Setting something straight

[GRAHAM_RANCH]

Reviewing the latest video of the California Travl Expert (put out by V. Hill) made me want to set something straight in regards to facts:

The video can be seen at this link:
http://www.californiatravelexpert.com/San_Andreas_Fault_Tours.shtml

Wrighwtood is not the highest point on the San Andreas Fault. It is Big Pines Ca., which is located four miles west and 800 feet higher than Wrightwood. Big Pines was the first town in the area, having the first post office for years, until Wrightwood got her's. Big Pines, the home of the L.A County Park of 1924, was technically named Swarthout (according to the Post Office).

The so-called monument that this video depicts as marking the highest point of the San Andreas Fault (as being in Wrighwood), is actually the remains of the Davidson Arch, which marked the center of the old Big Pines Park (1924-1941) in Big Pines, Ca.. The bars, which this video said was the location of a jail cell to hold trouble makers at the park, were bars put up after the main portion of the Arch was removed in the early '50s. They were put up to prevent people from falling through the Davidson Arch (North Tower) openings. The cell was located inside the base of the north tower, which is the only existing portion of the famous arch.


Davidson Arch of Big Pines


The north tower of the Davison Arch after removal

[GRAHAM_RANCH]

Sorry, download did not work. This is the surviving portion of the Davidson Arch. Note the bar...put in to prevent people from falling through the opening.

[Joe Schmoe]

Better picture...from your own Photobucket account lol

[GRAHAM_RANCH]

Thanks Joe, this other one..taken in '45, was about the 19 feet of snow that Big Pines had.

[RobertW]

[GRAHAM_RANCH]

Good webpage, Bob...no wonder why Calif. Travels got the info wrong. The web page is wrong too, (calling Wrighwood the highest point in the fault...being at 6826 above sea level). Almost 800 feet higher than the maps say.

[RobertW]

I think the misinformation comes from the fact that Wrightwood is the closest "village" or "town" with a post office  to Big Pines. 

As your History pages show, it wasn't always that way and Big Pines once had more people living there than in Wrightwood and had their own post office, while Wrightwood did not.

Since Big Pines is now part of the Angeles National Forest with very few living full time in the area and it is punctuated on the maps only by "Big Pines Ranger Station or Information Center", most just say "Wrightwood" even though that isn't really correct.   After all, Wrightwood is only a couple of miles down the road. 

I did notice that the webpage mentions a U.S. Geological Survey marker next to the North tower.  I've never noticed that, but will look for it this next weekend.

[GRAHAM_RANCH]

You know, Bob...I do remember seeing it. But, for the life of me can't pinpoint htre location. It is a round marking, similar to the one Baldy and Baden Powell.

[RobertW]

You know, Bob...I do remember seeing it. But, for the life of me can't pinpoint htre location. It is a round marking, similar to the one Baldy and Baden Powell.

There it was, right next to the tower on the East side:

[GRAHAM_RANCH]

Thanks, Bob. Good photo, too. It also shows that it does not state, "Wrightwood," "Or highest point of San Andreas Fault." Taking in consideration of the year that the marker was place, it probably was placed there during the opening ceremonies of the Park on Labor Dat 1924.

[Surfer_Dude]

$250 in 1924 was a lot of moolah!

[RobertW]

$250 in 1924 was a lot of moolah!

I was thinking... what a deal for such a unique piece of history.  I'd pay $300 and take it home.