Teanaway Butte — Monday, May. 8, 2023

The fact that people not only do this hike more than once, but purport to think it’s a good hike, is all the proof I need that the apocalypse is nigh.

I’m so desperate for a hike this time of year that I can complete…I wanted something with a recent trip report and that wasn’t too far a drive. This was it. But I didn’t manage my expectations enough. This was a hike through forest that had been clear cut more than once and then badly burned. That’s why the views were constant—because there’s no gods-danged trees. It was a hike on a logging road, through burned clear cuts. And non-official motor vehicles may not be allowed, but this road sees a lot of motor vehicle use. Some of it looks like dirt bikes, and I know the USFS and fire departments aren’t on dirt bikes. Usually that stuff pisses me off (99.9999% of roads and trails are open to motor vehicles, leave the scant miles they’re not allowed on to those of us who need quiet sometimes to function) but in my opinion the dirt bikes can have this hike, and give us back a better one.

There’s no water source. Luckily the dogs could drink out of the rivulets from snow runoff, and I could melt snow for the hike back.

Yes, the view from the top was ok. It was the 360 view you’d expect from a fire lookout. It would have been better if it hadn’t burned. And I did get my solitude. The only people I saw was a fire crew in their truck, and they were very nice. But, and forgive the comparison, I’m sure that Nagasaki was also very peaceful in 1946. That wouldn’t have made it a good hike. This area was devastated and depressing af.

This is also the least challenging fire lookout I’ve ever hiked. The road is well graded and it took me about an hour to get down, despite the 20+ pounds of low-quality Ellensburg blue I ended up stuffing my pack with. Despite having a thunderstorm break over our heads right before getting back to the trailhead, which freaked the dogs out, it felt like a pretty good day. But you don’t want to do this hike—it’s already almost too hot. Leave it for a snowshoe if you must. Or just skip it. You won’t miss it. I’m not saying that to keep away the crowds. This shit was depressing.