"The people that pilgrimmage up to this place...I don't know how many of them would walk away from this becoming a lesser person from it. You grow from the challenge, you enrich from this beautiful environment and you change little by little." Chris Gustafson-Historical Preservation Contractor at High Rock Fire Lookout Tower-22aug2025. Way cool day on the mountain. Volunteer work, helping with the renovation of the historic High Rock Fire Lookout Tower. A helicopter brought in the heavy stuff. However the rest of the supplies are packed up and down the mountain by volunteers supporting the preservation project. Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens in the background and a thousand flying ants around us. With temps in the high 80s at the peak, my buddy and I collectively hauled about 180-pounds of building material and camp gear up the mountain and brought trash down to the trailhead. Good cardio and strength training for the body, gratifying volunteer work for the soul... The current renovation project required the tower be torn down to the foundation for a complete rebuild. The local White Pass County Historical Society is making the magic happen and it's fun to be along for the ride. I'm not sure if there's a technical name for someone who chases Fire Lookout Towers on mountains, but it's become my new thing. The tower visited on this trip was for VIP only. 'V' for Volunteer. I've been wanting to add High Rock FLT to my list. It's the 9th one I've hiked/trail-run to in Western WA. However, being there as a volunteer supporting the restoration project made it extra special.
