Green Mountain - Kitsap County Washington

Green Mountain is in a State Forest on the Kitsap Peninsula near Bremerton. It is the second highest mountain in the county, slightly lower than neighboring Gold Mountain. There are established trails up and around with the climax being the summit. The views of Puget Sound and Seattle are surprisingly good given the lower elevation of the mountain. The low elevation means you can easily hike up most of the year. There are picnic tables on top at the overlook.

Distance: 2ish miles
Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
Summit Elevation: 1,639 feet
Access Paved

From Bremerton follow Kitsap Way (State Route 310) for 3 miles to Kitsap Lake. Turn left on Northlake Way, proceeding for 1 mile. Turn left onto the Seabeck Highway and follow it for 3 miles. Then turn left on Holly Road, proceeding for 3 miles. Turn left (south) onto Tahuya Lake Road and in 1.25 miles bear left onto Gold Creek Road. The trailhead is in 2 miles on your left.

The trail is multi use so you may see bikes and motorcycles. About a half mile up you cross Gold Creek and hit a trail junction. You can take the Plummer Trail left or the Gold Creek Trail right (do as a loop). At the 1.5 mile mark is the junction where the former two trails meet again. At that point, go right for a quarter mile to a trail split. There take the signed "Vista" trail up to the summit area. On top is a parking lot that is open on summer weekends if you don't want to hike this one. The Green Mountain State Forest is a working forest so access by car is never a guarantee.

Puget Sound in the distance

In 1926, the site was being used as a lookout (see map below), the start date is unknown.

In 1929, the first known structure was built, a 50-foot wooden tower using a ladder for access (59 total feet with cab). A tent was used as living quarters.

In 1931, the lookout was reconstructed, the tower being taken to a total height of 97 feet in order to gain more territory.

In 1942, an 84-foot treated timber tower with L-4 cab was constructed.
In 1943, the site was used as an Aircraft Warning Station during the war. It was activated on March 15 and deactivated the same year on October 16.
In 1944, the lookout was Marie Thorinson, and possibly the next 6 years to 1950.
In 1956 the lookout was Helen Walsh.
In 1957 the lookout was Helen Walsh.
In 1958 the lookout was Helen Walsh.
In 1961, the lookout was Bernice Selby.
In 1962, the lookout was Bernice Selby.

In December 1962, the tower was found collapsed. Investigators realized the guy lines were missing and rocks blocking the lookout site from vehicles had been moved. Turned out, an unknowing scout troop took the guy lines thinking the lookout was no longer in use. John Martin did an investigation and was able to track down the culprits and found the cables coiled in the scoutmasters garage.

In 1963, a 50-foot wooden DNR tower with live-in cab was built to replace it. The lookout Bernice Selby moved in on the morning of June 18th. She started the season off over at Gold Mountain Lookout.

In 1964, Bernice Selby was the lookout but died in late September as she was heading to work.
In 1965, the lookout was Susan Winfrey but she did not like it and took a desk job instead. She was replaced by Carol Lee Larson of Bremerton.

In 1966, the lookout was Dianna Timm.
In 1971, this last tower was removed or destroyed.

Metsker Map - September 1926 showing the lookout on Green Mountain

First known structure built in 1929 - image was in the 1929 - 22nd Annual Report of the Washington Forest Fire Association

Tower around 1960 before collapsed in 1962

1909 Land Ownership. Green Mountain appears to come from William K. Green who owned much of the land in the area. Maps change the spelling from Green to Greene then back to Green.

This 1940 map shows the lookout as Greene Mountain Fire Lookout.

Erecting the Greene Mountain Lookout. Harrington Bands are used to make the bents. Both bents are raised and then braced to position.

April 11, 1942 District Representative - Don Frasier - Port Orchard Office
AWS Observers - James Peterson and Carl Miller

April 14, 1943 AWS Observer was Mrs. Pat Sullivan, now is Bessie M. Parker

Memo about the Green Mountain AWS, June 16, 1942 regarding the observers Mr. and Mrs. Niemela, the hazards of winter up so high in a cab, and the phone exchange.

August 11, 1942 - Fire lookout on duty in 1942 was Weston Niemela

1963 lookout construction

1963 lookout finished

1963 lookout from road below

Note second to last paragraph, I was told an Anti-Aircraft site was near the horsecamp

During an interview with Don Lee Frazier, who was the Supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources and started his career in 1936 with the Washington Forest Fire Association, he gave the following story about Green Mountain. During AWS, there were 2 people stationed at Green. One night the wind was so strong the observers were too scared to stay in the lookout but also too scared to go down the stairs outside. Don was called to go help them get down. By the time he got there, the observers had reached the ground but they had damaged the ground house. The ground house was an old garage. When the observers opened the main door, the wind sucked inside and blew out the garage doors. Don and the observers were able to repair the doors that night but Don said the lookout was safe to sleep in. He even decided to show them by finishing the night sleeping up in the tower while the observers slept down below. In the morning, he came down and told them everything would be fine sleeping in the tower. Well, a few hours later, they got a radio call that a similar tower down at Capitol Peak was blown over that same night.

Ten-Eight publication at the start of the 1963 fire season

Ten-Eight publication at the start of the 1965 fire season

Ten-Eight publication, 1965, Susan did not last

Ten-Eight publication, 1965, replaced Susan

Ten-Eight publication, in 1962 taling about a former lookout

Ten-Eight publication, Oct. 1966