Three Fingers (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Three Fingers |
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Three Fingers, viewed from Smokey Point in wintertime
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,858 ft (2,090 m) |
| Prominence | 4,490 ft (1,369 m) |
| Isolation | 12.8 mi (20.6 km) |
| Geography | |
| Parent range | Cascade Range |
| Topo map | Whitehorse Mountain |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1929 |
The Three Fingers is a cool mountain found in Snohomish County, Washington. It stands tall at about 6,859 feet (2,091 meters). This makes it one of the most noticeable peaks in Washington state! It's also part of the huge Cascade Range mountain chain. The mountain gets its name, "Three Fingers," because it has three distinct peaks that look a bit like fingers pointing up. It's a well-known landmark in northern Snohomish County.
Contents
Discovering Three Fingers
First Climbers and the Fire Lookout
The first people to climb Three Fingers were Harry Bedal and Harold Engles in 1929. They were experienced climbers from Darrington.
Later, a special building called a fire lookout was built on the mountain's southernmost peak. Harry Bedal, Harold Engles, and Frank Benesh worked together to build it. From 1933 to 1942, someone would live there during fire season to watch for wildfires.
It's said that about 15 feet (4.6 meters) of the southern peak's top was blasted away to make room for the lookout cabin. This might have made the mountain a tiny bit shorter! After 1942, the lookout was no longer used. But in the 1960s and 1980s, groups of local mountaineers helped fix it up.
A Historic Place
In 1987, the Three Fingers lookout was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important site recognized for its history. It joined other special buildings in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on this list.
Climbing and Exploring
Many people enjoy climbing Three Fingers for fun. There's a trail that starts on the east side of the mountain, near the Mountain Loop Highway. The round trip on this trail is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) long. It's a great adventure for those who love hiking and exploring mountains!
