Sugarloaf Lookout a Historic Site Deserving Preservation

Sugarloaf Peak is prominent in the skyline northeast of Leavenworth, and it’s the site of a fire lookout that is over a hundred years old. Gary Gadwa, who serves as the paid lookout at Sugarloaf, and works alongside his wife and lookout volunteer, Laurii, is a strong advocate for the lookout’s usage, maintenance, and preservation.

Gadwa described the lookout’s vantage in a Forest Service Facebook blog, saying, “At an elevation of 5814 feet, Sugarloaf Peak offers panoramic views of the Wenatchee River Valley, the Stuart Range, and Glacier Peak to the northwest, and the Entiat Valley and the wheat fields of eastern Washington to the east.”

In the first half of the 20^th century, fire lookouts were a common sight. The Snoqualmie Fire Lookout Association website explained that there were about 8800 lookouts nationwide and, in Washington alone, there were 656. Over time, the vast majority have been decommissioned and dismantled, leaving 93 in Washington, while only 31 of those are staffed full or parttime for fire detection.

Current fire detection is aided by computer systems that determine the location of lightning strikes and give predictions about probability and location of wildfires, air patrols, and a robust public reporting system. However, lookouts, with their extensive visibility, can often provide critical early detection of fire location and continued monitoring of fire behavior and weather conditions.

“I regularly work five days a week, but it can be seven days a week if requested due to Red Flag Fire conditions,” said Gadwa. “We don't leave the Lookout as we prefer to keep it staffed and safe from potential vandalism. We search or scan the Lookout Seen Area at approximately fifteen-minute intervals. Two sets of eyes on the forest are much better than just one person. We plot and scan the areas of lightning.”

On August 11^th, Gary and Laurii Gadwa were first to spot the current fires north of Lake Wenatchee. “The night of the lightning storm that started the Irvine Fire and the White River Fires, we plotted and observed the strikes that caused those two fires at 2:30am. We were the first to report the two fires as a spot fire and then Irvine as spreading and moving up slope.

“Our Reports go directly to the Wenatchee Dispatch Center. We also call in with important weather or lightning storm information. We are always monitoring the existing fires. We monitor the Wenatchee USFES and the DNR radio frequencies 24/7 and are there for communications if needed.”

The specific history of Sugarloaf Fire Lookout began with establishment in 1914. The initial cabin required materials hauled up by muleback, as a road wasn’t established until the 30’s. The current cabin was built in 1932 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

“The fact that this is one of the earliest staffed lookouts in the state and such an important location for early forest fire detection in the Wenatchee/Okanagan National Forest means it should be protected and preserved,” said Gadwa. “We are very respectful of lookouts and want to see them all maintained for fire detection and not turned into rentals. We have been doing preservation work on the lookout all summer.”

The Sugarloaf Lookout suffered a big blow early in the summer due to two incidents of vandalism.

“Sadly, vandals ravaged the site by stripping off the copper cable grounding system, which is very important for lightning protection for the structure and for the safety of the staff,” explained Gadwa. “The vandals also stole the Solar Panels, so important to keep communications equipment charged and at the ready. The lock system securing the shutters during winter was also shot up [in a prior vandalism incident].

“The vandals probably got a couple hundred dollars for the copper cables that they stole. The estimate for repairs is $5000 for materials and $20,000 for labor and travel.” Due to potential expense and worker shortage, this repair will likely not happen until sometime in the summer of 2023.

For folk who appreciate the historic and fire safety significance of fire lookouts, Gadwa has an idea—start a “Friends of Sugarloaf Lookout” group. A nearby example is the nonprofit, Snoqualmie Fire Lookouts (www.snoqualmielookouts.org/), which is dedicated to the preservation and upkeep of three lookouts in the Snoqualmie Ranger District. Gadwa mentioned that the public information officers for the Okanogan-Wenatchee District would have more information about how to form a local group.