Tower Mountain Lookout
US 142, OR 20

Lookout Details

Registry Numbers US 142, OR 20 (view other lookouts in United States, Oregon)
Date Registered December 5, 1995
Nominated by Michael Duffy, FFLA
Location Umatilla National Forest
Umatilla County, Oregon
Coordinates N 45° 03.242' W 118° 34.096' (view using Google Maps)
N 45° 03' 15" W 118° 34' 06"
N 45.054040° W 118.568265°
Elevation 6,812 ft (2,076 m)
Administered by U.S. Forest Service
Cooperators North Fork John Day Ranger District

Description

One of the few 7’x7’ steel towers ever erected in the Umatilla National Forest in northeastern Oregon, Tower Mountain Lookout, remains in service today. The 92’ tower was constructed by the U.S. Forest Service in 1929, and the attractive CCC cabin living quarters was moved to the site from the old Lucky Strike Lookout in the late 1940s.

Map

Change Basemap

Photos

Fire finder in 2022

Fire finder in 2022 - courtesy of Michael Duffy

Visit Reports

September 1, 2022: Michael Duffy

Condition

Needs paint? No
Shutters OK? Not Applicable
Condition of wood OK? Yes
Stairs OK? Yes
Glass intact? Yes
Good condition? Yes
Comments: The cabin exterior was repainted by fire fighter crew two years ago and still looks good. I re-painted the outhouse interior (white) during this summer. I repainted most of the cabin interior last summer. Generally, the site is in pretty good condition. Bob LaFrance and I installed new glass in the lookout cab with support from District Maintenance. Fire fighter staff re-built the water tank stand two years ago. [I had built the original (about 30 years ago) but, some of the timbers had started to fail.] I built a new log fence around the outhouse this summer (the old logs installed in 1992, were rotting). There are many dead and dying mature and diseased lodgepole and sub-alpine fir that are slowly being removed (both for aesthetics and fire prevention!) around the site.

Electronics and Enroachments

Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? No
Comments: The tower/shack just east of the lookout is a microwave repeater installation for the phone system at Starkey. The only other equipment/repeaters at this time are the Forest Service communications radios. The cabin solar equipment is personal gear of the lookout staffers.

Access and Signs

NHLR sign posted? Yes
Directions to tower signed? No

Staffing

Staffed? Yes
This is my 13th season as primary lookout on this station. Bob LaFrance is relief (as he has been on this station many seasons himself).

Opportunities for Volunteer Support

Volunteers staffing opportunities? No
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? Yes

June 29, 2014: Jackie Fitzgerald

Condition

Needs paint? No Response
Shutters OK? Yes
Condition of wood OK? Yes
Stairs OK? Yes
Glass intact? Yes
Good condition? Yes
Comments: There was an unsightly old couch in front of the cabin. The site was spectacular!

Electronics and Enroachments

Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? No
Other enroachments? I believe there is a radar tower in the vicinity.

Access and Signs

NHLR sign posted? Yes
Directions to tower signed? Yes

Staffing

Staffed? No
Unoccupied at the time.

Opportunities for Volunteer Support

Volunteers staffing opportunities? No Response
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? No Response