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ree Member
Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Posts: 4399 | TRs | Pics
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ree
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Tue Jul 28, 2020 1:39 pm
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I was feeling pretty lazy, so Steve suggested a couple short hikes to former lookout sites.
God knows how much gas we burned getting to the trailhead of Gee Point. It was a lot. This is an active logging area, so if you're planning a midweek trip, be aware. Passing a log truck could be pretty hairy the higher up you go.
It's only a mile and a half hike, so not a big hiking time investment. The trail wraps around the south and west side of the mountain and arrives at a couple flat areas along the way. We passed a beautiful flat meadow, which surprised us. It was quite lovely. Then a little further up, the trail arrives at the base of Gee Point. There's a trail heading left that heads steeply up and wraps around the north side of the point. It's a little scrambly, but not bad.
The summit is pretty spacious for people, though hard to imagine a lookout building there. What a fantastic view: all of Puget Sound, the Olympics, Mount Baker, the Pickets, Sloan, White Horse, Glacier Peak, etc. For a short hike, this had a lot of reward. We both wondered why we hadn't done this sooner. We passed only one other party on our way in, who were exiting. Our timing was great because we had the summit to ourselves.
Steve maintains the trail gorgeous meadow and cute hubski near the summit, go left pretty flowers Mt. Baker the North Cascades and Marblemount White Horse and Three Fingers Glacier Peak, White Chuck, Pugh, and Sloan pano west view sound a little snow Gee Point active logging
Steve wanted to check out another old lookout site, French Point, which was on our way home. We accessed the trailhead by French Creek/Boulder River Rd. It was an easy road walk of one mile. All the gunshot litter ends at the berm the blocks the road. No one goes up here. And why would they? There's no views, and a total dumpster peak. It was so overgrown on top, we didn't find the usual lookout debris of glass, wood, concrete. Our curiosity satisfied, we never have to go here again. Great easy Covid hike. I promise you'll see no one else!
hike to French Point sunset on the summit animal track road walk some kind of microwave tower?
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Brushbuffalo Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between |
ree wrote: | near the summit, go left |
Helpful that someone built that arrow, because the hiker is tempted to continue in a straight line at that spot, which leads to much steeper terrain. The left turn following the old path is not obvious.
But a rock arrow? Just a laid-back cairn, and better than spray paint!
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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lookout bob WTA proponent.....
Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 3045 | TRs | Pics Location: wta work while in between lookouts |
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lookout bob
WTA proponent.....
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Wed Jul 29, 2020 7:40 am
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Ree... I went to French Point many years ago when I was still collecting lookout sites. Did you see the sign that someone leaned against a tree that has now grown into it? It was near the 'summit'. I thought it was very cool. Keep hitting those locations.
"Altitude is its own reward"
John Jerome ( from "On Mountains")
"Altitude is its own reward"
John Jerome ( from "On Mountains")
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