February 22, 2026
listen to a shortened (~15 minute), AI-created podcast of this interview here
listen to the full interview here
Britt Franklin, a fire lookout at Red Plume Mountain in the Flathead National Forest of Montana in 1967, shares his experiences during a memorable summer marked by severe fire danger. He details his journey from Georgia to Montana; his training at Spotted Bear; and his daily routines at Red Plume, including cooking, reporting weather, and dealing with wildlife. Franklin recounts a significant thunderstorm incident where he witnessed St. Elmo’s fire. Post-lookout, he served in the Air Force, including a tour in Vietnam, and later worked at the National Security Agency. His time at Red Plume profoundly impacted his life, fostering a deep respect for nature and a lasting connection to Montana.
After the interview ended and the camera closed, Britt shared another memory NMLA felt was too powerful to let escape. We offer it here to empower Britt’s story.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my experience on Red Plume. There was one other event that I could have shared with you but I didn’t because I was afraid I’d break up and not be able to finish.
I mentioned how much I learned about the reality of the earth as a living thing. The time we camped there in 1990, I was reminded again of how accurate that is.
While my family set up camp near the base of Red Plume, I walked down to the creek and just stood looking across at the sign which still marked the beginning of the trail up to the lookout. I stood there for a few minutes and then I had an experience unlike any I’ve had since, and likely won’t ever have again. I felt that the mountain had “stirred” and was aware of my presence. Then the mountain spoke to me and said, “It is good to see you again.”When I recovered from the surprise, I said it had been a long time since I was there, to which the mountain replied, “Not for me.”I laughed and allowed that a mountain that had been around so long, a few years doesn’t mean much. I told the mountain how happy I was that my family could come, however briefly and how much my time on the mountain had meant to me personally. I then expressed my love for the mountain and it said, “I love you, too.”And then it went back to sleep, or whatever practically eternal mountains do.”
