MILK RANCH PEAK
Tulare County - Sequoia National Park
May 30, 1952: "Mrs. Rose Vaughn, for nine years a fire lookout at 9,000 foot Cahoon Rock on the south fork of the Kings River the highest lookout station in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, has gone to a new station at Milk Ranch Peak north of the Mineral King Road.
Instead of packing back 15 miles from Atwells Mill as formerly, Mrs. Vaughn rode directly to her station in a pickup, which relieved her of the careful packing necessary for transportation by mule.
Last year near the end of the season Mrs. Vaughn became seriously ill at her remote high Sierra station and was carried out on a stretcher over the 15 miles of trail. She has recovered completely." (The Fresno Bee The Republican)
Instead of packing back 15 miles from Atwells Mill as formerly, Mrs. Vaughn rode directly to her station in a pickup, which relieved her of the careful packing necessary for transportation by mule.
Last year near the end of the season Mrs. Vaughn became seriously ill at her remote high Sierra station and was carried out on a stretcher over the 15 miles of trail. She has recovered completely." (The Fresno Bee The Republican)
August 1, 1952: "Mrs. Rose Vaughn, lookout at Milk Ranch Peak, has been praised for an unusual job of detection in locating a fire in her old district. Having served nine years as Cahoon Rock lookout, she was sure there would be lightning strikes there after the thunderstorm.
Since there was no communication with Cahoon she kept scanning that area with binocular and at 9 PM pinpointed a tiny glow. Rangers Ted Thompson and fire control aide L. McClannahan were dispatched and they had quite a time locating the fire one half mile below Horse Creek in a burning snag. The pitchy juniper could have created a serious fire by dropping burning sparks to set off a ground fire. These trees burn until consumed.
Mrs. Vaughn in all her time as lookout never yet has called a false fire, considered a record in view of the ease of confusing smoke and fog. She said Bob Roberts, for many years lookout at Milk Ranch, taught her a column of fog will break off in little streamers, but smoke clings together. Also fog usually is whiter." (The Fresno Bee The Republican)
July 13, 1972: "Former local dairy farmer, service station owner and tomato farmer Willard Layton of Bonita is once again watching out for fires high atop his 'Milk ranch Lookout Station' in Sequoia National Park." (Chula Vista Star-News)