Monogram Lake, Lookout Mountain Lookout — Saturday, Jul. 10, 2010

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

Stopped the ranger station to check up on status of the trail and was told that no one had made it to the lookout b/c of snow at the top. Hadn't hiked the trail before, but figured I'd give it a go. Got a lateish start - didn't leave Seattle until 10AM and didn't start hiking until around 1230. No issues up to the junction with Lookout Mtn trail. There's a fun stream crossing w/some slippery logs. Ran into some other hikers on the way up who warned me about overgrown trail w/stinging nettles and advised pants. This section is before the junction and, in retrospect, is not that bad. Went with pant legs on the way up, but stayed in shorts on the way down and it was fine. Trail beyond the junction w/Monogram lake tr is mostly fine. The last 500-700 ' below the lookout though there's intermittent snow patches on the switchbacks and solid snow for the last 200 feet. The snow is well consolidated and good for kicking steps, but if you're not comfortable on snow and aren't comfortable belaying yourself I'd probably not go much further. I was wearing my light hiking boots and didn't bring my ice axe. Even so, using a shortened trekking pole, I made it up fine. However, my advice to anyone who tries this in the next week or so would be to stay on the snow all the way up as opposed to going for terra firma (as I did) and scrambling up some steep/wet heather. The descent down the ridge back to the snow was a little hairy. I'll bet the snow will be gone in another 1-2 weeks or at least much less of an issue. In the meantime, I'd recommend anyone who feels skittish about snow to go to Monogram lake b/c the views from the ridge leading up to the lookout are OK but don't even remotely compare to the lookout (to the point that I'd say it's not worth it to do the hike if you don't go to the lookout). Still, it was worth it. Had the lookout all to myself. Trail conditions apart from snow were great. No blowdown - looks like it may have been brushed. Total time out: 6.5H, about 30-45' of that was hanging out. Time up about 3.5H, time down about 2.5H. 4500' elevation gain. A great day out.