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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.

Lookout Point: A Hearse and a Shovel

It's not every day a visit to a fire lookout could be considered subject matter for a horror movie, but thanks to an abandoned hearse at the summit, Lookout Point earned a spot on my top 20 fire lookout adventures simply because it was so weird and creepy!

Fire Lookout Journal

Chiliwist Butte Lookout Site

The Chiliwist Butte fire lookout site near Malott is a great early season destination and the Chilowist area also has some really neat history.

Fire Lookout Journal

Cooper Mountain Lookout Site

A visit to the spectacular broad summit of Cooper Mountain high atop Chelan Ridge, the location of several old fire lookout structures.

Fire Lookout Journal

Doe and Ike Mountains

Doe Mountain in the Okanogan Range is a former fire lookout site that makes for a sublime ridge line cross country outing. Neighboring Ike Mountain is an easy bonus.

Fire Lookout Journal

Returning to First Butte

A return visit to First Butte to check on the condition of the lookout and see the rapid deterioration of the once photogenic ground house.

Fire Lookout Journal

Larches and Lookouts: Funk, Bonaparte, Steliko and More

Okanogan County in Washington State has incredible history and the highest concentration of remaining Washington State Lookouts, which makes it a spectacular destination for geeks like me! Here's a trip report from a recent October larches and lookouts road trip.

Fire Lookout Journal

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

Triple digit temps, thunderstorms, fires, and horseflies.... the reason I oftentimes have a Plan E when heading out for a weekend lookout bagging adventure!

Backpacking Fire Lookout Journal

Fastpacking Miners Ridge Fire Lookout

An incredible 30+ mile ultralight overnight to Miner's Ridge Lookout, deep in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. This was lookout #46 for me and I enjoyed not only surprising solitude, but one of the most fantastic mountain sunrises I've ever seen!

Fire Lookout Journal

Bridge Creek Lookout Site (aka Fenceline Peak)

A beautiful hike to an old lookout site above Bridge Creek near Twisp. Not much history is known about this one.

Fire Lookout Journal

Goats Rocks Loop: Goat Ridge and Hawkeye Point Lookout Sites

A 2017 16 mile loop through the Goat Rocks Wilderness to enjoy high alpine flowers and visit two former lookout sites.

Fire Lookout Journal

North Twentymile Fire Lookout: Lessons in Perserverance

Tales of surviving a remote hike in near triple digit temps and finally checking off a summit that has evaded me for four years!

Backpacking Fire Lookout Journal

2018: The Year of BIG Adventures

A look back at some of my biggest outdoor adventures of 2018, mostly to remote Washington State fire lookouts, and some funny fire lookout bagging stats along the way. What were your big 2018 accomplishments?

Thrapp Mountain Lookout Site

War Creek Ridge Lookout Site

Larches and Lookouts

Musings of a Serial Soloist

Returning to Goldmyer

The Wild Olympics

An Off-Grid Airstream Winter

Investing in Energy Independence

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

Fire Lookout Journal

Lookout Point: A Hearse and a Shovel

Chiliwist Butte Lookout Site

Cooper Mountain Lookout Site

Doe and Ike Mountains

Returning to First Butte

Larches and Lookouts: Funk, Bonaparte, Steliko and More

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

Fastpacking Miners Ridge Fire Lookout

Bridge Creek Lookout Site (aka Fenceline Peak)

Goats Rocks Loop: Goat Ridge and Hawkeye Point Lookout Sites

North Twentymile Fire Lookout: Lessons in Perserverance

2018: The Year of BIG Adventures

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

Washington State Hot Springs

Backpacking to Heaven on the Devils Dome Loop

Discovering the Blue Mountains and Their Fire Lookouts

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

Visiting the Yakama Reservation Fire Lookouts