PIERCE COUNTY
ANVIL ROCK
Mount Rainier National Park
16N-9E
16N-9E
October 31, 1917: "From an inspection of new masonry lookout stations built recently at Anvil Rock, in the Rainier Park, and at Kiona Peak, in the mountaineer region. Forest Examiner W.B. Osborne, Jr. arrived yesterday at the United States Forestry Office in Portland, from which he works. He reports that he encountered a severe blizzard during his stay at Anvil Rock, which is located high on the side of Mount Rainier." (Morning Oregonian)
1918-19: "There were numerous forest fires in the areas lying outside of the park, a number of which were located and reported by the forest service from the Anvil Rock fire lookout station on Mount Rainier." (Report of the Director of the National Park Service)
1919-20: "A fire-lookout station should be constructed on the summit of Mount Rainier. The Forest Service has advocated such a station and would cooperate in its construction and furnish two observers or lookouts. The lookout station at Anvil Rock, at an elevation of 9,584 feet, is the most important observation point in the Rainier National Forest, and many fire have been located from this point. The park service shares in the benefit and protection afforded by this station, as well as the Forest Service and the general public. A lookout station on the summit, at an elevation exceeding 14,000 feet, would be of still greater service in the location of forest fires than the one at Anvil Rock. As a protection to parties making the summit climb, a shelter building at the top of the mountain would be of great value and might easily result in the saving of life in case of accident or physical exhaustion. The weather observations that would be obtained at this station could be of material value to the United States Weather Bureau. The Forest Service has indicated their willingness to contribute toward the cost of this building. The Anvil Rock station was built entirely at the expense of the park service." (Report of the Director of the National Park Service)
1920-21: "Mount Rainier National Park is entirely surrounded by forest reserve. The Superintendent cooperates fully with the supervisor of this forest in fire protection and in the care of game. The Forest Service maintains a fire ranger at the Anvil Rock lookout station in the park who reports through the superintendent's office all fires observed both in the park and forest reserve. The most cordial relations exist between the two branches of service and I have found the entire personnel of the local office of the Forest Service to be willing and anxious to cooperate in every possible way." "The park area has been entirely free from forest fires of any magnitude during the year. Two or three small fires were started, but were immediately detected by the fire lookout stationed at Anvil Rock, reached promptly, and soon extinguished." (Report of the Director of the National Park Service)
March 1921: "A Forest Service lookout is maintained on the south side of Mt. Rainier, at Anvil Rock a shoulder which sticks out prominently from from the mass of the mountain.
Because of the altitude and other rigorous conditions, a man to fill this place is often hard to select. During the past season this difficult post was occupied by Clement Klingensmith, of Rainier. A.A.G." (Six Twenty-Six)
July 19, 1921: "A telephone line has been installed from Paradise inn to the fire lookout station on Anvil rock. The rock is at an altitude of 9800 feet. It cost $26 to transport $34 " (Morning Oregonian)
July 7, 1922: "Last week Deputy Supervisor E. J. Fenby of Tacoma was in Randle and Lewis, where he met most of the men who are to look out for fire this year in the Rainier National Forest and gave them detailed instructions as to their duties. The forest service keeps a force of about twenty men on the lookout for fires in the Rainier National Forest from July 1 until the fall rains make the spread of fires impossible. Every man's station is connected by telephone with the system that extends through the forest and the discovery of a fire by any of the lookouts or patrolmen is quickly followed by a notification to headquarters and the sending of necessary help to put out or control the fires.
The federal fire wardens in Lewis county include Rice Anderson, lookout, Anvil Rock." (The Chehalis Bee-Nugget)
July 7, 1922: "Last week Deputy Supervisor E. J. Fenby of Tacoma was in Randle and Lewis, where he met most of the men who are to look out for fire this year in the Rainier National Forest and gave them detailed instructions as to their duties. The forest service keeps a force of about twenty men on the lookout for fires in the Rainier National Forest from July 1 until the fall rains make the spread of fires impossible. Every man's station is connected by telephone with the system that extends through the forest and the discovery of a fire by any of the lookouts or patrolmen is quickly followed by a notification to headquarters and the sending of necessary help to put out or control the fires.
The federal fire wardens in Lewis county include Rice Anderson, lookout, Anvil Rock." (The Chehalis Bee-Nugget)
September 1, 1922: "Eighteen fires were started in the Cowlitz district of the national forest, near Randle, Saturday evening, by a storm. The fires were kept pretty well under control. The fires were all spotted by the forest service lookout at Anvil Rock, Mt. Rainier, who notified the ranger at Randle. Supervisor Allen took personal charge of the situation, and forces were at once sent to fight the fires." (The Chehalis Bee-Nugget)
September 1922: "Rice N. Anderson, primary lookout at Anvil Rock on Mt. Rainier, had a shocking experience recently. He had just taken up the telephone after a lightning storm, when one last bolt struck the line and came ambling in without waiting to be asked. Mr. Anderson was unconscious for an hour, but fortunately had visitors at the time who rendered first aid. According to reports to the Tacoma office, the experience, though painful, was not serious. G.E.G." (Six Twenty-Six)
April 1927: "The stone house built ten years ago by the Rainier Park and Forest Service high on the slope of Mt. Rainier at Anvil Rock will make way this season for a standard D-6 Lookout cabin. Material for the cabin was furnished by the Park and cutting done by Arneson and Hagan this winter. It will be packed by Hagan's burros and constructed by him.
Meade, the veteran lookout on Anvil Rock, was visited by 1200 travelers the past season. Many of those had made the climb previously and Anvil Rock was more than a name to them. Jules Hagon" (Six Twenty-Six)
August 21, 1927: "On August 2 there was a thunderstorm in the park and inside of 10 minutes the lookout on Anvil rock, situated on the south slope or shoulder of the main mountain at an elevation of 9600 feet, reported 13 fires caused by lightning. Seven of these had been extinguished by the next morning and two or three more by the following day. Ten men are now fighting one on Emerald ridge in the southwest section of the park, which is described as 'moderately dangerous' to timber. Another is eight miles east of Paradise valley, and a third is on the south slope of Tatoosh range; if this fire, where a crew of 20 men is engaged by day and the same number at night, should get out of control, it would sweep up the Tatoosh range and destroy a great area of timber. It has been completely trenched, but the danger lies in flying sparks in a strong breeze." (The Sunday Oregonian)
Removed
