| Drive-Up | Staffed |
| Elevation: 6727′ | Bitterroot National Forest |
History
1930 – originally a 40′ Tree Platform in 1930.
1940 – 10′ TT L-4
1960 – 10′ concrete base with R-6 flat cab was built.
Known Staff
- 1945
- 1946
-
1954
Richard Howell (https://www.firelookout.com/id/hellshalfacre.html)
- 1956
- 1957
- 1958
- 1959
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
- 1964
- 1965
- 1967
- 1968–1969
- 1971
-
1985
Jim Richardson — Rumored to have raised a litter of Dalmation puppies at the tower
- 1997–2016
- 2017–2020
- 2025–2026
Know more about who staffed this tower, or when? Let us know.
From 1997 to 2016, a couple, Mark & Rhett Moak, manned this lookout every fire season. They raised three children, who I’m positive had the absolute best summers a kid could ask for. A really fantastic article about the Moaks can be found here: https://missoulian.com/lifestyles/hometowns/on-fire-watch-couple-shares-33-summers-in-mountaintop-lookouts/article_b985d2e0-6a7b-5f4d-909c-ff6269f619b1.html#tncms-source=login
In both 2013 and 2017, the tower was wrapped due to nearby forest fires.
In 2017, the post was filled by Austin. We visited Austin during a very smoky September day in 2020. We really had a great visit with Austin – and we’re still waiting for him to come visit up north and try some good local beers 😉
2025 – Hell’s Half Acre is once again staffed by Mark & Rhett Moak.
I manned the Spot Mountain and Hell’s Half Acre Lookouts (Bitterroot-Selway) in the summers of 1963 and 1964. Wonderful experiences with lots of lifetime stories.
Thank you Barry!!!!!!!