LAKE COUNTY
BUCK MOUNTAIN
Fremont National Forest
36S-18E-4
36S-18E-4
1910: T.C. Johnson either walked or rode to the summit on a daily basis to check for fires. Camp was set up at the Gaylord place. (The Field Journal of T.C. Johnson, April 1 through September 30, 1910)
July 1911: "After completion of the Ingram Station assignment we returned to our summer stations -- Cronemiller to Thomas Creek Ranger Station and I to the Gaylord place on the Chewaucan. The old ranch house on the Gaylord place was occupied by a family of wood rats and our shelter for the summer was a 7x9 tent pitched nearby. My job description, given verbally by Gilbert Brown before we left Lakeview, instructed me to ride daily to the top of Buck Mountain, about a mile and a half to the east, and scan the surrounding country for fires. Also, in my judgment, when fire danger was low I was to ride around the country and post James Wilson cloth fire signs. There was no established fire lookouts in that area and no telephone communication nearer than Thomas Creek Ranger Station." (Fremont History - Walt Dutton - 11/13/1962 - page 2)
August 1911: "After weeks of waiting, my vigil atop Buck Mountain was finally rewarded. I sighted my first forest fire--a black billowy cloud of smoke arising out of the Parker Hills some six miles to the north. My get away time was not recorded but when I did leave I was self contained for I had with me my fire tools, bed, canteen of water, and enough grub to last two or three days." (Fremont History - Walt Dutton - 11/13/1962 - page 3)
1916: "During the summer Ranger J.S. Elder and Guard Shanyo made short tours at the lookout, anywhere from a quick 20-minute look around to as much as two hours, and then back to work building the telephone line to Round Pass or other Forest duties." (Ranger Journal of Jason S. Elder, July 1 through August 20, 1916)