News

Logging Activities Near Mountain Fire Lookout Tower to Start this Week

December 14, 2020



(Mountain, Wis., December 9, 2020) – The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest expects logging activities to begin this week near the Mountain Fire Lookout Tower on the Lakewood-Laona Ranger District. The tower is closed to the public for the season, and logging will continue in the area into spring 2021.

The logging activities are part of ongoing cleanup from the July 2019 windstorm that damaged about 100,000 acres of trees on the national forest. Salvage work will take place along Mountain Tower Road, off of Forest Road 2106/Old 32, and around the tower itself. The ground must be frozen before work begins in order to protect the forest surface.  

“Since this is a popular recreation site, logging crews will take special care to minimize aesthetic disturbance,” said Brian Hinch, Acting Recreation Program Manager for the Lakewood-Laona Ranger District. “Cultural and heritage resources in the area will also be protected.”

A forest closure order remains in place for damaged roads, trails and recreation sites that present continued safety risks. The forest maintains an updated closure order and other storm information on its website at https://go.usa.gov/x7HeQ.

The Mountain Fire Lookout Tower is located approximately 2.5 miles north of Mountain, WI, in Oconto County. Originally built in 1935, the forest restored the 100-foot tower in 2015-2016 with financial assistance from the Oconto County Economic Development Corporation, numerous local businesses, organizations, communities and residents. Of the 14 original fire lookout towers located on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the Mountain Fire Lookout Tower is the only one where visitors may climb to the top.

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