CUSTER COUNTY
LITTLE SOLDIER MOUNTAIN
Challis National Forest
16N-11E-23
Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness
16N-11E-23
Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness
1934: A L-4 cabin built. (Kresek)
July 22, 1957: "Dan Bartniki, 22, was reported in good condition at the Challis hospital today after his evacuation by helicopter and light airplane from the remote mountain area where he accidentally shot himself in the leg.
Bartniki telephoned forest officials yesterday morning from Little Soldier lookout about 25 miles northwest of here where he is the fire spotter.
The forest service sent two smoke jumpers to the remote lookout to administer first aid until a helicopter arrived to remove the wounded man. Bartniki was flown by the helicopter to an airstrip where a light plane picked him up for the flight to Challis.
The forest service said the rescue mission took less than two hours." (The Times-News)
June 12, 1958: "Among the very welcome arrivals in local homes last week were the college student children rejoining their families for the summer. Ron Blaschke arrived Saturday from Logan, Utah where he attended Utah State university. However, it's a short stay at home with his parents, for Ron leaves again tomorrow to report Monday at Challis, Idaho for a summer's work with the US Forest service.
After a 20-day training period, he will make a 3-day trip by horse and pack mule to a fire tower on Little Soldier mountain where he will spend the summer in complete isolation. Ron will have a few days at home in the fall unless the mountain area where he is posted has an unusually dry summer. In this case he will remain on duty an additional week after September 15 and then return directly to college for his sophomore year." (Daily Herald - Chicago)
August 28, 1988: "Just when firefighters thought they had it under control, the fire jumped the Salmon River at Pungo Creek Friday night. It was heading toward Little Soldier Mountain, and the Little Soldier fire lookout was evacuated Friday night." (The Times-News)
January 14, 1993: "The district packers and trail crew worked 352 miles of trail conducting general to heavy maintenance. They cut out about 350 blowdown trees from an eight mile stretch of trail on Little Loon Creek. They also packed three lookouts and supplies in to their respective lookouts and transported materials to rebuild an outhouse on Little Soldier Lookout." (Recorder Herald)