Elba Fire Tower

I had stumbled across this tower many years ago when I had owned a construction company and we were doing some work at the Whitewater Group camp. At the time I did not realize one could climb the tower so I never did. Last year I became interested in Geocaching and this site came up along with the information as to a hidden cache located partway up the tower. (Geocaching is using multimillion dollar satellites to locate Tupperware hidden in the woods).At any rate I tagged the location along with a few others and rode on over to the spot (June 2009) I had assumed it was just a “drive to the tower base and run on up” not true, in fact not even close.Fact is it’s more like drive east of Elba a block or so and drive UP into the parking lot which will elevate you approximately six inches closer to the top of the hill. From here you begin the never ending journey to the top, 645 steps to be exact (it’s marked on step #1)Climbing the steps is best done when there is no wind and the temps are in the hundreds along with 97-99% humidity, in the fashion you may achieve the ultimate heart pounding head throbbing metabolic systems failure.There are several rest areas along the way and you will be using them! The steps are like that bunny rabbit that just never quits, just when you think you can see the top and the end to the relentless wooden torture blocks another full set pops into view.The view along the way is very scenic and heavily wooded, a great variety of trees are always in view, green trees with brown trunks some green trees with grey trunks and even some dead trees, yes lots of big tall trees everywhere.Just when I was about to vapor lock I found what I was looking for all along – the last step! I guess I should have done this one first, perhaps next time.