Ethel Mine part Deux – “Return to Bee Mountain” – 08-15-09
If you will recall from your history lessons, it took Howard Carter over 6 years of searching before he finally uncovered King Tut’s burial chamber way back in November of 1922. I am beginning to understand how Carter must have felt… getting so close but not quite making it to the goal. Read on fellow adventures….
This weekend’s hike will be filed with the two or three others this year under “damn, missed it by that much!”
The weather was cooperating with nothing nasty in the forecast, so it was the perfect time to try and climb that wonderful mountain once again. On this trek I was accompanied by one of my hiking buddies – “Jeff” - who, while not to crazy about the mines loves any excuse to get out in the woods.
We got to IGR relatively early, checked our gear, and where soon trekking overland to the crossing point on the Skykomish River. The river was a little higher than last time (recent rains), but totally manageable to cross.
After reaching the other side, we made our way up the now familiar route crossing the Excelsior - eventually ending up at the lower cabin. We stopped for a leisurely bite and little rest before the marathon mountain climb later.
Before we started up, however, Jeff wanted to see the tram wheel I found last weekend. I started low once again and walked the line where I knew I would run into the wheel eventually. But wait, what’s this? Another shaft protruding from under the blanket of vegetation? Could it be? “Yeaaaaa baby” I exclaimed as a SECOND bull wheel is located just 50 feet from the first one.
We quickly cleared the massive steel frame of falls, moss, and weeds – eventually exposing the entire wheel into the sunlight for the first time in God knows how long. This one was a little bigger (by Jeff’s calculations), and had some writing forged into the steel. “Golden State and Miners Iron Works” was faintly visible at two places on the outer edge. Very cool!
Of course the questions started to flow immediately; was this wheel the one from up top? If so, how (and why) did they drag it down here? Was this part of another tramway from another adit? Was it part of the lower where they needed two wheels for some reason? We could only speculate.
Finishing up at the two wheels, we started the long and not-so-level hike UP the mountain. The route was easy to follow as the forest is open for the most part, but as you get higher, the angle increases significantly. At some points your calves are just dying for a flat spot to rest! But alas, they are few a far between until the top.
Somewhere up there among the beauty and splendor of the forest I managed to hyperextend my right knee. I’m not sure where, or when, but it started hurting and got worse the father up I went. Greaaaat.
Despite my aching knee, we made it to the upper cabin site for some much needed rest. The bee’s had not bothered us on the way up, and I was certainly not going to go check on my buddies that stung me last weekend. We took a few more pictures and a little video – then slung our packs back on the headed farther up the valley following the old “road/trail/rabbit path.”
My knee was cooperating so far and everything was going along pretty good. We where looking forward to seeing the adit just above the creek bed, then trying to locate the upper adits if time allowed.
But, that would be too easy…
After about 10 minutes of hiking, we came to a spot where we had to make some choices. Directly in front of us was a large talus pile covered in Vine Maple, Devils Club, sticker bushes, and Nettles… not to mention the moss-covered talus boulders hiding the 10’ drops between the rocks. Basically “Hades Garden.”
Off to the right side and a little ways back was a “path” that seemed too led down to the creek and under the garden. Unfortunately, at that point the “path” was not much more than a near-vertical slide 120’ down to the rocks. That route would require some serious vine rappelling with no guarantee of access up the valley to the mine
Of the left and 200-300’ above that was a tree line that could offer a way around the garden, circumventing the talus rock slide – but again no guarantee of access and a heck of a slog uphill just to get to that point.
With no easy way to go (is there ever?) – and with a bum knee the answer was obvious… bag it and come back yet another day. So close, yet so far will be my nickname I’m sure! But to go any father and taking a risk inuring the knee even more was just not worth it.
So, down the hill we go, past wheels, past the cabin, scoot across the mill site, make the creek and river crossing, and out to the truck. But, other than the knee, a fun day up in the mountains once again!
Pictures for this little hike can be seen at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/minehunter/sets/72157622067371702/
Take care all, and be safe out there!
If you will recall from your history lessons, it took Howard Carter over 6 years of searching before he finally uncovered King Tut’s burial chamber way back in November of 1922. I am beginning to understand how Carter must have felt… getting so close but not quite making it to the goal. Read on fellow adventures….
This weekend’s hike will be filed with the two or three others this year under “damn, missed it by that much!”
The weather was cooperating with nothing nasty in the forecast, so it was the perfect time to try and climb that wonderful mountain once again. On this trek I was accompanied by one of my hiking buddies – “Jeff” - who, while not to crazy about the mines loves any excuse to get out in the woods.
We got to IGR relatively early, checked our gear, and where soon trekking overland to the crossing point on the Skykomish River. The river was a little higher than last time (recent rains), but totally manageable to cross.
After reaching the other side, we made our way up the now familiar route crossing the Excelsior - eventually ending up at the lower cabin. We stopped for a leisurely bite and little rest before the marathon mountain climb later.
Before we started up, however, Jeff wanted to see the tram wheel I found last weekend. I started low once again and walked the line where I knew I would run into the wheel eventually. But wait, what’s this? Another shaft protruding from under the blanket of vegetation? Could it be? “Yeaaaaa baby” I exclaimed as a SECOND bull wheel is located just 50 feet from the first one.
We quickly cleared the massive steel frame of falls, moss, and weeds – eventually exposing the entire wheel into the sunlight for the first time in God knows how long. This one was a little bigger (by Jeff’s calculations), and had some writing forged into the steel. “Golden State and Miners Iron Works” was faintly visible at two places on the outer edge. Very cool!
Of course the questions started to flow immediately; was this wheel the one from up top? If so, how (and why) did they drag it down here? Was this part of another tramway from another adit? Was it part of the lower where they needed two wheels for some reason? We could only speculate.
Finishing up at the two wheels, we started the long and not-so-level hike UP the mountain. The route was easy to follow as the forest is open for the most part, but as you get higher, the angle increases significantly. At some points your calves are just dying for a flat spot to rest! But alas, they are few a far between until the top.
Somewhere up there among the beauty and splendor of the forest I managed to hyperextend my right knee. I’m not sure where, or when, but it started hurting and got worse the father up I went. Greaaaat.
Despite my aching knee, we made it to the upper cabin site for some much needed rest. The bee’s had not bothered us on the way up, and I was certainly not going to go check on my buddies that stung me last weekend. We took a few more pictures and a little video – then slung our packs back on the headed farther up the valley following the old “road/trail/rabbit path.”
My knee was cooperating so far and everything was going along pretty good. We where looking forward to seeing the adit just above the creek bed, then trying to locate the upper adits if time allowed.
But, that would be too easy…
After about 10 minutes of hiking, we came to a spot where we had to make some choices. Directly in front of us was a large talus pile covered in Vine Maple, Devils Club, sticker bushes, and Nettles… not to mention the moss-covered talus boulders hiding the 10’ drops between the rocks. Basically “Hades Garden.”
Off to the right side and a little ways back was a “path” that seemed too led down to the creek and under the garden. Unfortunately, at that point the “path” was not much more than a near-vertical slide 120’ down to the rocks. That route would require some serious vine rappelling with no guarantee of access up the valley to the mine
Of the left and 200-300’ above that was a tree line that could offer a way around the garden, circumventing the talus rock slide – but again no guarantee of access and a heck of a slog uphill just to get to that point.
With no easy way to go (is there ever?) – and with a bum knee the answer was obvious… bag it and come back yet another day. So close, yet so far will be my nickname I’m sure! But to go any father and taking a risk inuring the knee even more was just not worth it.
So, down the hill we go, past wheels, past the cabin, scoot across the mill site, make the creek and river crossing, and out to the truck. But, other than the knee, a fun day up in the mountains once again!
Pictures for this little hike can be seen at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/minehunter/sets/72157622067371702/
Take care all, and be safe out there!
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