Salmo Lookout Rehab II 2018 - Passport in Time
Main menu:
Current Projects > 2018
Washington - Colville NF
Closed! Salmo Lookout Restoration: Phase II
Salmo Lookout under restoration in 2016
WA-4388
August 6-10, 2018
Must commit to entire session
Join us this summer as we continue to work to save an iconic lookout on the Colville National Forest! The Salmo Lookout was built in 1964 for fire detection in the extreme northeast of Washington, and is an "R-6 Flat Cab"-type lookout sitting on a 10’ wooden tower. Sitting at an elevation of 6800’ asl (above sea level), the lookout commands an impressive view of the Selkirk Mountains and the Salmo-Priest Wilderness with its snow covered peaks. The adjacent wilderness is home of the last woodland caribou herd in the lower 48 (down to only three animals this year) and other wildlife such as grizzly bear and moose. Salmo Lookout was last staffed full time in the mid-1970s, and although disused, still functions as originally intended intermittently when thunderstorms roll through the region in the summer. Additionally, the summit is a very popular viewpoint for visitors to the area where you can see the rugged Salmo wilderness, two states and one Canadian province.
Although neglected for a number of years, there is a strong desire on the part of locals and the Forest Service to preserve this 54-year-old structure. Therefore, this year, PIT volunteers and FS staff will continue to repair and preserve this structure until it shines like new. This will require a number of tasks, including (but probably not limited to): repairing or replacing the roof, checking the lightning protection system, replacing weathered timbers, painting, glazing windows and replacing missing or damaged hardware, and repairing the floor. It will be a lot of work and will be detail-oriented, but also a lot of fun, and you will be able to say that you helped breathe life back into one of the Colville National Forest's most scenic and iconic lookouts – we hope you will join us in August!
Number of openings: 4
Special skills: Must be physically capable of lifting/bending/kneeling/standing/stooping for extended periods (~8 hours) each day in a variety of weather conditions; previous carpentry, roofing, construction, painting, general maintenance, and/or historic building restoration experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 16 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Volunteers will be camping in Gypsy Meadow, a dispersed camping area adjacent to Sullivan Creek. The campground has toilet facilities but no potable water. Potable water will be provided, but volunteers will be responsible for own lodging/camping equipment and meals. A secondary location can be arranged if needed at the East Sullivan Lake Campground (12.5 miles away), which provides improved amenities such as water and toilet facilities in a formal campground setting suited for RV and trailer use. Hotels and other accommodations can be made in the neighboring communities of Ione or Metaline Falls. Transportation to and from the lookout from Gypsy Meadow can be provided by the Forest Service as the access road is most suited for higher clearance vehicles. The road to the camping area can be reached by most passenger cars.
Nearest towns: Metaline Falls, 24 miles; Ione, 34 miles; Salmo, B.C., 50 miles
Applications due: Closed
View Salmo Lookout Rehab II in a full screen map