Place: CA-Delilah

Delilah Lookout-5,092' (Verplank Ridge) (36.8041141, -119.1187255)
Delilah Springs-4,298' (Verplank Ridge) (36.8121647, -119.1223010)

Description:
Delilah Lookout, elevation 5,176, is approximately 45 miles east of Fresno California in the Southern Sierras. Delilah was established in 1916 as a site for fire detection. It has seen several incarnations including a 50 foot metal tower with live-in cab constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937. In 1960 this structure was replaced with a 70 foot tall metal tower from Lemoore NAS. The lookout was staffed yearly, funded by both California State and the Forest Service until 1992. Since then it has been staffed during extreme fire danger and as the Forest Service budget allowed. The Buck Rock Foundation Volunteer Lookout Program expects to staff Delilah with volunteers for as many days possible beginning fire season 2005. If it is staffed, the lookout will be open to the public from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. From the Buck Rock Foundation

I had looked for awhile for how Delilah got its name. A fellow lookout Karen B who had a relative, actually two relatives whose name was Delilah which was associated with Delilah Mountain.

The first one was Delilah (Miller) Akers, born in Kentucky in 1802. Delilah, who was the oldest sibling, and her siblings were independent children.  She and her family came by wagon from Kentucky via Austin, TX, fighting bears and natives along the way. Delilah's mother, Priscilla, had been kidnapped by the Shawnee Indians in Kentucky as a child and raised by them until her teens when the US Army recaptured her.  In the late 1840's she homesteaded the mountain.  In 1868, she died in Centerville Calif.

The second Delilah Akers was born in 1863 in Fresno County. She died at the age of 21 in 1885, also in Fresno County.

Trips:

• August 2, 2014 - Training as lookouts
• August 15, 2014 - First solo as a lookout
• August 21-22, 2014 - Stayed overnight
• September 26, 2014 - A day at Delilah
• February 1, 2015 - Meetup walk to Delilah from Forest Service gate
•  July 14, 2015 - Meetup walk to Delilah from the Forest Service gate
• June 7, 2016 - Being a lookout.
•  Oct 10-11, 2016 - Overnight at Delilah, along with the Sacata Fire
• May 28, 2018 - Memorial Day at Delilah 
• June 26-28, 2018 - Three days in the lookout
• July 15, 2018 - Gary at Delilah by himself
• August 10, 2018 - Day one of three days-smokey 
• August 11, 2018 - Day two of three days-smokey 
• August 12, 2018 - Day three of three days-started to clear
• September 1, 2018 - Saturday of the Labor Day weekend
• September 2, 2018 - Sunday of the Labor Day weekend
• September 21. 2018 - Day hike at Grant Grove, followed by Horse Fire by Snowline Lodge and a fallen tree going to Delilah
• September 22, 2018 - A day at Delilah with the start of the Oak Fire near Ahwahnee
• October 5, 6, and 7, 2018 - Three days at Delilah and the last time up there this season
•  May 11, 2019 - Hike from the Forest Service Gate to Delilah and back with Steven, Rachel, Sherri and Gary
• June 14, 15, and 16, 2019 - First time at Delilah for the season. Also refreshing with Judy and Tom. 
• July 27 and 28, 2019 - Overnight at Delilah. Dry, but no smokes.
•  August 12, 13, 14, and 15-At Delilah for four days
• August 31, September 1, and September 2, 2019-Labor Day weekend at Delilah
• September 21, 22, and 23 at Delilah-only Gary at the Lookout 
• October 11, 12, and 13-Sherri and Gary's three days at Delilah
• October 17 and 18-last two days at Delilah for the season
•  June 9 and 10, 2020 -First time in the tower this season
• July 2, 3, 4, and 5 at Delilah Lookout
• August 1, 2, 3, and 4 - Gary at Delilah Lookout
• September 4, 5, and 6 - Gary and Sherri at Delilah over Labor Day weekend. Forced to leave due to smoke
• November 3rd and 4th, 2020 - Gary's two days at Delilah, the last of the season
• June 16, 2021 - First time at Delilah this season. Sherri, Gary and Judy were there
• August  9, 2021 - Smoked out of Delilah
• August 10 and 11, 2021 - Two days at Delilah-Sherri and Gary
• May 28, 29, and 30, 2022 - Gary spent Memorial Day at Delilah.
• July 2, 3, and 4 , 2022- Gary spent the 4th of July at Delilah
• July 16, 17, 2022 - Gary and Sherri spent a weekend 
• September 3, 4, 5, and 6 - Labor Day weekend at Delilah.
• October 27 and 28, 2022 - Gary at Delilah
• May 18 and 19, 2023 - Opening day at Delilah. Gary is alone for an overnighter
• September 1, 2, 3, and 4, 2023 - Labor Day weekend.
• October 21-22, 2023 - Overnight at Delilah: Sherri and Gary
• June 7, 8, and 9 - Gary's three days at Delilah.
• August 19 and 20, 2024 - Gary's two days at Delilah
• November 8, 9, and 10 - Closed out Delilah for the season-both Sherri and Gary
  

References:

•  Forest Service web site
• Buck Rock Foundation
• Fire Lookouts
• National Historic Lookout Registry
• California Lookouts - A Log of the interesting points of Delilah lookout.
• Find A Grave-Delilah (Miller) Akers
• Find A Grave-Delilah Akers

Pictures:

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Peaks seen from Delilah Lookout from the PeakFinder application