BRITISH COLUMBIA LOOKOUTS
BAKER MOUNTAIN
Cariboo
October 25, 1913: "The telephone system outlined at the beginning of the season was an ambitious one, comprising nearly 600 miles of line. Construction work on more than half the entire programme has been begun, and six of the lines, representing 67 miles of line, are already in working order. One of these lines extend from Rampant to Baker Mountain Lookout, 5 miles." (The Daily Colonist)
1913: "Mount Baker Look-out Station and Cabin, 6 miles of trail and 6 miles of telephone line. (Report of the Forest Branch of the Department of Lands)
1913: "A noteworthy feature in the improvements built by the Provincial Forest Branch during 1913 and designed to assist materially in fire-protection in the Cranbrook Forest District is the Baker Mountain Lookout Station, including a telephone line built to connect it with the remainder of the fire-patrol service. An elevation of 7,100 above sea-level is attained on this summit, and an area of 1,859 square miles is commanded from it. The situation of Baker Mountain is peculiarly favorable for its use as a look-out point.
The system is designed to be used in conjunction with regular or slightly modified patrol force. During the dry months a man with good knowledge of the country will spend every day on top of the mountain. He will be provided with field glasses, a good map of the territory which he can see, and a compass." (Annual Report of the British Columbia Forest Service - 1913)
October 1913: "A telephone line which has been constructed to a lookout point on the summit of Mount Baker near Cranbrook; this line reaches an altitude of 7,200 feet and is believed to be the highest telephone point in Canada. From this terminus may be secured a view of an area of over 2,000 square miles in the watersheds of the Columbia, Kootenay and St Mary rivers. A lookout will be stationed at this point throughout the fire season and will be able to send to the office of the District Forester at Cranbrook first intimation of any fires occurring in the most valuable timber holdings of the Crows Nest District." (Canadian Forestry Journal)
1914: "Baker Mountain Telephone line ....7 miles" (Report of the Forest Branch of the Department of Lands)
1916: Under improvements on the Cranbrook District: new work, a 10 x 14 cabin. (Report of the Forest Branch, Department of Lands)
1918: Maintenance cost of $7.18 on the Mount Baker Lookout and telephone line. (Report of the Forest Branch, Department of Lands)
July 22, 1921: "Tom Dalton, who has been absent from these parts for some weeks, has pulled up at Cranbrook, where he has charge of the fire lookout station on Mount Baker at present." (Creston Review)
August 5, 1932: "The City of Cranbrook has a lookout man posted on top of Baker mountain. His duty is to report any fires in the vicinity of the municipal watershed." (Creston Review)
August 5, 1964: "B.C. Forest Service Tuesday announced plans for construction of a fire tower on Baker Mountain at a height of 7,000 feet above sea level, as a primary lookout station.
The tower will command a view of the entire Kootenay River valley from Premier Lake south, and the valleys northeast of Moyie.
The plan is for pre-fabricated frame building, and the location will also be the key radio repeater for all East Kootenay ranger station radio communications.
Use of this location was made possible by extension of city electric supply to operate a television receiver and repeater for Cranbrook Television Ltd. last year.
The new tower will become a primary seasonal observation for fire patrol, relegating the Wild Horse station 30 miles north, to secondary duty.
Moyie Mountain will continue as a primary station." (Calgary Herald)
Latitude: 49.448 Longitude: 115.612 Elevation: 2133