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Volunteers refurbishing Spyglass lookout
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July 26, 2012 |
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Volunteers
work to erase years of weather damage
and vandalism at the Spyglass lookout
tower. |
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The Idaho Panhandle National Forests have
partnered with Lutherhaven Ministries and the
Forest Fire Lookout Association to renovate
three historic structures at Spyglass Lookout.
The structures on Spyglass Peak include Spyglass
lookout tower, a groundhouse where workers who
staffed the lookout lived when the lookout was
operational, and an outhouse.
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Years of
graffiti are being erased at the
Spyglass Lookout, thanks to the efforts
of many volunteers. |
Located in the upper reaches of the North Fork
Coeur d’Alene River basin, the structures have
been vacant for more than 20 years while weather
and vandalism have taken a heavy toll on the
buildings.
In 2011, Lutherhaven Ministries approached
Stephan Matz, then Idaho Panhandle NF’s
archeologist, about renovating the structures.
Lutherhaven offered assistance with grant
funding applications and youth volunteers from
Shoshone Base Camp to perform the work.
Additional volunteers have come from the Forest
Fire Lookout Association and local Forest
Service employees.
Through Lutherhaven’s efforts, two major
regional grants were awarded totaling more than $25,000. Additional funding was granted by the
Forest Fire Lookout Association and combined
with funding from the Forest Service, which
enabled the groups to begin work on the site
this year.
Lutherhaven Ministries owns Shoshone Base Camp,
a Christian youth camp which operates Idaho
Servant Adventures, a program that brings youth
from around the country to North Idaho for
public service projects.
Steve Matz, now retired from the Forest Service,
is leading volunteers from Shoshone Base Camp,
the Forest Fire Lookout Association and Forest
Service employees performing work on site.
Spyglass is a multi-year project with the goal
of incorporating the site into the forest’s
recreational cabin rental program, which
generates funding for maintenance on-site.
For more information, please contact the Coeur
d’Alene River Ranger District’s Fernan office at
(208) 664-2318. |
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