Iron Goat Trail Cascade Tunnel

Provided by Stuart Monson

During Convention Trips - August 8th (& possibly the 10th)

This trip is to an abandoned railroad tunnel over one hundred years old. Its length is 2.6 miles. It was replaced by the longest tunnel in the United States. The new tunnel is 7.8 miles long. The old tunnel has a few formations of flowstone and some long concrete soda straws. The whole thing is covered with concrete that has been blackened by the soot from the steam engines that were used in the 1800's and early 1900's.

Cascade Tunnel is located 65 miles east of the city of Everett at an elevation of around 4,000 feet. The drive up Highway 2 has views of rugged mountain peaks, and clean, clear mountain rivers and streams. The road follows the Skykomish River past "Big Foot Country" (RE: “Harry and The Henderson's”) and past the town of Index, where the granite rock walls have hundreds of routes for experienced rock climbers.

Trip Schedule: One trip will be offered on Tuesday the 8th. If there is sufficient demand, a second trip will be scheduled for Thursday the 10th.

Leave convention site at : 8:00 AM
Arrive at tunnel East end: 10:00 AM
Exit West end of tunnel and eat: 12:00 noon
Site see for one hour then return
Arrive back at convention site: 4:00 PM

Trip leader: Stuart Monson [Monsonglenn@cs.com] /Cell: 206-793-9725 /Home: 425-271-2258

What to bring: Hard hat with head light, two extra lights with extra batteries bulbs, backpack, lunch, good hiking boots, warm clothes. If you drive you will need a Northwest Forest Pass to park your car. Cost is $5.00 day or $30.00 year. Passes are not available at the trail head.

Trip Sign-Up: Trip sign-up sheets will be available near the registration area at convention.

Photo by David Severance.