We missed our annual New Year’s day hike this year because of work schedules, so today was the makeup date for our group. With the snow piled up in the mountains and a number of trails inaccessible or unstable at the moment, we decided to hike something simple and headed out to Heybrook Lookout. We unfortunately caught the tail end of this weekend’s clear skies, but fresh off seeing ‘The Revenant’, I didn’t mind the landscape looking similarly moody and providing a proper winter ambiance for the hike.
To echo the last few trail reports for the lookout, traction devices and hiking poles are highly recommended. You encounter crusty snow and ice almost immediately off the trailhead and even with the trail’s fairly modest and gradual elevation gain, it is still quite slippery. You can probably reach the lookout without poles or spikes, but I doubt you’ll be pleased with the way you look while doing it. Along with ice and snow, there are still a number of downed trees from the last few storms that you will need to maneuver around, but it’s nothing that can’t be passed with a few agility drills, clever planning or wide berths.
It started to flurry a bit by the time we hit the lookout and the staircase up is a bit of a hazard with ice blanketing the steps, but if you take your time, you can navigate them safely. The top of the lookout is locked and inaccessible, but you still get great views of Baring and Index from the false summit just below. It also provides a nice nook to sit and eat lunch while admiring the wonderful view.
All and all, Heybrook Lookout was a great warm up hike for the year. If you get out there early enough in the day, it's a quick excursion that you can pair up with any of its Highway 2 neighbors, especially Lake Serene. Serene, while certainly a beautiful trail in its own right, doesn't quite give you the panorama view that Heybrook provides, making the two a nice complimentary pair in close proximity.
Either way, wherever you are heading this week, stay safe out there!
Comments
Got a laugh!
I have never thought of the lower deck of Heybrook as a 'False Summit'! HAHA!
Posted by:
Chopperjamie on Jan 04, 2016 11:28 AM
dempie on Heybrook Lookout
Ha. Yeah. I'm sure lower deck is probably a more apt description, but I like to refer to them as the false summits.
Posted by:
dempie on Jan 04, 2016 08:28 PM
Why no 'summit'?
Does anyone know WHY the top floor is locked off? A case of institutional stupidity, or some good reason?
Posted by:
Jeff Bottman on Jan 04, 2016 06:40 PM
Why is the lookout locked?
The lookout is being prepared to go into the rental program so people will be able to stay there. The income (after the service fees to the reservation contractor) will support on-going maintenance of the lookouts. The lookout rental program currently used to rent the Evergreen Mountain Lookout, a little further east. There have been a lot of volunteer hours spend on rehabbing the lookout replacing the roof and windows. The progress has been slowed and stopped on more than one occasion by thefts and vandalism.
To directly answer, "Why is it locked?" - - because a few people showed they could be irresponsible.
Posted by:
"Arthur" on Jan 05, 2016 01:29 PM
Cool!
Thanks for the update, Arthur. Had no idea they were trying to add this to the rentals list.
Posted by:
Loren Drummond on Jan 07, 2016 08:03 AM
Is there snow in the parking lot?
My car doesn't handle snow very well and until i get another i have to be careful about where i go as to not get stuck in the parking lot and messing up the parking lot for others, so id just to like to know if or how much snow was in the parking lot when you went there? Thanks!
Posted by:
Llewellyn on Jan 06, 2016 09:21 PM
dempie on Heybrook Lookout
If your car does not handle snow well, then this trail is perfect for you. The parking lot is actually just the shoulder of Highway 2. There are no axis roads involved and Highway 2 is in good condition, so your car should be fine for this commute. Hope that helps.
Posted by:
dempie on Jan 07, 2016 01:15 AM