FireLookout Ramblings - Strawberry Peak Lookout

Herman Daly Keynote pt. 3

2011-01-23T16:52:00.000-08:00

Eagle View

2009-12-02T02:20:00.000-08:00

Over a mile high, up in the sky
up where the Eagles, Hawks, and Ravens fly
some days you can see forever
scanning the treed horizon
to the mountains far
and you hope that you never
see what you are constantly looking for
checking for smokes
but keeping up hope
that no big ones will arise
keeping your eyes
always on the skies
so that when a grey plume does rise
you will not be caught by surprise
and that small it will be
when spotted and called in by degree
then your job will be done right
and you can sleep well that night
and dispatch on the radio may say
good job up there today
thanks for your good eyes
up there on the hill
giving you the heart and the will
to go back up to the lookout again
and seek for the smokes
whenever they start
knowing you're ready
but never getting too smart
for when you're not looking
is just when they'll come
and it's never easy
to stay always aware
take the challenge and dare
for time passes slowly
till the moment will come
when all happens at once
and you leap into action
with no time to spare
the fire crews stand ready
and the aircraft will fly
the engines will roll
and the choppers take to the sky
so you tend to your mission
and say a quick prayer
God keep me ready
for when a fire does flare
and keep the crews safe
on the line and back to base
when the red fire devil
they have to go out and face.

copyright 2009 Vern Southard
Strawberry Peak Lookout
San Bernardino National Forest

Strawberry Fire Lookout

2009-11-19T21:30:00.000-08:00

Spending time at the Lookout has been an adventure and a learning experience. Volunteering is something that takes a lot of time, just like a job sometimes. But it's worth it. Being a Lookout Leader puts more responsibility into the whole experience. Rewards are simple things, like spotting a smoke, seeing a Bobcat on the top of the peak, incredible views on clear days. More notes and stories will come, as we get ready to close down the Lookout for the season.

Strawberry Lookout Indian Summer

2009-11-19T13:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had wind speeds of 8mph coming from the South, fairly steady and cold. Most of the leaves are gone from the deciduous trees in the Forest, but the pines are still green and full with pine needles, and huge hanging clusters of pine cones.

The marine layer was fairly thick down below in the inland valleys, and the Pacific coast and Santa Catalina
Island were obscured in heavy grey white mists. From 6800 feet elevation the marine layer appears like low cloud hugging the earth, thicker over the sea, and flowing up against the sides of the San Gabriel Mountains to the West.

Cold updrafts blew up the canyons and cliff faces to the South and the ravens practiced aerobatics on the winds. The usual complement of chickadees, nuthatches, finches, and some Juncos flew to the feeders on the Lookout tower to feast on offerings of tasty mixed birdseed, and drink the fresh, cool water I put out for them in suspended containers.

A large group of kids hiked up from PineCrest, the Christian camp to the West, and their camp leaders escorted them on tours of the Lookout. They always want to know if I live there, when they see the bed and stove and sink, like a mini-house. I always explain that the Lookout used to be manned full time and the Lookouts lived in the cab. Now it's just a nine to five during fire season.

The highlight of the day was the sighting of the Bobcat. I may have missed him but one of the hiker guides
spotted movement and there was a majestic full sized bobcat casually ambling across the leafy dry dirt meadow to the East below the communications towers. I got a good look at him through my binoculars
just before he moved off silently and smoothly into the leafy cover of low brush and oaks. Our eyes met for a second, even at seventy five yards, and I'm sure he knew he was being looked at intently. He (or she) had that wide open gaze that knows no fear and says clearly that he belongs there and that his kind will always be there, despite the heavy populations of people and cabins and houses that now are part of this forest.

That alone gave me enough reason to have climbed out of my warm bed early in the morning in a cold November dawn and make my way up to Strawberry Peak for Lookout duty. Just to know that we still have big, healthy bobcats wandering our forest made my day.