Aiton Heights is accessed from Wilderness Drive in Itasca State Park. Wilderness Drive is a 10 mile winding road through marvelous tall trees. The first 3 miles is open for two way traffic, then it becomes one way traffic. This drive took the two RV Gypsies through the heart of the forests of Itasca. This road once served as the west boundary of the park, until land on the west side was purchased in 1918. The east side has old growth pine versus the west side with its aspen and paper birch regeneration. |
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During the half-mile walk from the parking lot to the Aiton Heights Fire Tower, the two RV Gypsies paused to enjoy the view of Kasey Lake. The trail was a bit steep at times, but not very long, and not very difficult. |
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When the tower was in operation during the 50's and 60's, a fire finder was placed in the middle of the "Crows Nest". It was used to find a compass heading to the smoke. The pointing device that sits on top of the round map table is called an "Aladade". The spotter would aim his aladade at the smoke and read the compass degrees off the map edge, then call this information in by radio. The same action would take place at another tower within sight of the same smoke. When they had two degrees reading, they would cross the lines on a wall map to find the location of the fire. |
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The sign says there should
not be more than six people at a time at the top. That is because it
shakes as you go up or down the stairs! If heights bother you, stay
on the ground. But the view from the top is well worth the climb. |
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Below: Karen Duquette sized
up the 100-foot tall tower, and made a decision that YES, she WILL climb
all those stairs to the Crows Nest at the top! |
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Below: Lee
Duquette spied the benches and said they were calling his name. |
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Below: Karen Duquette smiled
as she started the climb up the 100-foot tall Aiton Heights Fire Tower |
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Below: Karen Duquette paused
now and then to wave at Lee Duquette who was enjoying his rest. |
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Below: Karen Duquette climbed
higher and higher and stopped to pose for the camera and wave at Lee
every now and then. |
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Below: And guess what! Karen
Duquette made it to the Crows Nest, the top box of the Aiton Heights
Fire Tower. |
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Below:
The top of the Aiton Heights Fire
Tower gave Karen Duquette an aerial view
of the landscape. The view up here was amazing. Well worth the climb
to the top. Too bad it was a cloudy day though! |
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Below: And finally, Karen
Duquette took a picture of Lee Duquette who was sitting comfortably
down below. |
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Below: While Karen Duquette
was taking the photos of the landscape around her, she felt the tower
shaking. Then she realized that some big heavy-set guy was STOMPING
his way up the stairs. So Karen was thankful that while she
was climbing up the tower, nobody else was around. But now with the
tower shaking a bit, she found the trip down the tower stairs a bit
nerve-wracking, and was glad when she got back on the ground. Guess
the shaking bit is part of the reason only six people can be on the
tower at one time. Karen took a final look upwards at the tower before
joining Lee Duquette and they went off to find another adventure. |
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If you came to this spot while viewing 2013 travels, and you have seen all three sections above,
please continue on to the adventures of the two RV Gypsies
in 
If you came to this spot after looking at the 2015 Mississippi Headwaters
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