Trail Mix

Tyee Fire Lookout in the Entiat Ranger District is reservable on recreation.gov.

Before wildfire detection technology advanced, fire lookouts were the best way to spot developing fires in

the forest. Fire lookouts are perched at a high elevation and occupied during fire season by the lookout. The lookout visually scans the area for lightning strikes and forest fires from the vantage point. Once a fire is spotted, they alert the closest ranger station and give local landmarks to help firefighters locate the fire quickly. At one point, 686 lookouts were operating in Washington, but only 106 structures are left with 28 still functioning to this day. Not all of those retired lookouts are in disuse, though. Some are accessible via hikes and available for overnight stays. The fire lookouts offer primitive shelter and are a fun way to experience nature from a great viewpoint of the surrounding landscape. We compiled a list of some of Washington’s most popular fire lookouts that can be reserved or are available on a “first-come, first-served” basis.

These fire lookouts offer very sparse amenities, so check beforehand for specific details per lookout and bring what you will need to enjoy your time. Very important: no running water is available at any location so bring enough water for your stay. And as always, use extreme caution when using an open flame and pack out all trash, food and waste. Guests are also expected to clean up after themselves after their stay at the fire lookout. Most rentals are operated by USFS, but a couple are privately owned and have a separate booking process. Nightly fees for rentals can range from $75–$150 per night. Reservations are typically made available 6 months in advance of the peak season (from mid-June to mid-October) and book up fast (like, really fast) so be ready to lock in those dates early. Each rental has different rules for the minimum or maximum length of stay and some fire lookouts ask for a key deposit that is refunded upon return. When it comes to the fire lookouts that are available on a firstcome, first-served basis, it is important to gauge what your expectations are for your experience. It is very unlikely that you will have the entire lookout to yourself, so expect to share the space and potentially make new friends. Sometimes the lookout might be too crowded and you might have to hike back the same day or find an alternative campsite. Confirm ahead of time with the ranger district or the land manager if the fire lookout is open for overnight use and make sure you have the appropriate permits, if necessary, to explore the area. Whether you reserve ahead of time or opt for the first-come, first-serve option, the unique experience of staying in a lookout will be one to remember.

Reserve a fire lookout in Washington

Not all fire lookouts

are open to the Heybrook Lookout: East of Index on public, or are only U.S. 2. Reserve on recreation.gov. open during the Evergreen Mountain Lookout: Northeast of Skykomish on U.S. 2. Reserve on recreation.gov. day when staffed. Remember to take good care of these historic structures Quartz Mountain Fire Lookout: when visiting and Located in Mount Spokane State Park don’t try to enter off of SR 206. Reserve on parks.wa.gov. locked lookouts. Steliko Lookout and Tyee Lookout: West of Entiat on Hwy 97. Reserve on recreation.gov. Clearwater Lookout: South of Pomeroy on Hwy 12. Reserve on recreation.gov. North Mountain Lookout: Located in Darrington on SR 503. Operated by Friends of North Mountain. Reserve on airbnb.com. Lorna Butte Lookout: Located in Goldendale off of Hwy 97. Privately owned. Contact Lefever Holbrook Ranch on facebook.com.

First-come, first-served in Washington

Mt. Baker Ranger District: Winchester Mountain, Park Butte, Hidden Lake and Lookout Mountain lookouts. Darrington Ranger District: Three Fingers, Mount Pilchuck Cowlitz Valley Ranger District: Burley Mountain

Oregon rentals

Acker Rock Lookout: East of Tiller on Tiller Trail Hwy. Reserve on recreation.gov. Bald Knob Lookout: South of Powers on Oregon Route 542. Reserve on recreation.gov. Clear Lake Cabin: South of Mt. Hood on Hwy 26. Reserve on recreation.gov. Drake Peak: West of Plush on OR-140 W. Reserve on recreation.gov. Fall Mountain: South of John Day on Hwy 395. Reserve on recreation.gov. Fivemile Butte: West of Dufur on Hwy 197. Reserve on recreation.gov. Green Ridge: West of Sisters on Hwy 20. Reserve on recreation.gov. Hager Mountain: South of Silver Lake on Hwy 31. Reserve on recreation.gov. Indian Ridge: East of Eugene on I-105 E. Reserve on recreation.gov. Lake Of The Woods: East of Gold Beach on Hwy 101. Reserve on recreation.gov. Pickett Butte: East of Tiller on Tiller Trail Hwy. Reserve on recreation.gov. Warner Mountain: East of Oakridge on Hwy 58. Reserve on recreation.gov.

Idaho rentals

Arid Peak: North of Avery on St. Joe River Road. Reserve on recreation.gov. Bald Mountain: West of Harvard on Hwy 6. Reserve on recreation.gov. Deadwood: East of Garden Valley on Hwy 55. Reserve on recreation.gov. Deer Ridge: North of Moyie Springs on Hwy 2. Reserve on recreation.gov. Little Guard: North of Kingston on I-90. Reserve on recreation.gov. Lunch Peak: East of Sandpoint on Hwy 200. Reserve on recreation.gov. Shorty Peak: West of Porthill on Hwy 1. Reserve on recreation.gov. Surveyors: East of Avery on St. Joe River Road. Reserve on recreation.gov.

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Drink Up

If you spend time in the backcountry, you’ll need a way to treat drinking water. Here’s what you need to know about the options.

By Sandra Saathoff

You’re out with friends for a hike or a backpacking trip and you get thirsty, but your water bottle is empty. What do you do? Hopefully you’ve planned ahead and are near a stream, but in most areas it’s not safe to drink right from the stream. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for! You reach into your pack and whip out your trusty water treatment device, saving the day for you and your crew. All is right with the world, and that backcountry water tastes so good! What, you say? You aren’t sure what this water treatment stuff is all about? Read on, dear hiker, and let’s learn about some options. Why treat your drinking water? The short answer: It’s not fun to get sick. We’re in the wild, where animals live, doing all those animal things like drinking, pooping and rolling in strange stuff then walking through streams. There can be anything from silt and dirt to protozoa, bacteria and viruses in the water. We’d rather not be drinking those things. What types of water treatment options are there and what do I need to remember about them? There are several types of water treatment options and while all of them are relatively simple, they are not created equal. Most water treatment options do a good job of removing protozoa and bacteria. Only some also destroy viruses; however, in the U.S. and Canada viruses are generally not a problem.

Filters

Filters contain a built-in internal cartridge designed to catch particulates, bacteria and protozoa in the water and deliver clear, clean water out the other end. Most do not filter out viruses, but in Washington, we generally don’t need to worry about water-borne viruses. What we do need to remember is that glacial sediment or silty water clogs filters quickly, which can ruin a trip, so finding a feeder stream in areas with glaciers is important when using this method of water treatment. Pre-filtering your water (more on this later) before sending it through the filter can help, and an included syringe can be taken on trips to back-wash as needed. The water filtration industry has given hikers many options ranging from screw-on squeeze filters and straws to bottles with integrated filtration and gravity-fed hanging filtration systems that can be used for small groups of people. Each has its flow rate and sweet spot and you’ll need to decide the right system for you, if you go this route. Post-trip maintenance includes back-washing and sterilizing the filter and allowing it to dry fully before storing. Comparisons of filter options can be found with a quick online search. A filter is usually a great choice for day hiking or backpacking.

UV

UV light purifiers are placed inside your water bottle and, when turned on, sterilize water that may contain parasites, bacteria and viruses in about 90 seconds. You’ll need to be sure the mouth of your bottle is large enough for the purifier. They don’t work in murky water, so you’ll need to either pre-filter or have a backup water treatment solution if you will be in areas where the water isn’t clear. Battery-powered, this method does require recharging after several days. Best for short trips or when carrying a charging device.

TL;DR

It’s important to treat your drinking water so you don’t

get sick by ingesting bacteria, protozoa or water-borne viruses. In Washington, a filter that eliminates the first two is generally all you need. If you want to be extra safe, or are hiking outside the U.S./Canada or in a location with stagnant water and lots of humans, either find a pump that also takes care of viruses or add a couple drops of chlorine to your water and wait 30 minutes before drinking.

Pumps

Most pumps are designed to filter out bacteria and protozoa, though you can find pumps that filter viruses as well. A pump comes with a main body, an internal filter cartridge and a hose you drop into the water source, making pumps easy to use in shallow areas like tarns and low flow streams. The internal cartridge is replaceable at end-of-life. Post-trip maintenance includes sterilizing and drying the cartridge.

Type Description Best Use Maintenance Weight Cost

Filters Strains water of particulates, bacteria and protozoa Non-silty water Backwashing cleans and restores filtration speed; sterilize and dry after trip 3 to 12 oz $30 to $120 depending on the set up

UV Battery-powered UV light pen purifier Clear water Battery recharging every 5 days or so 5 oz $120

Pumps Hand pumps water from snorkel Low flow or standing water Sterilize and dry cartridge after trip 16 to 20 oz $80 to $390

Chemicals Chlorine/iodine disinfects water

Boiling Boil for 1 to 3 minutes to sterilize water Areas with viruses or as a backup

In camp or as a backup None

None 2 oz ~ $15

Extra fuel as needed The cost of the extra fuel

Chemicals

A couple drops of chlorine or iodine, either in liquid or pill form, kills bacteria and viruses in the water. This option does require a 15- to 30-minute wait time before the water is safe to drink, but it’s a foolproof, inexpensive and lightweight method for treating water. It may taste a bit like chlorinated city water. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, chlorine and iodine have a low effectiveness in killing Giardia and are not effective in killing Cryptosporidium, making this treatment less desirable for some of the most annoying parasites we’re likely to run into. Chemical treatment also does not remove particles like bugs or leaves in the water. You can run the water through a bandana before chemically treating it to take care of the larger particles.

Boiling

Boiling water for one minute will kill bacteria, protozoa and viruses; above 6,500 feet, you’ll need to increase the time to three minutes. This method works well, but takes planning, as not everyone wants to stop and boil water every time they are thirsty. You’ll also need to figure in the extra fuel required over what you’ll need for regular cooking. This would likely not be the most convenient option for a day hike.

Pre-filtering water

If conditions are particularly gnarly, you may want to pre-filter the water before sending it to your primary treatment choice. A low tarn in late summer may be your only option. If that’s the case, use what you have with you to maximize effectiveness and palatability. A doubled-up bandana, buff or pantyhose placed over your cook pot can filter out the biggest chunks making filters and UV purifiers much more effective.

Protect your filter from freezing

For most water treatment options, freezing temperatures are your worst enemy. Filters and cartridges will freeze and crack on the inside, rendering them useless. Even though you won’t notice this, your filter is no longer doing its job, so sleep with your filter in a plastic bag inside your sleeping bag on nights

Gravity filters let you hang up a bag of water, and then let gravity do most of the work.

approaching freezing and keep your filter inside your jacket if the days are that cold. Batteries on UV pens will not last as long in cold conditions. Keeping them next to your body can help. And boiling water may take longer, necessitating even more fuel. Finally, it’s important to remember that though the water you’ve spent time filtering or purifying is clean and useful for drinking, washing and cleaning wounds, the water around it has not been treated. A bag you’ve used to collect water should never be the same bag you drink from (unless it has a filter attached). The water on the outside of your bottle is also not clean unless it has splashed out from the inside after being treated. Keeping the clean and dirty things separated and labeled is a helpful way to stay safe in the wild. Making a choice about what water treatment option is right for you might be overwhelming, but this info can help you figure out what you need. With so many options available, you’re sure to find the best setup for you, whether you’re out for a day hike or multi-day backpacking trip.

The most useful parts of the workshop for me were learning to include the entire group in decisions, how to manage risk as a group leader and how to keep everyone engaged and having a good time!

— Snowshoe workshop participant, 2021

Learn • Lead • Inspire Let us help you get outside with youth and families

Get ready to share the awe and wonder of spending time outside with the youth and families you work

with. Teachers and youth workers can join our Outdoor Leadership Training workshops to learn skills and gain confidence when facilitating outdoor excursions. No experience required. Once you attend a workshop, you can gain access to WTA’s free gear libraries!

Learn more and sign up at wta.org/olt

Camping workshop Aug. 27, Dash Point State Park, Federal Way

Hiking workshop Oct. 1, Point Defiance, Tacoma

Online gear orientation Join a free, hour-long webinar to learn how to borrow from WTA’s two gear libraries in Seattle and Puyallup.

Aug. 25, Sept. 22, Oct. 28, 2022 Jan. 25, Feb. 22, March 22, 2023

Honorable Mention

5 Northwest Exposure favorites from WTA’s photo judges

Judging WTA’s photo contest is a privilege and

a challenge. We see hundreds of images that would look great hanging on the wall. The best photos are well-composed and technically strong. But, just as importantly, they evoke an emotional response. Great photos invite the viewer to linger and imagine and spend more time with the image. We asked our photo judges to pick honorable mentions from last year’s contest — and explain what they love about the images.

WTA’s photo contest opens on Aug. 17. Enter your photos at wta.org/photocontest

Old Butte | By Suzanne Hartman

I love that this image combines a close-up view of lupine and

balsamroot with the wide-open feeling of hiking on the east side of the Cascades. The combination of strong colors in the foreground, paired with the more subtly colored hillsides and the streaky clouds in the sky, give the photo interest. I like the rock formation in the background, which makes me want to pull out a pair of binoculars and take a closer look. I appreciate any photo that makes me want to get out and explore. — Jessi Loerch, photo judge Paradise Above the Clouds | By Ethan Lington

This photograph of Mount Adams and the Tatoosh Range from the Paradise

meadows captures a peaceful scene with interesting elements and textures and pleasing light and colors. It makes me want to be present in the scene and brings peace and calm to my day. It passes the basic technical challenges. It is tack sharp from the foreground to the distant peaks. It doesn’t contain distracting elements. The “golden hour” morning light illuminating the middle of the photograph is lovely, and the indirect light on the foreground decreases contrast and helps bring out the detail in that part of the photo. Compositionally, the photo follows the “rule of thirds,” with the sky, clouds and meadow each taking up roughly one-third of the photo. Most importantly, the presence of the trail not only adds interest but invites and leads the viewer into the scene. Trails are the way we access places like this. Placing the trail slightly to the right of the center improves the composition, and the gentle curve to the right as the trail disappears down the slope adds some mystery. I want to follow that trail! — Doug Diekema, photo judge

Tipsoo Lake | By Trang Phan

I love the light in the photo and the

playful mood. I also love how it tells a story. The kid is enjoying his time hiking and the borrowed sunglasses imply he is having fun with his adults. — Archana Bhat, photo judge

Caterpillar | By Rahul Kashikar

This portrait of a yellow caterpillar is a fine honorable mention from the

Northwest Exposure 2021 photo contest. I’m immediately drawn in by the sharp focus and very narrow depth of field, characteristic of macro photography. We can see the head of this caterpillar closer — much closer — than we usually do with the unaided eye, while the rest of the photo is pleasantly out of focus. The excellent side lighting and superb exposure make the colors pop. The composition follows the rule of thirds, giving it a nice balance. It all adds up to a striking and beautiful photograph. — Buff Black, photo judge Picnic Park | By Kristine Johnson

I like this photo for a few reasons but initially it caught my eye because it's from a park not far from me

here in Seattle and my mind instantly recognized the exact place it was taken. I think there's something to be said about images that are captured from familiar destinations, particularly those close to home. That “Hey!” moment of recognition draws me in to admire the image further. In addition to that, I love how perfectly exposed the silhouette and sun are, creating that gorgeous mood that you can practically feel yourself just by looking at it. From a technical standpoint, the use of the fence to draw the eye to the subject of the photo is done really well, and I think seeing the mix of urban and natural gives us the idea that these beautiful sights and trails can be found anywhere, even next door. — Erika Haugen-Goodman, photo judge