To LeslieinOly: Thanks for the directions to Kelly Butte in your writeup from last July 19, 2005. Was able to find the trailhead, no problem. The vinyl rope was helpful in attaining the top of the chute. Real dusty, otherwise no problem. Lots of wildflowers still blooming made for pleasant hike. Trail is a bit rough on first half of switchbacks. Then meadow near top. The lookout is still in need of repairs. There is a note asking for help inside. Sounds like there are still plans to renovate it soon. Some supplies noted inside. Also a register you can sign. Views at top of Rainier & Cascades. Further peaks a bit hazy. Nice place to have lunch. No other people encountered on hike. No bugs either!

The road to Kelly Butte is still not accessible due to a large snow mass in the road...but it's only 3/4 miles from the trail. We walked the mostly snowfree road and climbed up the gully with the ropes still in place to the existing trail. We climbed up into the forest where there is still about 50% snowcover...I have been here several times so knew where the trail goes and had no trouble except for minor postholing. The snow varies from almost nothing to about 18 inch depth. The lookout still stands and we enjoyed a great Mount Rainier view and sunny lunches on the south catwalk. We did an assessment of the sturcture and roof for the upcoming renovation. It's in great shape for a 50+ year old building exposed to the elements at 5300 feet. It'll be wonderful to get it up to speed. The trail is about 1.2 miles with 900 foot gain and we walked an extra 3/4 mile of road each way. The roads are fine. Please beware of all the ticks on Kelly....I guess they feast on the resident goat herd.

Susie and I met TM and we headed up....the avalanche gully has a new rope(thanks!!!!) Someone has been lopping on the trees that intrude into the trail (thanks!!!) We zoomed up to the lookout....we brought a broom and shovel with us and spent a few hours cleaning the inside of the lookout. We were rewarded by seeing a group( gang? Posse? gaggle?) of mountain goats on the cliff edge to the southwest of the lookout. Kelly needs some help to go on living....we enjoyed the smells of the subalpine and even got to see a few late blooming asters, paint brush etc....

Kelly Butte Lookout is one of the shortest hikes in the Greenwater area. The trail portion is only about a mile long. The views from the top make this trip worth the effort. From Greenwater, follow roads FS-70 and then FS-7030 to almost its end. There is an obvious two-rut road branching off to the left which goes to the old parking area for the lookout. There is only room for about three vehicles at the end, any more then that and it will get very interesting trying to turn around. This last half mile is absolutely one lane only, and you will not like backing up a quarter mile on this road if you meet someone. This last half mile is in fair shape, but has a few dip and rocks in the roadbed, don’t drive it with a low clearance vehicle. It is much easier to park at the main road and walk in. The first 100 feet of the trail is the challenge, it goes up at about a 45 degrees angle through a narrow gully, with lots of loose rock. The fixed rope someone put in at the top of the gully a few years ago is gone. Use extreme caution in this area. Once above the gully, there is a good trail all the way to the old lookout. The old lookout is in poor conditions and has been vandalized . There was a rumor a couple of years ago that this lookout was going to be fixed-up for use by overnighters. I haven’t heard anything more about that plan. Picture 1 is looking up the little-gully-of-horrors. Picture 2 is Kelly Butte Lookout.

Kelly Butte Update Last year my friend Martha researched this hike and we lead a pair of friends to Kelly Butte in July. The chute was a challenge, the beargrass was amazingly prolific, and the lookout building was badly in need of some TLC. We heard repeated rumors over the winter that the building was being renovated, so we put the hike on our July 2005 schedule to check it out. The first challenge was that the driving directions that worked well for us last year were very confusing this year. This is what did work: About two miles past Greenwater, turn left from Highway 410 onto paved Forest Road 70. All mileage readings are from this junction. At 8 miles, turn left onto a road signed 7030 and an arrow. There is about 10 feet of pavement, then gravel. This section of 7030 has some washboard driving surface. At 8.3 miles cross a bridge and pass some campsites. At 11.9 miles, come to a T and turn left, staying on unsigned 7030. (A right turn will take you toward Colhoquon and Pyramid Peak and PCT trailheads.) The rest of 7030 has a couple of steep sections and falling rock areas. At 12.4 miles go straight, not right and uphill. At 13.1 miles turn right. At this time there is a sign that indicates that the road to the right is 7030; the road straight ahead is signed 7032. Pass side roads at 13.6 and 14.1 miles. The rough road to the Kelly Butte “trailhead” is on your left at 14.4 miles from Highway 410. We parked at this junction, giving us a chance to stretch our legs before ascending the chute. We walked the .6 mile rutted road before clambering up the 100 foot chute with the help of a vinyl rope with looped knots that this year runs all the way down the chute. The chute is followed by a half mile of switch backs, followed by a half mile of gently rising meadow, leading to a small, classic forest fire lookout building surrounded by great views in all directions. There are a few beargrass in the meadow currently, but nothing like last year's display. There are, however, lots of lupine, paintbrush and arnica. And sad, to say, the lookout building has not been renovated. A paintbrush and a can of (maybe) sealant were spotted in the cabin, but no progress. Perhaps WTA could investigate the rumor, and publish the real story in a Fall issue. The nine South Sound women hikers in our party (aged fifty-something to seventy-nine) enjoyed both the challenge and the views of our visit to Kelly Butte. If the Lookout were renovated, we would probably make an effort to come again. LeslieinOly