VENTURA COUNTY
THORNE POINT
Los Padres National Forest
August 30, 1934: "A trail is being built up to the new Thorn Peak lookout." (Santa Maria Daily Times)
September 19, 1946: "To see a condor is one thing. To get close enough to snap a picture of one, as did Lookout Don Johnston of Thorne Point Lookout station, Los Padres National Forest, is entirely another matter.
In fact since there are so few of these rare birds in existence, and since they take to the most remote and inaccessible mountain crags to make their homes, very few actual photos of condors have ever been made." (The Bakersfield Californian)
November 14, 1956: The Forest Service operated a Ground Observer Corps post out of the lookout. (Press-Courier
October 8, 1957: "Austin Mack is the top man in Ventura County, and he's a hard man to meet.
I had to hike up a 3 1/2 mile mountain trail to get an interview with Mr. Mack. He lives at the top of Thorne Point, 6,950 feet above sea level. From May until November Mr. Mack mans the Forest Service Lookout." by, Richard Lytlle (Press-Courier)
July 17, 1958: "It is Austin Mack's fourth year at Thorne Peak Lookout.
Mr. Mack's summer home is 6,650 above sea level. He looks down on most of the forest and can spot smoke miles away. If there should be a fire he uses his radio to report the exact bearing from his peak. The early and accurate reports are vital for quick suppression of forest fires.
The Forest Service installed Mr. Mack on Thorne Point June (?). Since then he has had eight visit him. And during the same time he has seen condors on 12 different days.
So he has seen more of the rare condors than he has seen people. He keeps a record of the days he spots the giant bird." (Press-Courier)