Kelly Butte.

[lookout bob]

Howdy all...just joined the forum after finding out about it via NWHikers.net. I wanted to join to tell you that I am the project manager for the eventual refurbishment of Kelly Butte Lookout. Seeing as the lookout is definitely in Greenwaters back yard, thought I'd let you know what's up. This last summer, we organized a work party and carried 16 bundles of shingles up to the lookout on July 29. In the subsequent weekends, we installed a new roof on the aging ( 1950) lookout. I've been meeting with the Forest Service and am pleased to announce that the lookout will eventually be remodelled and used as a rental. There's lots that has to be done before that becomes a reality, but the Forest Service has applied for an apparently gotten a grant of some $8000 to start the process. I have my next meeting with the FS in January and will keep this forum up to date on what is happening in your back yard. It'll be great to save this old lookout from deteriorating away to nothing. I'm glad the FS is interested in saving it. If any of you are interested in volunteering your time and energy to assist, you can contact me and I'll put your name on the list for summer work. It's likely that we'll work at least one or two days a month and any help is welcome. Look forward to meeting you!

[Webmaster]

Welcome aboard Lookout Bob and thanks for the post!

I did a little research on Kelly Butte. I found coordinates for it at N 47°10' 09.1" W 121°29' 25.1. I'm not sure if this is correct. And I admit to being horrid with maps. I looked on Topo and also Google Earth. While I can find the coordinates listed above, I haven't found how to get to the trail head. Any guidance would be appreciated. The peak elevation suggests a nice excursion.

I agree that a historic lookout is worth saving. Where might I be able to find info on what is planned for this?

[lookout bob]

I don't know that any information is posted yet on the plans for the lookout. How to find it? Take FS road 70 ( one mile south of Greenwater on 410) left.....go 7.5 miles to 7030. Follow 7030 all the way to Kelly Butte trailhead. ( On 7030, go 4 miles steeply uphill to a 'T' junction, turn left. Go one mile and keep left on an unmarked 'y' turn. Another mile to a marked intersection. ( turn right on 7030...) and follow this ignoring small spurs to the end. There is 1/2 mile of poor road with high waterbars at the end and the
trail is unmarked but is on a logging platform at the end of 7030. The first 150 feet of trail is up an avalanche gully on a rope ( steep but doable...) and then steep switchbacks gradually lessening as one tops the butte. ( Kelly is shaped like a bundt cake with steep sides and flatter top....) The lookout is about 1.2 miles from the road end. If you have a low clearance vehicle, it's better to park at the wide area at the end of maintenance of 7030 which has parking for 20 cars or so.
Naturally, one cannot get there this time of year.....I was able to go up late June last year and it snowed in near the end of October. Any questions? You can e mail me at CR421@juno.com or at this forum. Thanks for your interest in the lookout!!!:)

[lookout bob]

in case anyone wants to come up and help....there are work parties scheduled on August 18, 2007....and August 25, 2007. We'll plan on being at the trailhead around 9 a.m.
We have already built 2 new shutters, most of a third, and hope to get them all (8) built, primed and installed soon. Any help is appreciated. It's a worthy project to restore this fire lookout. :)