Field Canyon Trail #294, AZ :: Question by jacobemerick

[jacobemerick]

Howdy! This trail used to be called "Tent Lookout", and from some light research (http://ppolinks.com/forestservicemuseum/2020_36_3.pdf, page 13) there was a fire lookout in the area. I'm assuming that this lookout would have been a highpoint, so I'm guessing that it was along the West Divide, possibly at 32.63219, -110.377042 (there's an interesting old topo map that has a spur up to this point). Grassy Peak along the YLE is also a tempting possibility. Does anyone who's been in the area, or who has more sources, have ideas on this old lookout?

[nonot]

Your first guess seems more probable. The article places it 2 miles SW of the cabin, and Grassy Peak is about twice that.

[RedRoxx44]

I've been on the Field Canyon route off the West Divide into the Garden, also out on Grassy Peak. Don't recall seeing anything manmade there. Took an informal trail off Grassy Peak that put me at the Divide just uphill from the shootout cabin. It was very vague and this was years ago. There is a marked route off the West Divide to the Garden just south of Field but the nice spring in Field Canyon is worth using that route if it is still running. Not a lot of camping options in Field but if you are a solo it could work if you want to avoid others at the Garden.

Looked at some old photosets triplogs and it looks like I went to Grassy Peak in 2008 as a loop out of the Garden up Field, onto the West Divide, Grassy, then down to the Divide and back to the Garden. However I've done the whole of the West Divide, but true to namesake part of the area is very grassy which could hide a foundation I suppose. The photos don't show anything of interest there.

[nonot]

Another thing to consider is that the name "Tent Lookout" is accurate, suggesting the fire lookout consisted of nothing more than a tent setup near a high point (canvas tent would be my guess.) Many of the original fire lookouts in Arizona of that era were just the tallest tree nearest the peak, perhaps with some branches altered or rungs attached to make it easier to climb the tree, and perhaps a small platform installed near the top of the tree you could rest on after climbing it. It wasn't until later they would upgrade some of these lookouts by building cabins and metal tower structures to allow for a more permanent lookout.

[RedRoxx44]

Oh, and I believe somewhere in 08 or 09 did the "trail" out of the YLE to Grassy Peak. Trail is being kind. Did see some really neat old tree blazes on the route tho. That was a one and done for me.

[jacobemerick]

@RedRoxx44 - thanks for your input! I was thinking of PM'ing you lol, my hope is to check out some of the West Divide trail either this weekend or next. Gonna take South Field out of the Garden and follow West Divide down to Rattlesnake area (maybe cabin, maybe not) with a planned dry camp along the way. Think I'll check out the area where Field trail tops out and look for any remains / signs, would be cool to camp a little off-trail if I can find a nice spot where a tower / lookout once was. And yes, YLE is still on the radar, you've put a healthy amount of caution in me for that one

@NoNot - that would make a ton of sense, if there was only a tent up there. I was trying to figure out the name "Tent Lookout"... given that Powers is so close and the USFS reliance on that site, building an entire tower to view a relatively small forest just didn't make sense. Having a temp shelter up there with a convenient bail option clicks.

[RedRoxx44]

IMO a campsite near Rhodes Peak is primo views on the West Divide. Would be a dry camp tho.

[jonathanpatt]

I was working in this area doing trail assessment in October 2021 and I believe there was a sign a little bit northbound along the West Divide from the Field Canyon Trail that identified a short spur trail to a high point as the "Old Tent Lookout".

[jacobemerick]

@jonathanpatt ah, thank you!

[jonathanpatt]

@jacobemerick
And thank you for your guides on HikeArizona to many of the trails in remote Wilderness areas across the state. I've used them to stay on course when all else failed in numerous places over the years while doing trail assessment work, especially in the Mazatzals. Reading a detailed narrative that gives a good idea of what to expect has proved reassuring and helpful many times!