• Fire Lookouts
    • Visiting all of Washington’s Historic Lookouts
    • Standing Fire Lookouts of Washington
    • Former Lookout Sites of Washington
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    Sit back, relax, and read some good stories of adventure.

    Setting Sun Mountain Lookout Site

    Traversing the Golden Stairway: Starvation to Old Baldy

    Muckamuck Mountain Lookout Site

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    Off-Grid Life

    A journey to build a small off-grid sustainable home.

    An Off-Grid Airstream Winter

    For the Birds

    Investing in Energy Independence

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    North Twentymile: A Labor of Love

    Repainting Lookout Mountain

    Etiquette Tips for Visiting Staffed Fire Lookouts

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    Activities

    Sit back, relax, and read some good stories of adventure.

    Setting Sun Mountain Lookout Site

    Traversing the Golden Stairway: Starvation to Old Baldy

    Muckamuck Mountain Lookout Site

    • Hiking
    • Backpacking
    • Trail Running
    • Campervan’ing
    • Bicycling
    • Mountaineering
    • Snow Sports
    • Water Sports

The Off-Grid Life

A journey to build a small off-grid sustainable home.

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The Off-Grid Life

Closing on a Dream

October 25, 20200 536
For more than 20 years I've dreamed of being a landowner and building my own little home. After many years of dreaming and planning, despite a crazy real estate market this year, I finally became a landowner in the beautiful Methow Valley!
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The Off-Grid Life

Investing in Energy Independence

March 4, 20210 466
With winter slowly turning to spring, it's time to start thinking again about my home building project. Yesterday I made a big investment in a 2kW solar system and officially made the plunge into energy independent living.
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Nature and WildlifeThe Off-Grid Life

For the Birds

April 15, 20210 195
I am so excited to have completed my first landowner nature project with the installation of several beautiful bird nest boxes made by Valley local Patrick Hannigan from Nice Nests!
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Airstream LifeThe Off-Grid Life

An Off-Grid Airstream Winter

April 16, 20221 2089
Stories from an off-grid Methow winter in a tiny 19' Airstream with double-digit negative temperatures and a comedic amount of snow!
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Hi, I’m Chris, aka TrailChick

Despite rheumatoid arthritis I've spent over 20 years exploring the Washington State backcountry and I believe our connection with nature—its land, water, sky, and wildlife—makes us whole. A huge fire lookout geek, I've visited every historic fire lookout in Washington, staff the Goat Peak fire lookout near my home in the Methow Valley, and help to research and preserve these historic structures. I live off-grid in Twisp, Washington with my Mustang Pippin and my Cattle Dog Hudson. Join me as I share my love of the PNW and beyond, especially the beautiful Valley I'm lucky to call home!

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  • Fire Lookouts
    • Visiting all of Washington’s Historic Lookouts
    • Standing Fire Lookouts of Washington
    • Former Lookout Sites of Washington
    • Staffed Fire Lookouts of Washington State
    • Washington Lookouts Open for Overnight Stays
    • Lookout Maps
  • Staffing Goat Peak
    • 2022 Fire Season
    • 2021 Fire Season
  • Trip Reports
    • Fire Lookouts
    • Former Lookout Sites
    • Peakbagging
    • Backpacking
    • Historical Sites
  • Off-Grid Life
  • Blog
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    • Essays
    • Airstream Life
    • Off-Grid Life
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Travel
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    • Backpacking
    • Trail Running
    • Campervan’ing
    • Bicycling
    • Mountaineering
    • Snow Sports
    • Water Sports
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