We have always been fascinated by backroads and history. We placed
this cache so that you could enjoy the beauty of this entire area,
it takes awhile to get to it, but take a picnic lunch, and mosquito
repellant (just in case) and have a fun day.
History
The town was called Trinity, although the mine itself was the
Royal Mine. The town started in 1923 as 4 buildings: a cookhouse, a
bunkhouse, a shower house and a recreation building, plus 9 homes
for the administrators and managers. Eventually the town grew to a
size of 45 buildings with their own electrical system, which is
still used today (the entire town is in private hands today). The
mine itself tunnels 11,000 feet into Phelps Ridge. They had a
trolley in the tunnel to bring the ore out and they had their own
processing plant as well. The tunnel is probably still in fine
condition, but securely walled off to protect from unauthorized
entry. They started shipping ore in 1929. The mine closed in 1946
and all the equipment was sold off. The town was sold Jesse Smith
for $10,000.
After several owners had come and gone, Two Rivers, Inc.,
acquired the property in 1979 with the intention of building a fine
high-country resort, one that would include snowmobiling and
cross-country skiing in winter. The owners were discouraged,
however, by the heavy snows in winter (as much as ten feet on the
ground from November to June), snowslides that wrecked buildings
and the improbablility of being able to keep the road open in
winter.
Giving up the resort idea, Two Rivers, Inc., eventually sold
most of the property and buildings in 1990 for use as a private
vacation estate. With the exception of the dwellings, office and
power-generating facility, all of the processing structures have
succumbed to snow or have been destroyed to prevent accidental
injury.
There is a fascinating book called "Stevens Pass: Gateway to
Seattle: by JoAnn Roe. It has alot of information about this entire
area.
Cache contents:
Travel bug "Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away"
Bumper sticker
Dog toy (donated by our chocolate lab Maggie)
Blaster Balls
Laser Paddle Ball
Rainbow pencils
1 pair of funky earings
Logbook and pencil
"Where's George" dollar
