No summer in the PNW is complete without a good day of hiking. To many hikers, myself included, one of my favorite spots is Winchester Mountain and its lookout station at its top in the Mount Baker Wilderness.
To start, take Mount Baker Highway (SR542) until you start up to Mount Baker. About 12 miles east of Glacier, you’ll turn off at the east end of the Department of Transportation’s Shuksan maintenance facility to “Twin Lakes Road”. This is Forest Service road 3065 and will be your bumpy ride to Twin Lakes. Enjoy the narrow rugged road with tight turns but spectacular views on the way up, 4×4 vehicles are highly advised here. Be mindful of your speed as you will need to keep an eye out of divers coming down the mountain, hikers, and the occasional lazy deer that will just stand in the middle of the road. About 7 miles up, and I do mean up, two glacial blue lakes will great you with parking or camping available.
Trailhead
From Twin Lakes, you’ll take the Winchester trailhead at the end of the road dividing the two lakes form one another. Hiking up, there will be a fork about a half mile on your way up after signing into the trail; keep left to go onward to the Winchester Lookout as opposed to High Pass. Located at a nice 6521 feet above, you will have a 360 view of our North Cascades and Mount Baker.
Winchester Mountain, WA. USA- Spherical Image
Post from RICOH THETA. #theta360 – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA
Typically, the lookout is available first come first serve, however it is currently under reconstruction as one of its walls was damaged due to severe weathering and water damage.
Winchester Lookout; 6521ft- Spherical Image
Post from RICOH THETA. #theta360 – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA
Instagram: “360 wristshot view”
Since making the PNW001, every big adventure I had planned to take it on, somthing had to get fixed on it. Now, two years of fixing (and learning), the PNW001 finally got to ascend to 6521 above our earth.
