Fire Lookout Towers

[BriTer]

Have you been to any? Where are they in/near The Okanagan? Is the lookout on Knox also a designated firewatch point?

[OffRoad]

I've been to the one on Little White. Only rubble left and as it is now a provincial park you will be hiking to the top.

There may have been one on Terrace mountain as there is some rubble up there. You'll need a 4x4 to get to the top when the snow melts more.

I don't think there was one on Blue Grouse Mountain but there's lots of radio towers up there. 4x4 road to the top too.

I think Moore Mountain had one but only rubble is left there too (re-occurring theme). Haven't been up there for a few years so I don't know what the road is like.

There was one on Black Mountain years ago but it's probably gone now too. Black Mountain is surrounded by private property and cattle range so hiking may be the only way to access it.

[BriTer]

Found mention of a few.
Brent Mountain Park, Goat Mountain and Mt Kobau, no idea where the heck this last one is.
Geeze, maybe a bit ( a lot!) of hiking is due this summer!

[LoneWolf_53]

My guess is lookout towers would be somewhat obsolete with all the modern technology out there nowadays.

That and cost cutting would probably be why there's nothing left but rubble.

[BriTer]

The three I've mentioned are still there.

[LoneWolf_53]

http://www.firelookout.com/bc.html

Ran across another site with a photo of the Mt. Kobau lookout (dated August 17, 2007) and it seems it's there for use but not for official lookout anymore.

This fire watch post, High on Mount Kobau is no longer used and now boarded up. The forest service depends on the public phoning in when they see fire, the hut is open to the public, there is even firewood next to the stove and it is clean and tidy in and out. Look at the wire ropes holding it to the ground, they must have lots of wind up here in a storm.
This hut is located just above the bench I showed you the other day

[BriTer]

Thanks LoneWolf! With all the searches I've done I hadn't yet come across that link.

[trapp]

Most of the lookout towers have now become obsolete. Air patrols and Fire Warden ground patrols are used on a need be basis, depending on the hazard and risk. There are a few towers maintained for emergency purposes in very high risk areas and only manned, again, on a need be basis. Not sure of the situation now, but a few years back there were some portable lookout buildings which could be moves up to some of the old tower sites, if hazard and risk warranted it.

I spent a summer as a young lad with my grandfather on Hamilton Lookout, near Douglas Lake, that was in the 50's. I still remember the old radios, you had to holler into the mic. In years after I visited many many lookout towers during my years with Foresty. Not sure when they closed Black Knight lookout here, but i remember doing patrols from hwy 33 to the tower every night during a fire ban in 1967.

At one time supplies were dropped by parachute out of the floor hatch on a Dehavilland Beaver for some remote towers. We used to hand fold the chutes and practice drops at the Kamloops airport. They were also used to supply very remote fires.

The closest most accessible Lookout was Mnt Begbie between Clinton and 100 Mile house. It was less than a mile off Hwy 97.

[ferri]

thanks trapp! i knew you would come through with some info. it looks like we will be hiking to some of them whether they are in use of not. BriTer found some down in Oregon (i think) that you could rent! wouldn't that be a cool get away? i would love it, well...unless a scary lightning storm came through.

[Struts 'N' Stuff Auto]

Here is what some look like now.


Sugar Lake Tower near Cherryville(still standing) not for long though

Black Mountain

Little White Tower in the late 90's

Little White before July 2006 cleanup

The Hike up to the Top of Little White, even though the Tower is gone, is well worth it.
The view is incredible!

[ferri]

thank you Struts! the views are amazing aren't they? which, i guess was the whole point. i was up in one in Washington state a couple of times, once when i was a kid and then again years later. it was amazing how far you could see.

[Struts 'N' Stuff Auto]

The Sugar Lake Tower is a Beautiful setting, and a rustic appearance, it is scheduled for destruction either this fall or next year, in fear of vandals burning it down.
We are hoping to get up there before it gets destroyed.
There is a book that you can buy at Local Bookstores, called Fire Lookouts , and it is a good book, I have it, but cant find it, and it is a fairly recent, so it will have all the details on which towers are still accessible, and how long the drive and hike is.

[ferri]

great! thanks! will look for that book, hope you find yours soon.

when you hike to these do you run into many other people or do you have it all to yourself?

[Struts 'N' Stuff Auto]

Very seldom do we run into anyone, most of the time we go on weekdays and see no one, except Birds, Moose, Deer,Voles, Mice, Bear, and sometimes a Cougar.
But......Don't forget to pack your Deet! Lots of Bugs to drive you mad sometimes, and horse flies are crazy!

[BriTer]

Trapp!
Thank you very much for the info. Have you passed long periods of time at a stretch in any of them? Do you have any pics of those?? When was the last time you were at one of the sites?