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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:48 pm 
Enchanted Valley Chalet historical timeline ...work in progress, more coming... A history of the wilderness hostels of the Quinault valley, of which Enchanted Valley Chalet is the sole surviving example, is published in its listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Here, a small collection of photos and documents illustrating that timeline are shared. Enchanted Valley Chalet is intimately intertwined with the the creation of Olympic Primitive area, of Olympic National Park and of Olympic Wilderness. Please share your historic photos, too.

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:49 pm 
1925 Quinault Chalet Committee proposes both Low Divide and Enchanted Valley Chalets to USFS, and requests four trails (North Fork Quinault, East Fork Quinault, Skyline, Elip Creek) be completed.
Source: Olympic NP archives, Enchanted Valley folder (uncataloged).

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:50 pm 
1926 USFS recreation examiner Fred Cleator surveys Low Divide Recreation Unit and Halfway Resort Unit. Low Divide and Halfway House (Nine Mile Shelter) construction intiated on the North Fork Quinault River by Olympic Chalet Company.
Click this link for full size, detailed photos. Source: National Archives, Pacific-Alaska Region (Seattle), Record Group 95 (USFS Region 6, Portland), Historical Maps, 1908-1981, ARC Identifier 5155902, Map Case Drawer B. photos by RodF

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:51 pm 
1927 Low Divide Chalet completed.
Low Divide Chalet*
Low Divide Chalet*
Low Divide Chalet
Low Divide Chalet
* photo by N. Moritboy, courtesy Olympic NP Historic Resource Study

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:51 pm 
1927 Olympic Recreation Company organized. "In 1926 the Olson brothers (all five) vied with the Olympic Chalet Company for Forest Service approval to develop the North Fork Quinault River and were turned down. Undaunted, and equipped with fifteen pack horses and extensive knowledge of the Quinault River backcountry, they submitted a second application to the Forest Service for permission to develop three tracts of land in the main East Fork Quinault drainage—one at the head of the East Fork Quinault, one at the fork of Graves Creek, and one at Sundown. Unable to proceed with construction plans in the summer of 1927, the five Olson brothers began their venture by organizing a guide service for hikers and campers that operated from a base tent camp known as South Fork Camp" at Graves Creek. - NRHP
Source: Olympic NP archives, Enchanted Valley Chalet folder (uncataloged).

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:52 pm 
1927 USFS recreation examiner Fred Cleator surveys the Enchanted Valley Chalet site and spends two months packing throughout Olympic National Forest. Cleator first suggests the "Valley of the Thousand Waterfalls" be named "Enchanted Valley".
Fred Cleator and Bob Marshall
Fred Cleator and Bob Marshall
"In the later twenties, the wilderness idea really took root in the Olympics. Matt Matthias and Clarence Mumow of the Grays Harbor Region; and Asahel Curtis and the Mountaineers of Seattle, talked Primitive Area with the Forest Service... "The Forest Service made extensive study of the high country in the summer of 1927... and formulated the so-called Cleator Plan, which was a classification of recreation values and a coordinated plan of management of these recreation assets along with the utility values for the entire Olympic National Forest." - Fred Cleator, "Recreational Facilities of the Olympic National Forest and Forest Service Plan of Development", UW Forest Club Quarterly, 1937, volume 10, page 2. "Well the Valley of a Thousand Waterfalls was what we used to call it among us. And it was a regular name for everybody at that time. And then when this recreational engineer, Cleator, when we went through to decide whether we were going to get these chalets or not up there, when he got in there we were sitting there one evening and talking about it and different names. And he wondered about the Valley of a Thousand Waterfalls and how it came to be called that. And I said well we just called it that because there was all those falls running down off of it. And so he said at that time, well he said a good name he thought would be either the Valley of Enchantment or else Enchanted Valley he said he thought would be a good name. So I said well it sounds like probably a better name than the Valley of a Thousand Waterfalls. And that’s how when he came out he recommended that being called." - Elvin Olson, oral history interview with Mike Doherty, October 12, 1975, Olympic NP archives. Photo: source: Frederick William Cleator papers, University of Oregon Libraries Special Collections, Eugene, courtesy Barney Mann.

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:53 pm 
1928 USFS issues prospectus for Wilderness recreation in Enchanted Valley.
Olson Brothers formally organize Olympic Recreation Company and apply to USFS.
USFS notes "the future plan of Olson Brothers as to camps and shelters south of the East Fork Quinault" at Sundown "may possibly tangle with our proposed Wilderness Area there. So far as the East Fork is concerned, we feel that the Olson Brothers are on the right track."

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:54 pm 
1928 USFS surveys Enchanted Valley Chalet Recreation Unit
Click this link for enlarged photo. Source: National Archives, Pacific-Alaska Region (Seattle), Record Group 95 (USFS Region 6, Portland), Historical Maps, 1908-1981, ARC Identifier 5155902, Map Case Drawer B. photo by RodF

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:55 pm 
1929 USFS issues 10 year renewable lease of 5 acres for Enchanted Valley Chalet
Source: Olympic NP archives, Enchanted Valley Chalet folder (uncataloged).

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:55 pm 
1929-1930 five shake cabins (on left) complete the Low Divide Chalet complex.
Low Divide Chalet
Low Divide Chalet
Low Divide 1933
Low Divide 1933
Photos by Mabel Furry, The Mountaineers 1933 Olympic Outing, UW Special Collections.

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:56 pm 
1929 Fred Cleator's "Olympic Recreation Plan" "It may be said in a general way that since the primitive idea is quite popular in these parts, we need not hurry unduly in furnishing all the trails wanted by local people and organizations, although it is believed by examiner that the Forest Service should endeavor to favor recreation more than ordinarily in setting priority. Many of the proposed trails are in open alpine country, will mean that many miles will cost comparatively little. A trail between East Fork Quinault and Dosewallips via East Creek [East Fork Quinault] is a very much needed and vital connection in a recreation way, and examiner suggests early administrative study looking to a raise in priority to primary status if warranted. It forms a direct route between Grays Harbor and Puget Sound through a very spectacular and scenic country." "It is the consensus of general opinion that a large portion of the high Olympics should be kept as a primitive area, as little modified as possible, but still not left to itself as a menace to the storm-ridden traveler an a graveyard for the inexperienced. Some measure of comfort is demanded by all primitive inhabitants. The marmot whistler has his secure home in the rocks, the bear in his den, the hawk in his nest. If the Indian were still in jurisdiction, he would doubtless have his tepes. The white man will have to be allowed at least a tent or rough shelter, and in particular places, as noted on the map, safety stations are recommended, but not on the true primitive wilderness area." "At about 21-mile post on East Fork Quinault the trail suddenly breaks from continuous timber to a great open park extending along both sides of the river, flanked by rock walls but particularly on the north side by miles of imposing precipices, and rugged escarpments. Hundreds of smaller waterfalls in moister seasons, shoot, trickle, cascade, or otherwise pour over these cliffs into a scenic masterpiece. In very rough estimates some of the falls cascade down 1,500 to 2,000 feet, all in full sight of the observer. In dry season, these give way to perhaps 20 to 30 small streams, still alive with spectacular cascades and falls. "This together with the wonderful background of snow peaks and glaciers, and immediate foreground of open, elk trimmed, grass floored, hardwood parks, makes a most attractive scenic playground. There is room for hundreds of people to play about without interferences. With the possible construction of a trans-Olympic road down this valley, it appears that a well developed resort and public camp would be well warranted. Based on trail accessibility, this site would be classified for the same purpose, but based on a less impressive plan, one on the order of the present Low Divide development, and one which would fit, if necessary, into a larger scheme. "It is recommended that the one high mountain chalet at Low Divide and the proposed East Fork chalet take care of the major resort situation for the area at least until something more is clearly needed, and approved by the District Forester."

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:57 pm 
1930 Graves Creek Inn completed; Enchanted Valley Chalet Under Construction by Tom and Glenn Criswell, Elvin Olson packing
Graves Creek Inn courtesy Geobob
Graves Creek Inn courtesy Geobob
Source: Graves Creek Inn photo courtesy NWhiker Geobob; others NPS.

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:57 pm 
1930 USFS designates 134,000 acre Olympic Primitive Area, ensuring the mountains encircling Enchanted Valley will remain roadless wilderness.

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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RodF
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:57 pm 
1931 Cleator opposes trans-Olympic road. "This road to connect Quinault with Hoods Canal over Anderson Pass is going to be proposed every now and then by interested parties. "I have never been in favor of a highway here." - Cleator, Jan. 9, 1931 1931 003.jpg Source: National Archives (Seattle), Records of the US Forest Service Region 6, Box 67, folder Recreation Olympic 1925-37, folder 2 of 2.

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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PostSun Apr 06, 2014 7:58 pm 
1931 Enchanted Valley Chalet Completed "In August 1931 the Enchanted Valley Chalet was completed. Efforts of several local Quinault citizens made completion of the chalet possible. Elvin Olson supervised the construction of the 28' by 42' hewn log building and packed materials into the site over the 13 mile trail. Bricks and mortar for the chimney were packed in by horse, however, the fire place cut-out reveals that the fireplace was never constructed because the mason was diagnosed with cancer. The disassembled window frames and sash, and milled lumber for the interior were also packed in by horse. Tom E. Criswell and his son Glenn built the hewn log building. All the furniture, including chairs, settees, bunk beds, and tables were also fashioned by Tom Criswell." - NRHP
Photos courtesy NPS.

"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir "the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
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