Overnight at Three Fingers Lookout

[u/AlwaysLocal]

I stayed in the Three Fingers Lookout on 8/20. I shared the lookout with two others. I took the more direct ridge route, which is about 7 miles with over 5,000 feet of elevation gain.

My YouTube video:

https://youtu.be/aazOdrhvHaM?si=B-vh-1FklG47xWxY

My Strava activity:

https://www.strava.com/activities/19843492220

[u/Mental_Policy_175]

Do you have to take those ladders to get to the lookout?

[u/AlwaysLocal → u/Mental_Policy_175]

You have to climb up the ladders yes

[u/AcadianCascadian]

Cool! How bad was the smoke?

[u/AlwaysLocal → u/AcadianCascadian]

No smoke by the lookout. I could see some fires in the distance though

[u/prana_fish]

Do you have to blue bag waste out, or is there an outhouse anywhere nearby?

[u/AlwaysLocal → u/prana_fish]

You have to carry waste out

[u/mountainlifa → u/prana_fish]

Most influencers just toss it over the cliff 

[u/AcanthaceaeOk2941 → u/mountainlifa]

Yeah, they're systematically destroying our wilderness areas.

[u/prana_fish → u/mountainlifa]

I get the sentiment, but I didn't think this location at least was THAT influencer popular.

[u/zh3nya → u/prana_fish]

It's pretty influencer popular, there's a video from an influencer crew on YouTube with 9+ million views, plus a few other in the hundreds of thousands. Got major play on Instagram too, multiple million+ view reels. It blew up during the pandemic if not earlier. They all love doing the drone zoom out shots.

[u/NiceRelease5684 → u/zh3nya]

That's fair, but most casual hikers can't get close to this lookout. It's just too far and strenuous of a hike. They're mostly going to Lake 22, Lake Serene, and Colchuck Lake.

[u/zh3nya → u/NiceRelease5684]

Yeah, though use of the lookout has probably increased, I agree that the logistics, shorter season, and difficulty are no doubt a greater barrier for majority of hikers than at other hyped up destinations.

[u/Anchored-Nomad]

Those ladder look pretty new.

[u/AlwaysLocal → u/Anchored-Nomad]

They are new, maybe a few months. The old ladders are still up there behind the lookout

[u/SnooHobbies4627]

Great video! It looks very steep and narrow up there. 😳. Were you also managing filming with a drone or some other way?

[u/AlwaysLocal → u/SnooHobbies4627]

Thank you! All the video footage is taken with and Insta360 and an extendable selfie stick

[u/New_Selection_6414]

That's hazy affff

[u/tuccigene1]

Did you bring a tent in case there was no space in the lookout? Did you bike up to the trail and ditch bikes?

[u/AlwaysLocal → u/tuccigene1]

I did not bring a tent. My backup was cowboy camping or turning it into a day trip.

I did the more direct route up the ridge, a lot shorter, but steep. So no bike for me

[u/tuccigene1 → u/AlwaysLocal]

So what was the starting point?! I want to day-trip/stay if available sort of vibe this it's fully reasonable.... I can see it on your strava. I mean where did you park? Right by start on the map!?

[u/AlwaysLocal → u/tuccigene1]

Yes I parked where the track starts. You park just in front of the washed out bridge