild a phoenix from those ashes.

Respectfully,
Derek James Seymour

StahlBro

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:04am PT
blue4512

climber
Littleton
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:10am PT
I just spoke with Margee and passed along all of your well wishes and loving comments.

Margee has been at Needles for the last 24 years and is heartboken at the loss, she would love to hear from you.

She is on facebook as Margee Kelly and her email is needleslo@netzero.net

rincon

Trad climber
SoCal
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:22am PT
Wow, what a trip!
pyro

Big Wall climber
Calabasas
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:53am PT
we loved to have the cookies!
never again so sorry :(

CrackAddict

Trad climber
Joshua Tree
Jul 29, 2011 - 02:45am PT
Wow - didn't seem like there was that much flammable material in that structure. Sad.
426

climber
Jul 29, 2011 - 08:44am PT
whoa, sux. I remember counting steps a la DanO in one of those masters of stone videos...glad eveyone + cat is ok
Crimpergirl

Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
Jul 29, 2011 - 09:20am PT
The burning photos are amazing and awful all at once. The Needles just won't be the same without Margee, the cat or the lookout. So happy to have been able to spend time there with all of them.
Torey Votaw

Trad climber
Exeter,CA
Jul 29, 2011 - 09:52am PT
Very sad! Thank you Patrick for posting information for donations. I agree that the lookout should be rebuilt and will help out in any way I can.

Torey Ivanic
Tony Bird

climber
Northridge, CA
Jul 29, 2011 - 10:00am PT
so ... how did this happen? clear skies, the nearby forest is intact, the tower itself is protected by bare rock and lightning rods. some wires get crossed in there? i hope there's an investigation.
Josh Higgins

Trad climber
San Diego
Jul 29, 2011 - 11:28am PT
Truly a say day. I've been frequenting the Needles for a decade, and have hiked the stairs to the lookout countless times. I've eaten Margee's cookies on Sunday, and had the pleasure of meeting her cat last year when it was a cute little kitten.

I'm sad to hear that Margee's summer residence is no longer there. This must be quite traumatic for her. I wish her the best, and I hope that the lookout is reconstructed someday. That lookout was a historic landmark.

Josh
rincon

Trad climber
SoCal
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:05pm PT
so ... how did this happen? clear skies, the nearby forest is intact, the tower itself is protected by bare rock and lightning rods. some wires get crossed in there? i hope there's an investigation.

It was a stove fire according to the link posted up thread. Hard to understand what happened...didn't she have a fire extinguisher?

So happy to have been able to spend time there with all of them.

+1
surfstar

climber
Santa Barbara, CA
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:10pm PT
I hope they rebuild as I haven't had the chance to visit in my short climbing career.
Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:39pm PT
Very sad news.

A fire, once started in a tinder-dry place like that, would be almost impossible to put out. If it was stove-related, then perhaps it was due to leaking propane.
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