Lookout and Trail Maintenance • Heybrook Lookout

Description: This lookout, restored by the Everett Branch of the Mountaineers, is on Heybrook Ridge just east of the town of Index. Mt. Index is the predominate view from the lookout.

Directions: From Everett drive east on SR-2. A wide pullout at the trailhead is on the left 2 miles past Index

Route: A maintained trail to the lookout starts (800') on SR-2 approximately 2 miles past Index.

Reference:

Maps: A progression of USGS and USFS maps show the historical development around the lookout. Colors have been used to highlight select, man-made features of interest. Blue = items spanning the years. Lime green = items missing in later years. Red = items appearing in later years. Brown = trails or railroads that become roads (after a fashion). Purple = trails that are known to exist but are missing on the maps (locations approximate). The coloring is by no means comprehensive. By some bizarre coincidence the old and new Forest Service maps were at the same scale and thus could be superimposed to create a composite.

The USGS Sultan, 30', 1921 map does not show the lookout because it hadn't been built. Its namesake was a cluster of buildings on SR-2. Instead of the current road, a "Lumber Railroad" goes up the North Fork of the Skykomish River. The trail to Lake Serene under the NE wall of Mt. Index preexists the 1921 map although the current trail deviates from this earlier version. Mt. Persis could be reached by trail from SR-2.

The USGS Skykomish, 30', 1905 map shows the area immediately to the east of Heybrook -- Heybrook is nearly on the divide between maps. The peak, Index Mt. (as opposed to Mt. Index) was changed to Baring in 1917 by an initiative of the Mountaineers (See Cascade Alpine Guide, Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass, 1st ed., p.32, Fred Becky). The long-lost trail up Howard Creek provided an access route to Spire Mt., a peak pin summit.

The USGS Index, 15', 1957 map shows the Heybrook Lookout. A road and trail provided access. The road still exists but is not open to the public. The older trail parallels the power lines and the actual intersection with SR-2 was not clear on the map.

History:

Images:.

Activity: LOTM tore down the dilapidated lookout hut on top of the tower at Heybrook and then built a new hut in the parking lot of the Skykomish Ranger Station using the original plans. The hut was disassembled, transported to the Heybrook site, hoisted up to the top of the tower, and then reassembled.

Notification of Work Completion: January 12, 2003.
The Heybrook Lookout restoration project has been successfully completed as of 12/31/2002. We met our obligation! The Mountaineers, Everett Branch, Lookout and Trail Maintenance Committee started work on this project in 1996 under a Challenge Cost Share Agreement authorized by Marcia Hanson (Mountaineer President) and Dennis Bschor (Forest Service Supervisor). After 6 years of dedicated work, the volunteer effort has provided back to the public, another restored fire lookout.