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South Mt. Hawkins Press Day #1 - May 21, 2004 |
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South Mt. Hawkins Press Day #1 - May 21, 2004 |
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May 21, 2004To help bring media attention to the South Mount Hawkins rebuilding effort, I have stepped up to the challenge as the group's Public Information Officer. It was my intention to have two days where the press could come and see where we are going to build the tower. The Pasadena Star News responded as did KFWB Radio. Here the PSN reporter met myself, George, and Kermit to be escorted to the summit. |
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As we proceeded to the summit, we entered the fog of the shrouding clouds. |
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I had to stop at this sign and tell the reporter that it is because of
this sign that I am a member of the Forest Service Fire Lookouts. There
is a trail that goes up from the road to a saddle on the mountain, then on
to a campground called Little Jimmy.
I would hike this trail as a boy scout and with my high school friends many times, and I always wanted to take the road to the South Mount Hawkins Lookout but never did. When I recieved news that the Tower had burned down in the Curve Fire, I was saddend. I dontated the first $100 to the fund and joined the program so I could help in the effort to rebuild the tower. |
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Continuing up the road, the fog and rocks increase. This is not a road for the weak-of-heart. The road can be climbed with 2 wheel drive, but the vehicle should have high clearence. |
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Looking at the summit, there should be a Lookout Tower there but it's gone. |
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George looks around at the top of the clouds and talks with the reporter about the important mission of the Lookout. |
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Kermit prepares the map that will be used today and also for tomorrow when the summit will go in service briefly. |
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Doing what I do best... spokesmodel. I pose for press pictures
while the PSN Photographer snaps away.
Tomorrow, Ric will be the fire lookout at the table, but today, there is not much to see but the tops of clouds. |
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The PSN photographer checks out the table, model, and osborne. He was really fasinated in the program and our effort to rebuild the tower. |
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Driving down off the mountains we crossed the stream on the road. This is a muddy crossing and I was glad my 4x4 was able to cross it with no problem. |
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Heading back down Azusa Canyon, the Morris Dam holds the water that will be used by the residents of the San Gabriel Valley for drinking water. The tower helps protect this watershed. |
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Reality shot... on the way home I hit this traffic on the 101 freeway and I had to include it here as a reminder how close we are to the mountains, yet at times it seems like those mountains are so far away from the city. |
