MISSOULA COUNTY
BLUE MOUNTAIN
Lolo National Forest
12N-21W-12
12N-21W-12
April 18, 1934: "Lolo forest forces will erect a new lookout station on Blue mountain, about eight miles southwest of Missoula, to serve the Missoula valley and country south and west. This will replace the temporary lookout on top of Mount Jumbo, which has been occupied each summer for several years past.
A 40-foot tower, with an observatory on top, is to be erected." (The Missoulian)
A 40-foot tower, with an observatory on top, is to be erected." (The Missoulian)
May 5, 1934: "A new lookout tower and house are being transported by pack strings over hill trails from Hayes creek to Blue mountain, southwest of Missoula. The new tower will provide forest fire alarm service for the Missoula valley and vicinity during fire season.
Packers H. McClain and H. Williams have started the 16 mules on the week-long job of bringing the material to the lookout peak. A 40-foot observatory tower is to be erected on Blue Mountain, topped by a lookout house." (The Missoulian)
June 19, 1934: "This summer 114 lookout points are to be occupied on the Lolo forest, which covers 2,250,000 acres in Western Montana, and in the East Selway in Idaho. Several new lookouts have been built this spring, including a tower on Blue Mountain, southwest of here, which takes the place of the temporary lookout maintained on Mount Jumbo in the past." (The Missoulian)
July 4, 1934: "Erected on the highest nearby point southwest of Missoula, the new Blue Mountain lookout station of the Forest service commands an unparalleled view of the Missoula and Bitter valleys.
Automobiles may be taken four miles up a mountain road along Hays creek. Then there are three miles of hard, steady hiking to the top of Blue Mountain.
But the reward is worthy of the effort. The Missoula and Frenchtown valleys spread out in front of the lookout tower, and it gives a perspective of the Bitter Root mountains in the rear that is enticing and attractive from the first sight.,
This lookout tower is built to afford better fire protection for the Missoula region, and is occupied by a Lolo forest lookout." (The Missoulian)
July 11, 1934: "W.C. Montagne has gone to the Blue Mountain lookout." (The Missoulian)
June 2, 1936: "W. C. LaMontagne has been assigned as the first lookout on the Missoula district overlooking the Missoula valley, and is located on Blue mountain lookout west of the city.
The post is 6,300 feet in the air, and takes the place of the lookout formerly on Mount Jumbo, and also on the top of the Montana building. Seven other lookouts on the Missoula district are to be occupied as needed, with all manned by the first of July. This district has had no fires as yet." (The Missoulian)
September 22, 1936: "Lookout Thomas Hood is returning to duty on the Blue Mountain lookout, southwest of Missoula district, Tuesday morning, due to the increase in hazard from fires in this vicinity." (The Missoulian)
December 22, 1964: "The Forest Service is calling for bids for constructing 1.559 miles of the Blue Mountain Lookout Road (No. 2137) in the Lolo National Forest, Neal M. Rahm, northern regional forester, announced Monday.
Bids will be opened in the Northern Regional Headquarters (Federal Building) in Missoula on Tuesday.
The construction site is approximately eight miles southwest of Missoula in Missoula County. The project calls for clearing, grading and drainage, leveling of a helispot and construction of approximately 200 feet of utility road to the Blue Mountain lookout in the Lolo National Forest." (Billings Gazette)
June 2, 1965: "The Forest Service has called for bids on trail and road work in the Lolo and Lewis and Clark National Forests.
The agency plans construction of 1.6 miles of the Blue Mountain lookout road, leveling of a helicopter landing spot, and construction of approximately 200 feet of utility road to a lookout tower 13 miles southwest of Missoula.
Bids will be open in Missoula June 7." (Billings Gazette)
1966: A 41-foot treated timber tower with flat roof cab was moved from Davis Point to replace the 30+ year-old round timber tower.
May 2013: In the latter part of the month an announcement was made that the lookout would not be in service for this fire season. The time will be used to make much needed repairs, to avoid complications and a timely completion of the project, the lookout will also be closed to visitors. It is expected to have the work finished and the lookout ready for the 2014 fire season.
August 26, 2013: Threatened by the Lolo Creek Complex Fire, fire fighters completely wrapped the 41-foot tower and observation cab in foil as a preventative.
DESIGNATION - BLUE MTN ET
PID - RY1033
STATE/COUNTY- MT/MISSOULA
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - BLUE MOUNTAIN (1978)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 1962
THIS STATION ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED BY ARTHUR STILES IN 1908 AS
THE REFERENCE MARK TO A SIGNAL TREE WHICH AT THAT TIME WAS THE
STATION MARK.
NEW DESCRIPTION BY USGS, 1962
STATION LOCATED ON BLUE MTN., IN T 12 N, R 21 W, ABOUT 13 (AIRLINE)
MI. SW. OF MISSOULA. IT IS ON THE DIVIDE BETWEEN LOLO AND OBRIEN
CREEKS AND IN THE CENTER OF THE USFS BLUE MTN. LOOKOUT TOWER.
TO REACH STATION FROM MISSOULA POST OFFICE, GO S. ON U.S. HIGHWAY 93,
5.7 MI. TO COUNTY ROAD ON THE RIGHT, TURN RIGHT 0.6 MI. TO T-RD. N.,
CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD, W., 7.7 MI. ON MAIN TRAVELED RD. TO LOOKOUT
TOWER AND STATION. THE LAST 3/4 MI. IS A JEEP RD., BUT CAN BE DRIVEN
WITH A 3/4 TON TRUCK.