Northbound: (mm 2624) You just crossed over to the west side of Harts Pass Peak. The trail now points directly at the flatened top of Slate Peak where the fire look out once stood 3.8 miles away and 1,110 higher than you.
The lookout collapsed under heavy snow and wind in early March 2026. The collapse was first discovered by Kiera Nagrane, helicopter pilot for the ski company that operates the yurt visible from the PCT at Windy Pass. This is the photo she took:
Summer 2026 visitors to Harts Pass and Slate Peak saw the sad ruins of the tower.
On 2026 September 16th the Methow Valley Fire Lookout Association posted to Facebook an announcement that they had completed dismantling the tower and transporting the parts off the peak, along with photos of the project.
Later "trailchick" Chris shared a detailed account of the project. Chris had the wonderful foresight to record a time lapse video of the dismantling of the tower.
History
At 7,440′, Slate Peak Lookout was the 2nd highest fire lookout in Washington State, located at the end of the highest road in the State. (The ruins of the highest lookout is on Mt Adams.)
In 1924 the lookout was first constructed as a gable roof cupola.
In 1926, the top 40′ of Slate’s summit was blasted away by the Department of Defense to prepare for a radar station that was never built.
In 1954 the new lookout and scaffolding was moved to Slate Peak from Leecher Mountain. At 40' it matched the height of the original lookout.
The original 1924 lookout:
The new 1954 lookout:
