A Room With A View, Winchester Mountain, 9.11.14
Yesterday Bridgit and I fulfilled a bucket list item by climbing a mountain and spending the night in a fire lookout on the summit. Washington has quite a few old lookouts and some of them are first come, first serve if you want to stay overnight.
We opted for the Winchester Mountain Lookout, way up north near the border with Canada. As far as hikes go it was very easy at only two miles each way and 1,300' of vertical gain but the payoff was huge. Our route switchbacked up the right side, traversed over to the left where the white rock vein goes to the saddle and then wound its way up the south shoulder to to the summit.
Winchester Mountain
The trailhead was at the end of a long steep dirt road at a pair of lakes aptly named Twin Lakes. These two little gems were neatly nestled between lots of big mountains.
Climbing up from the lakes
As with many hikes, with each step more and more peaks came into view. Some were familiar while many others stretched into Canada. The weather was perfect and the fall colors are just starting to get good.
Bridgit on the trail
Approaching the saddle
After two easy miles we came to the summit and the Winchester Lookout. I was really concerned about getting there early so we could stake our claim to the lookout. Three or four other people had arrived before we did but they were all day hikers so we spread out our stuff to claim our room with a view!
Winchester Lookout
The interior was very clean and well organized. Normally you would expect to have problems with mice but this lookout was in great shape and we never heard or saw any mice all night. Inside we had a bed (Bridgit got that), a wooden bench (I got that), a cabinet supplied with candlesticks, a lighter, maps and various books. There was also a Coleman stove connected to a propane tank, a five gallon water jug, various laminated articles about the history of the lookout and a guest register. We had brought all of our own supplies and gear anyway so we had everything we needed for a great night.
Lookout Interior
The views were incredible all around us. To the west, Mt Larrabee, American Border Peak and Canadian Border Peak dominated the scene. Far below was Tomyhoi Lake. To the south of the lake was Yellow Aster Butte where I had gone a year ago on a one night solo backpack while Bridgit was recovering from her spinal surgery.
Young lovers
The Border Peaks
Looking across at the Border Peaks we could see the trail that branches off from the Winchester Mountain Trail and leads to High Pass. It looked like some really nice wandering over there and I made a mental note that I must return and take that trail one day.
Majestic American Border Peak
From our perch we could look straight down to where our car was parked between the two lakes. All of the day hikers left by one thirty and we had the entire summit to ourselves the whole afternoon. We set up our new backpacking chairs out in the sun and read magazines, took photos and just watched the light change on the peaks throughout the afternoon.
Twin Lakes
Looking east over the ridge above Twin Lakes were the peaks of North Cascades National Park. This is a very rugged part of the country and the peaks are just spectacular.
Ruth Mountain
The Southern Picket Range
Mt. Redoubt and Mox Peaks
The double horns of Goat Mountain with Mt. Shuksan behind
This particular lookout just happened to have a flagpole and one of the day hikers was from the nearby ranger station. She lowered the flag to half staff since it was 9/11 and we re-raised it in the morning before leaving.
In remembrance
Around six several hiking parties showed up. A pair of guys with a large bottle of whiskey were hoping to stay in the lookout overnight but when they saw we had already claimed it they opted to hike back down and camp at the lakes. All the others left as well except for one guy who turned out to be the caretaker of the lookout and a member of the Mt. Baker Club. He and his dog were happy to set up camp outside to give us our space as it was going to be a beautiful night anyway. He told us the reason he was up there is that there was a good chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis between midnight and three A.M. We agreed to both keep checking the sky and if it occurred to make sure the other woke up to see it. As we waited for the big event we both shot photos of the sun setting on the surrounding peaks which was just absolutely lovely.
Canadian peaks that I don’t know the names of
Evening light on Ruth Mountain
Pink hues on Mt. Redoubt
He was also a photographer and he gave me some pointers on shooting night scenes. By nine thirty it was completely dark with no lights from towns or cities anywhere near us. I set up my tripod, put the camera on manual focus and manual mode. Then I set the lens as wide as it would go (24mm) and the lowest aperture possible and shot thirty second exposures to capture the starlight and the lookout. The only light in the lookout was one solitary candle on a table in the middle of the room but the long exposure filled the entire room with light. I was really pleased with the result.
Starry, starry night
I was super excited about the possibility of getting photos of the Aurora but we both stayed vigilant throughout the night and the lights never appeared. I guess tonight is an even better chance of seeing them but alas I am home typing this.
This morning we got up around six and watched the first rays of the day bathe Mount Baker in light. Then we brewed up some coffee, packed up and headed back home. It sure was a beautiful trip and I hope to get in at least a few more before it gets too cold, rainy or snowy.
Sunrise on Mt. Baker