Desolation Peak (Washington)

Desolation Peak
Desolation Peak Lookout with Mt. Hozomeen in the background
Highest point
Elevation6,102 ft (1,860 m) NGVD 29[1]
Prominence3,249 ft (990 m)[1]
Coordinates48°54′40″N 121°00′58″W / 48.9112432°N 121.0162346°W / 48.9112432; -121.0162346[2]
Geography
Desolation Peak is located in Washington (state)
Desolation Peak
Desolation Peak
Desolation Peak is located in the United States
Desolation Peak
Desolation Peak
Desolation Peak (the United States)
Parent rangeNorth Cascades
Topo mapUSGS Hozomeen Mountain
Climbing
Easiest routeTrail hike

Desolation Peak is in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington state, about 6.2 miles (10.0 km) south of the Canada–United States border and in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. It was first climbed in 1926 by Lage Wernstedt, who named it for the destruction caused by a forest fire that swept the slopes bare that same year.[3] At the summit stands a small wooden one-room fire lookout belonging to the National Park Service. The lookout is 15 miles (24 km) from the nearest road and overlooks miles of forest and numerous other peaks.

Jack Kerouac spent 63 days during the summer of 1956 as a fire lookout on Desolation Peak. He wrote about his experiences in The Dharma Bums, Lonesome Traveler, Desolation Angels and in a collection of haiku by the name of "Desolation pops".

Interior of Desolation Peak Lookout, with bed and firefinder.

Desolation Peak Trail,[4] is a steep hike to high meadows, great views and the fire lookout. It is a very popular hike but strenuous along the East Bank Trail. The trail is often hot and dry.

In 2020 Lindsay Hagen published a short film about Jim Henterley, one of the watchmen remaining in service on the Desolation Peak Lookout.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Desolation Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  2. ^ "Desolation Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  3. ^ Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.
  4. ^ "Desolation Peak Trail". National Park Service. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  5. ^ Naum, Chris (2020-07-28), Ode to Desolation by Lindsey Hagen in Vimeo Staff Picks, retrieved 2020-08-15