Chilao Flats - Vetter Mountain Lookout
September 20-22, 2002
12 Scouts and 3 adults camped at Chilao Flats campsite in the Angeles National Forest. On Saturday we hiked to the Vetter Mountain Fire Lookout. (8 miles round trip)



Troop 101 Campout at Chilao Flats

By Colin T.,
Troop Historian


Incarnation Boy Scout Troop 101 spent a recent weekend camping at Chilao Flats in the Los Angeles National Forest. Chilao Flats is a quick drive up the Angeles Crest Highway. Soon after hustling from our cars and pitching tents on Friday, it was dark. On Saturday morning, we left camp early and hiked for what seemed like forever along the highway. Finally, we reached the road to the Vetter Mountain Lookout Tower. Along one of our stops was a group of people from Montrose. They had a whole table of pastries and invited us to have some. We stampeded to their table and ate our fill! Feeling refreshed, we started the trek up to the fire-lookout tower. We arrived about noon and filled up our water bottles. Two fire lookouts told us about their job, and we read about fire safety. The view from top of the tower was breathtaking. You could see the entire mountain range encircling us.

Heading back to camp, some scouts took longer than others because of poor directions. Thanks to our leader, Mr. Doyle, some of us scouts got a car ride back to the campsite after taking too long to get back. The rest of the day was spent playing and relaxing in the great outdoors.


Friendly people along the way gave us food and taught us about the Lookout.


More About Vetter Mountain Lookout

Dennis Doyle ddoyle@glendale.cc.ca.us