Blewett

Blewett, Washington (site)

It was 1976 when I started looking for a spot to stake my first gold mining claim. I decided to head northeast from Portland, Oregon to an area known as Blewett Pass, Washington. After my first day of prospecting, I decided to set up camp for the evening. It was a warm summer night in the mountains and my evening meal of hot dogs, potato chips, and a strawberry soda put me in the mood for a little music and some star gazing. This was easy to accomplish since the front seat of my car was now my home away from home. My campsite (parking place) was next to Highway 97, right in front of the old stamp mill, or at least what was left of it. I soon realized that the traffic had died down to almost nothing except for the occasional truck winding it's way through the mountains. I turned the radio off and pulled my sleeping bag over me. Bedtime.

As I slept, I thought I was dreaming about some people, because I kept hearing voices. It woke me up. I poked my head up, looked around, listened...nothing. Back to sleep. A little while later, more voices. This time I heard one distinct voice. It was a woman's voice that grew louder, as if she were walking towards my car. Again, half asleep, I poked my head up to see...nothing! I didn't go back to sleep.

That morning I decided to go for a drive to see what the dots on my map really looked like. I came to the town of Cashmere, Washington. That's where they make the candy "Aplets and Cotlets". As I drove down through the center of town, I noticed a second hand store. Well, I never could pass up cheap junk. So, I went in. After looking around for a while, I approached the counter where a distinguished looking gentleman sat. I asked him if he had any old mining tools or such and I explained what I was doing in the area. He asked me where I was staying. I told him about the old stamp mill. "Well," he says, "My claim is just up the road from you." He explained to me in detail how to get to his cabin and that I was welcome anytime I saw that his gate was unlocked. Then he asked me a question that I will never forget. "How did you sleep last night". I said "OK." "Wasn't it kinda noisy there?" I told him that the traffic was pretty light and that it didn't bother me. "That's not what I meant," he says, "Didn't the voices keep you awake?" "Don't worry, it's just the people who used to live there letting you know that they're there."

I moved my camp up the road a ways to a primitive campground. The only thing that woke me up in the middle of the night were the stars, because they were so bright. I tried to sleep a few more times at the stamp mill. It's not so bad...once you get used to it.

Blewett, WA circa 1900.

Blewett, Washington circa 1900. Building on the right is the stamp mill.

Photo by Gerard Forsman 7/76

Timbers of Old Stamp Mill

Remaining timbers of the old stamp mill in 1976.

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