Lavina Fire Lookout Loss

Jul 31, 2024 | 4. Kootenays, Announcements, Lavina Lookout, News, Recreation Sites, Recreation Sites | 1 comment

Update from CJ for Sept. 28, 2024

Hello everyone. I wanted to address the current situation around Lavina. I have spoken with the person who oversees Lavina at RSTBC, and we have been told that the trail to Lavina is CLOSED. I know that Glacier Creek has now been opened up, and work has been done by forestry to allow that road to be opened, but the Lavina trail was not part of the scope of their work. The trail has not been cleared of danger trees and no slope assessment has been completed. The trail is not safe for access. Additionally, there are a lot of trees down fairly low on the trail. We will be creating a plan in the spring to gain access to the site come next summer when the snow melts. We are not to access the site or road until we have been given permission by the holders of our maintenance contract, RSTBC.
 
TLDR: Lavina trail is closed. We must wait until the holders of our maintenance contract (RSTBC) give us permission to access the site again. We will be planning in the spring to gain access back to the site once this winter’s snow melts.
 
If you’d like to be involved with any mitigation or rebuild work, please sign up using the form below.

We can now confirm that the Mt. Lavina Fire Lookout, the second fire tower on our roster since 2014, has been lost to a wildfire.

The following was written by C.J. Hendriks, regional rep in the Kootenays and point person for maintenance work on Lavina over the past few years.

It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of another historic fire tower within the province. The Lavina Mountain Fire Tower has been lost to the Argenta Creek wildfire. All that appears to remain at this point is the concrete block base of the tower. The Kootenays experienced a large number of wildfires, which grew rapidly after a thunderstorm passed through the region. Wildfires like those in the Slocan Lake Complex are still displacing a lot of people, including members who themselves have put their time and effort into maintaining the Lavina fire tower over the years to make it such a cherished destination. We are saddened not only for the loss of this tower, but for our supporting members as well as the general public who have lost even more during these trying summer times.

This tower has stood since 1974, was adopted by the 4WDABC in 2014, and in 2021 became home to a West Kootenay Amateur Radio Club repeater, adding important radio coverage to the Kootenay Valley. Boasting spectacular views from the north end of Kootenay Lake to the south end of Duncan Lake, the tower has been a bucket-list destination for many backcountry enthusiasts, drawing people from all over British Columbia, other provinces, and the United States. Numerous members, locals, and enthusiasts have dedicated their time and energy to help maintain the tower over the years and make it something the Association was proud of.

As with the Nahatlatch lookout, we will endeavor to rebuild the tower, but we must not be hasty; there is much work to be done before we may commence building. Once it is safe to access the area again, we will need to assess what remains of the tower’s concrete base structure to see what condition it is in – it is likely that this will need to be demolished, which will be no small task on its own. After that will be cleanup and removal of debris and burned trees.

The Lavina Lookout Recreation Site is a gem of the Kootenays, and while the tower may have been lost, the site will continue to hold excellent recreational value once access has been deemed safe.

Lavina Rebuild Volunteer Information

Lavina Rebuild Volunteer Information

Please note that we don't expect this project to start for anywhere from one to three years away (summer 2025 at the earliest). RSTBC will need to survey the damage first, then have environmental and safety assessments performed, before any work can commence. The design will need to be approved and budget allocated before we know how much will be needed from our end. Fundraising is an issue for a future time; for now we just want to get a sense of what skills, materials, and tools/equipment will be available to us, and build a contact list for when the time comes.

Contact Info

Name
Name
First
Last
4WDABC Member
Check the Members' Zone if you don't know your member number

Support our work toward Public Access to Public Land and strengthen our voice with government by becoming a 4WDABC Member!

Only $30 to sign up and $25/year to renew after that. Perks include our famous Lordco discount, deals and discounts with a dozen other Corporate Sustaining Members, and access to our Key Programs.

See https://4wdabc.ca/how-to-join for more details!

How I Can Help

Materials
Tools/Equipment

When I Can Help

Please answer based on your current situation. We recognize that lots can change between now and then, but we'd like to get a feel for when people will be available. You can always edit your responses later.
Days Available
Accommodations
We're expecting a lot of help, and there isn't a lot of space. For those staying on-site, we'll do our best to Tetris people in, so this will help give us an idea of what setups to expect.

Giving Back To The Community

Our neighbours in the Kootenay Valley have always been supportive of us and our work on the tower. Some of them have been hit hard and lost their properties as well. While they must go through other channels for funding and such, we feel there's much that our members can offer to assist in the meantime, whether it's cleanup, transportation, rebuilding labour, or other ways to help. Please indicate below if you can be available to this cause, and in what capacity. There's no pressure to do this, but several members so far have asked about it, and so we're including it here. Note that these opportunities will likely arise well before the tower rebuild commences.
Can you be available to help other Kootenay residents?
Reforestation
Several people have suggested helping with reforestation of the area. Please select this box if you would be interested in tree planting or other such projects. Note, this will only happen with the proper permissions, but we'd love to have a list of willing helpers to provide!
Permissions
[Start Over]
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Rick Bray
Rick Bray
#7888
4 months ago

I remember when I was younger we went up Lavina and spent a summer night. It was a cloudless night with an early moon. We ended up staying up until dawn just looking up at the stars. It was so clear it looked as though you could reach up and grab them. Back in those days the lookout was still a fully functional lookout. Every piece of equipment still there. Even all the topo maps. Some of my best memories

0
Reply
wpdiscuz   wpDiscuz
1
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x