Lookout Mountain Lookout, Monogram Lake — Thursday, Jul. 22, 2021

We started our hike on Wednesday which was cool due to cloud coverage and made this a perfect day for the elevation gain. The mileage seems off on the trail as the mile marker on the tree seemed like it was closer to 2 miles my GPS said it was closer to 6 miles to the lookout than the 4.4, 4.5, and 4.7 listed by different sites and guidebooks. It could have been just the elevation gain making it seem longer than it was. There are a number of down trees on the way to the split to Monogram Lake none of them overly difficult to cross there is a very overgrown stretch somewhere between mile 2 and 3 that has a lot of brush, salmon berry, ferns, and stinging nettle which made me regret my choice of shorts. Some of the stinging nettle overhangs the trail and I got my hands a couple times as well. The brushy sunny hiking reminds me of typical north cascades trails especially those out of Stehekin or less visited highway 20 hikes. After the brush the forest is spectacular with old growth hemlocks, creeks with well constructed wooden bridges and creeks with frogs hopping through. The meadow when you break out of the forest to lookout mountain is spectacular with Columbia tiger lily, vermilion paintbrush, penstemon, monkey flower, Sitka valerian, and a number of others and it was notable especially because it may be the only dense wildflower meadow I’ve ever been in without being drained of blood by angry hordes of mosquitoes or biting flies. There are a couple marmot holes in the trail and some slippery stretches of eroded trail here that could lead to some slips, it was a good place to take your time. We lucked out and got to stay in the lookout overnight it was super nice not to have to put up the tents for the night and it stayed warm in the lookout even as it dropped to the 40s overnight. Thanks to the volunteers for maintaining this beautiful historic structure! There were incredible views here nearly rivaling cascade pass or Hidden Lake Lookout with considerably more effort to get to. The next day I did some hiking on toward   Monogram Lake the grade is quite steep but the woods were gorgeous through here I stopped at a large down tree because I was feeling too lazy to take off my pack. I imagine it’s a great spot to visit as well but the trail is in some need of maintenance. I don’t think Monogram would be an easier option of the two. Not too many visitors and it was a great couple of days to be out in the mountains.