Administrative agency:
Willamette NF
Staffing status:
paid staffing position
Elevation:
5549ft
Structure: slightly elevated 1938 L-4 cab
with external shutter props and four pane windows, recently a
very nice, large deck has been built encompassing the lookout
Access:
access to this lookout is pretty easy, getting out of Oakridge
is a little sketchy but not bad, driving is on pavement for at
least several miles, a junction is then encountered, and the
road number is likely signed, a second junction occurs not too
long after that, which is signed as well, at some point the
road becomes Huckleberry Road, and the lookout is signed
several times, one last major junction is in place, which was
not signed at the time of my visit, but if I remember
correctly, keep to the left, a gate is then encountered a mile
or a little less from the lookout, it will likely be opened
during staffing season from 9:30AM-6:00PM, a sign is present
on the gate notifying when it closes, the gate will likely be
opened at times mentioned above, but this is not a guarantee,
once you reach the end of the road a very short walk is
necessary to reach the lookout
Road conditions:
the paved road is in good condition, the gravel road is graded
yearly but does contain some wash boarding, in general the
lookout is accessible with almost any vehicle if you drive
slowly
Interior:
the interior is in great condition, what is likely the
original table and chair are present with possibly some other
original furnishings, most of the original windows are present
as well, other furnishings include a propane refrigerator and
stove, a very nice propane woodstove, a bed, chairs, and
shelves, a secondhand wood floor from Sand Mountain Lookout
was recently added
Other structures on summit:
a permanently mounted propane tank sits at the end of the road
as does a portable toilet structure which may be removed
during the off season, a seismograph station sits near the
larger parking area, an unobstructed walkway winds its way up
to the lookout and is used as a Barrier-Free access for
handicapped people, the walkway is gravel complete with
benches along the way, a shorter foot trail is also present,
the lookout also houses a radio repeater for the forest, the
repeater sits right in the cab while the batteries reside
below with the photovoltaic panels on the roof and the antenna
tower next to the lookout
Electric power source:
the repeater is powered by solar panels on the roof, with
batteries under the lookout, the few loads in the lookout
connect to this system, lighting is provided with a battery
powered lantern
Other:
the lookout has a nice view of the surrounding forest
including the Three Sisters, The Waldo Lake Wilderness, and
Mt. Hood on a good day,
Waldo and
Fairview Lookouts are visible with binoculars, restoration
of Huckleberry begin somewhere in the early 1990's and was
completed in 2002 with the addition of the recycled floor
donated by the Sand Mountain Society who assisted former
lookout Roxie and other volunteers in reviving the building to
the excellent condition it is in today |
| Herald has been working on
this LO for a fair number of years, and enjoys the lookout
life having staffed Waldo Lookout in the 60's, visitors to the
lookout will enjoy a friendly lookout as well as a nice view
of the area and easy access to the site |
|
Visited:
Dominic Luebbers August 2002 |
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