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| Slide Mountain Fire Lookout Tower |
Looming above Pyramid Lake and the Piru Creek drainage sits Slide Mountain and it's infamous Fire Lookout Tower. The Tower was Built in 1969 as part of the Pyramid Reservoir Project. The 365 foot metal tower was positioned atop the mountain by helicopter and served the needs of the USFS for around a decade before being closed in the early 80's. Many of the Fire lookouts in the Angeles and Los Padres have been lost over the years to closures, budget cuts and natural disasters. Too see one still standing and in such pristine condition is a real treat. In 2003 It was was restored by
ANFFLA ( Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association ). Currently they are still looking for Volunteer Hikers to man the station. If your interested in applying and taking the course check out their website for further details.
https://www.anffla.org/training/
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| Hikers Wanted |
The Trailhead for Slide Mountain starts at
Frenchman's flat the main gateway to access Piru creek and the closed road leading toward Pyramid dam. From the 5 Freeway heading north exit Templin Hwy, turn left to go under the bridge and make an immediate right onto old hwy 5. Continue along this road until it dead ends at the Frenchman's Flat camping area and the Locked white Gate. Park here (see picture below) along the road in the designated parking spaces and make sure you display your adventure pass, as the rangers often roll by and check. Parking is plentiful and restrooms are located just west of the parking area.
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| Frenchman's Flat Parking area |
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| Trailhead Restrooms |
The first 1.7 miles is along the paved Road. Frenchman's Flat was and still is a popular fishing and camping area. (Trout are no longer stocked here by DFG but the wild population is still semi okay). I believe up until sometime in the 80's you could drive past the white gate, however that is no longer an option. I'm not a huge fan of hiking asphalt so when here fishing or hiking I normally bring my bike and or scooter for anything along the paved section.
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| Opted for my scooter along the paved road |
Pass through the gate and follow the paved road along Piru Creek toward the Dam. Fishing is allowed here with a valid California Fishing license. The season runs all year with a 5 trout limit, HOWEVER from Pyramid Dam downstream about 300 yards below the Lake to the bridge is closed all year to fishing. From the same bridge down to the falls (about a 1/2 mile above the old highway 99 bridge) Is a wild trout fishery and only artificial lures and barbless hooks may be used. There is a zero take limit. Below this point and all the way south to Lake Piru along the creek has no special regulations with a normal 5 trout limit.
As I mentioned above approximately 1.7 miles look to your left for another white locked gate leading west up the mountain this will be your route up to Slide Mtn(18w04). Here if you rode a bike you should probably lock it up to the gate post. I hid my scooter in the bushes nearby.
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| Leave payment and head up dirt track here |
From here the path starts out a wide jeep trail and eventually narrows down to a single track. This section is well maintained and very easy to follow. It's about 3 and half (all uphill) miles to the top. With a fair amount of switchbacks. When traversing the west side of the mountain sections you will get some morning shade. Along the way up you will get some very nice views of Lake Pyramid, Cobblestone Mountain and a whole host of other surrounding mountain Peaks. At the top the views are even better. You get the an incredible perspective of the whole area with a commanding look down into the Piru Creek drainage all the way to lake Piru.
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| Slide Mtn Fire Lookout |
Summit Register
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| Emergency Water Box |
The tower is in great shape and you can climb the stairs to the top and take look around. The door to get inside is locked however the tower is wrapped in clear glass windows that give you a great view inside. There is a pit toilet outside, Summit register, water tank and even an emergency box filled with water bottles should you need some. Be careful reaching into the box as a big black widow spider lives inside guarding the water. I think next year I will take the class and return back for a night or 2 of volunteering.
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| A look at the kitchen |
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| The bed and desk |
Pit Toilet and Water Tank
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| Pyramid Lake and Chumash Island |
My favorite site was the view of Pyramid Lake and Chumash Island. (I wonder why it got that name). I get the sense that they found a lot of Chumash artifacts or other evidence here before they filled in the lake with water. Never to be seen again what was once below.
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| Looking South Down onto the Piru Creek Drainage |
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| View of Cobblestone Mountain |
The temps were blazing today by 10am it was already in the mid 90's. My original plan was to hit Slide Mtn and then descend back down to do some fishing in Piru Creek. I need to test out my new
Tenkara USA Rod before my trip in a few weeks back into the golden Trout Wilderness. This time come hell or high water I'm catching me that damn elusive Golden Trout.
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| Rhodo Tenkara Rod and Flies |
Due to the high temps I couldn't fish very long, I had my dog with me and I did not want her out in those conditions. Oh well still another great day in the Angeles National Forest. My total mileage for the day out and back was 10.9 with about 2400 feet of elevation gain.
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