I parked at the lower parking lot knowing I wanted to hike the trail up to the lookout.
With my free USFS Mt Baker-Snoqualmie berry picking permit in hand, I headed up to Suntop hoping to do some huckleberry picking. No such luck.
Like the last three years, this once berry abundant trail was completely berry-less. Hrad to believe that between wildlife and humans all the berries would be gone by now. Guessing it has more to do with the dry years we have had recently reducing berries available.
The berry bushes were bright red from 5,000 ft to the top.
It is always cool to see the work done to make the lookout ADA accessible every time I am up there. This time the ramp has been completed since my last visit a couple of weeks ago.
The gate was closed today. There were 5 cars that came up to the gate and waited as if there was something that would magically open the gate. After 10 minutes, they all drove off. I know the staffing months are typically mid-June to late September. It did look like the lookout was active. Hence it may be a week or two before the lookout closes and the gate will be closed permanently for the season.
NOTE: Berry picking permits are free from any USFS Mt Baker-Snoqualmie ranger station. It allows up to 5 gallons to be picked for personal use only in the MSB region. If anyone has hand picked huckleberries, getting 1 gallon can take a LONG time! I always wonder how bear get enough to eat. :-)
Comments
Maddy on Suntop Lookout
I thought you were just joking about the berry picking permit. I don't know that anybody else in the world's ever gotten one....lol. Glad that the pup got to go!
Team Mollie
Posted by:
Maddy on Sep 22, 2023 03:34 PM
Mary&Mollie on Suntop Lookout
I don’t think you need one if you pick less than 2 cups. I used to pick a gallon or two of huckleberries each year and freeze for use all year. It’s getting harder and harder to find a gallon worth in any one area.
Posted by:
Mary&Mollie on Sep 22, 2023 03:39 PM
Maddy on Suntop Lookout
I've never been able to pick more than three or four berries before they end up in my mouth...lol
Posted by:
Maddy on Sep 22, 2023 04:04 PM
Birb on Suntop Lookout
I’ve done a bunch of hikes recently with tons of berry bushes but almost zero berries.. Noble Knob, around Steven’s Pass, I-90, Winchester Mtn/High Pass.. at first I thought maybe they had been really early or they were running late.. but I think the dry weather has just tanked berry season this year. I’m worried about all the animals that rely on them to get fat enough for winter. 😕
Posted by:
Birb on Sep 22, 2023 06:13 PM
Mary&Mollie on Suntop Lookout
Good to know! My next stop was the northern approach for Noble Knob. May try anyway. Granite Mtn was one of the best years ago. Haven't tried in a few. Sounds like a gallon of frozen huckleberries may not happen this year. And I agree.... feel bad for the wildlife. Wildlife has had odd behavior the past month or so. In mid August bear, marmots, squirrels, etc were eating at a pace like it was late September. Elk moved down from elevation in late August. Well before rut. All sad signs to watch.
Posted by:
Mary&Mollie on Sep 22, 2023 06:52 PM
hearingjd on Suntop Lookout
Sorry, Mary... our yesterday lookout left early and the relief came up late. We are still staffed for another couple of weeks, but we've also had a bad run of luck with sick lookouts. Can't have them up there when they are sick!
I think the really late snow pack cut into the huckleberries. It really didn't melt off until mid-June and then we had that hot stretch. I think it cut into the berry bloom...
Noble, Kelly Butte, et al are all really short on berries this year...
Posted by:
hearingjd on Sep 22, 2023 10:32 PM
Mary&Mollie on Suntop Lookout
Thanks for the update!
Posted by:
Mary&Mollie on Sep 23, 2023 01:36 AM