BRITISH COLUMBIA LOOKOUTS
SADDLE MOUNTAIN
North Okanogan
November 10, 1939: "We have just received a postcard from Radio Station J8CL, Iaru, Korea, advising us that our station VE9ES was picked up there on July 27th last. VE9ES is Saddle Mountain Lookout." (Forest Branch News Letter)
October 20, 1941: "Ranger Percy Young at Nakusp for many years has had a lookout on the particularly useful prominence, Saddle Mountain, located within sight of the office at Nakusp but perhaps 15 miles away as the crow flies, and on the other side of Arrow Lake.
On Sunday night, July 6th, the district experienced one of its periodic violent electrical storms and on Monday morning they were able to get in touch with Eric Johansen, the lookoutman. A high-powered telescope indicated that the lookout house was not what it had been and Assistant Ranger Ott was dispatched immediately to secure details. It developed that one bolt had struck a stump about 2 feet from the camp tent and that Johansen had suffered from a slight concussion. A visit to the peak disclosed the lookout house in the condition illustrated in the accompanying photographs. The entire building had been moved from the foundation. The heavy bolts which fastened it down had been pulled free and the place was generally wrecked. Shakes were found 500 feet away with pieces of logs from the lookout site. There was nothing whatever left of the copper insulated wire of the telephone line, which extended for half a mile, other than a black streak down the mountainside. The 12-gauge galvanized wire for another half mile had disappeared, with the exception of about 100 yards, which had been cut into lengths ranging from 1/4" up.
As may be gathered from the foregoing, the lookoutman lived a little further down the mountain in a tent camp, which proves to have been a most fortunate chance.
In spite of the number of our lookouts and their constant exposure to electrical storms, we do not recall any other case in the Province of a lookout house having been wrecked." (Forest Branch News Letter)
On Sunday night, July 6th, the district experienced one of its periodic violent electrical storms and on Monday morning they were able to get in touch with Eric Johansen, the lookoutman. A high-powered telescope indicated that the lookout house was not what it had been and Assistant Ranger Ott was dispatched immediately to secure details. It developed that one bolt had struck a stump about 2 feet from the camp tent and that Johansen had suffered from a slight concussion. A visit to the peak disclosed the lookout house in the condition illustrated in the accompanying photographs. The entire building had been moved from the foundation. The heavy bolts which fastened it down had been pulled free and the place was generally wrecked. Shakes were found 500 feet away with pieces of logs from the lookout site. There was nothing whatever left of the copper insulated wire of the telephone line, which extended for half a mile, other than a black streak down the mountainside. The 12-gauge galvanized wire for another half mile had disappeared, with the exception of about 100 yards, which had been cut into lengths ranging from 1/4" up.
As may be gathered from the foregoing, the lookoutman lived a little further down the mountain in a tent camp, which proves to have been a most fortunate chance.
In spite of the number of our lookouts and their constant exposure to electrical storms, we do not recall any other case in the Province of a lookout house having been wrecked." (Forest Branch News Letter)
August 29, 1943: "Approximately ninety lightning strikes from which nine forest fires all small, have developed so far, were reported today to the forest branch here, headquarters for the Kootenat-Boundary area.
Saddle Mountain Fire Lookout, in Nakusp District was struck by lightning the second time in two years. Sam Jackson, lookout man, was in his living quarters just below the lookout post, and escaped unhurt. Damage to the lookout was negligible.
Five of the fires were in the Gold Creek area, south of Fernie.
Lightning was prevalent throughout the whole district, Creston was heaviest hit, with approximately half of the ninety strikes occurring in that district." (The Daily Colonist)
December 15, 1943: "In the October 20th, 1941 issue, we reported the destruction of the Saddle Mountain Lookout in the Nakusp District by a lightning strike during one of the violent electrical storms for which that district is noted.
Due chiefly to the current labour difficulties, the building has not been reconstructed since that time, and during the past two summers tent accommodation has been in use.
From a report just received from the Nelson office, it would seem that the fact that new construction has not been possible has turned out to be a blessing in disguise, for, on August 26th this summer, the lookout was again struck. This time the tent frame was demolished and the tent partially burnt. The radio antenna and mast likewise were destroyed. Sam Jackson, who mans the lookout, fortunately was ion the tent living quarters slightly below the peak at the time and was not injured. He was able to maintain contact with Nakusp by means of his UHF radio." (Forest Branch News Letter)
Due chiefly to the current labour difficulties, the building has not been reconstructed since that time, and during the past two summers tent accommodation has been in use.
From a report just received from the Nelson office, it would seem that the fact that new construction has not been possible has turned out to be a blessing in disguise, for, on August 26th this summer, the lookout was again struck. This time the tent frame was demolished and the tent partially burnt. The radio antenna and mast likewise were destroyed. Sam Jackson, who mans the lookout, fortunately was ion the tent living quarters slightly below the peak at the time and was not injured. He was able to maintain contact with Nakusp by means of his UHF radio." (Forest Branch News Letter)