Winchester Mountain Lookout
Encyclopedia
The historical Winchester Lookout, located in the North Cascades
in the U.S. state
of Washington, provides views of the Northern Picket Range
, Mount Baker
, Mount Shuksan
and Canadian peaks. The steep snowfields usually require an ice-axe well into July. The Twin Lakes road may not be passable to the trailhead which will add 2 miles (3.2 km) to the hike. Volunteers from the Mount Baker Club maintain the lookout with 2 work parties per year.
The lookout is open to the public for day or overnight use on a first-come first-served basis. Fires are not permitted at all.
was built in 1935 and staffed until 1966. The lookout was slated for demolition when in 1982 the Mount Baker Club, led by Gary Haufle, worked out a deal with the Forest Service
to restore the lookout. The Forest Service provided the materials and the club provided all of the labor.
on July 14, 1987.
Winchester Mountain Lookout (added 1987 - Structure - #87001188)
is available at the top, provided by the club. A snowfield that lasts late into the summer is behind the lookout and provides the water. Boil all water.
filled clearings and climbs high into the rough windswept and delicate alpine. There are two very narrow sections of trail with long drops that require sure footing are not for the faint of heart. The trail is 2.1 miles (3.4 km) one-way and rated "more difficult" by the U.S. Forest Service.
The lookout is located within the Mount Baker Wilderness
area. Wilderness area regulations restrict group size to no more than 12 persons.
that year based on the price of gold.
North Cascades
The North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington and are officially named in Canada as the Cascade Mountains...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington, provides views of the Northern Picket Range
Picket Range
The Picket Range is a small, extremely rugged subrange of the North Cascades in the northwestern part of the American state of Washington. It is entirely contained within North Cascades National Park. It is about long, running northwest-southeast, and is lies north of the Skagit River, west of...
, Mount Baker
Mount Baker
Mount Baker , also known as Koma Kulshan or simply Kulshan, is an active glaciated andesitic stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the North Cascades of Washington State in the United States. It is the second-most active volcano in the range after Mount Saint Helens...
, Mount Shuksan
Mount Shuksan
Mount Shuksan is a glaciated massif in the North Cascades National Park. Shuksan rises in Whatcom County, Washington immediately to the east of Mount Baker, and south of the Canadian border. The mountain's name Shuksan is derived from the Lummi word [šéqsən], said to mean "high peak". The highest...
and Canadian peaks. The steep snowfields usually require an ice-axe well into July. The Twin Lakes road may not be passable to the trailhead which will add 2 miles (3.2 km) to the hike. Volunteers from the Mount Baker Club maintain the lookout with 2 work parties per year.
The lookout is open to the public for day or overnight use on a first-come first-served basis. Fires are not permitted at all.
History
Winchester Mountain was named in the early 1900s by prospector Jack Post for the rifle he was carrying. This L-4 cab fire lookoutFire lookout tower
A fire lookout tower, fire tower or lookout tower, provides housing and protection for a person known as a "fire lookout" whose duty it is to search for wildfires in the wilderness...
was built in 1935 and staffed until 1966. The lookout was slated for demolition when in 1982 the Mount Baker Club, led by Gary Haufle, worked out a deal with the Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
to restore the lookout. The Forest Service provided the materials and the club provided all of the labor.
National Register
The lookout was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on July 14, 1987.
Winchester Mountain Lookout (added 1987 - Structure - #87001188)
- Mt. Baker Wilderness Area overlooking the north fork of Nooksack River and west fork of Silesia Creek, Sedro Wooley
- Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
- Area of Significance: Architecture, Conservation, Politics/Government
- Period of Significance: 1925-1949
- Owner: Federal
- Historic Function: Government
- Historic Sub-function: Fire Station
- Current Function: Government
- Current Sub-function: Fire Station
- Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest 15 miles (24.1 km) northeast of Mt. Baker Whatcom County, WashingtonWhatcom County, WashingtonWhatcom County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. Its name ultimately derives from the Lummi word Xwotʼqom, meaning "noisy water." As of 2010, the population was 201,140. The county seat is at Bellingham, which is also the county's largest city...
Elevation 6521 feet (1,987.6 m)
Visiting
The lookout is generally inaccessible from early October until mid summer due to snow. If you plan to spend the night in the lookout be aware that it may be occupied when you arrive. There are areas outside the lookout to pitch a tent, or sleep under the stars with no tent. There are 3 cots in the lookout for overnighters and even more can sleep on the floor. PropanePropane
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula , normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel for engines, oxy-gas torches, barbecues, portable stoves, and residential central...
is available at the top, provided by the club. A snowfield that lasts late into the summer is behind the lookout and provides the water. Boil all water.
The Trail
The trailhead for trail #685 to the top of Winchester Mountain is located between the two Twin Lakes. The steep trail, with a 1300 feet (396.2 m) elevation gain, starts in beautiful tall treed forest with fantastic wildflowerWildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
filled clearings and climbs high into the rough windswept and delicate alpine. There are two very narrow sections of trail with long drops that require sure footing are not for the faint of heart. The trail is 2.1 miles (3.4 km) one-way and rated "more difficult" by the U.S. Forest Service.
The lookout is located within the Mount Baker Wilderness
Mount Baker Wilderness
Mount Baker Wilderness in northern Washington, USA,contains . Its eastern border is shared with the boundary of the North Cascades National Park for a distance of 40 miles . The Wilderness extends from State Route 20 north to the Canadian border...
area. Wilderness area regulations restrict group size to no more than 12 persons.
The Road
The trailhead is accessed by the Twin Lakes Road (Forest Service #3065 in the North Fork Nooksack area) off of the Mt Baker Highway. The first 4.5 miles (7.2 km) to the Tomyhoi Lake/Yellow Aster Butte trailhead is well maintained. The remaining 2 miles (3.2 km) of road is not maintained and can only be driven at about 5–15 mph (2.2–6.7 ) by 4x4 vehicles with high clearance. The unmaintained portion of road is often washed out in the early part of the season and is only fixed up by the miners at the Lone Jack Mine, provided they decide to operate the mineMining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
that year based on the price of gold.
