[smp77]

I'm looking for recommendations for backcountry structures that could potentially be used as a shelter (or that are just really cool hiking destinations) - fire lookouts, old mining huts, abandoned cabins, etc. So far I've visited a few lookouts and Tungsten Mine and am planning a few more day hikes and backpacking trips. I have a degree in historical archaeology so finding signs of past human occupation and activity in the wilderness lets me combine my love of hiking and my love of people's old stuff.

[Randito]

In the states not so much. In Britsh Columbia there are numerous huts built and maintained by the Alpine Club Of Canada, University of Vancouver Varsity Outdoor Club, BC parks as well as numerous privately built and maintained huts. In the states Wilderness areas building new structures is against federal regulations and maintenance of existing structures is haphazard. Outside of wilderness areas there are a few, Mt Tahoma Trails huts, Rendezvous Huts, Scottish Lakes and a yurt used by North Cascades Helicopter Skiing. Those are all primarily skiing oriented. In Oregon there are Wing Ridge Huts and Wallowa Alpine Huts. Again ski oriented. Most historic structures have collapsed at this point from the heavy snowfall in the cascades.

[Cyclopath]

Have you been to the Pasayten airfield? Pretty cool, might interest you in that it comes from a time when air travel was much simpler, and that who built it is lost to history. Desolation Lookout was a very cool hike. Unbeatable scenery, incredible solitude, a fun journey in, and it's where Kerouac lost his mind.

[treeswarper]

[Pyrites]

Link: http://www.airfields-freeman.com/WA/Airfields_WA_C.htm#pasayten Best.

[Chief Joseph]

The Indian Point Cabin in the Bob Marshall was pretty cool, although it was locked so we just hung out on the porch and sat on the benches. But, I really enjoyed the outhouse after 2 nights out backpacking. 3 Fingers lookout is awesome and last Summer I went to the Lookout Mt lookout NE of Priest Lake. It's a pretty cool old historic lookout that you could stay the night in, one could also follow the ridge of the Selkirk Crest and climb Lions head peak nearby.

[Washakie]

I have done several trips to Europe hiking hut to hut in the Alps. It is a great and unique experience compared to our backpacking. Beautiful rugged moutains, meeting interresting people, good hearty food, a warm bunk at night. There are several small books available that provide the info needed to choose where to go. I lost mine but I think the title was simply Hiking Hut To Hut In The Alps. Expand your horizons,

[treeswarper]

The shelter near Sand Lake was pretty sad. It was being slowly vandalized for firewood. I do not know if it is still standing. A tent would be preferable for me.

[Luc]

+1 for the pasayten. If you do a circuit that hits both tungsten and the airstrip you will likely come across old relics beyond structures, like tools. I've never been to the airstrip when things were unlocked or otherwise occupied, but the tungsten structures are pretty accessible, yet I don't think you'd want to sleep in the cabins.

[Randito]

[Logbear]

Prufers Cabin

Prufers Cabin

Prufers Cabin in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness

[kbatku]

[Malachai Constant]

The old cabins are fun to explore but I wouldn’t sleep in most of them due to hantavirus, although I did in the past pitching a tent on the floor.

[kbatku]

There was a really nice old shelter by Box Canyon in MNRP when I was a kid. We slept there one night and I woke up to water dripping on my foot. Pretty soon I thought "weird, it's not raining" and I lifted my foot up and felt the bag. It had a hole in it where a rat had been removing stuffing, and each tug felt like a "drip"

[fourteen410]