I will begin this year to contribute $6000 of my money each year going forward for maintenance of the Fire Lookouts in Washington State's three National Parks.  This will be a direct contribution to the NPS and is not being done thru any organization.  There is a wonderful Washington National Park Fund but their budget [...]

Hi there -- There is a song popular some time ago that I habitually sing on a LO hike.  It is Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes. The melody suits the words and the lyrics that really resonate for me: The road is long There are mountains in our way But [...]

Sometime ago a couple of fellows put out a nice CD with original songs celebrating Jack's book on Big Sur.......it came in a presentation box of sorts and was fun.... my favorite track was the first one -- California Zephyr.  I have spent a couple of weeks in Big Sur over the years and can [...]

To see the pictures from the hike this summer -- go back to the home page and then at the top click on ---- The Hike up Desolation Peak.  It also includes a guide for folks wanting to do the same hike...... thanks  and Happy Holidays !! bruce

11-24-22  Here is a shot of the Desolation LO wrapped as a precaution for the fires burning on the lower slopes of the peak.  This photo is courtesy of Jim the current Deso LO. It is the first time any of us can remember the LO being wrapped.  As I mentioned to Jim -- it [...]

The Fire Office at North Cascades Park was nice enough to send me a helicopter shot of the fires burning on the west face of Desolation Peak.  The LO ( which has been wrapped to protect it ) is circled in yellow at the top of the image......a very small little square.  The water at [...]

My son sent me a screen shot of the fire location and size that is currently burning on Desolation. That is why they closed the trail although the trail does not go that far over to the northwest side.  There is no rain in the immediate forecast : (.  I will be on Ross Lake [...]

Occasionally in a bookstore on a trip such as this one in Taos, New Mexico -- I am " cruising the shelves " looking for a new book to read and there IT is -- my old friend......  : )  

It has been a long fire season in the Pacific NW -- prolonged by clear weather pretty much thru September and now a week into October.  The NPS has closed the Desolation Trail and Camp because of Fire Activity---- Desolation Trail and the portion of East Bank Trail from Lighting Creek Camp to Desolation Trail [...]

More than any year I remember -- there are numerous fires in the Desolation Peak area.  Fire command has named them the NW Pasayten Complex.  Here are 2 links: https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/information/fire_info#WA-OWF-000469 https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8397/ The map shows them just east of the peak -- the larger one is further east i.e. deeper in the Pasayten.  Some of the [...]