FIRE LOOKOUT FRIDAY

A weekly podcast and newsletter about Washington's historic fire lookouts—their stories, their history, and the ridiculous things that happen when you decide to visit all of them. And then staff one.

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Field Guide to Washington's
Standing Fire Lookouts
Lookouts Available for
Overnight Stays
Visiting Washington's
93* Fire Lookouts
Staffing Goat Peak

Latest Posts


Essays

Off-Grid, Underfunded, and Now on Substack

First, thank you. Truly. ❤️ So many of you have been following along here for years, through fire lookout adventures, dog stories, horse stories, and whatever else I’ve…

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Fire Lookout Journal

North Twentymile: A Labor of Love

Earlier this month I once again found myself stumbling down from the summit of North Twentymile, one of Washington’s finest fire lookout sites with arguably one of Washington’s…

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Nature and Wildlife

The Incredible Northern Lights: February 26-27, 2023

The post I wrote recently about viewing the northern lights turned out to be quite timely. The geomagnetic storm that was forecast last weekend produced a brilliant display…

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Nature and Wildlife

Viewing the Northern Lights

Updated: May 10, 2024. I've received a lot of questions from friends about how best to view the northern lights and with another possible strong geomagnetic storm this…

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Fire Lookout Journal

Repainting Lookout Mountain

One of the things I love most about fire lookouts is how they're often central figures in the life and stories of many. Have you ever visited a…

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Fire Lookout Journal

Etiquette Tips for Visiting Staffed Fire Lookouts

It may surprise you that two dozen or more of our remaining historical lookouts here in Washington State are still actively staffed or on standby status, which is…

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Fire Lookout Journal


Fire Lookout Journal

North Twentymile: A Labor of Love

Fire Lookout Journal

Repainting Lookout Mountain

Fire Lookout Journal

Etiquette Tips for Visiting Staffed Fire Lookouts

Fire Lookout Journal

A Day of Fire Lookout Restoration at the Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center

Fire Lookout Journal

Trial by Fire at Goat Peak Fire Lookout

Fire Lookout Journal

Setting Sun Mountain Lookout Site

Staffing Goat Peak


2023 Fire Season

2022 Fire Season

2021 Fire Season

Backpacking Trips


Backpacking

Backpacking the Pasayten's Hidden Lakes

Backpacking

Backpacking to Heaven on the Devils Dome Loop

Backpacking

The Art of Light(ly) Backpacking

Peakbagging


Peakbagging

Middle Tiffany and Rock Mountain

Peakbagging

Clark Peak

Peakbagging

Ramsey Peak

The Off-Grid Life


The Off-Grid Life

An Off-Grid Airstream Winter

The Off-Grid Life

Investing in Energy Independence

The Off-Grid Life

Off-Grid Lessons: When Winter Says "Nope!"