| Drive-Up | Destroyed |
| Elevation: 6566ft | St. Joe National Forest |
HISTORY
1919: Ranger Station cabin established here in the NE Saddle
1924: Cupola cabin built at the summit
Blacky (Blackie) Kimbal was one of the first lookouts stationed here (exact dates unknown)
1957: Destroyed
*Quarles Peak was named after the Coeur d’Alene assessor that had a prospect located here.
OUR NOTES
We have read and researched a lot recently about Quarles Peak and its part in early St Joe history. It was first established as a ranger station with a few log cabins below the peak.
From UP THE SWIFTWATER we learned that this station was a patrol headquarters that employed a fifteen-man trail crew and seven smoke chasers in 1919-1920 and served as the ranger station for 12 years. Charley Scribner was the Ranger in 1925. * (Hardship & Happy Times by Bert Russel)
Check out these FANTASTIC photos of that ranger station, that were shared with us by Stan Myers.
These photos are from the Wemple family albums, Missoula, 1929-1932, Historical Museum at Fort Missoula collection.
And comparing it to what the site looks like today:
These photos are from the Wemple family albums, Missoula, 1929-1932, Historical Museum at Fort Missoula collection.
This photo below of Quarles Peak Lookout is dated 1922, photo taken by Charles Scribner. Bert Russel Collection.
This photo below is of Quarles Peak Lookout, taken about 1926. Butch Jacobson collection.
The site of the cupola cabin:
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