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Favorite Spots: Desolation Peak
May 28, 2024
2 min read
June is Open Mountain Month, and to warm up, we did a quick tour of the office to learn about our outdoor-loving colleagues' favorite spots in the mountains. Here, Data Analyst Silas-Murrey-Inskeep shares a favorite from Washington State.
What is your favorite spot in the mountains?
It’s hard to pick an absolute favorite spot, but the mountains I know best are the Cascades in Washington state. The volcanoes, old-growth forests, alpine lakes, and epic views make for some amazing hiking and backpacking. I still think about a backpacking trip I took to Desolation Peak before moving to Norway.
Why is it your favorite?
Part of what made this trip special was going with my partner and my brother. It was also special because despite being in a national park, the trail was sparsely populated, and we had the whole mountain to ourselves on the second night.
How would you describe the spot?
The hike is a 68km out-and-back trail in the North Cascades National Park. It starts off in the forest and then follows the shoreline of Ross Lake until you reach the bottom of Desolation Peak. It is then a ~1300m hike up to the top of Desolation Peak. Once you leave the forest, most of the hike is hot and sunny. The top of Desolation Peak is windy and open, with a Lookout tower/cabin and 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and wilderness. A little way down from the top is the campsite, which is in a wooded area.
Is there a story about the spot you want to share?
This is a very cool spot. There is a fire lookout at the top. Washington state has dozens of these old lookout towers on top of mountains that have sweeping views of the surrounding area. Most are unstaffed, but this is one of the few that is still staffed during the summer. The lookout was built in 1932 and is famous because Beatnik writer Jack Kerouac stayed there for 63 days in 1956. He chronicled his experiences at Desolation in the books Lonesome Traveler, Desolation Angels, and the Dharma Bums.
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