The world famous Skykomish 'Music in the Park' music festival  happened this weekend.   5 bands, most of the 200 residents of Skykomish, 2 Pacific Crest Trail through hikers, a couple of park rangers and ourselves.

An oddity of geography and history, Skykomish is actually a landlocked piece of King County.  King County sheriff deputies actually have to go through Everett and parts of Snohomish county to get to Skykomish.

And on this day there was an ugly uprising bordering on mob rule, but fortunately the fire department was able to douse the rabble rousers before any real damage was done (a couple of dozen Moms were standing by as well if needed).

The event was a fun one for all ages.  The kids, especially, have a family friendly place to run around and be, well, kids. 

We woke the next morning with coffee and good conversation then checked out our new very old boat (more on that in later posts) and headed on out to what was once Wellington.  Site of the worst avalanche disaster in the US.

THE WELLINGTON TRAIN DISASTER

In late February, 1910, two trains were trapped high in the Cascades near Steven's Pass and just outside of the old railroad town of 'Wellington'.  Snow had hit hard, reportedly building at a foot an hour.  Heavy drifts blocked the trains fore and aft.  The railroad crews of 'The Great Northern' worked to dig the path clear, but for four days the trains were stuck.  Another plan was hatched to rescue the stranded travelers and get them off the train by foot mid day on March 1st.

But shortly before 2am on March 1st, lightening hit the ridge high above the trains triggering a massive avalanche.  Tons of snow hurtled down and swept the trains, still full of passengers and workers, into the valley below burying them.  In all, 96 people were killed that night.

A snowshed was built the following year (1911) and that was the focus of our walk Sunday morning.  Through the old snow shed and through the site of the train disaster over a century earlier.

Leigh walking through the old snow shed

 Old railroad ties

Interpretive signs dot the area

At the end of the structure, time was taking its toll

 Warning signs along the trail

Flanked by foxglove, Leigh walks the old railroad grade

The snow shed

Plaque listing the lives lost on that day -- including 6 unknown workers -- likely undocumented immigrant train workers.

 Butterfly

Site of the old town -- but no evidence of it was visible from the trail.

Not much of a hike as you can drive to within a quarter mile of the site, but very interesting walk nonetheless.  Sobering to reflect on the events of that fateful day.