Ventana Double Cone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ventana Double Cone |
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 Ventana Double Cone
Location in California
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,856 ft (1,480 m) NAVD 88 |
| Geography | |
| Location | Monterey County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Santa Lucia Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Ventana Cones |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Trail hike |
The Ventana Double Cone is a tall mountain peak in California. It stands about 4,856 feet (1,480 meters) high. This peak is found in the Ventana Wilderness, which is part of the Los Padres National Forest. It is a bit of a challenging hike to reach the top, but the views are amazing!
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What is Ventana Double Cone?
This mountain is one of the highest points in the Ventana Wilderness. It is located in Monterey County, in the central part of California. The hike to the summit is about 14.7 miles (23.7 km) long. The last 4 miles (6.4 km) of the trail can be tricky. It is not used very often and can be overgrown with thick bushes called chaparral. You might even see a few special trees called Santa Lucia firs near the top.
When you reach the peak, you can find a plastic box under some rocks. This box holds a "summit register." Hikers can sign their names to show they made it to the top!
Amazing Views from the Top
The view from Ventana Double Cone is truly special. You can see the huge Pacific Ocean to the west. You can also see Chew's Ridge, which is about 30 miles (48 km) inland. During summer, the summit is often covered in fog. To get the best clear view, hikers should try to arrive at the peak in the morning.
The peak is also important because it is at the center of three different watersheds. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a specific river or body of water.
- To the south, water flows into the Big Sur River.
- To the west and northwest, water flows into the Little Sur River.
- To the east and southeast, water flows into the Carmel River.
The Old Fire Lookout
A long time ago, a special building called a forest fire lookout was built on Ventana Double Cone. This happened in 1934-1935. It was built by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps. They also built a trail to bring supplies to the lookout. This trail connected the lookout to the Carmel River Guard Station.
The lookout building was placed on the southern of the two peaks. This spot gave the people working there a wide view of the whole area. They could spot wildfires from far away.
How Supplies Reached the Lookout
Later, in 1950, another station called the Bottchers Gap Guard Station was built. A new trail, the Double Cone Trail, was made to connect to the old supply trail. During the summer fire season, supplies were brought to the lookout by a "pack train." This was a group of mules carrying supplies. The Forest Patrolman from Bottcher's Gap would lead this mule train. The trip usually took two days, and they would often stay one night at an old cabin called Comings Cabin.
Why the Lookout is Gone Now
The fire lookout tower was no longer used in the mid-1960s. The building was either hit by lightning or was intentionally burned down by forest service workers. This happened sometime between 1967 and 1977. Today, only the stone and concrete foundation of the old lookout remains.
The Ventana Double Cone lookout was one of six active fire lookouts in the area. The others were on Chews Ridge, Cone Peak, Junipero Serra Peak, Pinyon Peak, and Three Peaks.
Where Did the Name Come From?
The word Ventana means 'window' in the Spanish language. Early explorers gave the Ventana Double Cone its name because near its summit, there is a ledge that looks like a small slot or window.
