Once getting to the trailhead after what seemed like an endless amount of washboard roads, I realized what I was in for. It's not like the trail was going to be too strenuous, but after hiking Iron mountain and not being in the shape I preferred, I was in for a treat. When I initially decided to do this second hike, it was half a plan B and halfway a fun addition. I didn't look at the elevation gain or the mileage, I just saw the trail from a map and a few images of the old Cupolas at the top, and I needed o see it.
The trailhead was warm and sunny and I almost left my gear in the truck, but had a suspicion that it might be windy so I brought it anyway. Once I was too the top I was incredibly grateful for the decision, I estimate the wind was over 40 mph. Many times I nearly blew down when I lost my footing on the rocks. The top off the bute was engulfed in fog and was topped with a layer of ice and slick snow (genuinely wish I brought my crampons). Not too many people were at the top as the "Big Game" was playing, so I had the place to myself. Since one of the main reasons I was up there was to photograph the watchtower and old cupolas, the fog didn't bother me, but I would like to get back on a fog-free day.
As I made my way around the top to the northern side, I came to a small ridge that the central cupola would be just behind. I knew it was there from all the photos I've seen, google satellite imagery, and a 360 VR I looked at the previous night. But to my disappointment, it was gone, nothing but a charred outline of where it used to be. At some point, it had burnt down, and nothing remained but its footprint. I tried to make the best of the situation and photographed the ruble, but I was pretty bummed.
After spending way too long deciding if I would climb the 80-foot watchtower, which I didn't, I headed back down the trail towards the truck. I stopped at a viewpoint along the pass and grabbed a few snaps of the butte before heading back home.
