IDAHO COUNTY
BAILEY MOUNTAIN
Bitterroot National Forest > Nez Perce National Forest
34N-13E-30
34N-13E-30
1927: A 10 x 10 1+ story log cabin with a cupola built.
1930: An L-3 cabin atop an eight-foot log base. (An undated inventory of lookouts on the Moose Creek Ranger District.)
c.1936: The lookout abandoned. (1955 Condition Report)
1948: The lookout re-established as a primary lookout. (1955 Condition Report)
August 1955: Condition Report: "Bailey Mtn. L.O. is a gable roof house with cupola, and of log construction. This structure has an underneath cellar; living quarters above and a cupola for fire detection.
Logs on the SW and NW walls were found to be fast deteriorating. The logs have decomposed enough on these walls for water to quickly soak in and cause the logs to break up. The base log on the SW side was rotten enough to loose its effectiveness as a support. The roof is sound with new shakes put on in 1951.
The lookout is far from being air tight and have found it difficult to keep chinking in place. The building is floored with a soft wood ship-lap.
In talking to the lookout-fireman, who has been on this point for three seasons, he stated that the building would twist and rock during periods of high winds. (20 to 30 M.P.H.)
This lookout was probably constructed around 1926, used for 10 years then abandoned. We re-established this point in 1948 and have used it continually since that time.
This point is a primary lookout which fits into our Air-Ground detection and communication set up.
If this structure is to be replaced I would like to recommend a 20 to 30 foot tower with cab on top for desirable viability clearance.
The toilet is non-standard.
Donald B. Dowling, Alternate Ranger " (Bitterroot National Forest Heritage Program Archives)
1957: The administration of the lookout site transferred from the Bitterroot National Forest to the Nez Perce National Forest.
1959: An R-6 cab on a 10-foot treated timber tower replaced the log structure.
1989: The lookout structure removed.
DESIGNATION - BAILEY LOOKOUT
PID - RY0891
STATE/COUNTY- ID/IDAHO
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - HUNGRY ROCK (1995)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 1965
LOCATED 12.9 MI.ESE. OF EAGLE MTN. AND 12 MI. SW. OF GRAVE PEAK,
ABOUT 9.2 MI. NNE. OF MOOSE CREEK RANGER STATION, ON THE TOP OF
BAILEY MTN.
STATION REACHED BY HELICOPTER.
STATION MARK--THE CENTER POINT OF THE ROOF OF A 21.8 FT. SQUARE
LOOKOUT TOWER, MARKED BY A LIGHTNING ROD. THE ROOF IS FLAT, 20 FT.
ABOVE GROUND.