YUKON LOOKOUTS
HAECKEL HILL
Whitehorse
May 31, 1956: "Haeckel Hill forestry lookout tower, 5,000 feet above sea level, was built in 1954. Crowflight distance from town is approximately eight miles, by road about 14 miles. Ordinary vehicles can make the first part of the trip for seven to eight miles on the Fish Lake Road to the power line hydro pressure gate bu for the rest of the journey only a for-wheel drive power wagon or a good Jeep can navigate the six miles of rough bulldozed road. Near the top are two switchback on an almost vertical mountainside. Supplies for the tower are hauled from town every two weeks. Snow, melted and stored in steel barrels lasts until mid-June.
According to Towerman Hugh Birch the most important qualification for the watchman is that he must be well used to the lonesome places and able to make himself quite at home and keep himself occupied in various ways, and forget all about the bright lights of Whitehorse, in sight at all times." (Whitehorse Daily Star)
According to Towerman Hugh Birch the most important qualification for the watchman is that he must be well used to the lonesome places and able to make himself quite at home and keep himself occupied in various ways, and forget all about the bright lights of Whitehorse, in sight at all times." (Whitehorse Daily Star)
June 28, 1956: "Hughie Birch, who left his perch on Haeckel June 9 is now progressing favourable in the Whitehorse General Hospital. His place at the forestry division fire lookout tower was taken June 16 by Harry Burnett." (Whitehorse Daily Star)
June 1, 1961: "Tender, Notice to Contractors"
"Sealed tenders addressed to the undersigned, in an envelope plainly marked 'Construction of Haeckel Hill Lookout Tower', will be received by the Commissioner, Room 302, Federal Building, Whitehorse, Y.T. up to 4:00 PM, YST, Monday, June 12th, 1961." (Whitehorse Daily Star)
August 3, 1961: "On Haeckel Hill, north of Whitehorse, Territorial Construction crews are building a tower and living quarters for forestry personnel." (Whitehorse Daily Star)
August 14, 1981: "Notice of Amendment" "Tenders for the following projects: Construction of a lookout tower cabin, Haeckel Hill, Whitehorse, Yukon have been amended, and tenders will be received until August 20, 1981, 2:00 p.m. Y.S.D.T." (The Whitehorse Star)
September 17, 1991: "Vandals have struck the fire control tower on Haeckel Hill once again, extensively damaging the tower and the ham radio club's repeater station
The damage was discovered when members of the radio club went up to the tower Monday night to check it after it stopped working, said Keith Kepke, head of fire management for federal Northern Affairs.
All the electrical and electronic equipment in the tower was destroyed.
'It's an ongoing problem up there,' said Kepke. There was a break-in last spring and several others over the past two years, he recalled.
'We're going to have to look seriously at some sort of security, closing the road or the tower, because we can't keep paying to repair this vandalism.'
The lookout provides valuable fire protection services to Whitehorse and he is reluctant to close it, but the vandalism is costly.
The tower is accessible with a two-wheel-drive truck in good weather or a 4 X 4.
The RCMP were on the way to the tower this morning. Kepke said it isn't known yet whether Northern Affairs will offer a reward for information about the incident." (The Whitehorse Star)