The tunnel of darkness.
Some people consider it a tunnel of light... But there is only a very small light at the end of this long tunnel. I would consider it the tunnel of darkness. Even at noon walking here feels like walking in the middle of the night. So it fits nicely with my other nightcaches..
The Snoqualmie Tunnel
The Snoqualmie Tunnel is a former railroad tunnel near Snoqualmie Pass in the U.S. state of Washington, located east of Seattle. The tunnel crosses the Cascade Range about three miles (5 km) south of the pass, which is used by Interstate 90, on the border between King County and Kittitas County. It is 11,894 feet (2.253 mi; 3.625 km) long and is at an approximate elevation of 2,600 feet (790 m) above sea level, just north of Keechelus Lake. Its east portal is at Hyak.
The tunnel was originally constructed for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in the early 1910s and was abandoned in 1980. It now serves as part of a rail trail in Iron Horse State Park, known officially as the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. The trail was formerly known as the John Wayne Pioneer Trail and commonly called the Iron Horse Trail. A major renovation to the walls, ceiling, and path were completed in July 2011 after a two-year closure.
History
The tunnel was constructed from 1912 to 1914 by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad ("The Milwaukee Road") as part of its line from Chicago to Seattle, completed in 1909. It replaced a temporary surface line over Snoqualmie Pass at 3,020 feet (920 m); this grade from Hyak to Rockdale later became U.S. Route 10, now the eastbound lanes of I-90. The tunnel is aligned east–west and electrification in 1917 eliminated smoke dissipation issues.
In 1980, the Milwaukee Road received approval from the Interstate Commerce Commission to abandon its lines west of eastern Montana. On March 15, 1980, the final Milwaukee Road train passed through the tunnel. Later, the State of Washington acquired the right-of-way for recreational use.
Today the tunnel is part of the Iron Horse State Park rails-to-trails project. It is usually closed between November 1 through early May due to ice formations inside the tunnel. On July 5, 2011, the tunnel re-opened after 11 months of renovations. The $700,000 renovation added a four-inch (10 cm) layer of concrete to the walls and ceiling, a reinforced structure, and a new and improved walking surface of crushed rock.
This tunnel is one of the longest tunnels I know which are open to the public but do not have any lighting. So yes.
You NEED a flashlight (or two or three... Take backup!!!)
The cache assignment:
Take a picture of yourself being recognizable OR "with your cache name and the date written on a piece of paper" at both tunnel entrances (A and B) and somewhere in the middle of the tunnel (C). Add these three pictures to your log.
If you pass through the tunnel you will probably not have GPS coverage so any place somewhere in the middle will do.
The tunnel is closed between roughly November 1st through May 1st, so plan your trip accordingly. As an alternative in wintertime however (also allowed in summer if you are afraid of darkness) You may use the trail system to reach the location above the tunnel mentioned as one of the waypoints C... Take a picture there and include it in your log and also mention in your log the location used above the tunnel. This can be either as C1, C2 , C3, C4 or if you have taken a picture at another location on a straight the line between 1 and 2 I would also like your location.
Do not go to the area exactly overhead the entrances. There are dangerous dropoffs there. Stay on established trails at all times.
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- This geocache has an approved Permit to be placed at this location on property managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Visitors are responsible for acquainting themselves with policies and rules pertaining to State Parks areas.
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- By searching for the cache, visitors agree that they are responsible for their own actions, and acknowledge that neither the State of Washington nor the cache owner is responsible for any loss or injury that may occur in relation to such search.
- Report any incident, problem, or violation to State Parks staff.
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