Oat Mountain (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oat Mountain |
|
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,747 feet (1,142 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 1,947 ft (593 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Los Angeles County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Santa Susana Mountains |
| Topo map | Oat Mountain |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Road hike |
Oat Mountain is a tall peak located in the Santa Susana Mountains in California. It looks over the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles. Oat Mountain is actually the highest point in the entire Santa Susana Mountains range. The area of Chatsworth in Los Angeles is just south of the mountain. You can find many communication towers and weather equipment on top of Oat Mountain. There are also some natural gas wells nearby.
Contents
Weather on Oat Mountain
The weather on Oat Mountain changes a lot throughout the year.
Winter and Spring Weather
In January, during winter, you might see rain and thunderstorms. Sometimes, if it gets cold enough, light snow can fall on the mountain peaks. This happens when the snow level drops below 4,000 feet.
As spring arrives, the weather can be different each year. Some years are very dry, which means less plant growth. Other years, spring can bring heavy rainstorms, sometimes with more than 4 inches of rain, and even some snow.
Summer and Fall Weather
Summers are usually dry. But sometimes, thunderstorms can roll in from the Pacific Ocean. These storms can cause flash flooding and mudslides, especially in areas where wildfires have burned before.
Fall is typically sunny and dry. However, strong, dry winds called Santa Ana winds can blow through. These winds can make it easy for wildfires to start on the mountain.
| Climate data for Oat Mountain, California (elevation 3,747 ft) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 55 (13) |
56 (13) |
62 (17) |
65 (18) |
73 (23) |
78 (26) |
86 (30) |
87 (31) |
83 (28) |
72 (22) |
62 (17) |
54 (12) |
87 (31) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 47 (8) |
47 (8) |
51 (11) |
53 (12) |
60 (16) |
64 (18) |
71 (22) |
72 (22) |
69 (21) |
60 (16) |
52 (11) |
46 (8) |
58 (14) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 39 (4) |
37 (3) |
40 (4) |
41 (5) |
47 (8) |
50 (10) |
56 (13) |
56 (13) |
55 (13) |
48 (9) |
42 (6) |
38 (3) |
37 (3) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.7 (120) |
3.9 (99) |
3.7 (94) |
1.1 (28) |
0.3 (7.6) |
0.1 (2.5) |
0 (0) |
0.3 (7.6) |
0.5 (13) |
0.7 (18) |
2.6 (66) |
3.1 (79) |
21 (530) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 25 |
| Source: NOAA (via Google) | |||||||||||||
Plants and Animals
Oat Mountain is home to various plants (flora) and animals (fauna).
Wildlife in the Area
During the summer, you might not see much wildlife because it's very dry. However, sometimes a bear can be spotted. Oat Mountain has similar types of plants and animals to other parts of the Santa Susana Mountains.
Mountain lions are quite common here and can be seen almost all year. You can also spot birds like the turkey vulture and the Canada goose.
Vegetation on the Mountain
The types of plants on Oat Mountain are not very diverse. In summer, the mountain is usually covered in brown grass and wild oats. But after a lot of rain, the mountain turns green and more wildlife appears.
Human Impact on Oat Mountain
People have made some big changes to Oat Mountain over the years.
Old Missile Sites
During the Cold War, which was a period of tension between countries, two anti-aircraft missile sites were built on Oat Mountain. These sites were called Nike Missile Site LA-88. Their purpose was to protect important places like the Santa Susana Field Lab from possible attacks.
These missile sites were active from 1956 to 1974. After they closed, the area was left with old buildings and debris. You can still find these remains on Browns Canyon Road below Oat Mountain.
Gas Field Concerns
In 2015, there was a major news story about a gas leak at the Aliso Canyon Oil Field, which is one of several gas fields near the mountain. Many people living nearby reported health issues. Because of this, the gas field was temporarily shut down.
As of August 2017, there were plans to reopen the gas field. However, there were ongoing discussions and legal challenges in local and federal courts.
Exploring Oat Mountain
Oat Mountain offers many trails for hiking and places to visit with great views.
Hiking Trails
One of the main hiking trails starts on the San Fernando Valley side of the mountain. This trail connects to four other paths. One of these paths leads to the old Nike Missile Site LA-88. Here, you can see abandoned buildings and old vehicles.
Another challenging trail follows the mountain's ridge in Santa Clarita. This route is harder because it goes through a forested area. There's also a long 16-mile hike that connects Rocky Peak and Oat Mountain.
See also
In Spanish: Oat Mountain (California) para niños
