Old Baldy Mountain Lookout Site

A Forest Service bulletin on April 9, 1934 said the following: Baldy Mt. Lookout, which has been occupied by a fireman-lookout for a six-weeks period each the past two years, has been without telephone communication. In 1932 P Radio Set No. 73 was used. Schedules with SP 32 on North 20-Mile Peak Lookout and with SP 28 on Granite Mt. Lookout were maintained throughout this period. Four to eight schedules per day were established, the number depending upon burning conditions. Not one of these schedules was missed, and messages were transmitted and received 100 percent throughout this period. In 1933 this Lookout Fireman was furnished PF Set No. 22. This set was not equipped with a key and voice was used entirely. And during this season messages were received and transmitted 100 percent on schedule.

During the summer of 1934, an L-4 cab was built. On September 21 panoramic pictures were taken.

In 1950 a USGS party used the highest point of the roof for sighting. They called it a standard forest service lookout house on the highest point of the mountain.

In 1953 the lookout was destroyed.

In 1956, the USGS went to the summit to place the benchmark. They made no mention of the lookout. Bencharmk was stamped OLD BALDY 1956.

Note: there is (I believe) an error in the book Fire Lookouts of the Northwest, page 169 showing a picture of Albert Arnst photo team in 1934 taking panoramic images on the roof fo Old Baldy. But the image is Stormy Mountain Lookout.

There was a trail at first at the pass but it quickly disappeared. An easy off trail scramble/hike after that.