LEWIS & CLARK COUNTY
RED MOUNTAIN
Helena National Forest
16N-9W-28
16N-9W-28
August 21, 1925: "Construction of a fire lookout station on Red Mountain, a peak in the upper Blackfoot country, is to begin soon, according to J.H. Clack, assistant forest supervisor in the Missoula forest. Two wagon loads of supplies and equipment have been sent this week to the Lander's fork district in the Blackfoot.
The lookout station is 12 miles from the end of the wagon road up the Lander's fork of the Blackfoot river and the supplies will have to be packed in on horse to Red mountain from the point. The peak elevation is 9,390 feet and is a mile from the nearest timber. It is about 300 feet above the timber line.
Because of the distance from timber gasoline or kerosene stove will have to be used instead of a wood range at the station. A cistern will also be constructed to catch snow and rain water. After the station is completed a telephone will be installed to take the place of the emergency wire now used for communication with the nearest station, located at Webb lake. A lookout has been maintained at Red mountain for the past two years. The new station is expected to facilitate the lookout work in the Blackfoot district." (The Daily Missoulian)
The lookout station is 12 miles from the end of the wagon road up the Lander's fork of the Blackfoot river and the supplies will have to be packed in on horse to Red mountain from the point. The peak elevation is 9,390 feet and is a mile from the nearest timber. It is about 300 feet above the timber line.
Because of the distance from timber gasoline or kerosene stove will have to be used instead of a wood range at the station. A cistern will also be constructed to catch snow and rain water. After the station is completed a telephone will be installed to take the place of the emergency wire now used for communication with the nearest station, located at Webb lake. A lookout has been maintained at Red mountain for the past two years. The new station is expected to facilitate the lookout work in the Blackfoot district." (The Daily Missoulian)
August 7, 1938: “Some rangers have time to make friends with animals and wild fowl during their lonely vigil on the mountain top. Clarence Graham, a lookout on Red mountain, just north of Lincoln, cultivated the confidence of an old mountain goat in 1936, and the animal used to visit Clarence each evening.” (Independent)
July 1, 1939: "The lookout of Red mountain in the back portion of the Lincoln area will be replaced by one at Stonewall mountain which overlooks a considerable area of the Lincoln valley. To occupy the Red mountain station it was necessary to pack wood and water several miles. Often the lookout man there needs the help of a second man." (Independent)
Removed
DESIGNATION - RED
PID - ST0521
STATE/COUNTY- MT/LEWIS AND CLARK
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - STONEWALL MOUNTAIN (1968)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1956 (WFD)
THE STATION IS ABOUT 12 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF LINCOLN, 3
MILES NORTH OF THE OLD COPPER CREEK MINES, ON THE SUMMIT OF RED
MOUNTAIN WHICH IS THE HIGHEST POINT IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY
AND NEAR THE SITE OF A UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE LOOKOUT
TOWER.
TO REACH THE STATION FROM THE POST OFFICE IN LINCOLN, GO EAST
ON A PAVED ROAD FOR 6.3 MILES TO A CONCRETE BRIDGE, CONTINUE
EAST ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 0.3 MILE TO A SIDE ROAD AND A SIGN COPPER
CR ROAD ON THE LEFT, TURN LEFT AND GO NORTHERLY ON THE COPPER
CREEK ROAD FOR 2.6 MILES TO A Y-JUNCTION, TURN LEFT AND CONTINUE
ON THE COPPER CREEK ROAD (NORTHWESTERLY) FOR 13.0 MILES TO OLD
MINE BUILDINGS. FROM THE MINE BUILDINGS FOLLOW A DIM ROAD FOR
ABOUT 300 YARDS TO A DIM Y-JUNCTION, BEAR RIGHT AND FOLLOW A
DIM TRACK ROAD FOR ABOUT 0.25 MILE TO A POINT JUST BELOW
ANOTHER OLD MINE ON A SIDE HILL, BEAR LEFT AND GO UP AN OPEN
DRAW TO THE CREST OF THE MAIN DIVIDE, THENCE NORTH ON THE
CREST OF THE DIVIDE TO THE SUMMIT OF THE FIRST HILL AND
THE END OF TRUCK TRAVEL. FROM THIS POINT PACK NORTHERLY
FOR ABOUT 3 MILES TO THE HIGHEST POINT AND THE STATION.
ABOUT 3 HOUR PACK. A JEEP WILL BE REQUIRED.