COLORADO LOOKOUTS

SLEEPY CAT MOUNTAIN

Rio Blanco County
​White River National Forest

July 4, 1913:  "The Forest service sends us some good material concerning forest fires.  The White River service has established a lookout station on Sleepy Cat mountain and has a telephone line to the station."  (Routt County Republican) 

December 4, 1913:   "The heliograph is to be used by the officers of the White River National Forest next summer as an aid in reporting fires, and incidentally in  general administrative work.  Two complete outfits were recently received at the Supervisor's office.  Throughout the fire danger period, a guard is stationed on the top Sleepy Cat mountain which commands a view of approximately one-third of the Forest and which is connected by phone with the Supervisor's office.  A guard for patrol duty is stationed at Deep Lake in the southern part of the Forests through the summer months.  This station is remote from a post-office or telephone and it is intended that this guard shall be equipped with a heliograph instrument so that on any bright day he will be able to flash signals to the guard on Sleepy Cat lookout and the latter can relay any messages  by telephone to the Meeker office.  The lookout guard will also have an instrument so that he can flash signals to the Deep Lake man as occasion arises.  The working out of the plan will be watched with interest by local forest officers and it is anticipated that the use of heliographs will give added protection to a large part of the high territory included in the Forest which is infrequently traveled."   (Moffat Coiunty Courier)

July 22, 1914:   "James A. Blair, supervisor of the White river reserve; John McLaren,, supervisor of the Mt. Sopris reserve; Harry H. French, supervisor of the Holy Cross reserve, and Fred Morrill, assistant deputy forester at Denver, are now at the Sleepy Cat ranger station in Rio Blanco county trying out the new heliograph station."   (Steamboat Pilot)

June 13, 1919:  "A fire lookout station is maintained on Sleepy Cat Mountain, where a 30-foot tower has been built on the peak for observation purposes.  During dry periods in the summer a lookout man is stationed here to watch for forest fires."  (Routt County Republican)