Throughout the last few centuries, numerous labor movements and individuals have performed courageous acts to fight for equal rights for women. It’s from their contributions that countries started to declare a day to celebrate women and their achievements. International Women’s Day celebrates women’s inclusivity and honors the many ways they have led, inspired, supported, and protected.
In the early 20th century, outdoor work was predominately performed by men. Women’s roles in the Forest Service were dedicated to clerical work. Soon, America would write a new story that changed that perspective. Following the Great Fire of 1910, which burned 3 million acres in the West, thousands of fire lookouts were erected throughout the country in grand succession. Standing proudly on high peaks and perched precariously on granite rocks, the small cabins or ‘cabs’ awaited a new force of workers tasked to help protect America’s natural resources.
In 1913, it only took one woman to pave the way for many. Hallie Morse Daggett was the first woman to climb up a fire tower as a lookout at Eddy Gulch in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Employed by the U.S.F.S. and met with initial skepticism by higher appointed officials, her keen eye and proficient work quickly became renowned as she spotted 40 fires that year and held her position for 14 more seasons.
Over the next few decades, the East and West coasts saw many more women occupying fire lookouts, like Barbara Mortensen in the early 1940s. Barbara worked as a fire and airplane lookout on Pine Mountain, near Gorham, NH. Receiving very basic training and tasked with developing her own methods of self-sufficiency, she made profound strides in proving her resilience in the backcountry. Barbara’s days were spent splitting wood and hauling it up the 56 stairs into her tower to keep warm, preparing food from the air-chilled icebox, hiking to get supplies and water, which she filled into a 3-gallon container carried on her back, and performing lookout duties.
Many lookouts had to purchase their own food and sort out how to resupply. For Barbara, the local market would leave free food and cigarettes under their stairs for her. Every day, hours were spent scanning the terrain and observing weather patterns and fire risk. Idle time was used to hone in and study radio communication and orienteering skills to remain ready for the call.
During WWII, the number of employed women in Fire Lookouts increased as more men went off to war, and the media received more calls to action for women to contribute to the workforce. Many lookouts, like Barbara, looked beyond smoke signals to also keep an eye on the skies for enemy aircraft until the war ended in 1945. Although she met many hikers and occasionally had overnight guests, her 105-pound Great Dane, Brenda, was her main companion when the skies were clear and all she could hear was the calm of the wind.
Since Barbara’s career in the Forest Service, many other women have felt inspired and compelled to follow in her footsteps, and many more to pioneer a new path for women outdoors. Taking up posts throughout the country, women are fighting fires, jumping out of aircraft, clearing trails, packing mule strings into the wilderness with supplies, and holding executive roles. Their voices and actions have contributed in powerful ways and have led, served, and protected. Today, and always, we honor those women who follow their passions without inhibitions, those who are unwavering in their stance for equality for all.
