Interviewer
Mark Hufstetler, Kjell Petersen, Beth Hodder
Files
Description
Rick and Marli Davis discuss their experiences as lookout staff for the Flathead National Forest on Cyclone Lookout from 1971-1975 and on Baptiste Lookout and again Cyclone as volunteers, from 2012 to the present. Marli shared growing up in Kalispell, Montana where she loved being outdoors and spending time at her family’s hunting cabin at Ashley Lake. Rick recounted growing up in Great Falls, Montana and his love for fishing with his dad. He tells of his first real job with the Great Northern Railroad and early experiences with outdoor work. They talk of meeting at the University of Montana, getting married after college, and their first lookout assignment at Cyclone Lookout. They recounted their initial training, daily routines, and memorable events, including a severe lightning storm their first night as lookouts, a UFO sighting and a fly-by from the Air National Guard for their anniversary. They talked of similarities and differences in experiences from the 1970s to the present time as volunteers on lookouts. They emphasized the importance of solitude, connection to nature, and the impact of their lookout experiences on their lives and relationships.
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Document Type
Oral History
Original Date
6-8-2025
Time Period
Twentieth century; Twenty-first century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Northwest Montana Lookout Association Oral History Project, OH 453, Archives & Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 453-033
Media Type
Moving image; Sound; Text
Original Format
video/mp4; audio/mp3; application/pdf; text/plain
Digital Format
video/mp4; audio/mp3; application/pdf; text/plain
Run Time
01:14:22 minutes
Local Filename
OH_453_033_video_use.mp4; OH_453-033_audio_use.mp3; OH_453-033_transcript.pdf; OH_453_033_video_captions.srt
Citation
Davis, Marli and Davis, Rick, "Marli Davis and Rick Davis Interview, June 8, 2025" (2025). Northwest Montana Lookout Association Oral History Project. 33.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/nwmt-ffla/33