An Otrovert's Overnight at Lookout Mountain

Have you heard of the proposed new personality type named "otrovert?" Even though I hate labels, I have to say it describes me pretty well. I want to connect and be around people, but only meaningful one-on-one means much to me. I may appear like an extrovert, but in truth group settings and casual interactions are exhausting for me. 

So the thought of spending the night in a fire lookout with complete strangers was both thrilling and terrifying. If they liked me and we connected and had this mutual bonding experience -- heaven! If I could tell they didn't want me there and we had to fake at niceties and force small talk all night -- hell!  Such a risk...though I do crave terror and suffering for some odd reason.

Even so, when I got to the "register" at the beginning of the Lookout Mountain Trail and saw that nobody had claimed it yet, I was super relieved. I actually would have gone home if someone's name was there - not because I assumed they didn't want to share, but because I would have to make them share whether they wanted to or not. And of course, that's a bit asshole-ish.

I left work at noon on Columbus Day because I had found out a couple days earlier that I randomly had Tuesday off. A midweek outing with fantastic weather and having strong end of season legs, I knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Except leaving that late in the day with a 6:30 pm sunset meant I had no plan B; so if someone was in the lookout even though they didn't write it on the register, they would be sharing with my asshole self regardless.

Staying in a lookout has been on my bucket list a very long time. I knew this particular one was my best best; far better than Hidden Lake, Park Butte, or of course Mount Pilchuck; all which are extremely popular and near impossible to get to before someone else. And even though hikers are some of the best sharers in the world, who wants to chance it? 

Though as an otrovert, I'm always hoping to find a soul sister (or brother) - so when I "claimed" the lookout I also wrote "don't mind sharing." I knew the lookout "fits 4 easily" from the previous person's note, and I didn't want anyone coming after me having the same stress I was having.

Also, "going to be crowded"...apparently some people aren't worried about assumptions

 

About half way up I met my first hikers and asked them if anyone was at the lookout. They told me there was a group of SIX (must have been because of the holiday) but only two planned on staying the night. At that point I was too committed to turn around, so I just prayed I'd be getting heaven instead of hell. 

I was so committed, in fact, that even a warning from the next descending group couldn't stop me. "Be careful, it's super slick and one of us had to grab onto branches to keep from falling," he cautioned. 

"Would I fall off an edge to my death?" was my question.

"I don't think so, but you could get really hurt...though you should be okay with your poles," was his not so reassuring answer. It was good enough for me, however. 

For the last half mile all I could do was kick myself for not bringing my micospikes or even my crampons. I had considered it, but I was too concerned with staying light because of the extreme elevation gain. Stupid. I kept imaging how the people up there would react to my appearance: "What is wrong with you coming up this late without proper gear and no plan B?" The other imaginations of spending the night crumpled up in the trees groaning in pain I refused to let in.

And you know that going up is one thing, and going down quite another, so I was also really worrying about what the next day was going to look like. Except I was all in; plus I knew I could wait until late morning when hopefully it wouldn't be as icy. 

To say I was relieved to finally make it to the lookout would be an understatement - but there's no word strong enough to describe the feeling of deliverance that came over me when I found nobody there. Confusion too...where the heck could they have gone? But whatever...I GOT THE PLACE TO MYSELF!!! 

Maybe I missed out on some heavenly bonding time, but avoiding a hellishly awkward night was a bigger desire. Plus, I love being alone - another sign of being an otovert. 

The next morning's descent was painfully slow and not pretty, but I got it done. (Butt sliding is bad form and terrible for anyone coming after me, but it didn't seem I had a choice.) And even though it was pretty terrifying and probably foolish and definitely cold AF, I really did love every minute. Happy "if it's October, just put the spikes in the pack" trails!

Things to Know About Lookout Mountain Lookout:

1) It's 4.5 miles to the top, with 4.5k elevation. Better have your trail legs. 

2) I had great cell phone reception inside the lookout with T-Mobile, which was nice to Face-Time with my husband and helped me not feel too alone. 

3) Though it's in the North Cascades, it's outside of the National Park, so you don't need a permit - not even any sort of parking pass. Though the other area you can camp at (Monogram Lake, about a mile off the main trail) you do need a permit for because it must just fall within the boundary.  

4) If you're uncomfortable using the pee container provided, you had better bring your own because I promise you that you will not be going down the stairs in the middle of the night. I do show you what it looks like in one of the video clips - I'm a little embarrassed to share this trip's movie, but I'm doing it anyway because I'm a otrovert who "needs no validation from others" bahahahaha. (I'm not actually showing myself peeing in it for heaven's sake if you are thinking that!)

5) At about 2.5 miles there's a good stream, and actually a place you could pitch a small tent - maybe even two. I'm assuming this is outside the boundary and okay to do, though I'm not positive. It could be a late night save though for sure.  

It's bigger than it looks here, plus there's a little space on the other side of the trail as well