Mount Lukens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Lukens |
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| Sister Elsie Peak | |
Mt. Lukens overlooking La Crescenta-Montrose
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,075 ft (1,547 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 1,794 ft (547 m) |
| Listing | Hundred Peaks Section |
| Geography | |
 Mount Lukens
Location in California
Mount Lukens
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sunland-Tujunga, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | San Gabriel Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Condor Peak |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike from Deukmejian Wilderness Park in Crescenta Highlands, Glendale |
Mount Lukens is a tall mountain peak found in the San Gabriel Mountains. It's located in Los Angeles County, Southern California. What makes it special is that it's the highest point in the entire city of Los Angeles!
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Mount Lukens: The Highest Point in Los Angeles
Mount Lukens stands in the Sunland-Tujunga area, which is in the northeast part of Los Angeles. It overlooks the Crescenta Valley. The very top of the mountain is about 5,075 feet (1,547 meters) high. This makes it the highest spot within the city limits of Los Angeles.
Because it's so high and close to Los Angeles, Mount Lukens is a great spot for communication towers. You'll see towers for television, radio, and cell phones at the summit. The mountain is also part of the beautiful Angeles National Forest.
How Did Mount Lukens Get Its Name?
This mountain was named after a man named Theodore Lukens. He used to be in charge of the Angeles National Forest. Later, he even became the mayor of Pasadena, California.
Before it was called Mount Lukens, the mountain had another name: Sister Elsie Peak. People say that Sister Elsie was a Catholic nun. The story goes that she died while taking care of people who were sick during a smallpox epidemic. On a map from the U.S. Forest Service in 1925, the mountain was shown as Mount Lukens, but it also said "Sister Elsie Peak" underneath. We don't know for sure who Sister Elsie was, and the stories about her haven't been fully proven.
Mount Lukens and the 2009 Station Fire
Mount Lukens is in an area that was affected by a very large wildfire. This fire was called the 2009 Station Fire. It burned through parts of the San Gabriel Mountains in 2009.
Communication Towers on Mount Lukens
Mount Lukens is an important place for radio communication. There are buildings here owned by companies like American Tower and Crown Castle. These companies help manage the communication systems.
The location of Mount Lukens is great for sending signals across a wide area. It provides excellent coverage for Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Orange County, and parts of Riverside and San Bernardino areas. Many types of communication equipment are found here. This includes systems for FM radio, different kinds of two-way radios, and microwave signals.
