Lookout Mountain

I could have stayed home this morning, and coffee and the news would've been nice. Instead, I got up at 4:30, and drove up to Marblemount and the trailhead for Lookout Mountain. I've wanted to hike this trail for many years, and finally it is in the bag. I think this may have been the last weekend of summer, and the high country will probably be shutting down in a month or so. As Janis said, Get it while you can.

Lots of trucks on the road early this AM. I guess salmon fishing for kings and coho opened up on the Cascade River--and I saw a few on my way back. Also, hunting season is here.

This trail is a tough climb--about 4500 feet elevation gain, I think, over 4.5 miles. Mike and I did its sibling trail, Monogram Lake, a month or two ago. I think that was a tad harder, but we were carrying a bit more gear. The trail is fine, but there are some steep edges and so watch your step. Overall, the hike is about 9.5 miles.

I was the first one on trail, starting at daybreak (6:30 AM). It took me three hours to get to the lookout. I was walking through the clouds for a good portion of the way. The views up top were limited by the clouds, although I got a good look down valley at one point. The weatherman promised better.

A nice young couple from down south had the lookout to themselves last night. We talked and shared a bit, as I investigated what was to be seen. A lightning stool. An antique headlamp. A library with a definite nature writing focus. The log book (entry made). A stove, but I'm not sure if it worked. A couple beds. 360 views of the Baker, Shuksan, the Picketts, Hidden Peak, and so on, on a good day, with pictures on the wall to identify the mountains.

I was disappointed not to see any bears or other big animals. Maybe they saw me. I passed 13 or so people coming up, on my way down. Somebody's mom complained, "This is not a beginner hike." I think tomorrow I'll feel the downhill more than anything. My hips and quads are not fans. Age.

This was maybe my 10th lookout in Washington State. There's a nice new book out on fire lookouts in Washington--great write up in there on this hike. This also was my first solo hike in the high country in a little while--at least since last year, but I didn't hike much then. It felt good to get lost in my thoughts.

I got home in time for the second half of the UW Husky game, which we won, big, over BYU. Everyone's excited about Jacob Eason now.

Sourdough Mountain

Mike and I went up Sourdough Mountain in the North Cascades this weekend. This was a redemption hike, as we tried to get up there a few years ago, but were stymied by snow.

We met in Mount Vernon around 6 AM, and I was greatly appreciative that Mike was up for leaving Seattle at 5 AM. It's great to make the trailhead before most. One reason Sourdough is a favorite of mine is it isn't too far of a drive from home--less than an hour and half.

The hike is tough. A really stiff climb for the first two miles, and it never really lets up. I think climb is 5000 feet in about 5.5 miles. There was snow at the top, but it was quite manageable, and added to the allure of the lookout. The lookout is well known, as one of the Beat poet lookouts, once giving summer residence to Gary Snyder and Phil Whaley.

The wildflowers are blooming. Columbine, Indian paintbrush, varieties of phlox, and other annual favorites. Now is the time to be up high. The views from the top were spectacular, with Hozomeen and the Pickets Range figuring prominently.

More people on trail than usual. It is the 4th of July weekend.

The biggest highlight was the bear we saw on the way down. The bear was feeding in field, tucked between a switchback. It was not moved by the clapping of hands, or the banging of sticks. It took a good five minutes to convince Mr. or Ms. Bear to move along, and then we seemed to chase down the trail for another 15 minutes, as Bear seemed happy to opt for trail over steep slope. Pretty special stuff.

I was slow going up. When I was in shape, I could do this climb in under three hours, but we took more than four hours. Mike is in shape, and so awesome in accommodating my slowness. We kept a steady, talking pace going up, making it a terrific day with a good friend, on trail. Coming down was tough on the quads. There was some running, albeit slow and stilted. Hopefully recovery is quick.

Green Mountain

On Saturday I hiked up to the Green Mountain Lookout in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. The Suiattle River Road into this hike has been out, more or less, since 2003, and just re-opened last fall.

This was a morning for cloud hiking. Fall was clearly in gear, with temps somewhere around 40 degrees, and signs of frost on the plants. Right now it should be called Red and Green Mountain.

The hike is about 4 miles to the lookout, which is perched at 6500 feet. I've seen the pictures, and the views are spectacular, of Glacier Peak and the surrounding area. My own views were restricted to lower elevations, as the lookout was in the clouds the whole time I was there. I was able to make a cell phone call from the lookout--there is that.

This lookout was the point of litigation recently. A non-profit group from Montana successfully sued the feds for using the aid of an helicopter in repairing or improving it, contrary to the Wilderness Act. Subsequently, legislators got involved to preserve the lookout, successfully. All this law and policy business made seeing the lookout that much more of a priority.

Coming down, the clouds lifted, and the open meadows came more into view. Spectacular splashes of red and green--my pics don't really do the views justice. Very beautiful.

The Suiattle River Road is full on washboard after mile 14 or so. I had to slow to 10-15 mph, or so, or the car would've shaken apart. The drive from Mount Vernon took a little more than two hours. Good times, listening to the new Mad Season-Benaroya Hall cd, a show which we attended in January. I was second up to the lookout for the day, but the trail got busy later on. Recommend the early start.

Hidden Lake Lookout

 

Last Saturday I went up to Hidden Lake Lookout in the North Cascades with friends Craig and Greg.  We got an early start, meeting in Burlington at 5:30 AM, which was key to the day.  Empty trail, empty lookout, quiet on the mountaintop. Maybe 30 folks were coming up as we headed back, midday.

The lookout sits at 6900 feet elevation, and the views on Saturday were peerless.  Glacier Peak, Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, all clear and near, not a cloud in the sky.  We could see the Olympics, Marblemount, Skagit Valley, and all the peaks around Cascade Pass.  

It was hot out, and the sun took a bit of a toll on me.  We crossed many tame snow fields, from about halfway up.  Hidden Lake is still frozen, but has cracks of azure blue, crissing and crossing.  By now, it probably has little icebergs floating, after the 80 degree weekend days. The snow fields were melting fast as we came down, with patches of watermelon ice in the drainages.  An avalanche occurred across the trail sometime between when we went up and came down.

The lookout is really a work of love for volunteers.  It has a bed, a desk, a stove.  A stool to stand on in lightning storms.  A little library.  Log books going back decades.  I recognized a few signatories.  It is open to all, first come first served.  I might try to get back this year.  

Wildflowers are on.  This year, I seem better at naming them.  The hike itself is about 9 miles total.  Trailhead is about 15 miles or so east of Marblemount.

Annie’s Pizza afterwards.  Came home and watched the other Olympics.