About
About Bill
Lightning Bill on duty at Goat Peak Lookout.
Hello and Welcome; I’m Lightning Bill Austin. It took a while but we are finally here. Hope you enjoy your visit to our new site. With time you will see my art, poetry and photography and all the information you need for your 1st time or repeat visit to Goat Peak.
Here’s just a brief look at my lookout and firefighting experience. This will be my 15th season on Goat Peak Lookout in 2009. I spent the summer of 1978 on Chelan Butte Lookout on the Chelan Ranger District on the Wenatchee National Forest. In 1982 I also was a mobile lookout when needed at Chelan. I spent two summers, 1986-1987 on Bonaparte Lookout on the Tonasket Ranger District on the Okanogan National Forest. I’ve also been a relief lookout on Lookout Mountain, Leecher Mountain, and First Butte, all located on the Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
I have numerous seasons since 1973 working on fire crews, helicopter crews, and in reforestation. I plan to continue working summers on Goat Peak as long as possible. I am definitely a lookout nut. We would love to see you pay us a visit at Goat Peak Lookout. Do keep in touch for updates and Changes.
Thank you,
Bill Austin
December 2008.
Please leave a comment below or email at lightningbill @ genext.net if you would like to get in touch with Bill. If you have a memory or a trip report to Goat Peak you would like to share send email to info @ methowoutdoors.com with “Goat Peak” in the subject and it will be posted on the site.
Ready to visit Bill at Goat Peak? Check out Plan Your Visit for more information.
Hi Bill. Good to hear from you. Nice website. Keep in touch. Have a nice Christmas season!
Ray Kresek
Lightning Bill,
Great start on your website. Please tell us more about the Goat Peak Lookout, it’s history and location.
Our group is restoring lookouts in San Diego County, California for volunteer staffing.
Regards,
Brad Eells
Forest Fire Lookout Association
San Diego - Riverside Chapter
Spent the summer of 53′ at Summit Prairie Lookout on Mt. Adam District of the Gifford Pinchot N.F. It was a two person lookout with trail clearing duties on the Cascade Crest trail. Forrest Couch was my companion. We both ended up with Forest Service careers. He in business mgt and me in range,wildlife and watershed work. I spent a couple of years as District Ranger in Southern Oregon. I served on two other lookouts part time over the years. Great experience. I can see why you keep going back. One of the most unique lookouts I have visited was one in a giant Ponderosa pine tree. It was set on the cut off top. Don’t remember how tall it was. Maybe I will get up to visit this summer.
GOOD JOB, KEEP IT UP.
The website looks great easy to navigate and is fun to watch it grow each day. Keep up the Good work!!!
Blessings,
Terry
Great site, love the photos. Missed hiking the trail this year, but will be back again in 2009. Will be sending you a picture of you and your dog returning up the trail.
Hello Lightning Bill,
My name is Bernadette from the Everett Mountaineers. I’ve been to Goat Peak Lookout twice on a Mountaineers hike, met you personally and had pictures taken with you and the lookout dogs.
The Forest Fire Lookout Association Convention will be held in Snohomish, WA this year. I am partly helping out with the event. We are looking for speakers for the convention and I know you will be a great speaker. The convention schedule is Sept. 25 - 27. We would like to invite you to be a speaker on Sept 26. I am aware that you are still on duty at Goat Peak until October. It will be great to have you (a 4th generation lookout?) come and speak at the convention. You will also have the opportunity to meet lookouts not only from around the country but from around the world.
Sincerely,
Bernadette Lamarca
Hi Lightning Bill,
Nice site you’ve got here. How did I miss seeing it earlier before this? Glad you told me about it. Keep up the great work. See you back at the farm.
Dave Bula
Western Deputy FFLA
Hi Bill,
we wish you a nice and peacefull christmas time. We visited Goat Peak in July (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32321558@N05/3744640258/) and we had some wonderful time.
All the best from Germany
Reichmann Family