Don Allen, director of the Sand Mountain Society (SMS), has appointed me, Rob Hoeye, the official liaison between the FFLA and the Sand Mountain Society. There will be periodic reports from the SMS posted in the NEWS section of the website.

An official SMS website is in the works, to be online second quarter 2000. I will definitely inform all of you when it is ready.

GOLD BUTTE:

We have begun work on the Gold Butte lookout, Detroit Ranger District, Willamette NF. The lower ends of the major support system in the walls was infested with carpenter ants and is suffering from dry rot. It was decided to "take it all the way down" and rebuild it from the ground up. The plan includes keeping as much of the original materials as possible (I think the report to Cara, district archaeologist, says better than a 50% reuse). The windows have been taken to a shop for refinishing and re-glazing over the winter. The roof has been removed. Fiberglass ceiling insulation carefully bagged for disposal. The roofers carefully removed, labeled and bundled for replacement to their original positions. Rafters, north and south individually joined as modern roof trusses, manually hoisted to the ground and placed out of the way. These units will be placed back into service as is. While working on the roof the crew noticed a small smoke in the Humbug creek drainage to the east. Don phoned in the report to Detroit, which promptly sent a crew to extinguish the source. Ceiling, flooring and inner walls have been removed. They and the outer walls will be taken to a shop for resurfacing. They will be returned to the site for installation next summer. Rain and other commitments have slowed the work, but the crew remains confidant that the framing and roof can be up before winter. The outer walls will be protected from the winter weather with a temporary layer of CDX plywood.

OFFICIAL WORD FROM DON ALLEN, 12AUG99: =========================================================================== GOLD BUTTE:

The SMS stats in July are compiled... The SMS provided 283 volunteer hours at the lookout site and spent $553 supplies and tools. I project that we will have over 300 hours in August, and will spend in the neighborhood of $1,000 this month. In October, we are projecting 200 hours and $600. Those are on Gold Butte.

Here is what we have accomplished to date altogether:

1. Exploratory trip to determine extent of damage:
   a) Removed deck structure from building;
   b) Removed siding from lower walls, prepared for salvage;
   c) Wrote detailed condition assessment;
   d) Prepared rehab plan and list of materials required to enclose building;
2. Brushed-out access road and trail;
3. Aqcuired framing materials and transported to off-site workshop;
4. Removed all windows and transported to trailhead and then to facitlity for lead paint removal;
5. Bagged 14 full trash bags of fiberglass insulation;
6. Removed roof framing in two sections for re-use;
7. Burned lumber that was not re-usable or easily converted to firewood;
8. Removed nails from, catalogued, and stacked roof sheathing;
9. Removed cabinetry and labeled components;
10. Prepared staging area at trailhead for stacking lumber to go in or out of site;
11. Cleaned up debris from roof removal and stacked as kindling source for future renters;
12. Salvaged of ridge caps for acid etch, re-galvanizing, and re-use (searching for new source in catalogues--we'll be a few short)

SAND MTN:

To date this year at Sand Mountain, we have 350 hours of volunteer labor and have spent $1,550 on staffing the lookout. We are currently having 5 new windows replicated at a cost of $1,250. We will be restoring the five we replace--all told at a cost of around $700 for the 2nd five. We anticipate additional expenditures of about $4,000 on staffing and other improvments at Sand Mountain. We are currently working with the District to attempt restoration of soils damaged by off-road vehicle intrusions. Material costs and volunteer labor required is unknown at this time for that project.

OTHER:

We are collecting the materials from Sisi Lookout next week. We tore that lookout down in 1997 when the District told us we had 48 hours to salvage parts before they blasted it. Those materials will be a big help at filling out what Gold Butte is lacking--they are the same design.

Don Allen