SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
LA CUMBRE PEAK
Los Padres National Forest
June 21, 1922: "La Cumbre Peak is to be made a secondary lookout station by the forestry department in the near future, it was announced by Supervisor C.E. Jordan yesterday. The work of installing the necessary equipment will be begun immediately after the first of July.
Inasmuch as La Cumbre to begin with is to be only a secondary station; that is, one where a lookout is stationed but a part of the time, it will not be fitted out with standard equipment. Facilities will be provided for taking observations, and as there is already a telephone stationed near the peak, it will not be necessary to install an instrument at the new station.
It is the plan of the forestry department to make La Cumbre a primary lookout eventually, but action in this matter will probably be deferred until next year. When this takes place a standard lookout station will be constructed on the peak where a man will be stationed continually during the fire season.
The establishment on La Cumbre of a lookout station is part of the program being carried out by the forestry office this year for improving the system of keeping guard in the forest areas." (Morning Press)
Inasmuch as La Cumbre to begin with is to be only a secondary station; that is, one where a lookout is stationed but a part of the time, it will not be fitted out with standard equipment. Facilities will be provided for taking observations, and as there is already a telephone stationed near the peak, it will not be necessary to install an instrument at the new station.
It is the plan of the forestry department to make La Cumbre a primary lookout eventually, but action in this matter will probably be deferred until next year. When this takes place a standard lookout station will be constructed on the peak where a man will be stationed continually during the fire season.
The establishment on La Cumbre of a lookout station is part of the program being carried out by the forestry office this year for improving the system of keeping guard in the forest areas." (Morning Press)
April 8, 1923: "A glass structure for the forestry lookout to be stationed on the top of La Cumbre peak, is to be built by the forestry service at once. La Cumbre rises high above Santa Ynes range, back of Santa Barbara, and from it the lookout will be able to scan the forest for many miles. A telephone line will connect the peak station with the headquarters office in the Federal building here. Night and day a lookout will be on duty in the glass house throughout the summer and fall season." (San Francisco Chronicle)
September 7, 1923: "Along the mountain crest overlooking this city a dramatic battle was in progress this morning between flames and forest rangers endeavoring to save the forest lookout station on La Cumbre peak. The forest fire, which had been burning eastward, because of a sudden change in the wind, turned westward again and from three sides swept toward the station, which was recently completed. (Santa Cruz Evening News)
October 3, 1930: "Forestry road crews are now working on the first section of the proposed highway from San Marcos road to La Cumbre lookout." (Santa Maria Daily Times)
June 27, 1931: "The first stretch of mountain summit road extending from San Marcos Pass along the mountain ridge to U.S. forest lookout on La Cumbre peak, has been completed, and is open to the public under strict regulations, which sets the maximum driving speed at 15 miles an hour.
It is a one-way road with ample driving room, and frequent turnouts safe to the careful driver, but not safe to persons who speed up. For this reason the public is cautioned by the forest service to drive over the road slowly and carefully." (Santa Maria Daily Times)
November 4, 1931: "Prediction that the new Camino Cielo road, or Ridge Route, completed to La Cumbre Peak Lookout Station will be widened and improved by the county and ultimately by the United States Forest Service, is made by Supervisor Stanwood of Santa Barbara." (Coronado Eagle and Journal)
August 19, 1932: "Laine Davis of Los Olivos yesterday was named lookout on La Cumbre peak for the U. S. Forest service, it was announced by Warren T. Murphy, assistant forest supervisor." (Santa Ynez Valley News)
September 16, 1932: "Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Davis and family visited Laine Davis who is lookout on La Cumbre peak for the W.S.F.S." (Santa Ynez Valley News)
May 13, 1938: "La Cumbre lookout station on the summit of Santa Ynez mountain range will open next Friday." (Santa Maria Daily Times)
August 19, 1938: "Of about 5000 or more visitors that visit the La Cumbre Lookout, Los Padres, in the six months of fire season, the lookout man has observed an interesting fact.
Foreign and eastern visitors are the most courteous, like to ask questions about trees and shrubbery but do not seem to be fire conscious. Of the many foreign visitors, the Germans seem to be the most fire conscious, seemingly due to the more rigid forest rules in Germany.
Western people are very fire conscious as they all know how this brush burns. This appears to be due to our extensive fire prevention publicity, but westerners are the least courteous. -Chas. Rubick, Lookout Man - Los Padres -" (California Ranger)
March 5, 1969: "June 1925: Lookout Moore, on La Cumbre Peak, said that the Lookout Station swayed violently and the mountains looked like the sea tossed by a storm. They were swaying back and forth like gigantic waves." (Star-News) Article describing the experience of an earthquake.