The Lonesome Lake Preservation Group will host its eighth annual campfire cook-off and potluck March 3 at the Greenwater Community Center.

There’s no entry fee to compete in the cook-off, but participants are asked to provide their own wood. Categories include breakfast, hors d’oeuvres, dinner and dessert. Creativity is encouraged and cooking pits open at noon. Judging will take place between 4 and 6 p.m.

A horseshoe tournament will be featured again this year and will get rolling at noon.

As another fundraiser, raffle tickets will be sold for a gas barbecue.

The group of mostly-Greenwater residents exists to support the small, high-alpine lake that sits at 5,000 feet above sea level on Forest Service land.

Years ago, it was largely ignored, often littered with trash; trees were randomly cut for firewood and trails were stomped into the fragile environment. The Lonesome Lake Preservation Group adopted the lake and, with the formal blessing of the Forest Service, began making improvements. During the past couple of decades, members have put in a vault toilet, worked to enhance vegetation around the lake, developed campsites and carved out formal trails. Two years ago, the footings were poured for a picnic shelter.

A major step came recently when the framework was assembled for the shelter. Hefty logs salvaged from downed trees and two local firms – Wheeler Construction in Enumclaw and Southworth and Sons from Greenwater – donated the heavy equipment needed to get everything assembled. Plans call for installation of a roof this summer.

Finding Lonesome Lake involves a 15-mile drive on the USFS 75 Road, which takes off from state Route 410 about four miles past Greenwater.