Lookout Charley

In Tower Training Day

In-Tower training and checkout:
Vetter Mountain Fire Lookout from Highway 2 looking across the valley at full 5x zoom on the camera.
The tower resides at 5,908 feet above the Big Tujunga canyon.
Tower Numbers: US: 294 CA: 27 ANF: A7
The tower is located at:
Latitude/Longitude 34.2972°N, 118.0287°W ( 34°, 17', 49.9" N; 118°, 1', 43.3" W )
The legal description is: California, San Bernardino Meridian T3N,R11W,sec33
UTM zone 11 (X,Y) 405332 , 3795589

The locked gate leading up to the tower. It is about a mile walk to the tower from here, but at this tower I have access to the gate and can drive right up to the tower.

My tower instructor, Bob Moore is striking the colors for the day.
I arrive at the tower on July 14, 2003 and will spend the night in my Explorer, while Bob stays in the tower.
By doing it this way, I will get some night training in as I will be doing several night shifts.

Inside the cab looking Southeast. Note the radio and the Osborne on the center stand. Just out of view is the bed and the map table.

My smoke drill test on the "Osborne Fire Locator" device. I passed. Note the Jay on top of the Yucca Tree. You will notice in later logs how the flowers of the Yucca will fall, and the plant will eventually die. I'll try to photograph for you.
Yucca was is used by Native Americans as a shampoo, the fruit as a food source, and the fibers were used to make cordage for baskets, sandals, mats, string and rope.
Today Yucca is used to create the foam in many kinds of Root Beer soft drinks.

Oh man how good is this (grin).
Time to relax and enjoy the view. Sunset over Messenger Flats in the East. Weather station down below.

Vetter Mountain Tower after sunset. The tower is called a "ground cab" because it sits on a rock outcropping.
The tower is 14' x 14' on the inside. You can see the lightning rod at the peak of the roof, with the flag pole behind.

"A lonely place at night."
Keeping watch on campfires in the distance. All is well.
Radio call:
"Angeles, Vetter Mountain, out of service".
"Copy, Vetter Mountain, out of service 2200 hours."

City view at night. Looking down on the San Gabriel Valley and Rose Hills in the distance. It is said you can see the fireworks at Disneyland.

Sunrise on the tower, time to put up the flags and make our in-service call to dispatch.
Pretty quiet night, but Bob said he heard about three gun shots in the distance. No worries for us.

A little Hummingbird comes to visit. The tower gets many wild visitors including bear, coyote, fox, wildcats, cougars and more birds than I can count. I'm going to keep my camera ready when I'm on shift.

Keeping watch on the campgrounds for smoke. Most fires can start in the morning when the sun comes up and dries out the air.
Mount Baldy is in the far background.

First hikers of the day. We had about 32 for Sunday. Light traffic considering Father's day. I was able to call my father from my personal cell phone so it's nice that I have coverage from here. He told me how proud he was and that was a great Father's day gift.
Sheriff department paramedic rescue stopped by to say hello.

Checking out cars parked on Highway 2 and on Short cut canyon. I felt like a Hawk while keeping an eye on the forest.

End of training and I have passed all my tests. Tower locked up for now. I'm fully qualified to start my duty as a Fire Lookout Volunteer.
Do I look happy?

Return to Mountain Hawk Fire Lookout Index

	In-Tower training and checkout: Vetter Mountain Fire Lookout from Highway 2 looking across the valley at full 5x zoom on the camera. The tower resides at 5,908 feet above the Big Tujunga canyon. Tower Numbers: US: 294 CA: 27 ANF: A7 The tower is located at: Latitude/Longitude 34.2972°N, 118.0287°W ( 34°, 17', 49.9" N; 118°, 1', 43.3" W ) The legal description is: California, San Bernardino Meridian T3N,R11W,sec33 UTM zone 11 (X,Y) 405332 , 3795589
	The locked gate leading up to the tower. It is about a mile walk to the tower from here, but at this tower I have access to the gate and can drive right up to the tower.
	My tower instructor, Bob Moore is striking the colors for the day. I arrive at the tower on July 14, 2003 and will spend the night in my Explorer, while Bob stays in the tower. By doing it this way, I will get some night training in as I will be doing several night shifts.
	Inside the cab looking Southeast. Note the radio and the Osborne on the center stand. Just out of view is the bed and the map table.
	My smoke drill test on the "Osborne Fire Locator" device. I passed. Note the Jay on top of the Yucca Tree. You will notice in later logs how the flowers of the Yucca will fall, and the plant will eventually die. I'll try to photograph for you. Yucca was is used by Native Americans as a shampoo, the fruit as a food source, and the fibers were used to make cordage for baskets, sandals, mats, string and rope. Today Yucca is used to create the foam in many kinds of Root Beer soft drinks.
	Oh man how good is this (grin). Time to relax and enjoy the view. Sunset over Messenger Flats in the East. Weather station down below.
	Vetter Mountain Tower after sunset. The tower is called a "ground cab" because it sits on a rock outcropping. The tower is 14' x 14' on the inside. You can see the lightning rod at the peak of the roof, with the flag pole behind.
	"A lonely place at night." Keeping watch on campfires in the distance. All is well. Radio call: "Angeles, Vetter Mountain, out of service". "Copy, Vetter Mountain, out of service 2200 hours."
	City view at night. Looking down on the San Gabriel Valley and Rose Hills in the distance. It is said you can see the fireworks at Disneyland.
	Sunrise on the tower, time to put up the flags and make our in-service call to dispatch. Pretty quiet night, but Bob said he heard about three gun shots in the distance. No worries for us.
	A little Hummingbird comes to visit. The tower gets many wild visitors including bear, coyote, fox, wildcats, cougars and more birds than I can count. I'm going to keep my camera ready when I'm on shift.
	Keeping watch on the campgrounds for smoke. Most fires can start in the morning when the sun comes up and dries out the air. Mount Baldy is in the far background.
	First hikers of the day. We had about 32 for Sunday. Light traffic considering Father's day. I was able to call my father from my personal cell phone so it's nice that I have coverage from here. He told me how proud he was and that was a great Father's day gift. Sheriff department paramedic rescue stopped by to say hello.
	Checking out cars parked on Highway 2 and on Short cut canyon. I felt like a Hawk while keeping an eye on the forest.
	End of training and I have passed all my tests. Tower locked up for now. I'm fully qualified to start my duty as a Fire Lookout Volunteer. Do I look happy?