HardCorps: Thorp Mountain Lookout, WA 2026
Join us in north-central Washington this season to help breathe new life into the deteriorated Thorp Mountain Lookout.
PROJECT PARTNER: Mountains To Sound Greenway Trust
SESSION DATES: September 7-13 and September 16-22
CAPACITY PER SESSION: 6 Volunteers (No Kitchen Helper)
PROJECT SUPERVISOR: Aaron Smith!
CREW LEADER: Clay Doin-Vieira!
*This is a HardCorps Project at the highest difficulty*
Project Site Description & History
Perched atop the summit of Thorp Mountain, the Thorp Mountain Lookout commands a stunning panorama of the shadowy and pensive, yet awe-inspiring Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest is the second-largest national forest that is contained entirely within one county. The Okanogan National Forest was established on July 1, 1911 and was combined with the Wenatchee National Forest in 2000. Much of the forest is comprised of lodgepole pine trees, with the western part of the forest experiencing more rainfall than east. The forest hosts six officially designated wilderness areas, the Waptus Lake, and other natural features.
Built in 1930, the Thorp Mountain Lookout is significant for being one of the last remaining gable-roofed L-4 cab lookouts in the Northwest. The L-4 cab lookout is a standardized, classic lookout cabin design that replaced earlier Forest Service design layouts. This design style features a small 14×14 ft. wooden cabin with large windows on all sides, which provides occupants with both increased visibility and a panoramic view of the landscape. The lookout is a 14×14 ft L4 gable-roof ground house, and was listed on the National Historic Lookout Register in 2001. According to TrailForks.com, the United States Forest Service built this lookout as part of a network that consisted of lookouts perched on both the Jolly and Red Mountains, but only the Thorp Mountain Lookout still exists today.
We’re excited to support the continued restoration and improvement of this structure, and we hope you’ll join us for two weeks of preservation work this season at the Thorp Mountain Lookout!
Location and Logistics
SESSION DATES: September 7-13 and September 16-22
Please plan to arrive at the campsite no earlier than 5pm and no later than 7pm on the first day of your session.
LOCATION: Located about 2 hours southeast of Seattle, Washington!
MAP to the THORP MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT
ACCESS: 
*This is a HardCorps project that requires volunteers to hike 2.5 miles with 1,500 feet of elevation gain with their personal gear to our campsite and then hike 0.3 miles over steep terrain to our project site daily*
Only tent campers can be accommodated at this location. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed at this project.
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately.
Scope of Work
SCOPE OF WORK DIFFICULTY: 
HistoriCorps is committed to educating and training volunteers in preservation skills, with an overarching mission of inspiring a preservation ethic in all those involved. Learning and working alongside expert HistoriCorps field staff and other volunteers while applying the traditional skills necessary to restore the Thorp Mountain Lookout, you will assist to:
- Remove and reinstall the ceiling paneling.
- Strengthen the cable lock system on shutters to better secure the building and enhance security.
- Repair and rebuild all shutters in-kind, following the 1936 Region 6 Standard L-4 Lookout plans.
- Remove non-historic shutter outrigger system and replace with hinged props as shown in historic photographs to uphold the historic integrity of the building.
- Secure loose catwalk railing, decking, and stairs. Replace deteriorated components in kind, as needed.
- Replace deteriorated non-historic door with architectural salvage or new fabrication off-site by a local millwork shop to preserve the historic nature of the building.
- Repaint failing finishes on wood siding, trim, and windows and paint the new door to match the window color.
- Test for lead in paint on existing siding and trim to help determine next steps for paint work. If lead is present in the paint, it will be important to follow all lead containment protocols.
If time allows:
- Make minor carpentry repairs on small sections with wood filler.
- Clean all interior surfaces and refresh the kitchen finishes with new trim, primer, and paint.
*HardCorps Details – Please Be Prepared Before Registering For This Project*
- Due to the position of the worksite, cars and other vehicles can not access the area, Volunteers must hike in to the project location.This is a HardCorps project that requires volunteers to hike 2.5 miles with 1,500 feet of elevation gain with their personal gear to our campsite and then hike 0.3 miles over steep terrain to our project site daily. Volunteers will need to be able to perform a scope of work that includes accessing ladders, roofing, log work, carpentry, and use hand tools. In registering for this project, you assert that you are able to perform these duties.
PLEASE ONLY REGISTER IF YOU ARE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE HIKE TO THE PROJECT LOCATION – THERE IS NO VEHICLE ACCESS!
Please note: Tasks vary by day and by week, depending on a variety of factors including: weather, project priorities, previous groups’ work, and more. Though it is likely you will get to learn and practice most or all of the above tasks, it is not guaranteed. The higher percentage of the scope a particular task is, the more likely you will get to practice it.
Sign Up!
We’re thrilled this project has inspired you to volunteer!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
(Currently only available for HistoriClub Members – Open Registration will be available Monday, June 22nd at 12:00pm MST!)
Visit our Job Calendar to see how many spaces are available!
*All registrations submitted to projects at capacity will be automatically added to our waitlist.*
CANCELLATIONS effect our ability to complete projects. Please register only if you are certain about your ability to participate.
You will know your registration was successful when you receive a confirmation email. Contact volunteer@historicorps.org for assistance.
HistoriCorps does not charge for its volunteering projects. HistoriCorps relies on donations to continue engaging volunteers to save significant historical sites across America for generations to come. Your donation of any amount will make an incredible difference! Increase your impact – make a generous gift today.
Volunteer Logistics, Policies, and Advice
We’re so glad you’re interested in joining this project! If you’re new to our community, review the Volunteer FAQ first! Please note the following logistics and policies:
- Volunteering with HistoriCorps is free! We will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite or shared indoor lodging. Dinner is not provided on the first night.
- Volunteers are responsible for bringing their own gear, work gloves, sturdy work clothes and boots, and appropriate sleeping equipment. Check the average temperatures before you start packing – the nights and mornings may be colder than you anticipate! Then, read this advice about how to stay warm when tent camping in colder places.
- Campsite accessibility varies by project. Some projects can accommodate tents only; others can accommodate small RVs. Please review the project site description above for more information, and if you’re still not sure, email volunteer@historicorps.org for help.
- If this project does not offer showers, you might want to consider bringing a solar shower or research other methods to clean up after the work day.
- Volunteer crew sizes generally range from 4-8 volunteers, with two HistoriCorps staff that lead and train volunteers in the work.
- Safety is one of HistoriCorps’ top priorities, and volunteers can contribute to a safe working environment by ensuring their physical fitness is adequate for the work. See above for this project’s scope of work and difficulty level. Please, call us if you are not quite sure if a project is a good fit for your skills or fitness level. We may be able to suggest a project more suitable and enjoyable for you.
- Hard hats, eye protection, ear protection, gloves are standard personal protection equipment (PPE) required on all projects. Hard hats must be worn at all times on the project site, unless working in a designated safe space. Field staff will train volunteers on correct use of PPE.
- Dogs are generally allowed to accompany their humans in project campsites (actually, we love having dogs join us around the campfire!). Dogs are not permitted on the job site for everyone's safety. HOWEVER: HistoriCorps also follows the rules and regulations of our project partner. If the project partner does not permit dogs onsite then HistoriCorps is no exception. Please ask HistoriCorps or the project partner directly if you have any questions about whether Fido is welcome.