The first half of our trip was just the two of us, but after our final hike in the North Cascades, we met up with Max and Ayhan for the rest of our time in Washington. We decided, since Ayhan is afraid of heights and not exactly an avid hiker, to tackle one of the most precariously perched lookout towers we could find, on a relatively strenuous hike through a gorgeous section of Mt. Baker National Recreation Area.

The weather was perfect and the mountains were full of bright wildflowers, plants and grass in every shade of green, and loud, rushing rivers that we had to cross on rickety bridges so we wouldn’t get swept away. Ayhan stuggled physically, but his spirits were high.

The path to the lookout tower is around 4 miles and winds itself through waist-high huckleberries, dense forest, and grassy, heather-covered meadows, all with the view of Mt. Baker and its glaciers as a backdrop. Around three miles in we caught our first sight of Park Butte Lookout Tower, high on the rocky summit.

It wasn’t a particularly difficult trek, but we took it slow and stopped for several relaxing breaks so Ahyan wouldn’t feel too exhausted, as he was about to face a major fear-climbing up to the tower.

The hike went well, and we made it to the lookout tower which had incredible views of the surrounding recreation area and of Mt. Baker itself. Although similar to the previous day’s hike, this lookout tower had a completely different feel, instead of jagged, scary looking peaks it was surrounded by lush, green rolling mountains and beautiful blue layers fading off into the distance.