One of the best views of the top of Mount Thompson and the old fire lookout from the Creston Valley can be had from Lister. Another good view can be seen from Erickson. Unfortunately, because of its run-down condition, the elevated cabin, according to some, looks better from a distance than from close up. With a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope, to the northeast from Erickson or Lister, one can see this historic landmark situated on the north and higher hump, Mount Thompson, of a series of humps known as the Thompson Range, flanking the east of Canyon. Now, with lots of snow blanketing Mount Thompson, unless you can hike or snowmobile, or can’t make it to the top anyhow, the best view is from the valley.
Fire lookouts have been an integral part of B.C.’s Forests Ministry’s forest fire protection for decades. According to B.C.’s Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, last year, the ministry’s centennial, five lookouts across B.C. completed restoration. These refurbished lookouts, including Mount Buchanan at Kaslo, and Mara, Thornhill, Nahatlatch and Owen Hill at other locations, will enhance opportunities for residents and tourists in those locations to continue enjoying B. C.’s forests and natural spaces. How has this happened?
While experiencing cutbacks, ministry branches purposed to redevelop a number of lookout sites across the province. Determination of which lookouts would be refurbished depended on several criteria, including accessibility, condition of the lookout, cost of repairs and the level of serious local support, especially in the way of an established organization or other entity that was able to ultimately take over the lookout. Lookout restoration for recreational use, supported by partnership of several community entities with the ministry, took place in varied ways depending on individual circumstances.
In one case, restoration of the lookout was done from the ground up by a local off-road group. In other cases, it happened with volunteer labour and funding by individuals and the local town. In addition, in another case, Recreation Sites and Trails BC (a ministry branch) contributed $10,000, while a local company matched that amount and the local outdoors club agreed to provide public recreation and historic education. Other volunteer contributors have been outdoor societies and Wildfire Management Branch staff. Restoration of lookouts have been prime examples of community co-operation and teamwork.
Typical improvements on lookouts have been replacing damaged doors and windows, installing new sub-floors, roof repairs, exterior painting, restructuring and straightening walls. That’s a lot of work for one season, especially when it is in the short-seasoned high country, so the following season work may be installing durable flooring and touch-up jobs. This is somewhat the story of the Bickford Lookout at Chetwynd, which is pretty much the same basic design as the Mount Thompson lookout. Googling “BC fire lookouts” can turn up some interesting stories and photos.
The Mount Thompson lookout ceased to be used for forest fire detection in the early 1980s. Recently, the wildfire branch has determined it to be no longer useful for that purpose and, so, has destined it for removal. The branch approached Recreation Sites and Trails BC to see if they were interested in it as a recreation site. They rejected it on the basis of poor accessibility, costs of repairs (in view of cuts in funding) and, perhaps, for the lack of strong local interest, and so on. However, as one last effort, they will agree to developing the Mount Thompson lookout site if a local organization or other entity will agree to take full responsibility for it, partnering with Recreation Sites and Trails BC and other local supportive individuals and groups for funding and contributions of labour and materials. This agreement must happen by spring 2014, otherwise steps will be taken to remove the Mount Thompson lookout. So far, to my knowledge, the Creston community has not yet met that challenge.
In other places, communities have seen their lookouts as focal points of use and interest by outdoor groups, local residents, tourists, and recreation and survival groups. Once, when spending several hours on Mount Thompson, I accounted for as many as two dozen visitors. Then and other times, local residents were bringing their out-of-town guests to view the valley, and others were local hiking groups and hikers from other areas. So the lookout site gets enough use to deem it worthy of refurbishing for its recreational, tourist, safety and environmental and historical education values. It has potential for being a greater valuable asset to the Creston Valley communities. Any questions can be directed to myself or to Recreation Sites and Trails BC.
Ed McMackin is a biologist by profession but a naturalist and hiker by nature. He can be reached at 250-866-5747.