From the North Mountain Lookout, the view is spectacular: Mount Baker, the Suiattle River Valley, Glacier Peak, Whitehorse Mountain, Three Fingers, Green Mountain and the Sauk River Valley. Mountains stretch out all around.
At one time, the lookout, which went into operation in 1965, was in danger of falling into disrepair or even coming down.
Now, though, the lookout is being repaired and, eventually, will be available for people to rent and spend the night.
Forrest Clark, the construction manager for the project and the Western Washington director of the Forest Fire Lookout Association, is fascinated by fire lookouts. For 25 years, he’s worked on various restorations and maintenance projects on lookouts around the area.
“They’re pretty cool historic structures, and they’re falling at such a rapid rate,” he said.
At one time, there were more than 650 lookouts in the state. Now there are less than a hundred.
Clark knew North Mountain had amazing views, but if the lookout was gone, the views would be too. The summit of the mountain is so forested, you need the height of the tower to bring the views into sight.
So, for about six years, he hauled people up to the lookout and showed it off. He wanted to see it repaired, but he knew he’d need help.
Finally, he found support with the Darrington Area Business Association, now known as Darrington Strong.
Clark put together a presentation for the association, and explained how the lookout could bring in visitors and benefit the community. The group was really excited about it, he said.
Roselie Rasmussen stepped up to lead the effort. Rasmussen is now the coordinator for Friends of North Mountain Lookout, a group formed to restore the lookout and make it available for people to rent.
Rasmussen is excited by what the lookout could mean for the community. She moved to Darrington in 1992, and although she’s left at times to travel, the town is really where her heart is.
She thinks the lookout will “become part of the identity of how our community is seen by the outside world. It also creates or strengthens the sense of our own identity because it’s a part of our history,” she said.
North Mountain can be reached by car, extremely rare among fire lookouts, which often require a long hike to get there.
“It gives people a way to connect with nature and the woods and the mountains,” Rasmussen said. She likes that it offers a chance to see a lookout to people who aren’t able to hike to one.
Reaching the lookout does require climbing steep stairs, but there’s no hiking and visitors won’t have to sleep on the ground.
There’s still plenty to do to get the lookout ready for visitors.
Two old buildings that threatened the structure’s stability have been removed. The roof has been replaced as well as many other projects to restore the structure.
Much still needs to be done, too. There’s an endless amount of painting. The railings need to be replaced. Some of the cross beams, floor structure and catwalk all need work. Wires that help support the structure need to be tightened. The glass for the iconic windows needs to be put in. Broken glass needs to be cleaned up at the bases of the tower. Furniture needs to be built. The list goes on.
Clark is happy with how the work is going. He hopes to be able to have a grand opening in 2016.
Clark appreciates that families will be able to easily visit the lookout.
“I think it’s really great for kids and adults to come up here,” he said. “It’s very important for kids to be able to see. Kids don’t know this history.”
You can help
Friends of North Mountain Lookout still need help to finish repairs and make the lookout available for rental. Monetary donations are needed.
Volunteers are also needed. Those with experience in hospitality services, marketing, construction or furniture making would be extremely helpful. But even if you have no prior experience, they can find a job for you. There’s tons of painting to do, for example. If you’d like to volunteer or make a donation, go to northmountainlookout.com or contact Roselie Rasmussen at info@northmountainlookout.com.
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