Above: Mike Pietrantoni and daughter Payton Pietrantoni next to the alidade map in the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower. Photo via Laurie Rankin, the volunteer coordinator for the fire tower.
This weekend, the volunteers who staff the system of historic Catskills fire towers are throwing a shindig for kids of all ages at the top of the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower in Hardenburgh.
Smokey the Bear will be in attendance, and fire tower volunteers will show kids how to use an alidade map to triangulate the location of mock forest fires, just like fire tower observers did long ago.
The alidade "is essentially a compass circle overlaid on a map with the fire tower in the center of the circle," says Laurie Rankin, one of the volunteers who is organizing Saturday's event. She comes by her fire tower bona fides through her father, who served as a fire tower observer for years.
"Using the map and their intimate knowledge of the lay of the land, an observer could see smoke on the horizon and determine where the fire was located," Rankin says. "They would then contact the next closest fire tower, who would use their circular alidade map to make a determination of the location as well. Once the location was triangulated, the observer notified the ranger of the location."
Trail snacks will be available at the summit to reward hardy hiking families, and there will be games, including scavenger hunts, tree ring counting, animal tracking, puzzles, games, and target practice with something called "Indian Tanks."
The hike up to the summit from the MIll Brook parking lot is an easy 2.75 miles, according to the Catskill Mountaineer.
Children's Day at the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower. Saturday, July 27, noon to 2pm. Rain date Sunday, July 28. The Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower, Hardenburgh. Five-mile round-trip hike to summit. Make sure to pack water, sunscreen, and sturdy hiking shoes. For info on trails, visit Catskill Mountaineer or the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower webpage.
