[naturealbeing]

In choosing this hike it was my desire to do a hike I hadn’t done before, get above the snow line, and find a sweet spot in the weather. Well with this in mine my choice was to do Lookout Mt. Lookout, just out of Marblemount along the Cascade River Road.
I reached the TH (Elev. 1,300 ft.) at 10:38 and geared up and headed out at 10:57. I reached the Split in the trail (Elev. 3,900 ft. 2.8 miles in) at 12:35. The trail to the right takes you go to Monogram Lake and the trail to the left takes you to Lookout Mt. Lookout. Up to this point the trail was in great shape, with some small patches of snow near 3,500 ft. Most of the trail switch backs steeply between Lookout Creek to the left and Monogram creek to the right this made me feel like I was a pinball in a pinball game. At the split the trail starts to traverse towards the west and gains 1,819 ft. in the next 1.9 miles. I started to run into more snow at 4,000 ft. and at 4,500 ft. it became continuous. The snow was mixed; I mostly stayed on top, with about every fifth step punching through. The depth of the snow pack ranged between 8’’ to 24’’ and was soft to hard pack, with some icy spots. Within a mile from the lookout I broke out of the forest and able to see the lookout. This section traverses along a steep sloping open field, as I had never been here before I just made my own route as best as possible. Witch means I’m here and I’m going there. A half-mile from the lookout the normal trail crosses over a pass and swings around to the south and switchbacks up. With all of this firm snow underneath my feet I wasn’t going to waste my time in trying to use the normal route. I decided to just head straight up to the lookout. This is the part that I have been missing in my earlier hikes this winter. Kicking steps in firm snow and walking up the side of a mountain. It’s like magic to be suspended on top of snow crystals, knowing that the ground is way below the surface. I reached the lookout around 2:30. I had no idea that this place is fully stocked with every thing you need to spend the night. Some people are just plain over achievers. Bless their Spirits for their generosity and hard work.
Anyways as I said earlier I wanted to find a sweet spot in the weather, well the proof was in the views. I had been hiking with the sun shinning my way all day and now looking around in the near distances was dark solid storm looking clouds. This made the visit to the lookout feel special.
Signed the logbook, ate some snacks, and took some pictures. Then headed out as the sun was getting ready to drop behind the clouds and it was close to 3:17 and I wanted to get out of the forest while I still had light.
Took a leisurely pace back and arrived at the TH at 5:00 pm.
Total distance listed for this hike is 9.4 miles RT and a gain of 4,419 ft.
My altimeter actually recorded 4,716 ft. of gain

[Newt]

Good report & nice looking lookout.

Did you stitch the pano?

Newt

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Mankind wasn't given the land. Mankind was given to the land. I'm not so sure it has managed us very well.

[naturealbeing]

In regards to your question Newt.
I use Photoshop CS and I blend them together and edit as neccessary.

[Newt]

Thanks, it looks like a nice job from here.

Newt

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Mankind wasn't given the land. Mankind was given to the land. I'm not so sure it has managed us very well.

[marzsit]

that is a really cool lookout, the steep trail isn't so fun but it does tend to discourage vandals, one of the reasons the tower stays in such good condition. fortunate though, because there are very few campsites up there and everything is exposed.

[WhiteJacket]

Good show 

So that's what the views look like from up there
In your pan shot are you looking NE?
Monogram lake was suggested as a hiking destination to me as I'm new to Wash. Cascades...would it lay down in a basin to right?
nice pics

[naturealbeing]

In regards to your questions WhiteJacket.
1-The pano shot was taken looking east.
2-You can see Monogram Lake in the pano picture. It's the lowest area of snow on the right hand side. In the depression.
1.29.05 12:39 pm. Just added a close up shot of Monogram Lake for you. You can just make out the snow cover on the lake in the very right hand side of the photo.

[WhiteJacket]

Yeah I see it now. That's wild!
I have a large topo of the park - 1:100,000 scale. It gives good overview but doesn't show much detail, have to get the quad for that area...

[naturealbeing]

Heres a small section of a USGS map from Terraserver that shows the Monogram Lake Trail.

[WhiteJacket]

I can see now how you felt like a pinball...looks like over 30 switchbacks straight off in over 2000' on that first part of the climb out of the valley there!
Nice hanging lake 
I'll consult with Terraserver as it looks like decent map imaging.
Thanks for the information :-)