Tower Watch - August 28-29, 2004

August 28, 2004

7:11 AM

Time to go... Susan takes a picture of me as I get ready to head for the tower.

Time to stop for supplies.  Must pick up water, food and what ever else I need for the trip.

On the way up the hill, I stop by one of my favorite places.  It is a Model Railroad swapmeet that is held once every two months and it just happens to be this weekend.  Well, maybe I can stop for a short visit.  hehehe

Turns out they had some neat stuff that I just had to have.

- 468

This is a new road for me, Big Tujunga Canyon Road to take up the mountain, and I am not sure if it is faster then Highway 2 that I usually take, but chalk it up to the "road less traveled."

I pull off the road to get a shot at Mount Vetter in the distance to the East as the Sun rising slowly over the San Gabriel Mountain Range.

The entry to Charlton Flats is still closed to the public due to the extreame fire danger.

The tower sitting closed.  I have to prepare for its opening.

Lets see if I can do this... carry the brace, hold the camera, press the button... and presto! one picture.

A shot looking back at the outhouse.

Getting the last of the shutters opened.

After I opened the Lookout, there was plenty of dead flies, bees and other bugs.  Time to get the broom.

I have the lookout open and have called "In Service".  It is a nice clear day.

I take some time to go through some of the books in the Lookout and review some of the fire management and organization structure.

A bird in the hand...  Yeup I have them eating out of my hand.  These are my favorite wild birds because they are fairly fearless.  He enjoys his lunch but I'm getting hungry too.

Ok time for lunch.  Here are the basic ingredients of a Tuna and Cracker snack pack that I purchased from the store.

One package of mayonase, a can of Tuna, some pickle relesh and crackers.  A couple of pineapple cups and my favorite Gatoraid and I'm set.

Mix it all up and the Tuna spread is ready.

Another visitor rides his bike up Mt. Vetter.

Coulter Campground is between the Little Pines and Manzanita Loops of the Chilao Campground.  It is a group camp with 4 tables vault toilets and one water faucet.

All fires, even inside the campgrounds are prohibited yet there is a small campfire in the Little Pines loop of Chilao and I call it in to dispatch.  A patrol unit is dispatched to douse the fire.

The area is so dry, that any fire could be a disaster at this time.  Although I feel bad for the campers, they should have known the regulations and the danger.  There is a new campaign called, "Know before you go" for this very reason.

Montrose Search and Rescue, a Los Angeles Sheriff Department Volunteer sqaud drives up to the lookout.

These are tough and hard working Volunteers that patrol the mountains and perform life saving emergency rescue services.

In 2004 the Montrose Deputies answerd 71 calls for help.

Check out their website at: Montrose Search & Rescue

What a nice day with Old Glory flapping in the wind.

Sun is going down, and a blue car drives up to the Lookout.  I know who that is...

Bob and Maria show up as they have just finished their other volunteer duty at the Chilao Visitor Center.  If you have been watching these logs, you will know that Bob is also the team leader for Vetter Mountain and often likes to drop in to see how things are going.

Dinner time for both of us.   I call "Out of Service" and prepare my dinner.  Dispatch requested that all fire assets remain on duty later due to the fire danger, but 8 PM is the release time for all of us.

This is an interesting shot because I forced the camera to use the flash but because there was enough light in the background, the hummingbird looks like a ghost.

The shadows are getting long as shadow of Mount Vetter is extending over the San Gabriels.

The moon rises in the East.  During the night I had to make several calls to Patrol 16 and we worked directly to find about 12 campfires in Chilao and Coulter Campgrounds.

It was a busy night.

"Know before you go!"

The Sun sets on a wonderful day.  During the night I had to make several calls to Dispatch, and I was able to work directly with Patrol 16 to find about 12 campfires in Chilao and Coulter Campgrounds.

It was a busy night.

"Know before you go!"

7:29 AM

The Sun rises again, just as predicted it would.  There are many native cultures around the world, where the elders of the tribes awake to sing the Sunrise.  For all our sakes, I am glad they do that.  I am not one to tell them to stop... because the risk is too great.

Time for breakfast.  Looks like a squirel is getting a jump on the birds this morning by getting his cerel of seeds.

Incoming!

Here is my buddy coming back for "a free handout!"

Here comes the next Lookout shift and my relef for today.  When he arrives I brief him on the activities of the previous day and night.

We both do some work around the Lookout but we need more water for the critters and a special project.

I take off my shirt (so I don't soil it) get some more water from the tank.  It is only about 1/8 full.  There's that "Happy to be a Lookout Grin".

Now I know what the special project was.  What a great idea to blow bubbles off the lookout.  They travel far from the mountain top, but they eventually sucumb to the blistering dry air and pop out of existance.

Ahhh, the life of being a Fire Lookout (grin).

Well as the bubbles find their way through the air, its time for me to come off the mountain as I know the range is in good hands.

This job is serious duty, but there is always room for a little light hearted fun.

The next few days, and months will be very interesting.