Manastash Cabin, June 21, 2003

  

 

 

Summer Solstice

 

Hiromi's deceased husband Gary built a rough cabin on a cliff above Manastash Creek, east of the Cascades. The site is extremely difficult to access during the snowy months and remains difficult through the Spring as Manastash Creek swells with snow melt from the Cascades.

 

Driving out of Seattle...

 

       

 

     

 

 

 

The Cascade Mountains rise just to the east of Seattle... we crossed over at Snoqualmie Pass...

 

       

 

   

 

 

 

As one descends the eastern side of the Cascades the air becomes increasingly arid...

 

       

 

 

 

We stopped in Roslyn for lunch at The Brick...

        

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

   

 

 

 

Continuing east from Roslyn toward Ellensburg...  grasslands, high desert, canyons...

 

     

 

 

 

From Ellensburg to Manastash Canyon. We were listening to KXLE out of Ellensburg along this stretch. Merle Haggard's "Big City" came on and never sounded better...

 

       

 

       

 

 

 

At the end of the road we proceeded on foot...

 

 

There's only one way across the creek. The water was cold as a wedge on bare feet and the current deceptively strong...

 

       

 

Left: Hiromi waves back at me before I threw my boots over... Right: Looking back after crossing. I was glad to have a good walking stick (thanks Sister Jan & Matt!)...

 

 

Up the side of the canyon...

 

       

 

   

 

 

The cabin sits atop the canyon about 20 feet from the edge, overlooking Manastash Creek...

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

 

Hiromi saw no evidence that anyone had touched the cabin since Summer Solstice a year ago, when she and a few of Gary's friends scattered his ashes about the site. Gary died in February of 2002. Gary built this place as a mountain man would have in the 19th century. The corners are perfectly square, the walls sturdy, and the overall structure surprisingly sound. The front door was crafted from 36 pieces and sits perfectly within its frame, quite a testament to the builder. I never knew Gary Wilson, but from all I can tell he was an interesting fellow.

 

 

Hiking back out...

 

       

 

 

 

We came upon a young skunk on the road back to Ellensburg...

 

         

 

 

Back in Ellensburg we stopped for some good coffee...

 

 

We drove about 20 miles into Yakima Canyon and witnessed a fine sunset...