COUGAR PEAK
Sanders County - Lolo National Forest - 23N-30W-24
June 18, 1930: “Jim McBride and a crew of men are constructing telephone line in the Graves creek county. It is planned to build this telephone line to Cougar Peak where a new lookout will be stationed this season.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
July 16, 1930: “A ready-cut lookout house has been received by Ranger Brown during the week. It is being packed to Cougar Peak where it will be set up.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
July 16, 1930: “A ready-cut lookout house has been received by Ranger Brown during the week. It is being packed to Cougar Peak where it will be set up.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
August 13, 1930: "Floyd Cox came down Monday from Cougar Peak after building the lookout house there." (Sanders County Ledger)
May 17, 1944: “Ranger Varney, Louie Rosenthal and Ray Meadows have been building a telephone line from Thompson Falls to the Cougar Peak lookout which is in the Blue Slide country. In building this line they are also rebuilding a farmers' telephone line in that area. This will be good news to these folks since their old line was almost impossible to talk over the last few years.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
May 17, 1944: “Ranger Varney, Louie Rosenthal and Ray Meadows have been building a telephone line from Thompson Falls to the Cougar Peak lookout which is in the Blue Slide country. In building this line they are also rebuilding a farmers' telephone line in that area. This will be good news to these folks since their old line was almost impossible to talk over the last few years.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
June 27, 1951: “Mr. and Mrs. William Powell were sent to Cougar peak as lookouts for the summer. The remainder of the lookouts will be sent out the first part of July.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
June 27, 1951: “Mr. and Mrs. William Powell were sent to Cougar peak as lookouts for the summer. The remainder of the lookouts will be sent out the first part of July.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
September 9, 1953: “Most fire lookouts were withdrawn two weeks ago. The Cougar Peak station was manned until yesterday while the last station, Eddy Peak, will be vacated Friday. However, construction of a new lookout house on Cougar Peak will provide some protection for several days yet, Ranger Lyman pointed out.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
September 9, 1953: “Most fire lookouts were withdrawn two weeks ago. The Cougar Peak station was manned until yesterday while the last station, Eddy Peak, will be vacated Friday. However, construction of a new lookout house on Cougar Peak will provide some protection for several days yet, Ranger Lyman pointed out.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
June 20, 1957: “This year for the first time, VHF radio communications will be used between the ranger's office and two lookouts—Cougar peak and Mt. Headley. It is hoped that the radio network to the other five lookout posts can be completed next year. The five posts which will continue to utilize telephones this year are Clark, Eddy, Driveway, Table Top and Priscilla.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
June 20, 1957: “This year for the first time, VHF radio communications will be used between the ranger's office and two lookouts—Cougar peak and Mt. Headley. It is hoped that the radio network to the other five lookout posts can be completed next year. The five posts which will continue to utilize telephones this year are Clark, Eddy, Driveway, Table Top and Priscilla.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
September 5, 1963: “Construction was started Tuesday morning on the remaining portion of the Cougar peak road leading to the lookout. Irwin Puphal, district ranger, announced. The 3.6-mile section will be completed this fall.
Richard Browne is in charge of the Forest Service crew which began logging and clearing of right-of-way Tuesday. Work with bulldozers will begin Monday.” (Sanders County Ledger)
September 5, 1963: “Construction was started Tuesday morning on the remaining portion of the Cougar peak road leading to the lookout. Irwin Puphal, district ranger, announced. The 3.6-mile section will be completed this fall.
Richard Browne is in charge of the Forest Service crew which began logging and clearing of right-of-way Tuesday. Work with bulldozers will begin Monday.” (Sanders County Ledger)
September 7, 1961: “Bill Meadows arrived home Friday after spending the summer on Cougar peak lookout. If the weather turns hot and dry again, he may have to report back.” (Sanders County Ledger)
September 7, 1961: “Bill Meadows arrived home Friday after spending the summer on Cougar peak lookout. If the weather turns hot and dry again, he may have to report back.” (Sanders County Ledger)
September 14, 1961: “While serving as lookout this summer on Cougar peak, Bill Meadows took advantage of several opportunities to snap colored slide closeups of mountain goats. One herd of nine goats was photographed grazing around the tower one day.” (Sanders County Ledger)
September 14, 1961: “While serving as lookout this summer on Cougar peak, Bill Meadows took advantage of several opportunities to snap colored slide closeups of mountain goats. One herd of nine goats was photographed grazing around the tower one day.” (Sanders County Ledger)
The NGS Data Sheet
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1940 (ANS)
COUGAR PEAK FOREST SERVICE LOOKOUT HOUSE IS IN THE CABINET
NATIONAL FOREST, ON A SHARP TIMBERED PEAK, 10 MILES N OF THOMPSON
FALLS, 5 MILES E OF WHITE PINE AND 13 MILES SE OF TROUT CREEK
RANGER STATION
THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE WAS INTERSECTED.