It is somewhat amazing to the think that fire lookouts more or less ran the course of just little over a century. While there are still manned fire lookouts, they are few and far between.
In 1911, the Lassen National Forest Service implemented its fire lookout program. Lassen Peak, at an elevation of 10,457 feet was the highest point in the forest, and so it was only natural that a lookout be placed there. In 1912, the first attempt was made, it was a crude arrangement that did not function. The following a year, with a new design, a portable structure could be hauled by pack animals. In June 1913, mules were used to pack the lookout building for Lassen, at least to its base. At that point, man was designated the beast of burden. It took four men, two days and sixteen trips to lug all the pieces and the sparse furnishings to the top of Lassen. W.H. Packard, of Woodland would be the only person to man the lookout for two seasons. In the fall of 1914, the lookout was destroyed by numerous volcanic eruptions.
I have an auto biography written by the first ranger on the lassen (I can’t remember his name) who hiked to the top of lassen when it was erupting in 1914. He describes the look out and even what’s inside. He mentioned a little damage but not like what’s in this picture. Really cool!
Post the name of the book if you remember it
Robert Harvey Abbey Experiences 1905-1935. I can email it to you if you are interested.