Video: An Ode to Desolation

There once was a time when firewatch towers were the first line of defense against massive forest fires breaking out in remote regions. Today, these towers-and the men and women who staffed them-have become all-but obsolete. In fact, just 60 of the towers now remain across the U.S., with technology being used to eliminate more of them on a regular basis. This video takes us to one tower that remains in operation. It is manned by Jim Henterly, who remains dedicated not only to his job, but to maintaining a connection with the land around him. Jim's tower is found on the summit of Mt. Desolation in the Cascade Mountains of Washington, a place that is serene, wild, and utterly spectacular.