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Tolmie Peak Lookout

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On July 31, 1934, panoramic images were taken at 4 feet above ground. The brush had to be cut to provide the full 360 views. No hints of the tower were in the images, so the lookout was built after the photos. The original still stands, a standard National Park Service style, 2-story frame cab. It is maintained by the National Park Service.

The summit is named for Dr. William Tolmie who in 1933 lead a botanizing expedition from the Fort Nisqually to study and collect plants. It is not clear if he summited the peak or just saw it as they were in the area.
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Lookout Elevation: 5,940 feet
Hiking Distance: 2.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
Access: Nice Gravel Road
Video interview of Bill Pierce, the lookout in 1938
tolmie peak tolmie peak tolmie peak
Looking North, July 31, 1934
Looking Southeast, July 31, 1934
Looking Southwest, July 31, 1934
tolmie map Eunice Lake forest fire Inside lookout Inside lookout Tolmie Peak Lookout Mount Rainier Tolmie Peak insulators Mount Rainier Tolmie Peak Lookout Tolmie Peak Lookout Tolmie Peak Tolmie Peak insulators Tolmie Peak Mowich
Fire near Naches from Tolmie Peak Lookout in 2021
Lookout above Eunice Lake
Lookout above
Phone insulator almost engulfed in growing tree. 1938 lookout reported using 2-way radios so this line may have just been going from Ipsut Creek Ranger Station to Mowich Ranger Station.
There are phone insulators from Mowich Lake to the Ipsut Pass Junction.
Looking Northeast to the Tolmie Peak highpoint (about 10 minutes easy scramble)
Mount Rainier and the lookout
Tolmie Peak Lookout from the true summit of Tolmie Peak
Rainier and Eunice Lake from the lookout
Looking Northwest
Inside lookout
Inside lookout
Looking South from Tolmie Peak