Bear Basin July, 2003

Route Information

Unfinished business in Bear Basin was the motivation for a return trip in July. We had been to the basin last in 2001, where we explored adits #3, #6, and #7 along with the millsite down on the creek. It was a memorable and tiring trip. Still unknown were the remaining adits #4, #5, and #8. These were somewhere on the east wall of the basin, and needed to be located and explored.

Looking back down the meadows of Bare Mountain trail

The solo trip started on a Sunday morning, with a favorable forecast. No cars were present at the trailhead which was somewhat curious since it was late - about 8:00 AM. The familiar rocky road was climbed to the river crossings, and soon the luxuriant bracken meadows appeared. They were still wet from the dew, and would need brushing from a trail crew before too long. Soon the first switchback was encountered, and the junction with the side route to Bear Basin.

From along the route, soon the mill site can be seen

The first part of the route was bad, and it was tough to even see the ground at times. Inventory was taken of offending limbs and trees, as a small bowsaw was being packed for use on the return trip. Not much could be done about the ferns, which outnumbered a single individual. After a few minutes, I got a clear view of the millsite down on the creek. Plainly visible was the curious big round thing - an artifact from the mill. [Webmaster note: a message from Northwest Underground Explorations states that the "big round thing" is really part of a ball mill used to pulverize the ore so it can be separated from the country rock during the milling process.] I moved past the millsite, above it and into the start of the woods. A faint path went down steeply towards the mill area, this is probably the best way to reach it.

The main route into the basin enters the trees, and passes over some old puncheon bridges, now falling apart and dangerous. After about 10 minutes, some old machinery can be seen on the left side of the trail. Previously this was thought to be all old artifacts from the mining camp nearby, but now it was evident that some of this stuff was from a newer aircraft crash site somewhere near. Someone had gathered some pieces and laid them out near the trail. The original crash site probably was not far off. Just after this, the path forks, and I took the left fork a few hundred feet to the site of the old mining camp, where more pieces of the aircraft could be seen mixed with garbage from the camp.

Parts from an old aircraft can be seen next to the trail

Back to the fork in the trail. The route now was followed towards the small creek crossing, and east side of the basin. Soon the familiar tree with the cable wrapped around it was sighted, and the old artifacts nearby. There was also material that looked like ore nearby, and this was picked over. From this tree, a cable can be followed all the way up the slope to adit #3. This was the area where the search for adits 4,5 and 8 would begin. According to an illustration in a publication, the adits 4, 5 and 8 were near #3, but strung out along the wall of the basin north of #3. I started up the talus on the hillside.

This cable was probably part of a gravity tram from adit #3

Soon I was getting tangled in nasty brush. For some reason, shorts and t-shirt were the attire, with gloves remaining at home. This was a crucial mistake. A gully was followed up to the basin wall, and steep terrain encountered. No obvious signs of another adit. Brush rappels led to less steep ground. Much time was wasted losing and gaining elevation. Any attempt to move horizontal was encountered by sharp thorns. Blood started flowing.

Bare legs almost always lose in a brushfight. Ouch.

It was tough to "yo-yo" up and down the sides of the basin. The adits most likely are located near the same elevation as #3, and near the walls of the basin. Hours melted by with no mine sightings. Soon it was time to rest and eat. A nice rock was found on the hillside at about 3970' with a good view across the basin of adits #6 & #7. Half the day was gone now, and I realized I was on the verge of getting skunked and might have to go home without seeing any of the remaining adits. I felt like a loser. Even the bugs were avoiding me. I pondered my next move.

The next direction was to climb up this small streamcourse

As I looked north along the basin, I noticed that there was a small streamcourse flowing down from the basin wall into the basin. This seemed to be a good point to head up next, since the brush wasn't too bad looking along the stream. I packed up and traversed over into the streambed and started up.

Climbing up the stream was generally easy, although there was one impasse that I couldn't figure out how to get past - a small step in the streambed with about a 5 foot waterfall. I summoned up my strength and did a passible mantle move up and onto the slab. My back would suffer from this for the next few days. I kept climbing up the streamcourse, which seemed to be emanating from a deep cleft in the basin wall. As I got closer, I could see that it was a small waterfall coming down the wall, and at that point I spied a dark hole to the left of the falls. Finally, one of the adits!

One of the remaining adits was tucked into this steep slot gully

The waterfall came down right beside the adit, and there was a nice clear pool of water. All surrounded by clean granite. It was a nice cool spot to rest. This vertical shot of the adit shows the waterfall cascading down.

Laying down, thrusting the camera in front of me to take this photo

After a while a took a headlamp and flashlight over to the adit opening. Rocks and debris had evidently been washed over to the opening of the old mine, and one cannot simply walk in. I laid down on the wet and wiggled in a little to check it out. It was tough to see, but it looked as though the tunnel curved towards the right. My brain began screaming at me to get out of the claustrophobic confines I was in, so I backed out and went back for the camera.

It might have been different had I not been alone. But after three attempts, I still could not get myself to crawl into that dark hole. Several pictures were taken amidst the drips and cramped space. I still couldn't see if the tunnel ended. By the description, this tunnel seemed like it was adit #8 as described in "Discovering Washington's Historic Mines". It is reported to end after 20 feet, which is possible. I wouldn't be able to confirm that on this day.

Looking back upslope at the slot where the adit is located

From Adit #8, I climbed for a short distance south along the basin wall to see if there was anything more. I got to another gully, but was blanked so I came back. According to the adit diagram, I had completely missed adits #4 & #5 which should be between where I was standing, and where adit #3 was located. I guess this is possible. I will take at least one more trip to find out.

It was getting late, and the body was sore. The streambed was descended, and a quick brush rappel took me down the tough step. I traversed over the huge talus blocks to the bottom of the basin where I had stashed some equipment. As I looked back at the adit location, I did notice a good landmark which identifies the adit #8 locale: a large light-colored half moon shape can be seen on the basin wall, just south of the slot that carries the adit (or to the right of the adit, looking up). This photo shows the feature clearly. On the way back I used the bowsaw and wearily hacked at a few branches and trees that were in the way.

References:

• Discovering Washington's Historic Mines - Oso Publishing. Bear Basin information.
• Geology and Mineral Resources of King County - V.E. Livingston. Has a section on Bear Basin.