Washington Fire Lookouts

By Cloudveil Ambassadors Kristin & Jeff Campbell

As I traveled to Holden, WA [http://www.mountainmurmur.com/2011/05/03/la-push-to-holden-touring-the-cascades-coast/&91; last winter, I was amazed at the amount of scared the trees and ridges surrounding Lake Chelan resulting from recent burns. As I spoke with my good friend Sakeus Bankson (bad-ass fire hotshot and Chelan, WA resident), he told me of the many summers he spent doing trail maintenance along the ridgelines bordering Lake Chelan and how difficult it can be to suppress fires in the Cascades. Simply put, they are enormous, complex, and remote. The town we were traveling to, Holden, is only accessible by an hour long boat ride followed by a 12 mile bus-ride.  They have a meager fire crew consisting of village residents, but they wouldn’t stand a chance against a fully fledged wild fire.

The “Great Blowup [http://www.foresthistory.org/ASPNET/Policy/Fire/FamousFires/1910Fires.aspx&91;” in 1905 burned over 3,000,000 acres and killed 84 people in Washington, Idaho, and Montana and was one of the largest forest fires in recorded history. This spurred the then fledgling Forest Service to construct over 5,000 fire lookouts staffed with observers until 1950 when aerial observation took over.

Wallace, ID after the Great Blowup [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wallace_Idaho_1910_fire.jpg&91;

At that time some were dismantled by the government while other groups, such as the Forest Fire Lookout Association (FFLA http://www.firelookout.org/about.htm), began to maintain them as historic sites.

I remember back to my discussion with Sakeus, and having followed his blog of all the fires he’s been on this summer, I have a new appreciation for how critical the men who lived up here were to the early detection and suppression of wildfires were in the early 1900’s. After all, in the early 1900’s they didn’t have helitankers and fire retardant dropped from planes as we do nowadays.

Currently 91 fire lookouts are standing in WA around the Cascades and Olympic Peninsula. When the weather permits, these lookouts provide the best views of the Cascades. Though a little crowded during summer-time, only the most popular of these are visited every two or three months in the winter. In theory these can serve as a network of huts that are accessible year round for those willing to put in the effort.

Over the last few months Kristin and I have spent some time around the Hidden Lake lookout. Located on a point which overlooks the large bend in Cascade River road, it is easily accessed in the summer months, but takes more effort and better timing to get to in the winter months with clear weather.  Clear weather offers views of the El Dorado Cirque, Torment, Forbidden, Spider, Sahale Arm, Cascade Pass, Mt Baker, and even Mt Rainier on a very clear day. The La Nina winter has left significant amounts of snow this year, but I can imagine in lean snow years, rangers living at the lookout would have to make the 1000 vertical foot descent/ascent to Hidden Lake for water every few days.

The Hidden Lake Lookout has a “bed” large enough for two people but enough floor space for three more in a pinch. A small but heavy iron stove must have been lugged up there by a few poor souls.  Many well-worn novels reside on a book shelve which includes the very helpful Fred Becky’s Cascade Alpine Guide. A quick peek in the current visitor register shows that many familiar names and friends have passed through in the recent months. In addition to the large cables anchoring the lookout to the summit blocks of Hidden Peak, instructions of where to sit during a lighting storm ring home how exposed the lookout can be to weather. Sitting at the table looking out toward Glacier Peak, one can imagine where Gary Snyder, Phillip Walen, and Jack Kerouac derived the inspiration for their writings.

A brief sunny window with a glimpse into the El Dorado Cirque near the Hidden Lake Lookout mid-winter. Photo: Jeff Campbell

The closing of the window, skiing by brail & compass back to the lookout mid-winter. Photo: Jeff Campbell

Drew Tabke looks towards the lookout poised on top of Hidden Peak. Photo: Jeff Campbell

The Hidden Lake Lookout, looking south with Glacier Peak in the distance. Photo: Kristin Campbell

Kristin looking east towards Forbidden and Cascade Pass with Hidden Lake below. Photo: Jeff Campbell

Hidden Lake Lookout looking south towards Glacier Peak and Mt. Burgindy. Photo: Kristin Campbell

Complete with table, wood burning stove, bed for two and a wooden stool to sit on while riding out lightning storms. Photo: Jeff Campbell

For a map of where the current lookouts in WA are, check out Map of Northwest Fire Lookouts [http://www.firelookout.com/&91;.

Also, a word of thanks to all the hotshot crews out there, including my friends currently in the trenches during a very tough fire season, Sakeus Bankson [ http://makewhereyouare.wordpress.com/&91; and Sam Cox [http://coreshot.com/&91; and thanks for their permission to use their photos.

Carnage in the wake of the Las Chonchas Fire, NM  Photo: Sakeus Bankson

Las Chonchas Fire, NM  Photo: Sakeus Bankson

Digging lines in the Wallow Fire, AZ  Photo: Sakeus Bankson

Heli-tanker, Horseshoe Two Fire, AZ  Photo: Sakeus Bankson

Arizona Burning, AZ  Photo: Sam Cox

Jumping down to a wild fire in Denali National Park, Photo: Sam Cox

                                               Written by Cloudveil Ambassadors Kristin & Jeff Campbell. September, 2011