This is going to be a it of time travel to December of 2014. I spent Nov 15-Dec 20th ( ish) outside Levenworth Wa, re certifying my Emergency Medical Technician Basic, that had lapsed. The course was all inclusive, we ate, slept and breathed remote medicine all month. With night scenario's, and daily's that required hiking and or snow showing to our patients.
We got a few weekends off, but most were spent studying.
You see,they took a course that most colleges take two terms or more to do, and did it in 1 month, including clinical and remote endorsements.
That was the beginning of a new plan for me, something that took me to where I am today.
One of the days off i wanted to go for a hike, and found myself heading into the Ghost Town of Wellington Washington.
Recently I was browsing a used bookstore and remembered that I wanted to find a book on the 1910 avalanche in Wellington, Washington. Just then I glanced down and found Gary Krist’s The White…
wildninjablog.com
en.wikipedia.org
Ghost town of Wellington Washington site of avalanche March 1st 1910. The worst avalanche disaster in United States History. Later renamed Tye.
www.ghosttownsofwashington.com
Washington 98826, USA
www.google.com
I had no idea what to expect, unaware to the history, despair,those trees had born witness. The roads was one of the only ones partially open and close- so it became the chosen one.
It is the site of the deadliest avalanche disaster in american history ( including the 2015 Oso slide) taking 93 lives in the winter of 1910, March 1st. I can not do it justice, the first link I posted does a great narration of what happened.
The road was closed 1 mile in, so i parked strapped on the snowshoes and started that direction. It was quiet, but bright out, easy walking along the road. No sounds but my breathing and movement through the crunchy snow. The further up the road traveled, snow started to dissipate, until i decided to sit my snowshoes in a bank, and grab them on the way back.
After all, i had not seen nor heard any tracks, or sign of people around.
There were massive scars on the adjacent hillside, looked like the area had troubles with avalanches, some recent, others with trees stunted from those around it, but still decades old.
I clicked a picture of the biggest scar, continuing on. Surprised at the pockets of snow, and bare ground. Tierra learning center ( where we were taking the classes, base camp) still had feet, and the pass was requiring chains. ( not that I put them on).
Lost in thoughts and running scenario's and study notes in my head.
What appeared around the bend, well it caught me by surprise.
Its not everyday in this world you come face to face with a tank. It was slightly covered, and had not been moved in some time. Even equipped with a tiny solar panel and WDOT, sticker.
I made a guess, it must be used for avalanche control, the scars i was surrounded by sure showed it could be a problem here. I found a little parking area, some signs. and two trails, of course- have to look at both of them.
The signage helped clear a few things up, what a cool little place. Why had I never heard of it before?
That means there must be tunnels as well, i always like those, where is it?
