GOLD FORK LOOKOUT.

The same weekend we visited No Business, we also made the trek to Gold Fork Lookout. This particular lookout is truly unique from all the others in that it has been taken from its foundation atop the mountain, hauled down the hill and now sits on a small knoll just off Warm Lake highway. Although I have been to the foundation it used to sit on, I have never bothered to make the TINY hike to visit the lookout itself! Oddly enough, we chose to hike to Gold Fork Lookout on our way to Gold Fork Hot Springs. Aren't we clever?!

WE HIKED DURING MY FAVORITE TIME OF DAY--THE HOUR OR SO JUST BEFORE SUNSET!

SUCH PRETTY FALL LIGHT!

THE LOOKOUT HOWEVER, IS NOT SO PRETTY.

APPARENTLY A GROUP OF CONSERVATIONISTS HAD THE LOOKOUT MOVED WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING IT INTO A MUSEUM. THEY, HOWEVER, HAVE CLEARLY DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WITH THE LOOKOUT SINCE THEY HAD IT MOVED. IT IS REALLY QUITE SAD! ESPECIALLY FOR US LOOKOUT AFICIONADOS!

MAYBE THEY'LL LET ME BE THE LOOKOUT HERE!

HECK, I COULD PROBABLY MOVE IN FOR THE SUMMER AND NO ONE WOULD EVEN KNOW!

LOOKS LIKE MY LIGHTNING STOOL NEEDS SOME TLC!

I HAPPEN TO KNOW DAD HAS A SECRET STASH OF INSULATORS THOUGH SO I SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO! ;O)

I SURE HOPE MY BOSS READS THIS BECAUSE LOOK . . .

HERE I AM WORKING THE ADMISSION LINE AGAIN!

MOM AND I CROSSING YET ANOTHER LOOKOUT OFF OUR LIST!

HIKING BACK TO THE HIGHWAY . . .

A BIT SADDENED BY THE NEGLECTED STATE OF THE LOOKOUT.

DON'T WORRY, A GOOD SOAK IN THE MAGICAL WATERS OF BEAUTIFUL GOLD FORK HOT SPRINGS WAS JUST THE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT WE NEEDED! THE LOOKOUT MAY NOT BE WORTH THE EFFORT BUT THE HOT SPRINGS DEFINITELY ARE! THEY ARE SIMPLY HEAVENLY!