Fall Flowering Crocus

Giant crocus catch the morning sun at the end of September.

Cascade Dawn

The Oak Harbor Marina, the North Cascades and the fog rolling in on the morning of September 27.

September Dawn

Dawn in Oak Harbor on September 27.

Iron Goat Trail Hike: first Cascade Tunnel

The western portal of the first Cascade Tunnel is at the east end of the Iron Goat Trail. The 2.6 mile long tunnel was completed in 1900 and used by the Great Northern Railway until 1929. The company had decided in the mid-1920s to build a new tunnel at a lower elevation to avoid the harsh winter snow. The western portal of the second Cascade Tunnel is shown below, as seen from the Iron Goat Trail. It was completed in 1929 and is 7.8 miles long.

Iron Goat Trail Hike: the Snowshed

Going through the all concrete snow shed near the east end of the trail was an eerie experience. Great Northern Railway trains passing through were protected from heavy snowfall and possible avalanche until this line was abandoned in 1929.

The shed shows deterioration on the west end.

Iron Goat Trail Hike: trail views

Much of the trail followed along the side of tall snow barriers. This part of the trail is relatively flat, gaining only 300 feet in over two miles.

Mileposts indicate the distance from St. Paul, Minnesota.

We passed by this collapsed wooden show shed. It had been built in 1910 and was left when the line was abandoned in 1929.

The wild flowers were beautiful. Some of the path was overgrown and we fought stinging nettles. 

Iron Goat Trail Hike: the Butterflies

The only animals we saw on the hike were a couple of butterflies.