Silver Queen Mines August, 2004

Route Information

Ever since I looked at this old mining survey document, plans started forming with the intention to visit the upper Silver Creek drainage just south of Poodle Dog Pass. A key to the gate for the road leading up to Monte Cristo was finally procured, and the trip was scheduled during a window of good weather. Except that scheduled trips and good weather did not seem to be occurring at the same times this year. This trip would be no different.

Wilmon Spires from the trail near Poodle Dog Pass

Digging into more old mineral survey documents, I saw that there were many claims in the small hanging valley just south of Poodle Dog Pass, and most belonged to the Silver Queen Mining & Smelting Company. This company was founded by one of the pioneer miners in the area, Elisha Hubbard, who unfortunately wasn't remembered well enough by the naming of Hubbart Peak. It looked like this little hanging valley was a hotbed of activity in the 1890's. The night before my trip, I looked at all the old mining surveys and drew up a rough map of the area, including where I figured some of the mines and old buildings had been located.

The long gloomy drive up to Barlow Pass brought occasional glimpses of blue sky above. Several cars were waiting to go through the gate to Monte Cristo, and I waited my turn in line. I coughed up my key so the others could see I wasn't trying to scoot my way in - although it wouldn't do much good if I couldn't unlock it to get out. The four mile road by now was pretty smooth for a truck, and in no time I was parked and hefting my pack to start. It began raining.

The first tarn in a series on trail to Silver Lake

The new trail to Poodle Dog Pass starts by the Forest Service cabins now, and first crosses the footbridge at Sunday Creek. It winds up the hill by the ruins of the old unused Boston American concentrator and soon reaches a viewpoint up to Sunday Falls. The trail systems are confusing here, but the Monte Cristo Preservation Association has done a good job of adding extra signage to unconfuse the situation. After signing in at the trailhead register, I began on the new trail, climbing up a series of new stairs. The new path switchbacked nicely up the cool forest, and I settled into a slow rhythm.

Some trees on the Silver Creek trail show ancient blazes

After about an hour, the new trail intersects the old trail, which is immediately more rocky and a deeply grooved by years of feet and erosion. The final climb to the pass is steep and rocky. I finally made Poodle Dog Pass elevation 4350' after about 1.5 hours in the fog. I sat down and had a snack and put on a shell and rainpants, since the weather didn't seem to be getting any better. I took note of the obvious path north on the ridge towards Cultus Lake, but continued on the trail to Silver Lake. My first plan was to locate the old trail down Silver Creek.

The dump from the Seattle-Aurora can be seen from the trail

There is no trace of the old trail down Silver Creek from Poodle Dog Pass. The best way to find it is to continue down the trail a few minutes towards Silver Lake until you get to the first small tarn in the meadows. Leave the trail here and skirt this tarn and the next ones on the east, until you get to the outflow (which doesn't flow much). At this point, look to to the left and up (east) to bigger trees below a small cliff face. This is where the Silver Creek trail 'starts'. Just below the branches of some larger trees, the upper Silver Creek trail magically appears.

As soon as I found the trail, I ditched the overnight pack and took out the small daypack and filled it with exploring gear. I spent that afternoon, and half the next day exploring down the Silver Creek trail to the hanging valley that once held the Silver Queen properties.

The old trail down is in good shape for a short ways, then one must climb over some large blowdowns. Soon after this at about 4230', mine dump material can be seen from the trail cascading down from the cliffs on the east. This gives away the location of the Seattle-Aurora Prospect. To reach the adit, leave the trail and bushwhack to the dump, and climb up it (very steep & loose) to the top. The adit is hidden to the right among trees & brush at 4275'. The mine looked safe to enter, but was flooded with 6-12" of water. Bring rubber boots.

Looking down from the Upper Orphan Boy dump

Below the Seattle-Aurora, the trail continues to traverse down the hillside, following flagging at intervals. The 'trail' now is quite rough and brushy and hard to follow if not for the flagging. At 4000' the trail crosses the dump material from the Upper Orphan Boy Mine. Here I left the trail, and climbed the dump to the upper Orphan Boy (4080'), finding some good ore samples on the way. Burnt timbers can be seen below the mine. The Upper Orphan Boy mine is flooded and somewhat collapsed at the adit.

Lower Orphan Boy adit is hidden amongst brush and trees

When I found the Upper Orphan Boy, I wasn't sure it was the upper or lower. The next day when on the trail, I spotted below what I thought was a large mine dump near the bottom of the basin. Sure enough, one can leave the trail near the Upper Orphan Boy dump and bushwhack down the fall line towards the basin floor. Soon the lower Orphan Boy dump will become obvious. The large dump is located at the bottom of the valley floor (3950') and contains more recent evidence of a fire pit and a possible camp. The mine is almost invisible back in the brush, and flooded as well.

Not much remained at the camp, an old spoke thing being one

According to the old mineral survey document, the remains of the buildings from the Silver Queen camp were near the Lower Orphan Boy mine in the basin. I could find no real trails in the basin, but the travel was not too difficult, in light brush and occasional small trees. I took a general SW direction though the basin and wandered around. Soon enough, in a flat area I encountered some cast iron remains and old pieces of bottles and stoneware which probably marked the location of the old camp. Nothing else remained of the camp which was probably cannibalized for the materials later.

Stockton Falls was located next to the old Lower Stockton adit

After taking in all I could of the old camp site, I wandered over to the creek though the meadows and light woods. The basin here is almost level, and Silver Creek is quite attractive flowing along, taking it's time. I filtered some water here, and rock-hopped up the creek. After a few minutes my efforts were rewarded by the sight of a beautiful waterfall in the creek where the hanging valley began the steep climb to Silver Lake. Reaching the bottom of the 30 foot waterfall, I noticed what I had been looking for - probably the old adit of the Lower Stockton claim - which was immediately below the waterfall on the left. The Lower Stockton adit was in bad shape, and I managed to crawl up and thrust the camera in to get a look at the inside. I named the falls "Stockton Falls" in honor of the mining claim.

The first day in the wet I had followed the trail down the basin until approximately 3800', or when it started its steep drop down the lower Silver Creek. Here I started back, and noticed an almost hidden adit across the creek which I figured was the Little Lee Prospect. The brush was thick and wet, and Little Lee didn't get any more attention. MIA was the Q.T. Lode, which was never found. In the spot where I thought to look however was evidence of a large landslide area that had come down from the east hillside cliffs into the middle of the basin, looked like it happened earlier this year (or last fall). I had the feeling that the Q.T. Lode might be covered forever. I also did not locate the US Mineral Marker in the area.

Late in the afternoon on the first day, I returned back up the old Silver Creek trail to near Poodle Dog Pass where I had stashed my pack, and returned to the pass. My plan for the night was to follow the way trail north to Cultus Lake where I would camp. The next morning I would explore the remains of the O&B mine near the lake. I made my way up the wet brush, picking blueberries and eating as I went. After about 20 minutes I reached a small pass and was able to look down to Cultus Lake. I made my way to the lake and put down the pack and scouted around the outlet for a suitable camping spot. I crossed the outlet and climbed up into some meadows just north of the lake. In the meadows, I saw some old cast iron remains that looked like stove parts. This very well could have been a camp location for the O&B mine.

View towards Cultus Lake outlet, a bear favorite

I walked along the meadows slowly, looking down at the ground for more artifacts. Something must have made me look up, and good thing I did - I was about to bump into a large black bear about 50 feet away. He was busy himself harvesting and eating the abundant blueberries. I cursed the fact that my camera was back at my pack, and crept away quietly back down the hillside. The bear only once took notice of me, briefly standing and sniffing in my direction before returning to his dessert.

The idea of camping alone so near to a bear didn't appeal to me, so I wearily lifted my pack and started the climb back up the ridge towards Silver Lake, where I could be guaranteed that the human population outnumbered the bear population. The O&B Mine would have to wait until next year.

References:

• Discovering Washington's Historic Mines - Oso Publishing. Silver Creek Mine information.