19th Annual Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Open House Event and 25th Anniversary Celebration

Zoom virtual webinar 9:00am – 11:30am on Saturday, October 30, 2021! The annual open house event was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-pandemic safety guidelines. This year the event is being conducted virtually! The California Central Coast Chapter of The Wildlife Society will be assisting with hosting the Zoom online event this year.

Hi Mountain Lookout has been restored as a biological field research station and visitor center. Take a virtual tour of the interpretive visitor center with condor and other wildlife displays and a collection of local natural history references. The open house schedule includes a ‘meet and greet’ among registered participants, a slide show overview of the 25 year history of the Condor Lookout Project, a virtual tour of the lookout facilities, the geographical landmarks that can be viewed in the distance from the Pacific coast to the snow-covered Sierras, and concluding with a question/answer session and virtual social hour!

Come and discover one of the largest and most endangered flying birds of North America. California Condors are radio tracked by volunteers and Cal Poly student interns from Hi Mountain Lookout, flying from release sites in Central and Southern California. This is an opportunity to learn more about condor biology and the reintroduction of this magnificent endangered species back to the wild.

The Hi Mountain Lookout Project is a collaboration between Morro Coast Audubon Society, U.S. Forest Service at Los Padres National Forest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service California Condor Recovery Program, Cal Poly Biological Sciences Department, Ventana Wildlife Society, and Pinnacles National Park.

The Hi Mountain Lookout Project was founded in 1996 – join us for a 25 th year anniversary celebration! Participants are requested to register in advance (no fee), at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hi-mountain-condor-lookout-open-house-tickets-173816689397

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18th Annual Open House / Campout Saturday, October 5th, 2019

Activities, beginning at 12 noon after the morning bird watching field trip, include introductions, condor program updates, lookout tours, and guided field trips. In the evening there will be a potluck dinner, evening program presentations, star gazing, and an optional overnight campout.

Visitors will find parking available close to the lookout throughout the day. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation. Note: high clearance vehicles such as trucks and SUVs are required for the unpaved 6-mile drive from Pozo to Hi Mountain – there are stretches of rough road conditions with deep ruts along the way!

Read through the pdf below for a detailed schedule of events, hope yop see you there!

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Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Picnic & Social Event Saturday May 4, 2019, 11am – 3pm

Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Picnic & Social Event
Saturday May 4, 2019
11am – 3pm

The event includes condor radio tracking demonstrations, native plant/wildflowers identification, birdwatching/bird vocalizations, geographical landmarks and local geology .

Bring a picnic lunch, snacks, and beverages. Families with children are welcome. Dogs must be on a leash at all times.
Note: High clearance vehicles are required – the road is driveable but rough in places with several deep ruts to be navigated over and around.

Visit the Hi Mountain Lookout Facebook page at www.facebook.com/condorlookout

RSVP’s not required but appreciated - please contact Steve Schubert by e-mail at: s_schub1@msn.com

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Old Hi Mt. Lookout photos

I came across these photos of the Lookout from 1970 the other day. They were taken by J. Delaney and originally posted to this now defunct url: http://www.jdelany.net/1970s/1970/hi-mountain-and-pozo-creek/ Hopefully the web page comes back online because it had a few more cool old images from the Pozo area. luckilly I snagged these two photos before they disappeared. Thanks Mr. Delaney!

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17th Annual Open House / Campout Saturday, October 13th, 2018

Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Project
17th Annual Open House / Campout
Saturday, October 13th, 2018

Bring your own lunch 11:00am to noon. The open house event at Hi Mountain Lookout formally begins at 12 noon, with introductions, condor program updates, lookout tours, and guided field trips. In the evening there will be a potluck dinner, evening program presentations, star gazing, and an optional overnight campout.

Visitors will find parking available close to the lookout throughout the day. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation. Note: high clearance vehicles such as trucks are highly recommended for the unpaved 6 mile drive from Pozo to Hi Mountain – there are stretches of rough road conditions along the way!

Please RSVP if you are planning to attend the open house event and the number of people in your group by contacting Steve Schubert at s_schub1@msn.com or phone # (805) 440-9390

Schedule of open house activities at Hi Mountain Lookout:

Morning activity:
Bird watching field trip – 9:30am- 11:00am 
Hi Mountain Lookout (elev. 3,199 ft.), Santa Lucia Mountains, Los Padres National Forest. Carpooling drive from the lookout on the ridgeline of the Santa Lucia Mountains, towards Big Falls trailhead. Easy walking conditions. Meet 9:30am at Hi Mountain Lookout. Emphasis will be on identification of resident and migrant songbirds, raptors in flight, and birding by ear (what’s that sound?). Habitats: oak woodland & chaparral. Field trip leader: Steve Schubert, Morro Coast Audubon Society

Kids’ activities - 11:00am to 3pm, ongoing
-making plaster-of-paris animal tracks; condor biology and radio tracking demonstrations, and eco-scavenger hunt with prizes awarded for participation

Picnic lunch 11:00am -12:00pm (bring your own lunch and beverages)
-tour the Hi Mountain Lookout facilities and Interpretive Center
-sign the guest register

Welcoming comments 12:00pm
-Introductions of Hi Mountain Lookout staff, volunteers, and college student interns by Steve Schubert, Volunteer Coordinator, Hi Mountain Lookout Project and Kevin Cooper, Wildlife Biologist, Los Padres National Forest
-Morning birding field trip report by trip leader by Steve Schubert
-Updates on the California Condor Recovery Program by Condor staff
-Condor radio tracking demonstration by Hi Mountain Lookout student interns and condor staff. Note: Those interested in becoming volunteers staffing the lookout and conducting condor radio tracking are encouraged to notify our staff to arrange future training opportunities
-Lookout Project merchandise sales Lookout Project fundraiser conducted by Marcelle Bakula, Hi Mtn. Lookout Project Volunteer

Afternoon activities and field trips:
1:00pm 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, Wildlife Biologist, Los Padres National Forest

1:45pm 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, Professors Emeritus, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and board members of the San Luis Obispo Chapter, California Native Plant Society

3:30pm California Condor Recovery Program and Condor Nesting update

Co-speakers representing the Condor Recovery Program and the Lookout Project Potluck dinner and sunset watch 5:00 – 7:00pm Wine serving compliments of Nancy and Bill Greenough, owners of Saucelito Canyon Vineyard & Winery. Participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share with their friends and guests. Gas stove and oven in the lookout facilities are available for cooking and heating food. Partake of Jim Duff’s famous pineapple upside down cake for dessert, an annual tradition! Note: no open campfires, camping or backpacking stoves are permitted for cooking dinner or during the overnight campout.

Evening program beginning 7pm by the lookout deck (wear layered clothing). PowerPoint slide show presentations:

7:00pm -7:15pm The summer internship program and biological field research projects at Hi Mountain presented by Gio Espinosa and Marie Solis, 2018 Cal Poly student interns

7:15pm - 8:00pm Southern California Condor population and nesting updates presented by Vince Gerwe, Friends of California Condors Wild & Free

Astronomy observations- Telescopes will be set up for observations of the evening stars, planets, and constellations

Optional Hi Mountain campout- Camping sites are available Saturday night at ‘Cypress Hill’ near the lookout or at the USFS Hi Mountain Campground one mile down the road. Bring your own potable water. No open campfires, camping or backpacking stoves permitted – extreme fire hazard!

Visit the lookout project’s facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/condorlookout to view the photo album of past open house events. Join us in 2018 for our 17th consecutive year open house event!

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2018 Interns' Newsletter #3

Hi Mountain Lookout Summer 2018 Interns Gio Espinosa and Marie Solis have created the third Hi Mountain Lookout Summer Newsletter. Click "Read More" to read their full newsletter...

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2018 Interns' Newsletter #2

Hi Mountain Lookout Summer 2018 Interns Gio Espinosa and Marie Solis have created the second Hi Mountain Lookout Summer Newsletter. Click "Read More" to read their full newsletter...

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2018 Interns' Newsletter #1

Hi Mountain Lookout Summer 2018 Interns Gio Espinosa and Marie Solis have created the first Hi mountain Lookout Summer Newsletter. Click "Read More" to read their full newsletter...

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16th Annual Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Open House and Social Event

16th Annual Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Open House and Social Event
Sunday, October 8, 2017 3:00 – 5:30pm

Location: Saucelito Canyon Winery Tasting Room, 3080 Biddle Ranch Rd. San Luis Obsipo, CA

Nestled in the rugged terrain of the upper Arroyo Grande Valley, Saucelito Canyon Vineyard specializes in estate-grown Zinfandel crafted from old vines planted in 1880. A passion for traditional hands-on winemaking ensures that each wine represents an authentic expression of the estate vineyard and its unique microclimate. Website at: saucelitocanyon.com

$15 per person donation request at the door (cash or check made out to ‘MCAS Hi Mountain Lookout Project’, no credit cards); college students with I.D. $10; children free. Join us for complimentary cheese and wine tasting, socializing among friends, live folk/bluegrass music, silent auction fundraiser, and an update on the California Condor Recovery Program and Hi Mountain Lookout Project.

Come and discover one of the largest and most endangered flying birds of North America. California Condors are radio tracked from Hi Mountain Lookout, flying near release and nesting sites in Big Sur and Pinnacles National Park in Central California and Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, the Sespe Condor Sanctuary, and Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Southern California. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about condor biology and the reintroduction of
these magnificent birds back to the wild. The Hi Mountain Lookout Project is a collaboration between Morro Coast Audubon Society, U.S. Forest Service at Los Padres National Forest, U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service California Condor Recovery Program, Cal Poly Biological Sciences Department, Ventana Wildlife Society, and Pinnacles National Park.

For other information go to www.condorlookout.org and visit the Hi Mountain Lookout Facebook page at www.facebook.com/condorlookout/

To RSVP for the event please contact Steve Schubert at (805) 440-9390 or e-mail at s_schub1@msn.com

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Weekly Update (August 16-17, 2017)

Weekly Update (August 16-17)
Hi Mountain Lookout 2017 Interns –Emily Hermann (Bawss), Cecilia Huizar (Strawberry/watermelon), Gaku Ogawa, and Massupha Upachit (SPICY NOODLE) and honorary Nelly (CorNelly)

       Final week up at the lookout. Thanks to Dr. V and Kevin Cooper for giving us an opportunity to explore, gather data, work as a team, and learn in many ways.
The team all got together in the morning around 8am and Massupha kindly drove us the Pozo station. At the station we switched to the US Forest vehicle and drove down to finish gathering data on the final area of Site 3. Site 3 only had 4 to 5 patches and we moved onto Site 4, Oakwood land. We didn’t know much to expect from the site, since we had never explored the area prior. The creek bed of the site was littered with giant rocks, compared to the previous sites where the creek bed was made of sand. The density of milkweed was lower in site 4 compared to site 2 and 3. We gathered data until there was a bush of poison oak we could not go around and called off the mission to gather more data to keep everyone safe. We finished around 12:30 and made our way to the lookout. On our trip up to the lookout we decided to give each other nicknames which are written above. Sadly I forgot my own nickname.

      At the lookout we opened up the lookout and ate lunch. The cool slight breeze outside had most of us eating outside while we read the lookout journals and reading an entry of a professor who was once an intern, made us laugh. Cecilia later that night put in our entry into the journals. After lunch, Emily and Cecilia decided to go out for condor radio telemetry. Emily received two signals. Approximately 1 hour later of resting, they both went out again for radio telemetry and Cecilia got a signal. We were able to wrap up with the whole team receiving at least 1 signal for radio telemetry. Sadly, none of us were able to see a condor.

      At around 4:00 we headed back down to Site 2 as advised by Dr. V to check out, but on the other side of the road, which we called Site 2b. We collected data from Site 2b, which was roughly the same terrain and density of milkweed plants as Site 2. We saw one dead monarch larva, which looked like it was beginning to become a chrysalis, but the larva looked deflated. None of us could understand what happened to the poor potential butterfly, but we guessed after Massupha read one of the books at the lookout that an assassin bug was the culprit for hte poor larva. Some of the milkweed had pods and opened up. We continued gathering data until about 6:00 where we ran out of data sheets to write on.

        Soon after arriving back at the lookout at 6:30, Kevin Cooper called and I relayed what he said to the team. We are all eager to have dinner with you and Dr. V once you get time from all those fires. (Thanks for taking care of all of those fires Kevin.) After relaxing our tired legs and changing into more comfortable clothes, Massupha started making spicy noodles for the final night challenge, the SPICY NOODLE CHALLENGE. We all got a good portion of noodles and counted down from 3 and started eating them. Emily finished her noodles first, then Cecilia, then me, and then Massupha as she had the most amount of noodles. Emily was awarded the “finished first” award. Cecilia ate more noodles after and was awarded “eating the most noodles”. I am weak to spicy and was awarded the “at least he tried award”. Massupha was awarded the “brought and made the noodles” award. With our spiced up mouths burning, Cecilia brought out her already cut watermelon we partly ate during lunch, which saved us all, or at least I was saved. That night, the stars were stars were shining brightly and without the moon, the Milky Way shined brightly in the sky. Cecilia and Emily slept outside, which Massupha and I slept inside.

       The next day, we got up and ready around 8:00 and closed up the lookout around 9:00 to go down to Hi Valley. The steep trail proved to make us all tired. Nearing the start of the Savanna region, or as Emily called it the “grasslandy” area, and the end of the brush area, the brush thickened, so the trail will need a large amount of clearing where scissors for plants and gloves maybe needed. We took approximately 1 hour to arrive at the base of the valley. There we saw a large amount of milkweed plants. The largest obstacle in the area was the abundance of poison oak and typing on a phone for data. The site seems to be a potential good site to look at if time allows, but the abundance of poison oak makes, gathering data more difficult. After only about 1/6 of a mile, there seems to be no more easily accessible milkweed to gather data from. If future parties come down the valley to gather data, the trail will need some clippings and poison oak might need to be cleared. At around 12:30 we headed back up the valley side to the lookout and arrived around 1:30 to eat lunch and drove down to Pozo station. We then refilled the tank up at Santa Margarita and cleaned the truck. We said our gratitude to the firemen at the station before leaving for home.

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Weekly Update (August 9-10, 2017)

Hi Mountain Lookout 2017 Interns –Emily Hermann, Cecilia Huizar, Gaku Ogawa, and Massupha Upachit

On Wednesday (8/9), we initially met up in SLO and Emily drove us up to the Pozo station and arrived around 9 am. Once we got to the Pozo station, we switched our vehicle to the US Forest truck and drove off to the fieldwork, which were a few miles away from the station. This field site was the second site that we’d been working on for the past couple weeks. As usual, we did our survey on the narrowleaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) alongside the streambed and collected the data on each plant to see if there was any breeding present in the area in this hot season. There was an abundance of milkweed in this field site and its colorful flowers make such a beautiful scene for us to enjoy. A couple of monarch butterflies were spotted flying in the patches and a caterpillar at its fifth stage was found devouring the leaf. As the heat temperature was nearly reaching its peak about 90 – 92 degrees, we decided to call off the survey and headed to the lookout for lunch around 1 pm. After lunch, Gaku, Cecilia, and I began our search for condor signals. Fortunately, we were able to receive two bird signals but have yet to see an actual condor. Hopefully, we could at least see one bird before our summer term comes to an end. When we finished the first round of the radio telemetry data collection, we walked back to the lookout and took a short break to stay out of the sun. In the late afternoon, Gaku and Emily did the second round of the radio telemetry but no signals received this time. After a hot day, we spent a wonderful night at the lookout enjoying the sunset, the full moon, and the stars.

On Thursday (8/10), we started our morning with a view of sea of clouds. It was just another fine day for us to work in the field. Around 9 o’clock, we headed back down to the second field site and began the data collection procedure. Things went smoothly because the weather wasn’t too hot and we finally finished up the second site and moved on to the third site. Yet again, monarch butterflies and a caterpillar were spotted in the area. Also, we found a lot of monarch butterfly’s wings laying on the ground so we assumed that in that particular area was a grave of monarch butterflies? We took a quick lunch break at 12.30 pm and resumed our work at 1 pm. When we were finishing up our survey at the third site around 2 pm, a small accident had occurred to the truck and Phyllis’s car. Fortunately, nobody got injured and both cars were zero damaged. For our vehicle, it was just a tiny scuff mark but it was easily removed by using some gel and a soft sponge. Thankfully, Eric, a captain from battalion 31 helped us remove the scuff mark and solved the problem.

I also attached pictures  that I took at the lookout from last week

- Massupha Upachit

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Weekly Update (August 2-3, 2017)

Hi Mountain Lookout 2017 Interns - Emily Hermann, Cecilia Huizar, and Massupha Upachit

This week, a thunderstorm that swept through SLO county Wednesday changed our usual day's work. The different weather certainly made for a unusual day as it was humid, hot and temperatures stayed between 80 to 83 degrees, which beats the typical blaring sun and dry 90 degree heat any day! We typically start our day surveying narrowleaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) along the stream bed, but due to a flash flood warning, we did not risk it. (Thanks for the heads up Dr. V!) Instead, we opportunistically surveyed woollypod milkweed (Asclepias eriocarpa) along the roadside starting from the campground and moving our way up until we reached the lookout. We arrived at the campground around 9:45am and began our data collection. Similar to the A. fascicularis survey, we looked for evidence of monarch catepillars and butterflies' presence in the area. We were initially excited to see a monarch catepillars and two chrysalis but at the same time, were not so thrilled. Monarchs should not be here in our area at this time of the year, so hopefully these little critters survive the summer.

Not too long after we began our survey, it started to rain and we saw lightning. The rain was inconsisent. It would drizzle then pour out of nowhere and stop all together moments later. When it poured, we ran to the car so our data sheets would not get wet and we would wait in the car once the rain stopped. However, we only had to deal with the "rain" for the first hour or so. During the middle of our survey we heard first reports of the 2 fires that started on Highway 58/ Red Hill. Moments, most likely an hour, later we saw a smoke plume that was the Red Hill fire.

We returned to the lookout around 1pm and because we saw lightning earlier we decided to wait out until the late afternoon to do our condor radio telemetry.  We returned to the road to finish our A. eriocarpa survey, in which, we realized was not much left to be surveyed. We returned to the lookout once again, around 3pm. We decided it was safe enough to do radio telemetry, as we did not see lightning for a good couple of hours. Emily and I searched for signals until about 4:30 and had no luck. Unfortunately, we did not get any signals, this week. We ended our night reading up about the stars, animals and critters of California.

Thurday, we started our day, around 9am, back at the stream bed (Site: Tamarisk 1). It once again was humid hot and about 81 degrees. We resumed to our A. fascicularis data collection and saw a few more monarch caterpillars and butterflies. We had lunch between 12:30pm to 1pm and called it a day at 3pm. Was a tiring day but happy with our progress. Almost done with site two and will most likely begin Site 3 (after finishing Site 2) next week.

Other sightings:

Apart from our usual sightings of accorn woodpeckers, dark-eyed juncos, yellow-billed magpies, etc., I saw an Oak titmouse, which was my first time seeing one (but they are probably common around here). I didn't spot any Northern Harriers this time around (I usually see one every week).

We found a bone of a medium-sized mammal (that I believe may have been a coyote tibia). I didn't think about taking a picture, unfortunately. We also came upon a few large rib cage bones (probably from a cow?)

-Cecilia

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Weekly Update (July 26-27, 2017)

Hi Mountain Lookout 2017 Interns - Emily Hermann, Cecilia Huizar, Nelly Guerra, Massupha Upachit, and Gaku Ogawa

After weeks of preparation and training, we embarked on our first over-night stay at the lookout!
On Wednesday (7/26), we got to the Pozo fire station around 8:30 am and walked out to our first field site about 60 meters from the station. Our goal for the day was to begin the milkweed survey, as well as work through the kinks of the data collection procedures. We are looking at the relationship between milkweed plants (Asclepias fasicularis and A. eriocarpa) and their distance away from a nearby stream bed up to 20 meters. The presence of the patches provides space for monarch breeding to occur, so we record if any breeding is present on the plants, or if monarch adults are in the area. Overall, the data collection went smoothly as the group found our routine for measuring, recording, and conflict resolution.

We finished data collection in the first site before lunch, and headed back to the station to relax and get out of the sun. After lunch, Nelly drove us up to the lookout for Condor Telemetry data collection, as lead by Massupha and Cecilia. Thankfully, we all got a refresher on the different sounds the receiver can make from interference, as well as hearing and recording two birds signals; both signals came from the direction of Big Sur.

After packing the telemetry equipment back up, we all headed back down the mountain to our second field site about 50 meters past the creek crossing. There was an abundance of milkweed from the mouth of the dried creek bed, a very different scene than years previous. We worked for about an hour and a half when we saw Dr. Villablanca's "Mod Bus" roll over the hill to meet us. He came up for the night to ensure that the survey procedures would still be effective in the new season and that we would all be settled in for the night. We talked through how the first day had been going and decided to alter our protocol to include a larger span of milkweed plants from the center of the creek bed.

Our long and productive first day was over and we worked our way up the mountain to eat and relax at the lookout for the night. We even pulled out the telescope for a late night celestial viewing party.

The next morning, we woke up to a gorgeous sunrise, ate breakfast, and packed up the lookout. As we closed up we decided to put the chains from the North and South shutters in the top drawer of the desk in case of vandals. Dr. V pointed out the small animal trapping sites and the other milkweed survey starting points on our way to our field work site for the day. The timeline for getting through the sites is vague at this point in time because there is a visible increase in population size as compared to last year, but we will do our best.

The second day of data collection went smoother logistically, however it seemed like the heat and the long hours slowed us all down. We reached a stopping point around noon and decided to call it for the day, in order to stay on the safe side and avoid any heat sickness. When we got back to the station, we cleaned up the truck and all of our belongings and relaxed together for one last time as we ate lunch. It was a successful trip and we are all excited to see what the rest of the summer holds for us.

(We will be rotating who sends out the weekly updates. Nelly will be sending out next week's)

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Lead End - A Hunter's Journey to Preserve the California Condors

Lead End from Jinho Park on Vimeo.

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15th Annual Open House/Campout Event - Sat, Oct 1st 2016

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) 440-9390

Bring your own lunch 11:00a.m to noon. The open house event at Hi Mountain Lookout formally begins at 12 noon, with introductions, condor program updates, lookout tours, and guided field trips. In the evening there will be a potluck dinner, evening program presentations, star gazing, and an optional overnight campout.

Visitors will find parking available close to the lookout throughout the day. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation. Note: high clearance vehicles such as trucks and vehicles with 4-wheel drive are highly recommended for the unpaved 6 mile drive from Pozo to Hi Mountain – there are stretches of rough road conditions along the way!

Schedule of open house activities at Hi Mountain Lookout

Morning activity:

Bird watching field trip – 10:00am -11:00am

Hi Mountain Lookout (elev. 3,199 ft.), Santa Lucia Mountains, Los Padres National Forest Meet 10:00 am at Hi Mountain Lookout. Emphasis will be on identification of resident and migrant songbirds and raptors in flight, and birding by ear (what’s that sound?). Habitats: oak woodland & chaparral Field trip leader: Steve Schubert, Morro Coast Audubon Society Easy walking conditions, about ½ mile along the lookout road.

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

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

Picnic lunch 11:00am -12:00pm (bring your own lunch)

-tour the Hi Mountain Lookout facilities and Interpretive Center

- sign the guest register

Welcoming comments 12:00pm

Introductions of Hi Mountain Lookout staff, volunteers, and college student interns
by Steve Schubert, Volunteer Coordinator, Hi Mountain Lookout Project & Dr. Francis Villablanca, Professor, Cal Poly Biological Sciences Department

Morning birding field trip report by trip leader
by Steve Schubert

Updates on the California Condor Recovery Program
by Condor staff

Condor radio tracking demonstration
by Hi Mountain Lookout volunteers and staff Note: Those interested in becoming 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 fundraising conducted by Carolina Van Stone, Hi Mtn. Lookout Project Volunteer

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
2:15 pm

Native plant identification and geology walk along the crest of the Santa Lucia Mountains, along Hi Mountain Lookout Road
Led by Dr. Dirk Walters and Dr. David Chipping, Professors Emeritus, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and San Luis Obispo Chapter of the California Native Plant Society

Potluck dinner and sunset watch 5:00 – 7:00pm Wine serving compliments of Nancy and Bill Greenough, owners Saucelito Canyon Vineyard & Winery

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.


Partake of Jim Duff’s famous pineapple upside down cake for dessert, an annual tradition!

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

Evening programs beginning 7pm by the lookout deck (wear layered clothing)

PowerPoint slide show presentations:

7:00 p.m. -7:15 p.m.
The summer internship program and biological field research projects at Hi Mountain, presented by the 2016 Cal Poly student interns


7:15 p.m. – 7:45 pm Big Sur and Pinnacles National Park condor population update by Richard Neidhardt, Volunteer, Pinnacles Condor Fund


7:45 -8:30pm Southern California condor population update by Vince Gerwe, Friends of California Condors Wild & Free and Estelle Sandhaus, Director of Conservation and Research, Santa Barbara Zoo

Astronomy observations
Telescopes will be set up for observations of the evening stars and constellations

Optional Hi Mountain campout
Camping sites are available Saturday night at ‘Cypress Hill’ near the lookout or at the USFS Hi Mountain Campground one mile down the road. Bring your own potable water. No open campfires, camping or backpacking stoves permitted – extreme fire hazard!

Visit the lookout project’s facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/condorlookout
and view the photo album of past open house events. Join is in our 15th consecutive year open house event!

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20 Year Anniversary Event - Sat, May 21st

Come and discover one of the largest and most endangered flying birds of North America. California Condors are radio tracked from Hi Mountain Lookout, flying near release sites in Big Sur and Pinnacles National Park in Central California and the Bitter Creek and Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuges in Southern California. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about condor biology and the reintroduction of these magnificent birds back to the wild.

The Hi Mountain Lookout Project was founded in 1996 and is a collaboration between Morro Coast Audubon Society, the U.S. Forest Service at Los Padres National Forest, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service California Condor Recovery Program, the Cal Poly Biological Sciences Department, Ventana Wildlife Society, and Pinnacles National Park.

Hi Mountain Lookout has been restored as a biological field research station. Tour the interpretive visitor center with condor and other local wildlife displays and an extensive library of local natural history references. Meet with our staff and community volunteers. The anniversary event will include condor radio tracking demonstrations and a guided walking stroll after lunch emphasizing native plant identification, bird watching, and local geology. Volunteers and staff will be participating in several work projects in the morning (meeting time 9a.m., optional).

The event begins at 11 a.m. Join us for a picnic lunch, followed by introductions, condor program updates, and a guided field trip near the lookout. Fund-raising Hi Mtn. Lookout Project merchandize for sale. Saturday overnight camping night near the lookout is optional (no campfires)

Visit the Hi Mountain Lookout Facebook page at www.facebook.com/condorlookout To RSVP for the event please contact Steve Schubert at e-mail address: s_schub1@msn.com

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14th Annual Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Campout and Open House Event - Sat, Oct 10, 2015

Come and discover one of the largest and most endangered flying birds of North America!

California Condors are radio tracked from Hi Mountain Lookout, flying near release sites in Big Sur and Pinnacles National Park in Central California and Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, the Sespe Condor Sanctuary, and Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Southern California. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about condor biology and the reintroduction of these magnificent birds back to the wild. The Hi Mountain Lookout Project is a collaboration between Morro Coast Audubon Society, U.S. Forest Service at Los Padres National Forest, U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service California Condor Recovery Program, Cal Poly Biological Sciences Department, Ventana Wildlife Society, and Pinnacles National Park.

Hi Mountain Lookout has been restored as a biological field research station and visitor center. Tour the interpretive visitor center with condor and other local wildlife displays and an extensive library of local natural history references. Meet with our staff, college interns and community volunteers. Cal Poly student interns will discuss their ongoing field research projects in the Hi Mountain area, including small mammal live trapping, bird surveys, and vegetation analysis.

The open house event will include condor radio tracking demonstrations, native plant identification, bird watching, and a local geology walking stroll. Volunteers and staff will be participating in several work projects throughout the day. Join us for a picnic lunch at noon. Overnight camping is optional.

For driving directions and other information go to www.condorlookout.org

Visit the Hi Mountain Lookout Facebook page at www.facebook.com/himountain To RSVP for the event please contact Steve Schubert at # (805) 528-6138 or e-mail at s_schub1@msn.com

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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

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Open House Photos!

Thanks to Steve Schubert for taking a bunch of photos of the 12th Annual Open House event. If you have photos from the weekend you'd like to share, please email them to himountainlookout@gmail.com!

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Open House will still be this Saturday!

There are some issues impacting the open house event this Saturday because of the government shutdown and our event almost got cancelled, but we are still on!!

Hi Mountain Campground is closed to all public access and no camping allowed, so all camping this Saturday night will be at 'Cypress Hill' by the lookout.

No campfire permits can be purchased so that means that not even backpacking or camping stoves will be allowed for use, but folks are encouraged to heat their food using the gas stove inside the lookout.

No smoking. Fire danger will be severe, with warm temp. and offshore winds predicted.

We must lock up the lookout/gates and vacate fairly early Sunday morning. The gate before the campground is being kept open for our event, but will get locked after we are out. We will need some volunteer help from those camping out with locking things up.

Please help out with forwarding this information to your friends, colleagues and guests to help get the word out. Thanks!! See you there!

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