PRISCILLA PEAK
Sanders County - Lolo National Forest - 22N-28W-2
July 2, 1930: “Russell Ross has occupied his position as lookout-fireman on Priscilla Peak.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
May 19, 1937: "Work has been started on telephone and trail maintenance on a number of points within the Forest. The Thompson River line extending from Highway No. 3 and going to Priscilla Peak is being completely overhauled and new copper-weld wire is being used." (Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
August 7, 1940: “William Racicot was sent to Priscilla Peak lookout Wednesday afternoon. He will remain there for a week.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
August 7, 1940: “William Racicot was sent to Priscilla Peak lookout Wednesday afternoon. He will remain there for a week.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
July 8, 1954: "Bernard Johnson of Plains was posted at Priscilla peak lookout Tuesday." (Sanders County Independent Ledger)
September 16, 1954: “Storm reports are still blowin' in. Irv Puphal Monday said that the hailstones came down so strong on Priscilla peak that they went clear through the lookout station—breaking a window on one side on the way in---breaking a window on the opposite side on the way out. Every window in the station was broken.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
September 16, 1954: “Storm reports are still blowin' in. Irv Puphal Monday said that the hailstones came down so strong on Priscilla peak that they went clear through the lookout station—breaking a window on one side on the way in---breaking a window on the opposite side on the way out. Every window in the station was broken.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
August 4, 1955: “Gary Kemmerer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Kemmerer shot himself accidentally in the right thigh last week while camping at the Priscilla Peak lookout with his cousin Guy Hendren. The boys had packed in the night before to visit Jack Green at the lookout.
Kemmerer was holding the loaded .22 caliber pistol preparing to uncock it when the barrel slipped and the gun discharged. The bullet entered about 10 inches above the knee on the outside of the leg penetrating diagonally through and coming out the inner leg about five inches above the knee.
After a call from the lookout, Forest Service officials Frank Gummer and Earl Hendren went in and brought Kemmerer out by horseback. He was treated by a local doctor and was back this week working at the school.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
August 4, 1955: “Gary Kemmerer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Kemmerer shot himself accidentally in the right thigh last week while camping at the Priscilla Peak lookout with his cousin Guy Hendren. The boys had packed in the night before to visit Jack Green at the lookout.
Kemmerer was holding the loaded .22 caliber pistol preparing to uncock it when the barrel slipped and the gun discharged. The bullet entered about 10 inches above the knee on the outside of the leg penetrating diagonally through and coming out the inner leg about five inches above the knee.
After a call from the lookout, Forest Service officials Frank Gummer and Earl Hendren went in and brought Kemmerer out by horseback. He was treated by a local doctor and was back this week working at the school.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
August 5, 1956: "A helicopter was rushed to a Forest Service lookout atop 6,300-foot Priscilla Peak a dozen miles northeast of Thompson Falls Saturday to pick up a man stricken by appendicitis.
The victim, Eugene Miller of Thompson Falls, was taken to a Missoula hospital. He underwent surgery Saturday afternoon.
Three men were dispatched to the lookout on horses by Irvin Puphal, Thompson Falls district ranger, to cut trees down and clear brush for the helicopter in the event they were needed, but they weren't. Roy H. Korkale, dispatcher for the Lolo National Forest, said." (Montana Standard)
August 9, 1956: “A Forest Service helicopter from Missoula was credited this week with probably saving the life of Alvin Gene Miller, Forest Service lookout stationed on Priscilla peak, north of Thompson Falls.
Miller, serving alone at his lookout post, called the dispatcher's office here at 6 a.m. Saturday morning to report he was ill and requesting help. He had suffered an acute attack of appendicitis.
Frank Gummer and Earl Hendren immediately started up to the lookout on horseback and at the same time a helicopter was called from Missoula. Gummer and Hendren that when they reached Miller, he was unable to walk. The helicopter landed near the lookout and rushed Miller to St. Patrick hospital in Missoula where he underwent an emergency appendectomy Saturday afternoon. He is reported to be recovering satisfactory.
Irwin Puphal, district ranger, reported that only six hours elapsed from from the time Miller called the dispatcher until he was in the hospital.
It is ten miles by road and five miles by trail to Priscilla peak. Jeffery Davis is manning the peak now, replacing Miller.
At first it was not known whether or not the helicopter could land near the lookout and Gummer and Hendren were prepared to clear sufficient space for a landing.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
August 9, 1956: “A Forest Service helicopter from Missoula was credited this week with probably saving the life of Alvin Gene Miller, Forest Service lookout stationed on Priscilla peak, north of Thompson Falls.
Miller, serving alone at his lookout post, called the dispatcher's office here at 6 a.m. Saturday morning to report he was ill and requesting help. He had suffered an acute attack of appendicitis.
Frank Gummer and Earl Hendren immediately started up to the lookout on horseback and at the same time a helicopter was called from Missoula. Gummer and Hendren that when they reached Miller, he was unable to walk. The helicopter landed near the lookout and rushed Miller to St. Patrick hospital in Missoula where he underwent an emergency appendectomy Saturday afternoon. He is reported to be recovering satisfactory.
Irwin Puphal, district ranger, reported that only six hours elapsed from from the time Miller called the dispatcher until he was in the hospital.
It is ten miles by road and five miles by trail to Priscilla peak. Jeffery Davis is manning the peak now, replacing Miller.
At first it was not known whether or not the helicopter could land near the lookout and Gummer and Hendren were prepared to clear sufficient space for a landing.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
August 30, 1956: “Alvin Gene Miller, Forest Service lookout stationed on Priscilla peak who was stricken with acute appendicitis Aug. 4, was released from St. Patrick hospital recently and is now convalescing with relatives in Missoula. He underwent surgery the same day after being flown from the lookout to Missoula by helicopter.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
August 30, 1956: “Alvin Gene Miller, Forest Service lookout stationed on Priscilla peak who was stricken with acute appendicitis Aug. 4, was released from St. Patrick hospital recently and is now convalescing with relatives in Missoula. He underwent surgery the same day after being flown from the lookout to Missoula by helicopter.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
July 2, 1959: "A young Minnesota college student--Al Halvorson of Breckinridge, Minn.--is having 'second guesses this week about his assignment to serve as a Forest Service fire guard on Priscilla peak lookout this summer.
Monday, Halvorson, Larry Luke and Dick Browne, trail crew foreman, ran into six grizzly bears, including a huge silvertip mother and her two yearling cubs, while performing maintenance work on the telephone line to Priscilla lookout." (Sanders County Leader)
August 12, 2014: The lookout structure, threatened by the Thompson River Complex, was wrapped in flame resistant foil.