This is one of the views from the cache site, looking south
toward Lake Chelan. The Columbia River is just right of center.
Mission Ridge is in the distance.
Cooper Mountain was established as a lookout in 1920 with a
crow's nest. Crows Nest 1920-1927 Seven
years later, in 1927, a log cabin was built. It burned in a forest
fire and wasn't replaced until 1932 with a new log cabin and
accompanying 45' wooden tower with 7x7' cab. 45 foot wooden tower
1932-1939. Then in 1939 a 53' treated timber L-4
tower was constructed and staffed into the 1960's. 53 foot L-4 tower
1939-1968. The lookout was destroyed in 1968.
(Information and photos courtesy of Rex's Forest Fire Lookout
Page).
The Road to Cooper
Mountain is very good. You could probably drive there in a car
for all but the last 1/4 mile. From Chelan, follow SR-150 toward
Manson and bear right onto Boyd road approximately 2.5 miles
from Chelan. After a couple more miles, turn left onto Cooper
Mountain road and follow the signs all the way to the top. The
elevation at the summit is 5867 feet. You should also be able to
drive in from Pateros on SR-153 and FR-4010, but I didn't come
from that direction so I can't comment on the condition of those
roads.
On the way up, I spotted other lookout sites, such as Chelan
Butte to the south, Stormy Mountain to the west, and Leecher
Mountain to the Northeast. The skies were dark with low hanging
clouds when I hid the cache, but on a clear day you should be able
to see Glacier Peak and Mt. Rainier.
For the Washington Lookout
Challenge, this cache is located in Area 3.