Winter @ Moran Patrol Cabin
Caleb 📷 Stolte
Mount Wam Project
Kootenai National Forest
Mount Wam Lookout is located within the Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area near the town of Eureka, MT within a couple of miles of the US-Canada border. Besides trimming out painting the interior windows and exterior trim, thanks to Barb Hvizdak, the outhouse was moved to a new location. As the peak is an outcrop of sedimentary rock, a generator powered demolition hammer was used to break up the layers and a pit close to five feet was dug by Greg Evans in about two and a half days. Duane Day helped Greg build a vault to line the hole and together, with the help of Chuck Manning, moved the outhouse to its new location. The Northwest Montana Back Country Horsemen supported both ends of the project to help transport tools and supplies. The YCC joined the project for one day to pull staples as the lookout was covered with Aluminized Structure Wrap during the 2022 Weasel Fire.
McGuire Mountain Project
Kootenai National Forest
The McGuire Mountain Lookout and support structures restoration project is finally completed. Starting in 2016 when our first on-site condition assessment took place this endeavor evolved into a major rehab project consisting of leveling the lookout; removing, reconditioning, and replacing all windows; building new shutters; moving the outhouse onto a newly constructed vault; reroofing the lookout and both support structures. This year’s portion could not have happened without the tremendous support of our volunteer force which included Barb Hvizdak, Cathy Calloway, Lindsay Davis, Mark Miller, Chris Holdhusen, Mark Gunther, Rick Davis, and Chuck Manning. Also, joining us this year for a one-night cultural shock campout, we welcomed Andrés Barboza who lives in Madrid Spain
and a friend of Lindsay Davis.
NorthWest Montana Backcountry Horsemen
Leif Haugen from the Flathead National Forest and his volunteer crew of four,
Kyle Johnson, Dennis Divoky, Terry Divoky, and John Opatz, tackled the
reroof of the L4 cupola designed lookout which
required fall protection certification.
This year the NorthWest Montana Back Country Horsemen
supported both ends of the project
to help transport tools and supplies not airlifted in by helicopter in early June
by the Kootenai National Forest Helitack Crew.
The Youth Conservation Corp also helped sherpa supplies
to and from the lookout again this summer, thank you YCC!
Outhouse Rehab
Storage Shed Facelift
Star Peak Project
Kootenai National Forest
Star Peak Lookout, located in the Scotchman Peaks Recommended Wilderness Area, is the site of the first recorded lookout in Montana. The original rock house, built in 1910, still sits below the current lookout. This historic lookout restoration is supported through the Great American Outdoors Act, passed in 2020, which provides funding to improve infrastructure and expand recreation opportunities in national parks and other public lands. The Star Peak Lookout project began in early June when all windows were removed and flown off the mountain, thanks to the Kootenai National Forest Helitack Crew. The windows will be reconditioned over the winter and flown back up the mountain to be reinstalled next spring. NMLA volunteers Bob Lambrecht, Seth Lambrecht, Justin Maisch, and Mark Miller were this summer’s crew. This crew reroofed the structure with new cedar shingles, scraped and painted the exterior with the exception of the deteriorated shutters and addressed any failing structural issues. Shutter material was painted this year in preparation for building new shutters in 2024 to be installed over the reconditioned and reinstalled windows. Jeff Grotjohn, of the Cabinet Back Country Horsemen, supported this project by transporting tools and supplies not airlifted in by helicopter in early June along with Cabinet Ranger District personnel.
Big Creek Baldy Project
Kootenai National Forest
A great day at Big Creek Baldy - the heater was installed, but not needed today....there was
ongoing work with the roof and hatch.
Thank you Salena Beckwith.
Mount Brown Project
Glacier National Park
Overlooking Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park (GNP) sits Mount Brown Lookout just south of its namesake peak. This summer marks the completion of several ongoing maintenance projects which included replacing cracked windows, replacing failed siding boards on the lower enclosed storage area, replacing failing catwalk deck boards, and painting needed areas of the lookout’s interior and exterior. Bob Cowdrick and Mike Barham were instrumental in bringing closure to this project with the help of Chuck Manning. GNP personnel were instrumental in supporting this project and coordinated pack stock to transport all materials and supplies. Volunteer support was funded in part through the
Whitefish Community Foundation.
Assessment Workshop
Flathead National Forest
As the NMLA's program expands, the need for more and regular assessments presented a need to expand the staff.
In mid June, this group of members gathered at Cooney Lookout
on the Swan Lake Ranger District to train as
Team Leaders on future assessments.
Thank you to everyone for stepping up!
Porcupine Ridge Assessment
Glacier National Park
The lookout is in good, if not buff, condition.
Mainly needs routine maintenance of painting, and some shutters could be replaced.
As far as access, the 1st two fords of Valentine were dry (as of 8/24), but that 3rd one is still a doozy. The trail was easy to find, except for navigation required at Valentine Creek, so the flagging there was appreciated. It is definitely brushy/overgrown below treeline. Nice easy gradient. We carried all our water - between 5 and 10 liters each, which we collected and filtered at Valentine.
Logistical planning and support was necessary and appreciated! Boat tickets, a backcountry permit, and answering a gazillion questions. Oddly enough, there were no tent shelters left at Goat Haunt,
even with a permit.
CBP ROAM is required for remote entry into the U.S. via Goat Haunt.
It’s worth having the Piegan customs # handy.
If you don’t have an employee sticker, you’ll need to pay to get into Waterton NP.
The crew was once again inspired by the foresight of the NMLA
in maintaining these important historical gems.
Thank you Traute Parrie, Eric Godin, Katie Marsonettte, and Tammy Bogovich
for the Porcupine Ridge assessment.
.jpg)
Heaven's Peak Assessment
Glacier National Park
Heaven's Peak Lookout was built by conscientious objectors who were members of the Civilian Public Service during World War II. The lookout uses native materials to integrate the structure into the landscape and was operational from 1945 until 1953. Extensive work to stabilize the structure was completed in 2013-14.
Joann Schmidt, Molly Tingley, and Joe Schmidt completed this assessment and were rewarded with relatively clear skies and expansive views including Chapman Peak, Mt Cleveland, the garden wall, Lake McDonald and the Camas drainage after bushwhacking to the lookout. The structure is generally in good shape, but is in need of extensive painting in addition to other repairs.
Mount Henry Assessment
Kootenai National Forest
A hike to Mount Henry Lookout on the Kootenai National Forest
to do an assessment for future restoration needs for the
Northwest Montana Lookout Association was completed.
We had a bluebird day for a nice hike. Lookout in pretty good shape considering she was built in 1942 and has been out of use since 1978.
Needs a major paint job to restore her former glory!
The outhouse however, flattened a few years ago by the elements is barely hanging in there, now propped up by rocks and boards - needs some major TLC!
Thank you
Kattie Marsonette,
Cathy Calloway,
and Karen K Downs
for the assessment.
Lost Horse Assessment
Kootenai National Forest
Located in the Kootenai National Forest, this seldom-seen lookout, Lost Horse, is reached by a flagged route after a 30-mile drive on a dirt road. Katie Marsonette, Barb Hvidzak, and Terry Divoky re-flagged the 2-mile route as they worked their way up to the lookout assessment. Greeted by the weather-greyed wooden tower, L-4 cab, and butter or ventilation box was reward in itself but one can also see downtown Yaak, Mount Henry Lookout and the surrounding mountains. Built in 1934, this little gem of a lookout needs the catwalk, steps, railings, and shutters repaired or replaced and light shines through several small holes in the ragged roof which needs to be patched or better yet, re-shingled. Amazingly, inside, the cab is in good shape with in-tack windows and glazing. In 1994 it was wrapped to protect it from the Yaak-Red Dragon Complex Fire. (Barb and her husband, un-wrapped the lookout!). It would be a shame to lose this lookout to deterioration since it has withstood strong winds, snow, and weathering for countless years. Visit this lookout to take in its past through the historical “trash” and wood scattered around its base.
Thank you
Barb Hvisdak, Terry Divoky, and Kattie Marsonette,,
for the assessment.
Stahl Peak Assessment
Kootenai National Forest
Karen Sheets, Mark Sheets, and Barb Hvizdak completed
the assessment of Stahl Lookout ona cold, blustery day in late August.
The D6 cupola-style lookout is perched dramatically on a
cliff’s edge in the Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area of the Kootenai National Forest. The lookout can be accessed by a number of trails.
It’s a common detour for thru-hikers on the CDT
trail, offering shelter from inclement weather.
At an elevation of 7,281’ there are uninterrupted
views of the entire Ten Lakes basin, Canada, and Glacier Park.
The lookout itself is in a state of
disrepair, something a coat of fresh paint and some basic carpentry could improve.
