• Fire Lookout Guide
    • Standing Fire Lookouts of Washington
    • Former Lookout Sites of Washington
    • Visiting all of Washington’s Historic Lookouts
    • Staffed Fire Lookouts of Washington State
    • Washington Lookouts Open for Overnight Stays
    • Lookout Maps
  • Fire Lookout Journal
    Fire Lookout Journal

    Stories and reflections from trip reports, work parties, and more from visits to Washington State’s last standing historical fire lookouts and lookout sites.

    Hok Skiing the Blue Mountains: Clearwater Fire Lookout Cabin

    Larches and Lookouts: Funk, Bonaparte, Steliko and More

    Fire Lookouts and Mother Nature: North Mountain and Darrington Ranger Station

    • Fire Lookout Trip Reports
    • Former Fire Lookout Sites
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  • Staffing Goat Peak
    • 2023 Fire Season
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  • Blog
    Blog

    Random thoughts, mostly about the outdoors, conservation, and adventure.

    Returning to Goldmyer

    What I Learned From a Weekend of Silence

    Goldmyer Hot Springs and Forces of Nature

    • Peakbagging
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    • Bicycling
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  • The Off-Grid Life
    The Off-Grid Life

    Stories about building an off-grid homestead in North Central Washington’s beautiful Methow Valley.

    An Off-Grid Airstream Winter

    Investing in Energy Independence

    Off-Grid Lessons: When Winter Says “Nope!”

  • About
trailchick
JoinedSeptember 29, 2023
Articles131
Comments5
Living a beautiful off-grid Methow life. Twisp, WA ?
Historical Sites

Tiger Mountain 1925 Train Crash Site

Near the West Side Road on Tiger Mountain at Holder Creek are artifacts from a 1925 train crash that offer a glimpse into Tiger's logging history.
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Backpacking

Backpacking the Pasayten’s Hidden Lakes

In 2017 the Hidden Lakes area of the central Pasayten was badly burned by fire. 3 days backpacking here made me realize there is immense beauty in devastation and that nature is extraordinarily resilient.
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BackpackingFire Lookout Journal

Backpacking to Heaven on the Devils Dome Loop

A trip report from a 3 day solo backpack of the Devil's Dome loop in the Pasayten. Devilishly steep? Absolutely, but full of heavenly ridgetop camps, North Cascades vistas, and surprising solitude.
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BackpackingFire Lookout Journal

Backpacking the White Pass/Pilot Ridge Loop in the Glacier Peak Wilderness

A wonderful 3 days spent backpacking the White Pass/Pilot Ridge loop in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. This one has it all: wildflowers, green meadows, alpine lakes, old-growth forests, and mountains for miles.
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Nature and Wildlife

Snow Tracking with the Conservation Northwest Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project

Spending my winter as a volunteer snow tracker for Conservation Northwest was an amazing experience. I not only learned basic animal tracking skills, but I also learned how to see wildlife and our wild spaces from a whole new perspective.
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Essays

The Healing Power of the Desert Southwest

The desert Southwest is a magical place of extreme contrast and powerful energy. When life throws you some unexpected hits, there really isn't a better place to find yourself again.
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Historical Sites

Ghost Tales and History at Cape Disappointment

Cape Disappointment State Park on Washington's southwest coast can keep you busy for days! It's home to endless beaches, a fantastic interpretive center, two lighthouses, and Civil War era batteries and bunkers. You can even jump into nearby Long Beach for ghost tales!
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Essays

Musings of a Serial Soloist

I jokingly refer to myself as a serial soloist and think "don't hike alone" is terrible advice. I think the better advice is "never underestimate nature."
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Backpacking

The Art of Light(ly) Backpacking

Backpacking light(ly) is less about sacrificing and more about smart gear choices. Base weight? Meh, I care how heavy my pack is!
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Fire Lookout Journal

Visiting the Yakama Reservation Fire Lookouts

Recently I was able to visit the Yakama Indian Reservation as part of a fire lookout work party. I met some incredible people and saw a gorgeous land that few are privileged to see.
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Bicycling

Biking the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail: Renslow to the Columbia

Last weekend I did a one-way 22-mile bike ride on the Cascades to Palouse State Park Trail from Renslow to the Columbia. This amazing rail trail takes you on a fantastic tour of Washington's scrublands and railway history, though rockfall is a real concern in areas.
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Trip Ideas

Washington State Lake Hiking Challenges

Exploring alpine lakes is perfect for summer or when higher peaks are snowed in. Check off one or more of these four lake lists and if you're a Mountaineers member, you can earn some cool awards!
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Hi, I’m Chris, aka TrailChick

Photographer, storyteller, and seasonal fire lookout. Living life off-grid in the beautiful Methow Valley of North Central Washington with two horses and a cattle dog. 🌻☀️

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Goat Peak 2025 Calendar

Goat Peak Fire Lookout - 2025 Calendar
Goat Peak Fire Lookout - 2025 Calendar
by WildChris

Trending Posts

BackpackingFire Lookout Journal

Backpacking the White Pass/Pilot Ridge Loop in the Glacier Peak Wilderness

BackpackingFire Lookout Journal

Backpacking to Heaven on the Devils Dome Loop

Travel

Washington State Hot Springs

Travel

Hiking the Grand Canyon’s Rim to River and Back in a Day

Peakbagging

Hiking Beehive Basin—With a Surprise

Trip Ideas

Washington State Hiking and Mountaineering Challenges

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  • About
  • Fire Lookout Guide
    • Standing Fire Lookouts of Washington
    • Former Lookout Sites of Washington
    • Visiting all of Washington’s Historic Lookouts
    • Staffed Fire Lookouts of Washington State
    • Washington Lookouts Open for Overnight Stays
    • Lookout Maps
  • Fire Lookout Journal
    • Fire Lookout Trip Reports
    • Former Fire Lookout Sites
    • Fire Lookout Restoration
    • Fire Lookout Staffing
  • Staffing Goat Peak
    • 2023 Fire Season
    • 2022 Fire Season
    • 2021 Fire Season
  • Blog
    • Peakbagging
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    • Historical Sites
    • Essays
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