Viewing Debbie's View with Debbie - a Hike Recap
Have you ever wondered who Debbie’s View on Squak Mountain was named after? I know I did, and then, one day, I met her. She is Debbie Anschell, a long-time stalwart of the club dating back to the 1980s. In that first encounter, I asked her to lead a hike to her namesake viewpoint, and she agreed. The logistics all came together, and the hike occurred on Saturday, September 2, 2023.
Debbie was not content to just visit the intended destination but chose a route that circumnavigated Squak Mountain, passing by several other points of interest: Squak Mountain's main summit, the Bullitt fireplace, West Peak with the ruins of the old “Green House,” and then on to Debbie’s View for lunch.
Here are a few photos of the epic hike:
Debbie Anschell, posing by the sign pointing the way to Debbie’s View. Photo by Tom Anderson.
The intrepid hikers pause for a rest at the Bullitt Fireplace. Photo by Tom Anderson.
When visible, Mount Rainier is always the main attraction from the viewpoint. It was a hazy day on our visit, so this photo depends on a little haze removal to better display the features of the mountain. Photo by Tom Anderson.
I asked Debbie how the moniker came about, and this is the story she told:
“I used to come up here back in the '90s and do a lot of work on Squak Mountain. We cleared the Chybinski Trail (named for Joe Chybinski) and then the Perimeter Loop. I came up here with Joe Toynbee and Bill Longwell and worked on the trail the whole way, going down towards Phil’s Creek Trail, and this was our lunch spot. There was already a small trail coming out to the viewpoint, and we would always come out for our lunch. One day, we came out here as usual, and Joe and Bill had put up a sign for “Debbie’s View.” I guess it stuck!”
Debbie also spent countless hours constructing the Tiger Mountain Trail. To show appreciation for her efforts, Bill Longwell gave her another namesake: “Anschell’s Allée.” It is a long, straight stretch of the TMT traversing the northeast ridge of West Tiger #3.
When you visit these namesake locations, take a moment to send happy thoughts to Debbie Anschell.