[RPBrown]

OlympicsShelter

A little Olympic Mts history here. Anyone know anything about this shelter?

[RPBrown]

Apparently not. Shelter Rock, Big Quil.

[RPBrown]

There wasn't? It stood in the main camp flat in between all those big hemlocks. I'm surprised some old timers on here didn't chime in. Maybe eventually someone will run across the post. I'd like to know more about it myself.

[RPBrown]

The Shelter Rock shelter stood there for at least 40 years and probably longer than that. I believe it disappeared in the mid 60's. When I say "stood there", I mean right where the main Shelter Rock camp is nowadays. The old trail crossed the river just a short ways above there. I think it was built by the Forest Service around the turn of the century, but I have no way to prove that. Several reasons lead me to that conclusion but again that's mainly my opinion. It was a fairly large structure...approximately 1.5 - 2X as large as a standard CCC shelter. Lots of history in that area (Big Quil/Dungeness) that is mostly gone forever. I've reliably traced that there was a trail up "the Big River" (what they used to call the Big Quilcene) as far back as 1891. The trail up the Little River was built in 1903-1904 to access the mines.

[reststep]

Thank you for the info. I have often wondered if there was ever a trail that followed the river up from Shelter Rock Camp. I may have to give that route a try sometime. It would probably be a real brush bash.

[RodF]

[reststep]

Interesting stuff. Thank you for posting Rod.

[RPBrown]

Thanks Rod. Legend has it the original trail up the Big River crossed and recrossed the river 57 times. A lot of that occurred in the main canyon but also on up above. Yep, I'm aware the Shelter Rock shelter isn't on any maps. I'm also very familiar with most of the structures in the general area. Tull City, Copper City, Iron Mtn Camp, and the Crow's Nest Hotel were all built by the same mining conglomerate. The cabins you mentioned up the Dungeness/Heather Creek were all private. The fact that the Shelter Rock shelter was so large and on a main trail (it was a main trail at the turn of the century) seems odd to me. I know the gentlemen (know of him, he's been dead 60 years) that had most of the claims on the Upper Big Quil. His cabin was one of those half-cabin affairs with a tent roof that was located half-way up Tull Canyon. He drilled two tunnels in the vicinity of Tull Pass, two shallow ones on Mt. Worthington and two (that I know of) that are down in the timber but upstream from Shelter Rock. In those days the country was freshly burnt and very open. The Shelter Rock shelter was built, well, like a public dwelling. No glass was in the windows, no shutters on the windows, no door.....most miners would probably have shutters on the windows and a door to latch closed. Also, the thing was built out of HUGE logs. Next time you go by Shelter Rock take a look at the ancient stumps that were cut down to build the cabin. Plus, it was right on the main trail. Miners were generally secretive by nature. Even in the early days people were riding their horses up there. Personally, I think it was built during the Col Whitehead era for the public to use. You also have to realize the USFS isn't exactly known for record keeping. I was chatting with the guy who built the new bridge over the Dungeness and they couldn't tell him (even a ballpark guess) when the previous bridge was built. I told him I was pretty sure it was there in 1983 but wasn't sure before that. Anyway, appreciate all the information Rod. I'll keep hunting. Maybe someone on here will eventually be able to shed some light.

[RodF]

[RodF]

Photos of Dodger Point Lookout, Olympic National Park, by Bruce Klanke, 2006. Its history

Faintly pencilled in on the Elwha ranger party line ring list is "Wavmilla Lodge". Could this have been "Doc" Ludden's "Geyser Valley House" hostelry, later operated by E. O. Michael 1927-37? Elwha history Or was it the Glines Canyon Dam or Elwha RS bunkhouse?

[RPBrown]

Rod, Could that be the Wamilla Inn? It was located 5 miles from Whiskey Bend near where the present day Elwha Ranger Station stands.

[RPBrown]

Definitely very fuzzy history about the Wamilla Inn. All I've been able to find out is it was operated in 1941 by Rhea and Art Shellenberger. I was under the impression that it stood basically where the current Elwha Ranger Station stands. In other words, it predated the ranger station. But that obviously isn't the case since the ranger station was built in 1932. Interesting Jim. I didn't know the C's built it.

[RodF]

You guys are amazing! So Wamilla was the former CCC Elwha work station bunkhouse! I am sorry to report that the two prefab shelters stored there (once destined for Low Divide and Home Sweet Home) were dismantled and recycled for lumber for various Park projects in March. (Friends ONP attempted to intervene, suggesting a long list of frontcountry sites for them, but superintendent reported decision was taken before her tenure without her knowledge, and materials had already been put to good use. No use crying over spilt milk, but alas.)

[RodF]

The "Smith Place", on George Shaube's 1923 homestead 5 miles up the Queets Trail, just below Tshletshy Creek. See George Shaube bio, Queets history and notes, early photos

Shaube cabin 1923 courtesy Michael Lujan

Shaube cabin 1923 courtesy Michael Lujan

Shaube cabin 1923 courtesy Michael Lujan

Photos below provided by the courtesy of Gary Patton, Juneau AK.

Smith Place 2006 by Gary Patton

Smith Place 2006 by Gary Patton

Smith Place 2006 by Gary Patton

Smith Place 2006 by Gary Patton

Smith Place 2006 by Gary Patton

Of a complex of log cabin homestead, additions, barns and sheds built 1923-1930s, the only walls still partially standing were those rebuilt by the SCA in 1964.

Smith Place 2009 by Ski

Smith Place 2009 by Ski

[RodF]

Andrews Barn, in Andrews Field, 1.7 miles up the Queets Trail. Photos courtesy of Gary Patton, Juneau AK.

Andrews Barn, unknown date/origin

Andrews Barn 1982 by Gary Patton

Andrews Barn 1987 by Gary Patton

Built in the mid-1920s by homesteader John Andrews, it collapsed in 1988-9. History. Also see Evergreen on the Queets.