There are two qualities that the majority of discerning lovers of the outdoors possess. One is a well-curated collection of lightweight equipment, collected over many years, painstakingly selected for the weight and space they may take up in a backpack. The other is a passion for the outdoor spaces in which they spend time. And with this second possession comes a certain responsibility to become a custodian of everything that they have come to enjoy.
On a recent trip to Washington State’s historic Three Fingers Lookout, located northeast of Seattle in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest of Snohomish County, a group of good keen friends and I arrived at the trailhead after riding bikes just over six miles uphill on closed forest service roads from the parking lot. With spirits high and energy reserves somehow still full, our leisurely plans took on new importance when we stumbled upon a large pile of building materials, accompanied by a hand-written request taped to a tree: “Please take me to the lookout.”