Presentations

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Topics: sundance fire; roman nose peak lookout; hunt peak; architecture; typology; integration; innovation; improvement

Echoes of Fire: Reimagining Lookouts as Sites of Memory and Reflection

Speaker: Andrew Shearman

Abstract:

This project reimagines the 1967 Sundance Fire lookouts as spaces for remembrance and reflection. Three sites embody the narrative of the fire. Sundance Peak features mirrored structures facing both the scorched and fertile landscapes. Hunt Peak, along the fire’s path, arranges lookouts along a ridgeline, symbolizing the fire’s journey. Roman Nose reimagines the harrowing experience of fire lookout Randy Langston, who took refuge behind a cliffside as the fire approached. These lookouts serve as architectural markers of remembrance, preserving the legacy of fire lookouts while reinterpreting their form as places of reflection.

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Topics: sand mountain society; non-profit; mount ranier national park; architecture; improvement; restoration; lookout volunteer; high rock lookout; partnerships

Planning and Partnership and Plenty of Patience: Historic Preservation and High Rock Lookout

Speaker: Rick McClure

Abstract:

Located near Mount Rainier, High Rock Lookout is a 1931 L-4 model, listed as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Staffed until 2003, it deteriorated due to vandalism. In 2015, the local historical society, in partnership with the Sand Mountain Society (SMS), began efforts to restore the lookout. SMS, a volunteer-driven Oregon-based nonprofit, has restored over 12 historic lookouts since 1989. This presentation focuses on how planning processes have evolved in the High Rock Lookout restoration, highlighting the importance of an effective Historic Property Plan, adhering to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, and the roles of volunteers in project success.

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Topics: restoration; glacier national park; grave peak; carpentry; selway-bitterroot wilderness; flathead national forest

Restoring Fire Lookouts: A Step-by-Step Approach

Speaker: Leif Haugen

Abstract:

Since 1994, I have served as a fire lookout in Northwest Montana and led the management of 11 lookouts across the Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park. With over 15 years of experience, I’ve restored or rehabilitated an average of two lookouts annually, combining carpentry expertise with fire lookout operations knowledge. This presentation will showcase one or two restoration projects, including one in Idaho, detailing the entire process—from assessment and budgeting to planning, logistics, and completion. I will discuss technical and administrative steps, key challenges, and best practices, supported by a visual narrative documenting each phase of restoration to ensure the preservation of these essential structures.