About Sky Valley
In 1889, John Frank Stevens, who was later handpicked by Theodore Roosevelt to build the Panama Canal, set out to find a pth across the daunting Cascade Mountain Range. His success became the namesake we know today as Stevens Pass.
His find was quickly covered with tracks and the first train made the journey in 1893. The original route was much different than the one frequented today. An engineering masterpeice, the track was a collection of switchbacks which trains climbed 4,060 feet before entering the Old Cascade Tunnel, which was 2.6 miles long.
The trains opened up the region to traders, settlers, treasure hunters and more. Towns sprang up overnight as Skykomish Valley timber, minerals and farming potential was hailed as some of the most promising in the country. Mining, gold panning and tree felling became the economic force driving development and growth.
People followed the work. Towns such as Skykomish burst at the seams in the 1920's with a population in excess of 8,000. Today Skykomish is a small town with a steady population of 214. Other once booming towns disappeared, such as Wellington, which disbanded because of the Wellington Disaster.
The surviving towns had grit. They toughted it out, learned from mistakes and worked diligently to become the towns we know and love today. As the communities grow and evolve, there is n o mistaking the adventurous spirit which is alive and well in the hearts of those who livein and visit the Sky Valley. Whether it is tackling the class five rapids in Index, hunting bear and cougar or leaving the world behind as you hike along a pristine trail, the Sky Valley has something for everyone.
Monroe History
Sultan
Startup
Gold Bar
Index
Baring
Skykomish
Stevens Pass
Iron Goat Trail
The Wellington Disaster
History of Monroe
A Thumbnail History by Nellie Robertson
Monroe, Washington, named for President James Monroe, came into being when Army scouts came to the area to establish outposts. They saw the lush land and stayed. The native population welcomed them as protection since their tribes had been decimated by war and disease.
The Skykomish River that marked the southern edge of the town was the principal travel medium since the trails accommodated only horses. A number of homesteads were established and descendants of those first settlers still live in the area.
Logging was the mainstay of Monroe's economy for many years with a number of sawmills perched in the woods in the surrounding area. Cedar shakes were the big money crop and now it is illegal to harvest cedar trees. As the logging industry waned, agriculture grew with berry farms taking the forefront. Along with farming came the proliferation of dairy farms. The first purebred Holstein set the tone for the industry and several creameries chose Monroe as their places of business.
The Carnation Condensery in 1910 employed a number of local people and the smokestack still pokes into the sky although the building was destroyed by fire in the 1940's. The same year it was built, the state chose Monroe as the site for the Washington State Reformatory which became the institution that provided the most jobs. It now contains three prisons on the site; the reformatory, Twin Rivers, and the Special Offender Center. Local residents didn't worry about escapees. They figured the fleeing felons would leave the area as soon as possible.
The town actually started west of the main part of the city but when the Great Northern Railway completed its tracks in 1893, business owners moved their establishments to trackside and that's where the town's core is now. Monroe was an important stop on the line since the GN greenhouses were there. They furnished fresh flowers for all of the trains on the line and on special holidays, corsages were given to all women passengers from the greenhouses.
A Public Hospital District was formed and a hospital built around what had been the home for the indigent. The hospital has grown through the years and gained in stature. Many first rate physicians came to town and the medical community grew in stature and expertise.
The town took care of it young very early on and schooled them. The schools grew in size and in numbers. A Union High School was built in town and the young learners from eight school districts sent there older students there. Since that time, there have been three other high schools built to house the ever increasing numbers of students.
Monroe has always been a close-knit town with many interrelated families and relationships. In later years the locals called it Seattle's bedroom. People cared about each other and shared information freely.
Monroe sent her sons to World War I and the local American Legion post is named for one of those who died in France. Those who stayed home saved tin foil, endured rationing, dealt with meatless days and substitute flour. They weathered the deadly flu epidemic that closed the schools and cancelled public gatherings. At the end of the war, they burned the Kaiser's effigy on Main Street.
Following the war, the depression hit the town with force. City fathers applied for national funds and established programs to help keep the town afloat. One of the schools was built with Public Works Administration funds. It still sits on Main Street. There are roads that came out of the need to employ residents.
World War II changed Monroe's character in that local boys saw the world and some of them didn't come back. Again the townspeople rallied around enduring rationing, filling in for the men in the armed services and buying war bonds.
Following the national trend, women joined in the war effort by working in war-related industries. That shifted the character of the family home because many mothers chose not to be stay-at-home moms any longer. It put further pressure on the schools to jump into the breach for the sake of the children.
Sultan
Sultan is located at the confluence of the Sultan and Skykomish rivers, and sports spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains. Sultan originally was platted as a logging community, named after local Indian chief, Sultan John. Its roots consist of logging, mining and farming. Today, Sultan is known for its excellent salmon and steelhead fishing, hiking, camping, river rafting and the Annual Sultan Summer Shindig. Spada Lake Reservoir is located near town. Sultan celebrated it's Centennial in 2005 with a huge birthday party and the opening of the Visitor Information Center.
Sultan Secrets
Osprey Park: In fall of 2007, nearly 20,000 pink salmon fought their way up the Sultan River to spawn. This park offers front row seats to this amazing struggle, which occurs every two years. Leash your dogs or be ready to have one stinky ride home. Osprey Park is located in Sultan at 1st and High Street.
Stroll through town and enjoy fresh pastries, antiques, gift shops and more.
Startup
Startup was homesteaded by F.M. Sparlin in the 1880s. In 1890 William Wait laid out a townsite which he called Wallace, but this caused confusion with mail being missent to Wallace, Idaho, and in 1901 the name was changed to Startup to honor George G. Startup, manager of the Wallace Lumber Company.
The Startup post office was established in 1900.
Gold Bar
Prospectors settled the area that is now Gold Bar in 1869. By 1900, the Gold Bar Lumber Company was in full operation, and at one time employed 300 men. The town incorporated in 1910, and constructed a water system and other business improvements. The train depot was also built at this time. Situated along the banks of the Skykomish River, Gold Bar today is a small community best known for the services it provides along U.S. Highway 2, as well as for Wallace Falls State Park, 2 miles to the northwest. The 1990's saw phenomenal growth around the city, as people moved outwards in search of a more rural lifestyle. The town lies in the Skykomish River Valley, and is rich in recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking and camping.
Gold Bar Secrets
Gold Dust Days Heritage Festival: Pan for gold, shop local crafts and enjoy live music and great food every last full weekend in July.
Reiter Pit is a popular off-roading destination for dirt bike, ATV and Jeep enthusiasts.
The historical Museum features memorabilia pertaining to turn of the centrue logging, mining, farming, railroading and more. Enjoy photographs of original homes, some of which are still standing. Call ahead before visiting, 360-793-2548.
Index
Index is a small, historic mining and logging town nestled in the Cascade Mountains along with North Fork of the Skykomish River, The town was settled in the late 1800's by homesteaders. It takes its name from nearby Mount Index, a craggy peak that looks like an upward pointing index finger. Climbers come from all over to test their skills on this gigantic granite face. Index is often used as a base camp for outdoor adventurers heading into the Cascade Mountains and the new Wild Sky Wilderness Area.
Index Secrets
Watch the kayakers and rafters at Boulder Drop (Class 5 Rapids!): Milepost 34 on Highway 2 - look for a turnout and take the path to the riverr (watch your step)
Hole in the Wall: a 12 foot diameter drilled hole in the bottom of the cliff just west of town used by the UW physics department for gravitiy experiments.
Drive by the deserted, and possibly haunted, Bush House Inn, where Teddy Roosevet once stayed.
The two room schoolhouse educates approximately 25 students from pre-school through 7th grade.
Index receives nine feet of rain each year!
Baring
Have you ever longed for the simple life of yesteryear? Step back in time when you visit Der Baring Country Store. A genuine country store, this local treasure is the post office, restaurant, newsstand, ice cram parlour, grocery store and bakery all rolled into one.
Baring Secrets
From the store you can quickly reach one of the last one lane wooden suspension bridges in Washington.
Barclay Creek Trail: Loacated right across from the store, this trail meanders along the course of Barclay Creek unti lit reaches Barclay Lake. This easy hike offers little elevation gain and wonderful views of the north face of Baring Mountain. A trailhead parking pass is required.
Skykomish
The Skykomish River Valley is located 35 miles east of Everett and 50 miles northeast of Seattle on Hwy 2. The name "Skykomish" is derived from two Indian words, Skaikh and mish, meaning sky and inland people. Skykomish is located in the heart of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forrest in the Alpine Lakes Region. The town Skykomish, an old railroad town, is known as the Capital of the area. You can explore old buildings, restaurants and hotels that are included in the historical registry. Skykomish is also home to a post office, library and lodging. Stevens Pass Ski Area, a longtime favorite of northwest skiers, is located sixteen miles east of Skykomish. The ski area known for its terrain, snow conditions and facilities now also boasts some of the finest downhill and cross country skiing in the northwest.
Skykomish Secrets
Alpine Falls: Park at any turnoff on US 2, about seven miles east of town. Walk south on a number of pathes. The falls, which drop nearly 50 feet, are particularly impressive during spring runoff.
Deception Falls: Turn into the picnic area from US 2, about 7.8 miles east of town. Follo whte mile, self-guided nature loop, or enjoy the .10 mile trail to the falls.
Stevens Pass Ski Area, a longtime favorite of northwest skiers, is located sixteen miles east of town. The ski area, known for its terrain, snow conditions and facilities, now also boasts some of the finest snow boarding, downhill and cross-country skiing in the northwest.
Stevens Pass
Stevens Pass, elevation 4,061 feet, is on US Highway 2 - the Stevens Pass Greenway - and is one of two east-west highways with mountain passes open year-round in Washington State. The other is I-90, to the south, which crosses Snoqualmie Pass.
The 105-mile Stevens Pass scenic byway winds through the rugged, forested Cascade Mountains and runs beside the wild and scenic Skykomish and Wenatchee rivers along most of its length. Year-round recreation opportunities include white-water rafting, hiking, skiing and auto touring. Travelers are advised to carry tire chains and monitor weather conditions during snow season.
Iron Goat Trail
The Iron Goat Trail follows a portion of the Great Northern Railway built in the Cascades in 1882. The train was carried over the summit on a series of switchbacks with a maximum elevation of 4,059 feet above sea level. In 1900 a tunnel 2.63 miles in length was completed, which reduced the summit elevation to 3,383 feet and enabled the train to bypass the switchbacks.
Several snowsheds were added for safety but winter conditions still presented serious hazards and trains were often delayed for days in winter storms. This prompted more improvements. As rail traffic increased a new Cascade Tunnel was completed in 1929. This eight mile tunnel is still in use today. The opening of the new tunnel made the old grade obsolete and it was abandoned completely. This abandoned stretch comprises the Iron Goat Trail today.
For more information on the Iron Goat Trail and the history of the Great Northern Railway, please visit these sites:
The Iron Goat Trail
Great Northern Railway Historical Society
The Wellington Disaster
During the treacherous winter of 1910, in the town of Wellington east of Skykomish snow piles made the track impassable and two westbound trains were forced to wait out a storm. One carried mail, the other carried passangers.
The wait stretched into several days. As soon as a section was cleared, a freash slide would crash down the mountain and cover it again. Nervous of the slides, passengers campaigned to have the train moved into the Cascade Tunnerl. Wary of suffocation, the train supervisor refused this request. The train stayed put.
Tired of waiting, a group of travelers opted to hike out. Fighting their way through snow drifts and mounds of debris, they covered three miles of tracks and then followed teh wires to Scenic, WA. A second group planned to follow their example and hike out the following day, March 1, 1910. They never had the chance.
During the night, the snow turned thick, heavy and wet. Overhead, thunder and lightening dominated the sky. Survivors said the ensuing avalanche sounded like 10,000 freight trains. Referred to as the "White Death," the killer raced down the mountain toward the sleeping travelers and lifted both trains as though toys, plucking them off the track and hurling them into the ravine below. To this day, the Wellington Disaster remains the deadliest natural disaster in Washington state history. In that dreadful moment, 97 souls perished into the snowy abyss.
The town of Wellington never recovered from the tragedy. It is still accessible, but no buildings remain. The railway was reconfigured to the route used toady and the old switchbacks were transformed into the Iron Goat Trail, a popular day hike. Historical markers show and explain where the pertinent events took place.
