Kelly Butte - Washington Fire Lookouts

A cupola cabin was built in the fall of 1924. "The new standard lookout house has been completed. The material was cut from local mill stock by the carpenter, before packing it to the lookout site. In order to solve a problem of snow blowing into the house, some of Weyerhaeuser's new product, Balsam Wool, was used for additional insulation. The shutters were permanently hinged to the tops of the window frames, and when opened are supported by rods so that they serve as sunshades." (Dec. 1924 Six Twenty-Six)

In 1950, the current L-4 cab was built. It was last staffed in the 1980's.

Restoration work was done from 2007 to 2011. In 2007, Bob Alder reported seven work parties. The Boy Scouts had a two-day work party of their own, doing trail work, cleaning up all the debris around the lookout and the fire pit. They took all the wood debris there and bagged it, including the old shingles from the 2006 roofing project. The WTA put in five days of work parties on a new trail bypassing the old chute near the trailhead. An estimated 600 hours were given. Articles in newspapers brought some volunteers as well as the 1968 Kelly Butte Lookout, Daniel Leen. The Forest Service helicoptered up four loads of lumber, a generator, gasoline, water and a large metal toolbox with all the tools. They helicoptered down the window frames and the door to be worked on over the winter. New shutters were built and installed. The floor had been damaged by someone trying to move the fire finder stand, so the tongue and groove boards were taken up and carefully re-laid after removal of debris underneath. T

Restorations were continuing in 2008. Volunteers pulled off the deck and the T-111 covering the old siding. The siding was removed, revealing ta rotten sill, which was then replaced. The wood was treated with preservative, roofing felt applied and siding installed. The structure for the catwalk was totally built, although not yet decked. The shutters destroyed the previous winter were repaired, replaced and painted. All of the shutters were screwed down this year to avoid having to rebuild them a fourth time. A considerable amount of debris was burned. Two jerry cans of gas for the generator was stolen from the summit, they had to carry them all the way back to the trailhead!

In 2010 the windows, door and other heavy materials were flown up to the lookout in July. Imagine Bob Alders fear of breakage with 780 hours into windows and 170 hours into the door. Bobs group installed the windows, finished the catwalk. The season should end with a finished product with new roof, shutters, windows, door and deck.

From Greenwater on Highway 410, continue south about 2 miles. Turn left on FR 70 and stay on it roughly 8 miles. Look for FR 7030 to the left. Follow FR 7030 (gravel) which shortly crosses the Greenwater River, then climbs out of the valley to a pass and major intersection about 4 miles from the paved 70. Use map from this point.

From Search and Rescue training I did around 1990. During this exercise, we were searching for a downed airplane. After a 3 day search in the area, parts of an airplane were found down the hill from the old trailhead, below the class 3 section of the old trail. This was my first introduction of the Butte but I didn't get back for a few years before I climbed it.

Follow the old road until you approach the Butte from the south end. Look for a trail on the right. Follow to summit.