PEND OREILLE COUNTY
NORTH BALDY
Kaniksu National Forest
35N-45E-7
35N-45E-7
August 21, 1930: “A new emergency landing field for forest patrol planes will probably be improved as the result of a forced landing made Sunday afternoon by Lieut. E.C. Bigelow, pilot with A.N. Cochrell of the Kaniksu Forest as observer.
About twenty minutes after the plane left Newport the timing gear broke and the motor stopped. The plane was at an elevation of about 6400 feet and not much more than 100 feet above the lookout station on North Baldy mountain, when the engine stopped and a forced landing was inevitable. The pilot dove for the mountain side and nearing it shot upward sharply, making a perfect 3-point landing on a bunch grass slope at about a 50 per cent grade. The lookout on North Baldy was phoning to Supervisor Ryan at the moment and reported the plane in distress and falling, and as it disappeared from his view down the side of the mountain, he excitedly reported, 'they're gone,' and it was a great relief to Mr. Ryan a few minutes later when the lookout reported that he could see the flyers walking to his station.
Lieut. Dwight Smith flew out from Felts Field with needed repairs and Mechanic Ray Schreck was taken out over the trail to the mountain top. Additional parts were sent for Monday and early Tuesday morning Pilot Bigelow was able to take off and brought out both Cochrell and the Mechanic.
Mr. Cochrell says that no trouble was experienced in taking off from the mountain top and that in the bunch grass area that gives the mountain the name 'Baldy' there is room for several landings and that take-off runs of 1500 feet can be improved at slight expense.” (The Newport Miner)
About twenty minutes after the plane left Newport the timing gear broke and the motor stopped. The plane was at an elevation of about 6400 feet and not much more than 100 feet above the lookout station on North Baldy mountain, when the engine stopped and a forced landing was inevitable. The pilot dove for the mountain side and nearing it shot upward sharply, making a perfect 3-point landing on a bunch grass slope at about a 50 per cent grade. The lookout on North Baldy was phoning to Supervisor Ryan at the moment and reported the plane in distress and falling, and as it disappeared from his view down the side of the mountain, he excitedly reported, 'they're gone,' and it was a great relief to Mr. Ryan a few minutes later when the lookout reported that he could see the flyers walking to his station.
Lieut. Dwight Smith flew out from Felts Field with needed repairs and Mechanic Ray Schreck was taken out over the trail to the mountain top. Additional parts were sent for Monday and early Tuesday morning Pilot Bigelow was able to take off and brought out both Cochrell and the Mechanic.
Mr. Cochrell says that no trouble was experienced in taking off from the mountain top and that in the bunch grass area that gives the mountain the name 'Baldy' there is room for several landings and that take-off runs of 1500 feet can be improved at slight expense.” (The Newport Miner)
July 9, 1936: “Among the Sunday visitors to nearby look-out stations were Allen Piper and Billy Cole to North Baldy.” (The Newport Miner)
July 9, 1936: “Among the Sunday visitors to nearby look-out stations were Allen Piper and Billy Cole to North Baldy.” (The Newport Miner)
1957: The U.S. Air Force acquired 56 and one half acres from the Forest Service and the Northern Pacific Railway. To be used as an unmanned Gap Filler radar site. Constructed on the site was a concrete block communications building (19 x 39 feet), a partly buried fuel tank, an outhouse and a steel radar tower.
1961: The site was declared excess inventory and the property was returned to the Forest Service the following year (1962).
1961: The site was declared excess inventory and the property was returned to the Forest Service the following year (1962).
1964: A 41-foot treated timber tower with an R-6 flat-roof cab constructed.
1989: The lookout's tower was moved to Big Meadow Lake for use as a wildlife viewing tower.