July 1940 photo
Registry Numbers | US 1729, CA 20 (view other lookout sites in United States, California) |
Date Registered | July 30, 2018 |
Nominated by | Michael Guerin |
Location |
Angeles National Forest / San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Los Angeles County, California |
Coordinates |
N 34° 12.999' W 117° 41.359' (view using Google Maps) N 34° 12' 60" W 117° 41' 22" N 34.216648° W 117.689311° |
Elevation | 5,796 ft (1,767 m) |
Built | 1927 |
Removed | 1974 |
Administered by | U.S. Forest Service |
Sunset Peak replaced the former site on what is now known as Lookout Mountain, across the saddle to the north. Photographs appear to show it as an L-4 or BC-301 cab atop a 20 ft. steel tower. There was a small residence to the north and a cistern to the south. (The corrugated metal remains over what is believed to be the cistern.). Besides that all that remains are the footings for the tower and the foundation for the house.
Ron Kemnow's site recounts stories of a 1928 lightning storm that destroyed the cabin, construction of the motorway in 1938 (eliminating the need of a pack train to bring supplies,) and a December 1938 fire which threatened the tower. Nonetheless, lookout Sherman Foster remained at his post. Both he and the tower survived.
The cab and tower were reportedly disassembled and transported to the Ontario Air Tanker Base in 1974 or 75. The final disposition of the structure is unknown.
2013 photo of site
2013 photo of cabin foundation
2013 photo of cistern roofing
2013 photo of tower footing
1963 photo
1940
1927 - First year of operation
Circa 1975 - Just prior to dismantling for transport to the Ontario Tanker Base
Cab removed for relocation - Circa 1975