DESERT MOUNTAIN (BELTON PT)
Flathead County - Flathead National Forest - 31N-19W-25
July 22, 1915: "Forest Ranger Jack Kruse was in town Monday evening from his station near Coram. He is working a crew of men building a trail leading to the top of Desert mountain, where a lookout station will be built. From that point a view is obtained from the Canadian line to the north to the Missoula country to the south. The mountain is almost 7000 feet high and is considered a valuable point from which to detect forest fires. A telephone line will connect the station with the main line." & "A number of government men are at work on a trail leading up to the lookout station which the government is going to build on top of the mountain as soon as the trail is finished." (The Columbian)
June 17, 1925: "Fred Novak will be the lookout in charge of the house on Desert Mountain during the fire season." (The Daily Inter Lake)
1930: A ten-foot native timber tower with a pre-cut live-in 14 by 14 cab erected. The cab was manufactured by the Superior Building Company of Columbia Falls.
July 11, 1947: "Saturday after the Fourth, mountain-top lookouts, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Yuhas spotted two man caused fires.
From Their Desert mountain perch in the Flathead national forest, they saw and reported a fire, Saturday at 10 p.m. in Martin City, even before it was noticed by the residents. It was caused by a youngster's 'sparkler.'
Earlier at 6 p.m., they reported smoke about a mile up the Spotted Bear road from highway No. 2. This fire was caused either by firecrackers or by a smoker.
Twenty-two-year-old, Helena resident, Sergeant Yuhas is just out of the army, and plans to enter Montana state university school of forestry next fall. On the mountain top with the couple is their 6-month-old son, Danny, 'who is trying hard to walk.'
Martin City is sending word to Mr. and Mrs. Yuhas that this fall they are to have a steak dinner on the town." (Hungry Horse News)
From Their Desert mountain perch in the Flathead national forest, they saw and reported a fire, Saturday at 10 p.m. in Martin City, even before it was noticed by the residents. It was caused by a youngster's 'sparkler.'
Earlier at 6 p.m., they reported smoke about a mile up the Spotted Bear road from highway No. 2. This fire was caused either by firecrackers or by a smoker.
Twenty-two-year-old, Helena resident, Sergeant Yuhas is just out of the army, and plans to enter Montana state university school of forestry next fall. On the mountain top with the couple is their 6-month-old son, Danny, 'who is trying hard to walk.'
Martin City is sending word to Mr. and Mrs. Yuhas that this fall they are to have a steak dinner on the town." (Hungry Horse News)
July 7, 1954: "A project is under way in this region to find the major cloud breeding areas, establish storm tracks and study the jet stream airflow in the stratosphere.
Site of one lookout station for the Flathead National Forest is Desert Mountain which towers over Coram, Martin City, Hungry Horse and Bad Rock Canyon. The station is manned by Mr. and Mrs.B. Harvey Kom, Bottineau, N.D.
The work is done with especially adapted cameras." (Billings Gazette)
November 26, 1968: "Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation used motor vehicle and snowmobile to investigate the burglary of the Desert Mountain Lookout tower.
Some $200 worth of government property is missing from the lookout in what Forest Service officials term as selective choice by some person to implement his camping equipment. Bedding, lanterns, tools and kitchen items were taken while other equipment was left behind.
Aside from the damage in making a forcible entry to the tower, there was no vandalism at the site." (The Daily Inter Lake)
Removed