NEW MEXICO LOOKOUTS
CAPILLO PEAK
Cibola National Forest
6N-5W-34
6N-5W-34
July 21, 1921: "Construction of a trail to the top of Capillo peak in the Manzano mountains has just been completed by the forest service. A crew has been working on this trail for several weeks.
The forest service will put one of its principal lookout stations in the Manzano forest on top of Capillo peak. The mountain is situated particularly well for a lookout station, as it stands out from the main ridge, and gives a good view of the entire range, although it is not as high as several other points in the range." (The Evening Herald)
The forest service will put one of its principal lookout stations in the Manzano forest on top of Capillo peak. The mountain is situated particularly well for a lookout station, as it stands out from the main ridge, and gives a good view of the entire range, although it is not as high as several other points in the range." (The Evening Herald)
May 6, 1922: "The forest service is preparing to abandon the fire lookout station at Bosque and place a station at Capillo Peak in its place, it was announced by K.C. Karichner, supervisor of the Manzano forest, this morning.
The material for a telephone line to be extended from the peak to the Tajique-Bosque line, a distance of seven miles has been ordered. Gross Kelly and company and the state are cooperating to put in the line.
This peak has always been considered a much more advantageous point for a fire lookout but owing to the fact that there was no telephone line there it was not used.
The forest supervisor also announced today that C.L. Warnock, ranger at Tijeras has completed organization of trail crews to work on the Coconeito and Crest trails in the Sandia mountains. Work will be started Monday. The crew will be used as fire fighters also in case of an emergency." (The Albuquerque Evening Herald)
June 10, 1922: "C.A. Finley, of Ft. Sumner, was yesterday stationed on Capillo Peak as a lookout." (Albuquerque Journal)
June 12, 1934: "A forest fire near Chilili, on the east side of the Manzano mountains, consumed a hundred acres before being brought under control Saturday, the Cibola forest office was informed Monday.
The blaze swept over cut over timber land on the Chilili grant east of Hell canyon, and the grant Arusicca sent over a crew to fight it after it was sighted by the Capilla Peak forest lookout.
A 'fire chaser' from the Tajique ranger station helped the workers." (Albuquerque Journal)
August 12, 1940: "Rangers announced Sunday they were closing the Capilla Peak fire lookout station since heavy rains eliminated the danger of forest fires in that region. They reported another downpour in that area Sunday." (Albuquerque Journal)
1963: A new CL-100 all steel lookout cab was built atop a 10-foot high cinder block base that was designed for storage. This structure replaced an earlier frame cab similar to the L-4 design. (Source: "Lookouts of the Southwestern Region," USFS)
June 14, 2006: "Campgrounds and roads in the Manzano Mountains are now closed as a result of a 135-acre forest fire sparked by lightning last Wednesday on the slopes of Capilla Peak.
The Anderson fire threatened the UNM observatory, Capilla Peak communications towers, power lines, Capilla and New Canyon Campgrounds, and the Forest Service Capilla Peak lookout tower.
Firefighters arrived Wednesday morning and began battling the blaze before noon. On Wednesday afternoon the lookout tower was evacuated as the fire moved up the canyon between the lookout tower and Capilla Peak Campground. The rapidly moving fire burned to within 50 feet of the tower, but did no damage to the tower or other structures." (The Independent - Edgewood)
April 15, 2008: The lookout was evacuated on it's first day of the season, due to the erradic behavior of the Trigo Fire.
