BACHELOR BUTTE
Deschutes County - Deschutes National Forest - 18S-9E-31
June 21, 1917: "A new lookout station at the top of Bachelor Butte as soon as men can be employed to take lookout posts. Telephone line construction will begin to the new station which is only 20 miles from Bend." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 8, 1920: "Next year, Mr. Jacobson says, Bachelor Butte will be made the chief lookout station on the forest, occupying a more commanding location than any now maintained. Phone connections, it is expected, will be made this season in preparation for the addition of the new station." (The Bend Bulletin)
June 16, 1921: "The forest service is also beginning construction of a telephone line from Lava Lake to Bachelor mountain, where a lookout station will be built, by way of the Bend-Sparks Lake road. The phone line will assist greatly in the fire protection work, and will also benefit the public, who are welcome to use any of the government phone lines, forest officials announce. Cars which become stalled in the forest particularly will be glad to use the government phone in securing assistance." (The Bend Bulletin)
March 30, 1922: "The second highest fire lookout in Oregon will be located in the Deschutes National forest this year when a station is placed on the top of Mount Bachelor, Forest Supervisor H.L. Plumb stated last week. The elevation is 9,045 feet above sea level, as compared to 7,400 feet at Paulina peak, and 6400 feet at Black Butte, at present the two highest lookouts on the forest. Mount Hood is the highest lookout station in the state.
Forest phone lines now reach as far as Sparks lake, and as soon as the deep snow is gone around the base of the mountain a line will be run to the top of Bachelor, says Plumb. On the mountain itself, poles will not be necessary, as the natural insulation afforded by the snow will be taken advantage of. In the fall. the line will be taken down and stored for use the coming year." (The Bend Bulletin)
June 30, 1922: "Moving of lumber was started today for the construction of a lookout station to be located at the summit of Bachelor mountain, to be used this summer for the first time as a part of the Deschutes national forest's fire protection system. This station, of the same type as that already in use on Pine mountain, will be glassed in on all sides, enabling the lookout, seated in a swivel chair, to keep a close watch on the surrounding country. A fire finding device will be located in the cupola of the structure." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 10, 1922: "A lookout station is being built on the summit of Bachelor mountain, to be used this summer for the first time as a part of the Deschutes national forest's fire protection system." (The Oregon Daily Journal)
July 13, 1922: "J.B. Gauldin, lookout last year at the Pine Mountain station, is leaving for Bachelor mountain, where he will have charge of the construction of the new lookout station at that point. On its completion he will be lookout for the balance of the season." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 18, 1922: "Construction of the telephone line from Elk Lake to the summit of Bachelor mountain is to be resumed by a crew of men taken out yesterday afternoon by Forest Ranger Archie Estes. The line is to afford a means of communication for the fire lookout who will be stationed at the top of Bachelor." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 27, 1922: "How the timbers to be used in the construction of the lookout station on Bachelor mountain are to be transported to the top of the mountain is a problem which Forest Supervisor H.L. Plumb and Ranger Roy Mitchell are seeking to solve. Lumber can probably be packed part of the way, but as the summit is neared, it is almost certain that pulleys will have to be used.
The lookout station will be the loftiest in the Deschutes national forest." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 3, 1922: "The telephone line which will connect the summit of Bachelor mountain with headquarters of the Deschutes national forest in Bend is now within one-fourth of a mile from the top is learned from Supervisor H.L. Plumb, just returned from a trip to the mountain. Timber for the fire lookout station which is to be constructed on the mountain can all be brought to the top on pack horses, Plumb believes." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 11, 1922: "Construction of the Bachelor butte lookout station is rapidly nearing its end, and the building on the highest peak used by a fire lookout on the Deschutes national forest will ready for occupancy by next Wednesday. Lumber for the building has practically all reached the summit, being carried on the backs of horses." (The Bend Bulletin)
September 1, 1922: "Completion of telephone connections between the Tumalo ranger station and Bachelor mountain was announced this morning at Deschutes national forest headquarters. This makes possible direct communication from the ranger station with Elk Lake, LaPine and Crane Prairie, without telephoning through Bend." (The Bend Bulletin)
November 9, 1922: "J.B. Gauldin, who has been working as fire guard stationed on Bachelor butte west of bend the past summer, returned home the latter part of last week." (Silver Lake Leader)
June 25, 1923: "Charles H. Reagan, a student in engineering at Oregon Agricultural College, will go to Bachelor butte on the first of July." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 16, 1923: "Deep glacier like banks of snow on the sides of Bachelor mountain have buried the forest telephone line, extending from the summit of the peak to connection with other lines, 15 or more feet underneath, necessitating the stringing of an insulated line across a mile of snow. A.E. Estes, ranger at large in this district, went up to Bachelor mountain Saturday to place the new line.
Charles Reagan, Oregon Agricultural college student, accompanied Estes to Bachelor mountain and will perform lookout duty from that station during the remainder of the summer. Bachelor mountain is one of the highest lookout stations in the forest and dominates a wide area.
Bachelor mountain is retaining its mantle of snow late into the summer season this year, the snow extending down to the timber line." (The Bend Bulletin)
September 22, 1923: "Five inches of snow was reported from Bachelor butte by Charles Reagan, forest lookout. A cold, snow laden wind has been sweeping over the high summit of the butte and station. He will be relieved from duty today." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 16, 1924: Miss Shasta Lela Hoover, lookout at Bachelor butte, reported a heavy frost and had ice on the water.
August 26, 1924: "The glacier on the side of the butte is moving at the rate of about two inches a day at present, it is estimated by Miss Shasta Lela Hoover, forest service lookout stationed on the butte." (The Bend Bulletin)
September 16, 1924: "Injuries received by J.L. Knight, game warden of the McMinnville country, Sunday when attempting to climb Bachelor Butte, consisted of only bruises, an X-ray examination in this city Monday showed. Knight, accompanied by another man, was traveling over the rough rocks on the north slope of Bachelor butte when he fell, striking his right side. Ac cording to information obtained from Miss Shasta Lela Hoover, Bachelor Butte lookout, Knight did not reach the top of the butte." (The Bend Bulletin)
September 17, 1924: "Freezing weather is being experienced at the summit of Bachelor butte at present, according to a telephone message from Miss Shasta Lela Hoover, forest service lookout stationed on that peak. Tuesday morning Miss Hoover found it necessary to break ice on the water in her cistern with a rock. The water in the crevasses of Bachelor butte glaciers freezes at night, but thaws out during the day, reports the lookout." (The Bend Bulletin)
July 9, 1925: "The forest service telephone line between Elk lake and Bachelor Butte id expected to be restored to first class condition today, with four rangers working on it. Until now it has been possible for the office in Bend to call Bachelor Butte, but the lookout there could not call the office or other lookout stations. This was caused by grounding of the wire in the deep snows." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 20, 1925: "Continuous precipitation of ice over a period of several days resulted in an icy formation two feet thick at the summit of Bachelor Butte two years ago, reports James Gauldin, who is in Bend now. Gauldin built the standard lookout on the butte." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 7, 1926: The morning of this day the lookout reported that the smoke was so thick that he would not be able to pick up a fire burning at the base of the butte.
September 9, 1926: "The Forest Service telephone line in the Deschutes forest may be operating as a radio receiving set, was supposition which forest employees were working on today, with a view of identifying a signal which is heard at 3:05 o'clock each afternoon.
This signal, sounding somewhat similar to an attempt to ring in with a faulty field telephone set, has been noticed by the Bachelor Butte lookout, and has come into the central office when the butte line is plugged in.
Today the foresters all through the system were to be on the lookout for the strange signal, with hopes of identifying it." (The Bend Bulletin)
October 1926: Reported in the Six Twenty-Six, the lookout, this season, had turned in 14 false alarms, these false reports came from a variety of events.
1927: The lookout this season was D.J. Kerr, a Portland Dentist. With Glen Julian finishing the summer.
1928: A resident of Mosier, Ferdinand Strauss, a student at the California Institute of Technology was appointed to the position of lookout.
July 6, 1928: "Ferdinand Strauss, lookout on Bachelor, was moved to his station by R. C. Burgess, La Pine ranger." (Bend Bulletin)
August 31, 1928: "When a huge black bear started to climb the timberless slopes of Bachelor Butte, high volcanic cone of the midstate Cascades, last night, the forest service lookout at the top, Ferdinand Strauss, broadcast over forest service telephone lines an appeal for aid. Frantic calls to Bend notified the Central Platting agent that the bear was leisurely ascending the Bachelor Butte trail. One of the messages from Strauss informed forest officials he had no gun.
The bear continued to climb until near the summit, then backtracked. It was traveling the same trail followed by two Bend girls, Mary Ellen Foley and Mary Conn, in climbing the butte by moonlight the previous night." (Morning Oregonian)
July 1, 1930: "Henry Tiedman, a student at the University of Oregon. Engaged for the summer to protect the Deschutes national forest from fires, Henry, will climb Bachelor Butte this week equipped to break his way into the lookout house through ice and snow. An attempt to get into the little house, perched on a peak 9103 feet above sea level, failed late last week. It was found that the door was jammed with ice. Snow on the north side was deep." (The Bend Bulletin)
1930: One of five new lookout house to be constructed on the forest will be a replacement of the present building on Bachelor Butte. The present building having been battered by severe storms for the past several years.
August 15, 1932: "Breaking a 74 day drouth, longest ever recorded in Bend, sufficient rain fell here yesterday to send rivulets of water coursing through the streets while lightning from rapidly moving thunderclouds peppered the Deschutes woods, starting eight fires. The exposed peak of Bachelor butte was bombarded by lightning and Bill Catlow, lookout, was shocked when a bolt struck nearby, sending a shower of loose rock into the air." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 2, 1937: "Bachelor Butte was an important part of the forest's lookout system today as Bob Sharp looked out over Central Oregon. Sharp ascended the lofty butte Saturday, as a snow storm raged over the volcanic cone. Yesterday, supplies were taken to the lookout station, under considerable difficulties.
To get equipment to the peak, forest service officials secured three pack horses owned by Ed McGreer. En route up the lava cone, the horses 'piled up' on the steep trail, considerably damaging eggs and other equipment. However, Sharp was finally supplied.
Among some equipment lost was a box of rifle shells, intended for Sharp in 'a battle with packrats above the clouds,' Ranger O.L. Beedon of the Bend district reported. Although the peak is high above the apparent zone of life and the timberline, it is infested with packrats. The ammunition was intended for Sharp, who had instructions to reduce the packrat population if possible.
Bachelor Butte was not used as a lookout point last year because of cloud conditions. The peak is so lofty that it is frequently above clouds. This greatly reduces its value as a primary lookout point. Bachelor Butte is considerably higher than maiden Peak, a regular unit of the forest lookout system. Maiden Peak, in the Crescent district, is 7,811 feet high." (The Bend Bulletin)
September 24, 1930: "Using a pack string of five horses, R.C. Burgess, Deschutes national forest ranger in charge of the LaPine district, was hauling lumber into the clouds today while a chilling arctic wind whipped over the Three Sisters summit. Burgess' goal was the exposed peak of Bachelor butte, rugged volcanic cone which overlooks the Cascade divide.
Snow whitened the butte last night and covered the winding trail, but regardless of weather conditions, Burgess, who several years ago took to Bachelor butte the first horse ever to reach the top, started on his chilly trip. The lumber is to be used in replacing the lookout station on the butte which was crushed by ice several seasons ago.
Reports from the high country indicated that a virtual gale was sweeping around the slopes of Bachelor butte this morning." (The Bend Bulletin)
November 1930: "Packing the Aladdin Junior Lookout Houses, Deschutes: I have just finished a job of packing 2 of the new Aladdin Junior Lookout houses on Bachelor and Paulina Peaks. There are 9 bundles of material in each house, the longest piece being 12 feet.
The Forest officer that ordered these houses and the Aladdin Company deserve a lot of credit for the way this lumber is sorted and baled. There is no doubt that a good deal of thought was given the size of bundles, weight, etc. The Aladdin Company did a very workmanlike job of packing and baling the material. Hardware, paint, etc., were all boxed in good substantial boxes while the lumber was baled tightly with from 2 to 5 strips of tin so that very little difficulty was experienced from lumber slipping in the bales. The large windows are crated 2 in a package. The wind blew one of my horses over on Bachelor Butte, as the animal was small, the wind blowing a hurricane, and the windows giving a sail effect, this horse fell about 50 feet and lit on top of the windows and never cracked a glass. (Now let Dee Wright tell one!)
I had only a 3 to 3 1/2 mile pack in each case but about a 3,000-foot climb in each case and over grades on Paulina that would stretch Table I in the Trail Manuel beyond recognition. I packed the 89 packages in 28 horse loads (I was using only 4 pack horses). I used the alforjas as slings on the lumber, then threw a single diamond over each pack (I tried several hitches but used the single diamond entirely after the first two trips). A 50-foot lash up will go around any of the stuff.
Dee Wright side-pads will save hair and hide but as we do not have much of this kind of packing we decided that hair and hide were cheaper than the pads, and we didn't lose much hair or hide either. If these houses build as well as they pack, they are just what we want and I think they will, and are. R.C. Burgess" (Six Twenty-Six)
The Forest officer that ordered these houses and the Aladdin Company deserve a lot of credit for the way this lumber is sorted and baled. There is no doubt that a good deal of thought was given the size of bundles, weight, etc. The Aladdin Company did a very workmanlike job of packing and baling the material. Hardware, paint, etc., were all boxed in good substantial boxes while the lumber was baled tightly with from 2 to 5 strips of tin so that very little difficulty was experienced from lumber slipping in the bales. The large windows are crated 2 in a package. The wind blew one of my horses over on Bachelor Butte, as the animal was small, the wind blowing a hurricane, and the windows giving a sail effect, this horse fell about 50 feet and lit on top of the windows and never cracked a glass. (Now let Dee Wright tell one!)
I had only a 3 to 3 1/2 mile pack in each case but about a 3,000-foot climb in each case and over grades on Paulina that would stretch Table I in the Trail Manuel beyond recognition. I packed the 89 packages in 28 horse loads (I was using only 4 pack horses). I used the alforjas as slings on the lumber, then threw a single diamond over each pack (I tried several hitches but used the single diamond entirely after the first two trips). A 50-foot lash up will go around any of the stuff.
Dee Wright side-pads will save hair and hide but as we do not have much of this kind of packing we decided that hair and hide were cheaper than the pads, and we didn't lose much hair or hide either. If these houses build as well as they pack, they are just what we want and I think they will, and are. R.C. Burgess" (Six Twenty-Six)
August 16, 1932: "Breaking a 74-day drouth, the longest ever recorded in Bend, sufficient rain fell here late Sunday to send rivulets of water coursing through the streets. Lightning from rapidly moving thunder storms peppered the Deschutes forest, starting eight fires.
The exposed peak of Bachelor butte was bombarded by lightning. One bolt struck near the lookout house, and William Catlow, lookout, was slightly shocked." (The Morning Oregonian)
The exposed peak of Bachelor butte was bombarded by lightning. One bolt struck near the lookout house, and William Catlow, lookout, was slightly shocked." (The Morning Oregonian)
August 30, 1932: "Six inches of August snow covered the 9065 foot high summit of Bachelor Butte this morning. Billy Catlow, lookout, telephoned to the forest office in bend from his station above the clouds." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 30, 1932: "Six inches of snow blanketed Bachelor Butte, 9065 feet high, this morning. Billy Catlow, forest service lookout. telephoned the report of snow to the Deschutes forest office here. Much heavier snow covered the Three Sisters, all more than 10,000 feet high.
Practically all forest service lookouts points along the Cascades reported snow last night. Snow and rain was general along the ridge. The temperature dropped to 32 degrees in Bend for the second consecutive night, while frost nipping flowers in all parts of the city." (Daily Capital Journal)
Practically all forest service lookouts points along the Cascades reported snow last night. Snow and rain was general along the ridge. The temperature dropped to 32 degrees in Bend for the second consecutive night, while frost nipping flowers in all parts of the city." (Daily Capital Journal)
November 6, 1932: "Ray Fassett of the United States coast and Geodetic survey now working in central Oregon, was rescued yesterday after being stranded for four days and nights on a 9,000 foot high volcanic cone, Bachelor Butte.
He said a 42-hour storm of blizzard proportions kept him prisoner in a tiny lookout house while the temperature hovered around zero. The rescue party was able to get only half way up the butte, and Fassett descended to them, meeting them just as another blizzard was starting." (Statesman Journal)
July 25, 1933: "Alpinists are blamed for extensive damage to the Bachelor Butte lookout station. The damage to the station consisted of a broken window. This, in turn admitted weather, pack rats and groundhogs to the station, constructed in 1931. Snow and rain warped and cupped the floor and the rats caused much damage.
Entry to the station is believed to have been made early this year.
When the yet unknown party visited the station, the shutter was removed from one of the north windows, a central pane of glass was taken out and the window was opened. When the visitors left, the window, short one pane of glass, was fastened, but the shutter was not put in place. This left a vent for the weather and the rats. Alpine sticks were evidently used in prying open the shutter.
The gasoline stove and two kerosene heaters kept in the cabin were so badly rusted that they may be worthless. A survey of the damage was made yesterday by C.H. Overbay, Bend District Ranger. He made the trip to the summit with Harold Miller of Fall River and Darwin Clark, Bachelor Butte lookout." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 15, 1934: "Clearing the way, possibly, for the abandonment of the telephone line to the top of treeless Bachelor Butte, radio telephony was successfully tried in the Deschutes national Forest yesterday evening and early this morning, with two forest officials carrying on a conversation at a distance of approximately 40 miles. Portable radiophone sets, each weighing 15 pounds, were used.
If radio phones, known by the forest as "PF' type, are approved for the Deschutes woods, a set will be placed on Bachelor Butte, with another set possibly at the Fall River station. One of the problems faced each season by the forest service is that of establishing workable telephone connections with the lofty summit of Bachelor Butte. Winter storms and packed snows each year destroy the line, which must be strung over a rock slope barren of trees." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 3, 1938: "Supplies were dropped from an airplane to the lookout fireman on Bachelor butte Monday. This is the first time a plane has been used in this district for furnishing supplies to a lookout, but supplies were dropped from a plane at both the Warm Springs and Diamond lake fires recently." (The Bend Bulletin)
September 21, 1939: "Bachelor Butte is higher than Paulina peak lookout station, but the volcanic butte, overlooking the McKenzie pass country, was used very little this season. Late in the season Leland Maker was on Bachelor for three days. Bachelor has not been used much in recent years because it provides rather poor visibility. Furthermore, it is difficult of access." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 23, 1948: "Ten Boy Scouts climbed Bachelor Butte Saturday. Evidence of vandalism was found at the summit, they said, where windows of the lookout station had been broken, and garbage was strewn about." (The Bend Bulletin)
Removed