Grassy Top Mountain Lookout Sites
This high long ridge with multiple peaks had some significant infrastructure at one time in history. Today nothing remains but hidden relics. There are at least 4 sites along the ridge. I believe the two cabin sites are two different locations.
WillhiteWeb.com
Lookout Elevations: 6,213 feet and 6,375 feet
Hiking Distance: 11 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet
County: Pend Oreille
Lower gap cabin on Grassy Top Mountain. Note the bucket hanging on the side of the cabin.
Higher corral cabin on Grassy Top Mountain label, point 6253.
1942 USGS (1958 update)
I found this bucket in the gap exactly where the cabin was located. Is it the bucket in the picture, I like to think so.
In 1915, there was a lookout camp.
In 1926, a log cabin was built by mop-up crews during the final days of the huge 1926 burn which ravaged Pend Oreille County.
In 1931, Roy Mackay was struck by lightning.
In 1932, September, Lawrence McKay finished the lookout station for the Forest Service on Grassy Top and starting work on another on Slumber Peak.
In 1938, a 20-foot wooden tower with L-4 cab was built at the patrol point on the SW peak 6,213.
By the 1950s only ruins remained.
Some History:
Based on pictures, and some remnants on the ground, I believe the cabin was situated in the saddle between points 6213 and the named summit 6253. Small trees have engulfed the saddle.
Log cabin in the gap site:
Locations:
The north tower site still has remnants and looks to have been a platform tower. A good unsigned trail still climbs the south ridge up to the site.
North patrol point 6375
The SW peak has footings and the most remnants, located just west down from point 6213. You can not see the remnants from the summit due to a large tree blocking the view. Unfortunately, I did not look at my notes and did not walk behind the tree. Debris is visible on aerial photos, I will be back.
Southwest summit point 6213
A bit further north was the highest point of the mountain but nothing appears at this time to have been there. Although this summit creates a blind spot for the towers on the ridge further south, I believe everything missed could be spotted from the Round Top Mountain Lookout on the other side of Pass Creek Pass.
Ridge highpoint 6482 (Prominence of 1,042 feet)
The named summit is very flat and large at the top. It has some cables coming out of the ground and was definitely cleared of trees long ago. Hints of what could have been a corral area for stock animals surround the site. Much of the flat summit has new trees growing. I would not be surprised if the cabin had been moved here at some point.
Named summit upper cabin corral site 6253
For general hiking info, see page:
View of the north tower point 6375 from the north
Looking east from point 6375
Looking north from point 6375
Looking SW from point 6375
Pole leg almost decayed
Pole legs
Platform at the top of the tower. The legs are between the summit and the platform.
Forest fire starting
Firepit at the summit explains why so much wood disappears from these sites.
Wire
Images below are from the north site at point 6375
Images below are from the south site at point 6213
Future location for images of the footings and remains from this site
From the highest spot, the lookout site is just down the hill there before those far trees.
From the highest spot at the 6213 looking north to other Grassy Top Mountain highpoints.
Looking east from near the south highpoint 6213.
Aerial images show the 4 footings and where the L-4 cab crashed down abandoned.
Second Cabin
Point 6253 flat area
Point 6253 cable in the ground
Point 6253 corral posts
Point 6253 cut timber
Point 6253 flat area
Phone line just down from point 6253 heading to the north point.
Phone line