Los Padres Presentation -  August 05, 2004

August 5, 2004

Field Trip!!

Our volunteer organization was called by a volunteer group known as the "Grapevine Adventure Association" in order to make a presentation for the Los Padres National Forest, regarding how we conduct our volunteer service for the Angeles National Forest.

Los Padres has several Lookout Towers that are not in use, and they are interested in staffing them with volunteers, so George (our vice president) and I head out to the Los Pinos Ranger District Office to give our presentation, and later take a tour of Fraizer Peak Lookout.
The Los Padres National Forest encompasses 1.75 million acres in the coastal mountains of central California, just North of Los Angeles.  The forest stretches 220 miles from Big Sur Coast in Monteray to the western edge of Los Angeles County.  The "main division" of the forest includes lands within San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern Counties.

The Los Padres National Forest is a member of the California Condor Recovery Program. And has been an active player in the reintroduction of California condors into the wild. Currently there are forty-four condors in the wild population in Los Padres National Forest (at this writing). The forest manages two condor sanctuaries, the 1200-acre Sisquoc Condor Sanctuary in Santa Barbara County and the 53,000-acre Sespe Condor Sanctuary in Ventura County.
George and I arrive to meet District Ranger Tom Kuekes with Mike Berg, president of the Grapevine Adventure Association.

We made our presentation regarding the Angeles Forest National Fire Lookout Association and provided metrics regarding number of visitors and other vital statistics.

In speaking with Tom on the phone, and at the meeting he was very interested in hearing ideas regarding the historic lookouts in his district.  We had a good meeting and received a professional and warm recpetion all around.
After our meeting at the office, Mike took George and me up to inspect Frazier lookout tower.
At first glance, the lookout tower looks like it is ready to fall over, but in fact it is in fair to good shape and could be saved with some work.
We unlock the gate and climb up into the lookout.  There were some loose boards so we took great care as we moved about, just in case.
This is the first view from the door way into the lookout.

These pictures were taken on August 5, 2004 on the day we visited the lookout, and this webpage was posted to this server on December 26, 2005.  I make that plain because about a month after these pictures was taken, we heard from Mike that the lookout was vandelized, so I have no idea to what extent the damage was done.
Looking to the left of the door.
I don't think I would sleep on that mattress.
George takes a look out the windows and considers the possibilities.
The floor was littered with old log entries from the 1970's and I started to pick them up, but was told to leave everything as is, so I did with regret.  

I did advise that these documents should be saved before something happend to them.
The lookout is in good shape after all.  Here is the Osborne Stand but of course there is no Osborne, nor anything of value left in the Lookout.
From the tower - Looking Northwest

The views from 8013 feet are wonderful.
From the tower - Looking North

I could just imagine seeing a passing Condor from this view.
From the tower - Looking East

Sunrises must be fantastic from here.
From the tower - Looking South

You can see for miles and miles.  Just over that far range is the Pacific Ocean.
From the tower - Looking West

Sunsets would be nice, even if you do have to look through a radio tower.
I wonder if I could make a grill cheese sandwich by simply leaving it on the lookout tower handrail.  I wonder if I would glow in the dark, or if there would be voices in my head.

This picture really shows the contrast of two different ages, both contained in a single man's lifetime.

The number of radio and communications antennas might be an issue, but I am sure an FCC inspection could make a risk/hazard assesment regarding exposure levels, and volunteers have the final choice based on that information.
Mike and George wave to me as I walk around the Lookout.  While I am out walking around taking pictures, they are talking about what could be done to bring this tower back into service.
This would take some work, but work is what volunteers do for love of what we do.  Some paint, lumber and a few pieces of hardware and this tower could be "In Service" once again not only as a Fire Lookout, but also as an information center for visitors.

Sure would be nice to see a flag fly over this lookout once again.
There is an outhouse nearby, so what more do you need?  It is well maintained.
There are many that say the days of the Lookouts are over, that they are outdated and their time has come and gone.  However, lookout towers still provide another set of eyes on the forest and from their high up perches and volunteer labor, they are more economical than an fire engine on patrol burning gas at the bottom of a canyon.

They are also "information kyosks" in the wilds and serve as aid stations for those lost or in need of help.  The Fraizer Lookout should be saved by a volunteer organization with cooperation from the Forest Service.  A win-win.

The day of the lookout is not over for those like me that can take the time to watch the Sun dissapear behind a far-off mountain ridge from a lookout tower high on its mountain peak.  Someday, I hope a fire lookout like me will see the Sunrise over Frazier Tower once again.
As we left the Los Padres National Forest, George and I were excited for Mike and the prospects of establishing a volunteer lookout organization, but sadly to this date, a year and a half later, nothing has happend in this regard.  There is no one to credit, and no one to blame.  It's just another sunset everyday.

As long as the bulldozers are kept at bay, hope may still exist for the Los Padres lookout towers.

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