Agency: Los Angeles County Forestry Department
Dates: 1927-1938
Tower: NOX-B22’- Non-battered, open galvanized steel angle iron X-brace tower, 22ft
Cab: MB-Metal 8′ X 8′ cab
House: Stone
Status: Demolished/Relocated
Elevation: 8,250 ft
Topo Map: USGS Crystal Lake
Coordinates: 34.3451, -117.8399
Trail reports: ModernHiker, Hundred Peaks Section
Dates: 1927-1938
Tower: NOX-B22’- Non-battered, open galvanized steel angle iron X-brace tower, 22ft
Cab: MB-Metal 8′ X 8′ cab
House: Stone
Status: Demolished/Relocated
Elevation: 8,250 ft
Topo Map: USGS Crystal Lake
Coordinates: 34.3451, -117.8399
Trail reports: ModernHiker, Hundred Peaks Section
Mount Islip (8,250 ft) in the middle high country commands sweeping views over the heart of the San Gabriels, with far-ranging views of the Mojave Desert, the San Gabriel Valley and beyond.
Spectacular Views on the way to Mt. Islip, including the Crystal Lake Basin and beyond
Because of its panoramic vantage point, the Los Angeles County Forestry Department installed a lookout tower here in 1927 under the direction of chief forester Spence D. Turner. The steel for the tower had to be hauled by mule pack train several miles from the nearest road. The county lookout towers in the 1920s (Mount Islip, Mount Gleason, Blue Ridge) were built with a stone hut nearby to serve as living quarters for the lookout staff and their family. On the other hand, the Forest Service lookouts included the living quarters in the cab.
The Mt. Islip lookout tower
The Mt. Islip stone hut which served as the living quarters. Photo credit: Bob Cates
Stone hut buried in snow. Photo credit: Bob Cates
The Islip tower only stood for about a decade until being relocated to South Mount Hawkins in 1938 (although at a certain point it was renovated to include the cab.) Today, the concrete footings of the tower remain on Islip near the stone cabin ruins.
Recollections
The lookout footings on the summit
Some names of lookout personnel gleaned from newspapers include David Heistand in 1929, Sherman Foster in 1931, and Glen E. Keesee in 1938. Sometime in 1938, Keesee was found unconscious on the floor outside of the lookout after suffering from food poisoning. A group of kids found him and called for help while taking over his lookout duties.
The infamous stone hut now
A sizable portion is still standing and is still being used as shelter for backpackers
A look back into history
On one of the lookout tower footings an inscription reads:
L.A. Co Forestry Dept 1927 JJD
PD, KP, OMT
EE, CG, ER
Some initials are hard to determine for sure, but they might belong to the builders or leaders of the county forestry at the time of its installment.
Infinite views from Mt. Islip
This is a great post and valuable history. How was the hike? Route?
I am forever great full for your time spent researching and visiting these historic places.
Thank you for creating a wonderful site! So valuable!
Thanks for visiting this blog Jane! I always appreciate others who love forest history