We secured the camper at the hotel and drove up into the Cascades on Hwy 2 (the same highway that eventually goes through WI) on Stevens Pass. Our goal was to go find the site of the Wellington Avalanche, which knocked 2 trains off the mountain in 1910. We both read
The White Cascade: The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America’s Deadliest Avalanche by Gary Krist. It is a true account of what happened and it was a fascinating read. Well, we found the site and had a great hike at the same time as you can see. Jeff even had to use a rope to go down a steep trail at one point, and found some wreckage still at the crash site.
Next, we went to Leavenworth. Jeff and I passed through there on our first road trip in 2005, and wanted to explore this town more. It is a town that is completely Bavarian themed, in a very cheesy way. After finally finding a parking spot, we stopped at a bookstore and the ice cream shop. We read the history of the town, which voted to do the Bavarian theme in order to bring in tourists (and there were people everywhere so it worked).
And then the highlight of my day. I got to see Tracy!!! Tracy and her son met us for dinner at a yummy Mexican restaurant and then Jeff went back to the hotel, while we took the boys to a cool playground where the boys could play while we had a chance to catch up a bit. It was so wonderful and I wish we could have talked for hours more!
Jeff puts a “boot” on the camper, plus locks the hitch down so there is no way someone can drive away with the camper. 
Screenshot of a webcam in the town of Skynomish (where the survivors of the wreck were taken). And yes, Jeff was pretty proud of himself for finding the webcam and waving to it. Goofy man. 
A restored caboose at the beginning of the trail system that leads to the snowsheds and original Cascade tunnel and the wreckage. Lots of signs here explaining the whole thing. We didn’t see this until the end of our explorations though. 
Avalanches are very common here in the winter and spring. This sign talks specifically about Wellington, but we could see evidence of former slides all over the mountains. Once the mountains got logged, there is nothing that is holding the snow back from sliding off the mountain face. 
This is the first Cascade tunnel, that the steam trains did not use to hide out from the massive snowstorm because the danger of inhaling too much exhaust from the engines was huge. The conductor thought it was safer to keep the trains out on the track since there hadn’t been an avalanche in the spot nearby. 
On our hike. Pretty steep drop off. Beautiful too!! 
The trail entered a concrete snowshed that was built to prevent future avalanche catastrophes. Once the railroad built the second Cascade tunnel at a lower elevation, this section of track was no longer used. 
Huge leaves (18”) on this bush that looks like a maple leaf. 
We kept the boys in between us and the bear spray handy, just in case. 
Summary of the disaster. Almost 100 people died. 
Gorgeous photography opportunity and a great shaded trail to hike. Two trains could use this shed and be protected from avalanches. It is designed so the snow can just slide over the roof of it. 
Jeff is about 20 feet below me in this photo and the trail is very very steep. While Jeff went down to investigate the crash site, the boys and I hung out in the shade under the snowshed. 
Down at the actual crash site of the avalanche, there is lots of wreckage still there. 
The snowshed were expensive to build and to keep up, so the railway built a new tunnel with venting capabilities that was cheaper and faster. 
Is this a banana slug? The one on the left looks squished but the one on the right is about 3” long. 
On the way back to our hotel, we stopped at the second Cascade Tunnel which is ventilated and still used today. 
This is the Second Cascade Tunnel which is still used today. 
Lots of wildflowers by the tunnel and fuzzy little bees pollinating them. Though if a thistle is found in my garden I call it a weed! 
Carson saw the No Trespassing sign and “arrested” Jeff for walking past the sign. 
Levenworth is hilarious and extremely over the top (think along the lines of Disney’s It’s a Small World Bavaria). Even their Banks and McDonald’s had a Bavarian theme. 
There were huge pots of beautiful blooming flowers everywhere. 
Real ice cream. Carson got mint chocolate chip, and I got a scoop of coffee and a scoop of salted Carmel in a home made waffle cone (I remember making those myself when I worked at Randall’s Custard which became a Culver’s) 
The boys were being silly at the restaurant. 
Carson hamming it up at the playground. How is he going to be 11 already? 
I have missed Tracy so much. I love that we could have some time to catch up while watching our kids play together. I wished we lived closer so we could do this much more often. ❤️❤️❤️
Kline Road Trips 