Stand 3 - Overlook

Stand 3 - The Overlook Point is approximately one mile from the Trailhead (Stand 1). This stand provides an observation point offering an excellent view of the memorial sites along with interpretive signs explaining what happened during the South Canyon Fire. The signs also describe the fire season of 1994, different types of firefighting crews, and how the mountain is coming back to life. This stand may serve as a final destination for individuals who are constrained by time or may have physical limitations. This is a good location to conduct a terrain orientation and describe the locations of the various resources working on the South Canyon Fire.

On the morning of July 6th the Jumper-in-Charge ordered a helicopter for gear removal and requested a fixed-wing aircraft with an Aerial Observer. After discussions with Dispatch it was agreed upon to use the helicopter for reconnaissance instead of the fixed-wing aircraft with Aerial Observer.

The local handcrew, now consisting of 11 firefighters walked back up to the fire that morning. Helicopter 93R arrived at 09:30 with a limit of 4 hours of flight time. Eight additional smokejumpers parachuted into the top of the fire at 10:30. The Prineville Interagency Hotshot Crew arrived at Canyon Creek Estates subdivision at 12:00.

When the Prineville Hotshot Crew arrived, the Jumper-in-Charge requested that they be ferried into the fire by helicopter and then resume using the helicopter for reconnaissance. By mid-afternoon the local handcrew was working between H-1 and H-2 improving line and the Smokejumpers were working on the west flank of the fire along with nine Prineville Hotshots.

The trail follows the top of the ridgeline from Stand 2 for approximately 1/3 mile to an spur ridge looking east toward Hell's Gate Ridge below Storm King Mountain where most of the events occurred. At this location, interpretive signs tell the story of the fire. If constrained by time or physical limitations, this stand may serve well as the last stand and the group can conduct Integration discussions at this point.

These plaques describe the fires of 1994, the various types of firefighting crews, the role of fire in the ecosystem, and the events of July 6, 1994.

The illustration on this plaque provides the observer with good terrain orientation and description of where the firefighters were located.