ARIZONA LOOKOUTS
MOUNT ELDEN
Coconino County
22N-7E-36
Coconino National Forest
22N-7E-36
Coconino National Forest
February 20, 1914: "A new lookout station has been completed on the highest point of Elden Mountain by the Forest Service, as a vantage point in keeping a lookout for fires during the summer months. A one room house has been built for the convenience of the ranger to be stationed there.
Work will soon be commenced by Forest Supervisor Drake, on a trail up to the station that can be traveled on horseback. The trail will start at the foot of the mountain north of Greenlaw's mill and will be about four miles long. It will be a magnificent point for tourist to get a sweeping view of the whole country, including a wonderful view of the Painted Desert which lays off to the northeast in its magnificent splendor." (The Coconino Sun)
Work will soon be commenced by Forest Supervisor Drake, on a trail up to the station that can be traveled on horseback. The trail will start at the foot of the mountain north of Greenlaw's mill and will be about four miles long. It will be a magnificent point for tourist to get a sweeping view of the whole country, including a wonderful view of the Painted Desert which lays off to the northeast in its magnificent splendor." (The Coconino Sun)
May 7, 1915: "Fire Lookout Frank G. Lewis who went to the top of Elden Mountain about two weeks ago has 'skeery' tales to tell of his experiences up there during the recent snowstorm. He reports over four feet of snow on top and drifts on the trail were so deep that he dared not atte4mpt to come down, so he stuck to his post. His supply of firewood ran short and but for an ample supply of bedding he would have suffered. Fortunately he had a generous supply of chuck. The telephone instrument was under snow. His account rivals that of Perry when he got back from the Pole." (The Coconino Sun)
August 27, 1946: "A hiking excursion up Mount Eldon that turned into a rescue mission for a starving dog was a novel experience, it was learned Monday afternoon.
The hiking party climbed Mount Eldon Sunday and a carefree outing was being thoroughly enjoyed until near the lookout tower was reached. Near the tower the hikers came upon an emancipated dog, hardly more than a pup in age. The animal had apparently attacked a porcupine and quills were stuck in its mouth and nose. It was so weak from lack of food it had collapsed.
The hikers made a stretcher, loaded the four-footed patient aboard and started downhill. Part way down the dog fell off the stretcher. The fall bounced some desire to live into the animal, for he staggered around a bit, came across a defunct chipmunk, and gulped down the smelly tidbit before collapsing again.
Remodeling the stretcher into a sling type carrier the rescuers repacked their dog and continued to succor without further mishap. Dr. Butchart met them and took charge. With pliers he extracted the quills and administered first aid in the form of food when he got the rescued patient to the Butchart home.
Then the unforeseen happened. The dog disappeared. Whether it went back up the mountain to seek another porcupine or merely wanted to put some distance between itself and the stretcher, the worried first-aiders have no way of telling." (Arizona Daily Sun)
December 5, 1950: "When the season's first snow fell a few days ago scattering a thin white blanket over the pine clad slopes and rocky ridges of Mount Elden at Flagstaff, an era came to a close.
For with the snow the first fire season officially came to an end on Coconino national forest, and with it the career of Bill Pradt, fire lookout on Mount Elden for (23) years.
Pradt, native of Laguna, N.M., worked for the forest service since 1916 except for two years in the navy during World War I. His father was a Massachusetts civil engineer and his mother was a Laguna Indian.
Each year forest officials credited Bill with at least 100 'first discoveries' of forest fires. He has amazing eyesight, and often has reported house fires in Flagstaff to the local fire department. His lofty 9100 foot perch in a tower on Mount Elden is about 12 miles from here.
Much of Coconino national forest's fire control work is handled through the Elden lookout by radio.
Pradt, christened Albert William Pradt, says he is going back to Laguna to stay—but he is hoping the government decides it still needs an oldtime fire lookout to man one of its many towers in the southwest." (Prescott Evening Courier)
November 27, 1951: "Now, the top of Mt Eldon, (9,280 feet elevation) is getting to be a pretty busy place.
Last fall a road was built up to the lookout.
Now the mountain's summit bristles with radio towers, and some new experimental electronics work is also expected to get underway up there soon.
For years the lookout tower and the little cabin stood alone on the deeply wooded summit, but now even the cabin has felt the touch of progress. A new two-room building for quarters for the lookout has recently been built. The cabin will be equipped with electric lights, butane stove, and will even have a pump for its cistern." (Arizona Daily Sun)
November 28, 1951: "Marian Loy of Cornville helped to build the lookout tower on Mt. Elden for the forest service and he reports interesting developments up there. The Sheriff's department has a radio tower up there, the natural gas company has a tower, the new tower for the forest service and he reports that the army is to set up a radar tower, all on a small area of land. There is a graded road up a low-gear hill right to the top, which is a closed road. During deer hunting season there was snow enuff that it had to be shoveled off the road. There are a few wide places where cars can pass. Some hunters found their way up there, and some did some deer hunting."(Arizona Daily Sun)
July 29, 1974: "There's a tired foot sore dog atop Mt Eldon today, but no owners are in sight. Francis Street, wife of Arthur Street, the Forest Service fire spotter at the Mt Eldon lookout tower, reported a male boxer dog wandered up to the tower Friday, apparently lost.
The dog, which is extremely gentle, Mrs. Street said, is wearing a leather strap, but no tags." (Arizona Daily Sun)
June 20, 1977: "Through an unforgettable Friday night fire fighters battled to keep the glowing mountain from igniting the surrounding residential areas.
A Forest Service lookout tower and some radio communications systems atop the smoking mountain were destroyed Friday night as the fire reached its crescendo.
High winds, sometimes near 40 m.p.h. have hampered the fire fighting efforts, a forest service spokesman said." (Arizona Daily Sun)
September 11, 1977: "Dan and Monica McGrew find living at the top exciting--the top of 9,300-foot Mt Eldon that is.
The McGrews have lived atop Mt Eldon since April. manning the U.S. Forest Service fire lookout tower there five days a week.
They live in a 24-foot trailer provided by the U.S. Forest Service and work in a temporary "box" of a tower until the two structures, destroyed in the Eldon fire, can be rebuilt next season." (Arizona Daily Sun)
DESIGNATION - ELDEN MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT TOWER
PID - FQ0635
STATE/COUNTY- AZ/COCONINO
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - FLAGSTAFF EAST (1983)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1958 (RCM)
THE STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF FLAGSTAFF
ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF ELDEN MT.
THE STATION IS A GLASS ENCLOSED CAB THAT IS SUPPORTED BY A 4
LEGGED STEEL STRUCTURE AND HAS AN OVERALL HEIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY
100 FEET.
A TRAVERSE CONNECTION WAS MADE FROM A POINT DIRECTLY BENEATH
THE CENTER OF THE LOOKOUT TO TRIANGULATION STATION ELDEN AND
THE DISTANCE WAS FOUND TO BE 10.296 METERS.