BRITISH COLUMBIA LOOKOUTS
TANGLE MOUNTAIN
July 20, 1963: "A prefabricated forest lookout building made B.C. history recently when a helicopter transported the parts onto a 4,407-foot mountain and lowered them into place.
A second record was established at the same time--the lookout was the highest of its kind in the province.
Plans for establishing a lookout on Tangle Mountain near Nanaimo's famous ski resort paradise Green Mountain---had been pondered for some time at the insistence of Comox Logging Co., a subsidiary of Crown Zellerbach.
But inaccessibility of Tangle Mountain so far had prevented from planning a lookout on top of the mountain which provides the best view of Vancouver Island.
So the forest service decided on the experiment by flying in the lookout construction. This brings the number of lookouts on the Island to 25.
Original idea was to fly in the building in one piece, but the pilot decided against it for fear it would prove too heavy for the helicopter. It was finally transported in two parts.
If the forest service decides the experiment was successful--and it appears to have been---then bigger and better lookouts will be transported to mother inaccessible mountains.
Operation lookout drop last a whole day. First the lumber for the foundation was coptered up, then the building, followed by equipment--including a garbage can.
Wind, updrafts and downdrafts combined to make the hauling by helicopter tricky, especially since rugged terrain on top of Tangle Mountain made landing impossible. The loads were dropped from a low altitude." (Daily Colonist)
A second record was established at the same time--the lookout was the highest of its kind in the province.
Plans for establishing a lookout on Tangle Mountain near Nanaimo's famous ski resort paradise Green Mountain---had been pondered for some time at the insistence of Comox Logging Co., a subsidiary of Crown Zellerbach.
But inaccessibility of Tangle Mountain so far had prevented from planning a lookout on top of the mountain which provides the best view of Vancouver Island.
So the forest service decided on the experiment by flying in the lookout construction. This brings the number of lookouts on the Island to 25.
Original idea was to fly in the building in one piece, but the pilot decided against it for fear it would prove too heavy for the helicopter. It was finally transported in two parts.
If the forest service decides the experiment was successful--and it appears to have been---then bigger and better lookouts will be transported to mother inaccessible mountains.
Operation lookout drop last a whole day. First the lumber for the foundation was coptered up, then the building, followed by equipment--including a garbage can.
Wind, updrafts and downdrafts combined to make the hauling by helicopter tricky, especially since rugged terrain on top of Tangle Mountain made landing impossible. The loads were dropped from a low altitude." (Daily Colonist)
May 16, 1968: "Officials have found that some lookouts have been placed in poor positions in the area, providing an inadequate view.
A few are too fogged in, Tangle Mountain lookout is an example. The tower, which is in the Nanaimo Lakes area, will be closed this year." (The Daily Colonist)