SIERRA COUNTY

MILLS PEAK

Plumas National Forest
​21N-12E-3

August 2, 1934:   "Ben Hankey, forest service lookout station keeper from Mount Elwell, was moved Friday to the new lookout at Mills Peak, over looking Clio, Graeagle and other Mohawk Valley points."   (Portola Reporter)

​June 20, 1946:   "Ben Hankey, a veteran of 14 years service, is stationed on Mills Peak.  In 1932 and 1933 he was stationed at Engalls, 1934 at Elwell and since that time has been the lookout on Mills Peak."   (Portola Reporter)

October 31, 1946:   "Veteran Lookout Ben Hanky of the Plumas national forest closed his Mills Peak station on October 23, having established somewhat of a record.  Lookout Hanky, with two previous seasons on Mt. Ingalls, was placed on Mills Peak when construction of that lookout station was completed in August, 1934.  According to District Ranger Art Gifford, Hanky has served every season on Mills Peak except 1945, and during his period of service he has accounted for first discovery of a total of 117 fires--only seven of those occurred this season."   (Portola Reporter)

​July 13, 1949:  "Ben Hankey, the boss of Mills Peak Lookout overlooking Mohawk valley in the Plumas national forest is an old timer in the business.
     Starting his forest fire lookout career in 1932 "Old Ben," as he is affectionately known by Plumas forest firemen, has become a lover of nature and he is particularly fond of his wildlife friends who frequent the locality of Mills Peak.
     One of Ben's most welcome callers is "Old Betsy," large mule deer doe, a resident of the Mills Peak area for the past seven years.
     "Biggest doe I ever seen," Ben explained, when describing her as being as tall as an ordinary range cow.  "Old Betsy," according to to Ben, bears her offspring every year along in the forepart of June.  A little late this year the fawn was not born until several days after Ben reported to his lookout station on June 13.
     "She gave birth to a purty little spotted fawn on Friday, June 17 and brot the little feller up to see me the very next day.  He was purty wobbly on his legs, but he's goin to make a fine big buck.  I call him George," Ben revealed.
     "Last Sunday, the 26th," Ben continued, "a little blacktail doe came to the lookout with "Old Betsy," followed by a day old spotted fawn, 'bout as big as a rabbit.  Twran"t half as big as "Old Betsy's young'un," "But cute as anything you ever saw, and looks just like "Bambi" in the movies.  Well sir, its been right pleasant to watch them deer, but a mighty, mighty strange thing happened here a few mornings ago."
     Without urging, Lookout Ben described a wildlife family scrabble and kidnapping!
     It seems "Old Betsy" showed up the morning of June 29, with both fawns following her, her own "George," almost double the size of the apparently adopted little "Bambi."  The two fawns, "George" and "Bambi" were having a great time running, jumping and tearing around in general.  I couldn't keep close enough watch on 'em to be sure, but I think them two little "tikes" had breakfast together. 'Long about 9:30 little Mrs. Blacktail steps into the picture and she is clean mad.  She headed right for "Old Betsy," and right there within 50 yards of me those two females fought for a good fifteen minutes just like a couple of strange nanny goats.  Finally the little doe gave up after being butted around pretty hard by "Old Betsy" and went off down the mountain."
     What about "Bambi"?
     "Why he stayed right there with little 'George and 'Old Betsy' and I guess from now on he's a member of the family.  I ain't seeen little Mrs. Blacktail since," declared Ben."  (Reno Evening Gazette)

​June 22, 1950:  "As the swallows return to Capistrano each year, so do the pelicans come to Mohawk valley.
     A single band of from 40 to 60 pelicans arrives in Mohawk valley during the latter part of June every year.  These maritime birds with satchel-like beaks were first reported for their regularity by veteran Plumas national forest lookout Ben Hankey from the Mills Peak lookout several years ago.  Mr. Hankey who was established at his Mills Peak station this year on June 1, having been transported there by forest service snow weasel tractor reports the pelicans arrived June 16 which is a full week ahead of the usual schedule.
     The pelican flight into Mohawk valley, the forest lookout says is via the Yuba river canyon and across north of the Sierra Buttes to Mills Peak and down into the head of Sulphur creek.  Mr. Hankey, who stated the pelicans' flight passes within 100 yards of his lookout station, watches each season for the arrival of these hungry feathered fishermen."  (Reno Evening Gazette)
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November 2, 1950:   "Funeral services for Ben F. Hankey, forest service lookout and a resident of Plumas county for 25 years, will be held this Thursday evening from the Stookey chapel.  The body will be sent to his native Pennsylvania for interment."   (Portola Reporter)

September 22, 1960:   "Lookouts maintained by the Plumas National Forest, primarily to spot forest fires, have proved a major tourist attraction this year, according to figures compiled this week by the Forest Service.
      A total of 3,695 visitors have gone to the high spot to look over the Feather River Country and environs.
      The Mills Peak lookout, in the central area was by far the most popular of the 21 lookouts, according to the Forest Service figures, with 1520 visitors from June 19 to last Sunday.
      A good road leads to the lookout station, at an elevation of 7,374 feet, where T.L. Louton is in charge."   (Indian Valley Record)

​July 1, 1971:   "Audrey Flury is now at Mills Peak Lookout.  She has been an observer at lookouts since 1963, and has served on Mt. Ingalls, Smith, and now Mills Peak.  The lookout, located about three miles from Gold Lake, receives close to 2,200 visitors a year."   (Portola Reporter)

​June 19, 1975:   "Linfred Ness, former owner of Ness' Arco Station, is the new fire lookout on Mills Peak.  On his first day, he made a pinpoint spotting of a fire at milepost 313.3 above Clio on the Western Pacific tracks.  The U.S. Forest Service responded with tanker units and the fire was controlled at less than three acres."   (Portola Reporter)

​August 28, 1975:   "Lin and May Ness are first-year lookouts on Mills Peak."   (Portola Reporter)