13th Annual Open House/Campout Event Schedule - Oct. 11, 2014

Please RSVP if you are planning to attend the event and the number of people in your group by contacting Steve Schubert at s_schub1@msn.com or phone # (805) 528-6138

The open house event at Hi Mountain Lookout formally begins at 12:30pm, with introductions, condor program updates, lookout tours, guided field trips, potluck dinner, evening program presentations, star gazing, and an optional overnight campout.

Visitors will find parking available close to the lookout throughout the day. Note: high clearance vehicles with 4-wheel drive highly recommended for the unpaved 6 mile drive from Pozo to Hi Mountain – rough road conditions in places.

Morning activity:
Bird watching field trip 9:00am - 11:30am
Pozo to Hi Mountain (elev. 3,199 ft), Santa Lucia Mountains, Los Padres National Forest
Meet 9am at Pozo Ranger Station. Field trip participants are encouraged to car pool from Pozo.
Habitats: grassland, riparian woodland (at Salinas River crossing), oak woodlands & chaparral
Field trip leader: Jessica Griffiths, Morro Coast Audubon Society
NOTE: advanced registration is required to attend the birding field trip, limited to 15 participants
Register with Steve at s_schub1@msn.com or phone # (805) 528-6138

Schedule of open house activities at Hi Mountain Lookout:

Kids’ activities - 11:00am to 2pm, ongoing  

-making plaster-of-paris animal tracks; condor biology and radio tracking demonstrations

Picnic lunch   11:30am -12:30pm   (bring your own lunch)   

-tour the Hi Mountain Lookout facilities and Interpretive Center

- sign the guest register

Welcoming comments   12:30pm

Introductions of Hi Mountain Lookout staff, volunteers, and college student interns

by Steve Schubert, Lookout Project Volunteer Coordinator, Morro Coast Audubon Society &

Dr. Francis Villablanca, Professor, Cal Poly Biological Sciences Department

Morning birding field trip report by trip leader

Led by Jessica Griffiths, Morro Coast Audubon Society

Updates on the California Condor Recovery Program

by Condor staff  

Condor radio tracking demonstration

by Hi Mountain Lookout volunteers

Note: Those interested in becoming new volunteers for the lookout project are encouraged to meet with our staff to arrange future training for condor radiotelemetry, facilities use, and scheduling

Auction of donated items and merchandise sales   1:00pm  

Lookout Project annual fundraiser

Afternoon activities and field trips:

1:30pm   

Geographical landmarks - a 360 degree view from the Pacific Coast to the Sierra Nevada - and demonstration of the original Hi Mountain Lookout firefinder

Led by Kevin Cooper, Zone Wildlife Biologist, Los Padres National Forest

2:00 pm   

Native Plant Identification and Geology Walk along the crest of the Santa Lucia Mountains on Hi Mountain Lookout Road

Led by Dr. Dirk Walters and Dr. David Chipping, San Luis Obispo Chapter, California Native Plant Society

3:00 pm

Birding by ear (songs and call notes) and watch for raptors in flight - meet on the lookout catwalk

Led by Jessica Griffiths, Morro Coast Audubon Society

3:30pm

California Condor talk by Vince Gerwe and Martin Fletcher, Friends of California Condors Wild & Free

Sunset watch and dinner   6:00 – 7:00pm   Saucelito Canyon Vineyard &Winery wine serving, compliments of Nancy and Bill Greenough, owners

Gas stove and oven in the lookout facilities are available for cooking and heating food.

Participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share with their friends and guests.

Note: no open campfires, camping stoves or backpacking stoves are permitted for cooking or during the overnight campout.

Evening programs   beginning 7pm (wear layered clothing)   PowerPoint slide show presentations:

7:00 -7:15 pm

The summer internship program and biological field research projects at Hi Mountain, presented by the summer 2014 Cal Poly student interns

7:15 -7:30pm

Condor nesting update by Vince Gerwe, Friends of California Condors Wild & Free

7:30 -8:15 pm

Movie presentation “Life in a Condor Cave” by Molly Astell, California Condor Nest Technician, Santa Barbara Zoo

Astronomy observations

Telescopes will be set up for observations of the evening skies

Optional Hi Mountain campout

Camping sites are available Saturday night at ‘Cypress Hill’ near the lookout.  Bring your own potable water.  No open campfires, camping or backpacking stoves permitted – extreme fire hazard

Read More