{"id":1612,"date":"2024-05-26T20:31:36","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T03:31:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/?p=1612"},"modified":"2025-01-05T19:19:33","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T02:19:33","slug":"madison-butte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/2024\/05\/26\/madison-butte\/","title":{"rendered":"Madison Butte"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Type: 37&#8242; steel tower<br \/>\nStatus: Staffed<br \/>\nElevation: 5,707&#8242;<br \/>\nVisited:\u00a0May 26, 2024<\/p>\n<p>While visiting the Umatilla National Forest over Memorial Day Weekend we hiked up to Madison Butte. There is a road to the top, but it&#8217;s pretty rough and in any case it&#8217;s gated this time of year. Hiking was much nicer. (Read about the hike itself on my <a href=\"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2024\/05\/26\/madison-butte\/\">adventure blog<\/a>.)<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The last stretch of the hike passed through some big trees:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754023331_0e74412dbf_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As well as wildflowers. These are spring beauties:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754022641_8d4ff83d3e_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Some type of onion:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755298089_713598402e_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This early in the season the lookout was not yet staffed:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754349599_71007710ed_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Lookout\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754226413_3cee0f20f9_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Lookout\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755258949_38f2dbc7dd_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Lookout\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s a toilet down the hill on the north side:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755127843_55202efc8f_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I was surprised to see grass widows blooming up here!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755258439_7af527e1b7_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754042157_aeaed90091_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755151833_4214b2f129_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We saw groundsel too:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755282649_d6960aa188_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There are some views from the ground. Looking northeast:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754936086_da0c89cc1b_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Black Mountain to the northeast:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754034342_e15cbc65cc_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Southeast:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755276884_f14a43d039_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Strawberry Mountains to the southeast:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754041937_ff28668e7e_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking south to the Aldrich Mountains:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754944081_2986dac5de_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>West:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754033212_c4d5646d6c_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Northwest:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754034352_7091db1d93_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We couldn&#8217;t get up to the locked catwalk, but we could climb the stairs most of the way up. Better views up there, of course. Northeast:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754943921_5f9724c50c_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755356945_b13815417d_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking east to the Elkhorns:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755282774_f65446c320_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Vinegar Hill and Dixie Butte to the southeast:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755282754_5c530fab39_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Strawberry Mountains:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755135903_c30c48e992_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>South:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754943861_de5ced01b1_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Northwest:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754945246_86feb55f40_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755137223_346da1dcc7_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Survey marker:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754952956_7dca8d738e_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>What forces bent this sturdy pot?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53755365280_d581323b0f_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After several hours on the summit we headed back down. Most of those trees you see in the photo below are larches. This would be gorgeous in fall!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53754064107_d8aa724153_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>More information<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/oregonlookouts.weebly.com\/madison-butte.html\">Forest Lookouts<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firelookout.com\/or\/madisonbutte.html\">Rex&#8217;s Forest Fire Lookout Page<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/nhlr.org\/lookouts\/us\/or\/madison-butte-lookout\/\">National Historic Lookout Register<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/peakbagger.com\/peak.aspx?pid=3113\">Peakbagger<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/iamwho.com\/cdv2\/eastOr\/umatilla\/umat180\/site.htm\">Panorama Photos<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/coord.info\/GC151EN\">Geocache<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>History<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A D-6 cupola cabin was built on Madison Butte in 1923:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7505\/15690992243_1c11049a12_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte\" width=\"1024\" height=\"721\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In 1957 this was replaced by the present 37&#8242; steel tower:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7473\/16284927156_27c339c3b3_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte, 1958\" width=\"1024\" height=\"724\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7472\/16123486360_8e0f82ed65_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte, 1960\" width=\"1024\" height=\"725\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/8654\/16309078251_8f653e3760_b.jpg\" alt=\"Madison Butte, 1960\" width=\"941\" height=\"917\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Type: 37&#8242; steel tower Status: Staffed Elevation: 5,707&#8242; Visited:\u00a0May 26, 2024 While visiting the Umatilla National Forest over Memorial Day<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/2024\/05\/26\/madison-butte\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Madison Butte<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1613,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-umatilla-national-forest"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1612"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1808,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1612\/revisions\/1808"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}