Saturday, August 24, 2019

Tubal Cain, the site of a 1952 B-17 Crash

As a fan of both aviation and history, I've been interested in the Tubal-Cain trail, since I first saw Jeff Layton's article in the Seattle Times about the B-17 crash in 2015.   However, the trailhead is deeply tucked away in the Olympic National Forest, so the trip from my place is a bit of an odyssey.  Luckily, a good friend of mine retired to the peninsula a few years back.  I walked on the 7:10 AM Kingston Ferry for $8.35, and he met me in Kingston.  We were at the trailhead by 9:30 after missing the turn off by a few miles on our first try.

The trail is in excellent shape with a new log bridge a 100 yards from the start.  The elevation gain is so gentle the first couple of miles that good conversation makes it hardly noticeable.  As promised, rhodies line the trail, but they were done blooming quite awhile ago.  Given the remoteness of the trailhead, we encountered quite a few hikers on a Friday morning.  About half were backpackers including a big group from Portland.


The Tull Canyon cut off to the airplane crash was pretty apparent to us, but the small weathered sign in the forest doesn't exactly flash in neon.  Go left, and up the steepest part of the hike at the junction.  The mine shaft is just above where the two trails meet, but we saved it for the way out, since the crash site was our first objective.  
Working your way up to wreck is some work, but it's over in a half mile.  The debris field is scattered through a small creek, and I imagine August is a good time to visit.  We were amazed at how brilliant the metal still gleamed after all these years.  Unfortunately, some tagging and vandalism is apparent.  I suppose, since 1952, prime pieces of the wreck (i.e., props, yoke, etc.) have long since disappeared into garages and basements of scavengers.  Regardless, what is left is still impressive.

We headed back after lunching at the camp above the crash site.  The mosquitoes required  counter-measures.   Throughout the summer, I hike every week, and this was only the second time I turned to Jungle Juice.  We did stop at the mine on the way down, but were frankly underwhelmed, probably like the original investors.


The Forest Service Road out was definitely busier in the afternoon.  While it only washboards in a few places, it is pretty narrow, and swerving could result in very ironic crash down a canyon.
I made the 4 o'clock ferry (no fare collected for East bound walk-ons), but I should have stayed on the Peninsula longer.  I arrived back on the east side of the Sound just in time for peak rush hour. 

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