Group seeks to preserve, restore lookouts
Visitors to national forests in northwest Montana have the opportunity to not only experience the majesty and grandeur of some of the nation’s most beautiful landscapes and vistas, but also to share in an integral part of the history of the region, a time and way of life mostly gone from the modern world.
Forest fire lookouts stand above the area’s forests and for decades provided a place for watchers to keep lookout on the forest and provide warning of impending wildfire spreading into populated areas. The lookouts are a remnant of the rich history of the forest and the people who have made it their homes.
The histories are preserved by the Northwest Montana chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association. The group exists to help facilitate the restoration and maintenance of fire lookouts and other historical support structures, collect and share interpretive material on the history of lookouts, support structures and surrounding areas and support land stewardship by practicing ‘leave no trace’ ethics.
The organization recently announced its 2016 project list and is actively recruiting volunteers to make the season a success.
“It’s been a busy winter for the board of the Northwest Montana Forest Fire Lookout Association,” said board chair Chuck Manning. “We have lined up a busy schedule of volunteer work projects and lookout assessments, starting in May and running through the summer. We also completed a five-year strategic plan and have been working hard to implement the steps identified to focus our efforts on the future. I hope you will take the time to browse through the latest lookout news, and find a project that fits your time and interests and join us this summer. You won’t regret it.”
The group has five condition assessments planned for the remainder of the 2016 season. Condition assessments are generally one-day outings to evaluate the condition of forest fire lookouts, which may occasionally include minor maintenance activities while on-site.
Two of the remaining assessments are scheduled for Glacier National Park, with three scheduled in the Kootenai National Forest. The first Glacier project is scheduled for May 9 at the Apgar Lookout. The second is a six-day assessment of Porcupine Lookout. Both Glacier assessments include hiking to the location.
The first assessment in the Kootenai is a drive-to event, scheduled for May 18 at Meadow Peak Lookout. The second is a hike-to event at Henry Lookout, scheduled for Aug. 19. The final assessment is also a hike-to, in conjunction with Montana Wilderness Association, assessing Northwest Peak Aug. 20.
Assessments have already been completed on Warm Lookout and McGuire Lookout in the Kootenai National Forest.
In addition to the assessments, the organization will also be undertaking several maintenance projects on area lookouts. The first is set for June 10 to June 13 and is a painting project at the Apgar Lookout in Glacier National Park. The two-day is a hike-to project.
The next scheduled maintenance project is a five day, drive-to event at the Little Napa Lookout on Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation lands. Volunteers will be rebuilding the stairs up to the lookout.
Two events are scheduled for the Kootenai National Forest, one in July and one in August. The first is a drive-to project scheduled July 11 to July 15 at the Meadow Peak Lookout. Volunteers will rebuild the tower and cab. The Aug. 20 project is a one-day work session included as part of the condition assessment for Northwest Peak.
There are also three opportunities scheduled in the Flathead National Forest. The first is July 14 through July 19 at the Firefighter Lookout. This three to four day event will include painting the cab, catwalk and railings. A more intensive hike-to project is scheduled for the Mud Lake Lookout. This 10-day event, scheduled July 24 until Aug. 6 and will include rebuilding the footings and wall. The project is being funded by a grant from the Montana History Foundation.
The final event of the year is scheduled for Aug. 27 and Aug. 28 at the Moran Patrol Cabin, and will include staining and painting the facility as needed.
In addition to building maintenance and repair volunteers, Manning said the organization is also looking for help with their archives. The organization is in the process of finding and interviewing people who staffed lookouts in northwest Montana, and would like to document their stories for posterity. Interested persons can volunteer by contacting Beth Hodder at 406-249-2341.