It's ironic how something so obvious can go unnoticed for so long. Then, when you realize it's there, it becomes something of a fixation.
That was the case for me with the Slide Mountain Fire Lookout, just north of Castaic.
The spindly steel structure is clearly visible from Interstate 5 - if you know where to look. But despite my online and on-ground ramblings in our local mountains, I had never run across it.
After someone at the gym mentioned it one morning, I was determined to visit. How had I missed such an iconic hike so close to home?
Google confirmed its existence, provided trail information, and, to my surprise, showed the tower was well maintained and even staffed on a volunteer basis.
Getting there was another matter. In fact, it took me two attempts to reach it. The hike is more than 5 miles to the top with 2,500 feet of elevation gain. That's a respectable climb, but deceiving. The first 1.6 miles are paved, so the real altitude gain is condensed into about two-thirds of the total mileage. And with no shade to speak of, it's best tackled in the early morning or during a cooler season.
Schedules being what they are, it took a while to plan a hike. Some free time finally presented itself late one Saturday. It happened to be during a full moon, so April and I decided to make it a partial night hike.
Finding the trail head is simple. Exit northbound Interstate 5 at Templin Highway, turn left, go under the freeway and then turn right on the old Golden State Highway. Follow it all the way to the barricades and park at Frenchmans Flat Campground.
The sun had already dropped behind the western ridge line as we walked north on the old highway, sometimes paralleling, sometimes crossing, Piru Creek. Past the campground, we had the wilderness to ourselves.
We soon reached the turn off for Slide Peak Trail. Swinging our legs over the white tubular gate that keeps vehicles out, we followed the well-maintained double-track as it immediately began climbing.
Our goal was to reach the top of Slide Mountain by nightfall. That way we could retrace our previous steps on the way back and not have to follow an unfamiliar trail in the dark. But as we followed the trail steadily upward, it was clear we were in a race we wouldn't win.
With less than a half mile to the top, we decided to call it. Not an easy decision when you've been wanting to do something for so long. But it was the right move. We headed back downhill guided by glowing moonlight.
Fast forward a few months, and a second chance presented itself. A group of dads were planning a one-day summit of Mt. Whitney and looking for training hikes. None were familiar with the lookout, so they were game to check it out.
This trip started in the morning. We had plenty of sun to light the way, but an unseasonable cool kept us moving fast to stay warm. The miles passed quickly, and we soon found ourselves atop Slide Mountain.
The panoramic view of the eastern Los Padres National Forest confirmed it was worth the second effort. From the north side of the tower, Pyramid Lake lay just below us. On the other side was Lake Piru, a faint, distant glimmer tucked among the undulating peaks and valleys of the mountains surrounding our valley.
Our stay on the summit was brief, as a blustery, inhospitable wind shooed us off the peak.
But it was long enough to satisfy my fixation, and make me smile when I drive Interstate 5 now because I know right where to look to see what had been there all along.
Eric Harnish lives in Castaic, arguably a hidden gem of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Do It!
Slide Mountain Fire Lookout insidescv.com/slidemountain