JOSEPHINE COUNTY
CHROME RIDGE (FREELAND MOUNTAIN)
Siskiyou National Forest
36S-9W-2
36S-9W-2
May 1940: "Several fires -- man and lightning -- have occurred within the seen area from this point. Burns in prolific numbers are in all directions. Fire danger at Ferren indicates that the dates suggested are very reasonable and not a bit too long." (Plans, Guard Placement, Siskiyou National Forest)
1941: The lookout was manned for 105 days and reported to the Rand Ranger Station.
Removed
DESIGNATION - CHROME
PID - NZ1281
STATE/COUNTY- OR/JOSEPHINE
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - CHROME RIDGE (1996)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1943 (JCS)
STATION IS LOCATED 8 MILES SW OF GALICE BY AIR LINE, 20 MILES NW
OF GRANTS PASS BY AIR LINE, AND IS ON THE HIGHEST POINT AT NE
END OF ROCKY RIDGE SW OF THE HEADWATERS OF GALICE CREEK. THE
MOUNTAIN IS LOCALLY KNOWN AS CHROME RIDGE OR FREELAND MOUNTAIN.
IT IS SPARSELY TIMBERED AND COVERED BY LARGE REDDISH ROCK OUTCROPS
AND IS OCCUPIED BY A FIRE LOOKOUT GUARD DURING FIRE SEASON. A
PROPOSED TOWER MAY BE BUILT IN THE FUTURE. STATION LIES
ABOUT 0.5 MILE W OF NEW MINING ROAD.
STATION RECOVERY (1973)
RECOVERY NOTE BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY 1973 (CLN)
THE STATION MARK, AND REFERENCE MARK NO. 1 WAS RECOVERED IN GOOD
CONDITION. REFERENCE MARK NO. 2 HAD BEEN DESTROYED BY SOME
IRRESPONSIBLE PARTY. REFERENCE MARK NO. 3 WAS ESTABLISHED. A
NEW AND COMPLETE DESCRIPTION FOLLOWS.
THE STATION IS ON GOVERNMENT OWNED LAND.
TO REACH THE STATION FROM THE MERLIN POST OFFICE GO SOUTH ON
MERLIN AVENUE FOR 0.1 MILE TO THE MERLIN-GALICE HIGHWAY, TURN
RIGHT, AND GO WEST FOR 8.9 MILES TO A SIDE ROAD LEFT, JUST AFTER
CROSSING THE BRIDGE OVER TAYLOR CREEK, TURN LEFT, AND GO
SOUTHWEST ON THE MACADAM ROAD FOR 2.0 MILES TO THE ENTRANCE TO
THE SISKIYOU NATIONAL FOREST, AND THE BEGINNING OF FOREST
SERVICE ROAD 355. GO SOUTHWEST ON FOREST SERVICE ROAD 355 FOR
10.0 MILES TO LONETREE PASS, AND THE JUNCTION WITH ROAD 3537,
AT A SIGN, CHROME RIDGE, TURN RIGHT AS PER SIGN, AND GO WEST ON
ROAD 3537 FOR 5.2 MILES TO THE JUNCTION WITH ROAD 3500 AT A
CROSSROAD, AND THE END OF TRUCK TRAVEL. PACK SOUTHWEST UP
THE BRUSHY-ROCKY SLOPE TO THE REMAINS OF THE OLD LOOKOUT, AND
THE STATION. LENGTH OF PACK IS 1/2 HOUR. THERE IS NO TRAIL
TO THE SUMMIT.