Taylor Mtn Park is awesome!! My connection is research of the lost town of Sherwood. I have figured out where the two sites of this little town used be and are now erased when the watershed closed it and Taylor.
One is where the mills and a quarry used to exist. I keep meaning to go up there during winter and crawl around in the brush to find any old foundations. This area was where the train came thru and had a hairpin loop that was so sharp it had a third rail to keep from derailing.
This RR would load the logs going either direction. Either to Taylor for the mines or back to Hobart to it's big mill.
The second site is even older. This is the original spot where Mr Sherwood founded a quarry to mine grindstones. It didn't go as planned because he had no way to get the stuff to market. The RR had not been built then. So those old grind stones were used in the area as steps to the houses. This is what I think I will find and may have already in my search.
This second site is in the watershed. A trail goes thru that area from 208th up to the roads and where the mill used to be. However, if you hike that trail you will see signs every so many yards warning that you cannot get off the trail. Watershed is very precious.
Anyway... the quarry where Mr Sherwood made his claim is off in the brush. Using Lidar I can see exactly where it is but have not dared to disobey the signage.
Then there was the bear incident last year. My daughter and I were on that trail looking towards the quarry. Then the salmonberry bushes close by got moving from a big animal. We exited back down the trail. Bear!!! Wonder if he had a den in that old mine?
Anyway.... Taylor Mtn is a very special place and plan to write articles on it yet. Time certainly has erased most of Sherwood so I need to keep the memory alive.
Ahhhh... I got my trusty Taylor Mtn Map out and see where you were. The places I am referring to are:
Sherwood Mill - This is at the intersection or close to of Roads F, A & G. There is a bridge over Carey Creek where the Sherwood trail is and the overgrown ponds are the mills log ponds.
Sherwood Mine - This is about half way on Elk Ridge trail. A little bridge crosses some marsh there. If one looks down the valley to the south that is about where the quarry would be on the left side of the valley. That is also where the damn bear was. And going off this trail is forbidden cause it cuts thru the Watershed. Dang!! Would have bushwacked south if it wasn't forbidden.
Road G is a wonderful way to access the park vs going to the big parking lot off of Hobart Issaquah road. That trailhead is a lot of gravel road. But if one goes down 208th one can enter the trails there. Parking is along the road and big enough for horse trailers. The gate to Walsh Lake is there but posed as no trespassing. Basically one is on a road going thru the watershed. Road G is mostly the old RR right of way and is a trail over a wider soft less graveled road. And that Elk Ridge is just a nice delight.
Happy Taylor Mtn Hiking. Lot to see and investigate.
apophallation - I wonder if the SCOTUS would outlaw it. Spell correct doesn't even recognize it! I have added it to its dictionary. A useful word, I think.
One of my childhood dogs was also not friendly towards slugs. He ate them. Banana slugs were his favorite morsel.
After reading your article, I know more about slugs. I would have never imagined the kinky sex part though.
Fortunately, eating them was not one of my methods for disposing of them!
My dog didn't know that. lol
I appreciate learning so much; fun as well (as usual). Same with the 1993 UW Magazine article you linked in your text.
One of the most engaging reads about slugs and slug sex that I've ever read. Thank you.
Not sure if that says a lot or a little?!
Great story ! Definitely one you can't unread. Congrats on the new book!
Thx. I had fun putting it together.
Congrats on the new book! Can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Taylor Mtn Park is awesome!! My connection is research of the lost town of Sherwood. I have figured out where the two sites of this little town used be and are now erased when the watershed closed it and Taylor.
One is where the mills and a quarry used to exist. I keep meaning to go up there during winter and crawl around in the brush to find any old foundations. This area was where the train came thru and had a hairpin loop that was so sharp it had a third rail to keep from derailing.
This RR would load the logs going either direction. Either to Taylor for the mines or back to Hobart to it's big mill.
The second site is even older. This is the original spot where Mr Sherwood founded a quarry to mine grindstones. It didn't go as planned because he had no way to get the stuff to market. The RR had not been built then. So those old grind stones were used in the area as steps to the houses. This is what I think I will find and may have already in my search.
This second site is in the watershed. A trail goes thru that area from 208th up to the roads and where the mill used to be. However, if you hike that trail you will see signs every so many yards warning that you cannot get off the trail. Watershed is very precious.
Anyway... the quarry where Mr Sherwood made his claim is off in the brush. Using Lidar I can see exactly where it is but have not dared to disobey the signage.
Then there was the bear incident last year. My daughter and I were on that trail looking towards the quarry. Then the salmonberry bushes close by got moving from a big animal. We exited back down the trail. Bear!!! Wonder if he had a den in that old mine?
Anyway.... Taylor Mtn is a very special place and plan to write articles on it yet. Time certainly has erased most of Sherwood so I need to keep the memory alive.
Outstanding. Robin, thanks for sharing. What about the Whiskey Still? That's what always fascinates me.
really? I knew that the Black Diamond, Hobart, Maple Valley area had it's share of moonshiners but on Taylor Mtn? or Sherwood & Taylor?
Shoot me any info you have. Love that side angle.
I don't know anything beyond the trail with the name Whiskey Still.
Ahhhh... I got my trusty Taylor Mtn Map out and see where you were. The places I am referring to are:
Sherwood Mill - This is at the intersection or close to of Roads F, A & G. There is a bridge over Carey Creek where the Sherwood trail is and the overgrown ponds are the mills log ponds.
Sherwood Mine - This is about half way on Elk Ridge trail. A little bridge crosses some marsh there. If one looks down the valley to the south that is about where the quarry would be on the left side of the valley. That is also where the damn bear was. And going off this trail is forbidden cause it cuts thru the Watershed. Dang!! Would have bushwacked south if it wasn't forbidden.
Road G is a wonderful way to access the park vs going to the big parking lot off of Hobart Issaquah road. That trailhead is a lot of gravel road. But if one goes down 208th one can enter the trails there. Parking is along the road and big enough for horse trailers. The gate to Walsh Lake is there but posed as no trespassing. Basically one is on a road going thru the watershed. Road G is mostly the old RR right of way and is a trail over a wider soft less graveled road. And that Elk Ridge is just a nice delight.
Happy Taylor Mtn Hiking. Lot to see and investigate.
apophallation - I wonder if the SCOTUS would outlaw it. Spell correct doesn't even recognize it! I have added it to its dictionary. A useful word, I think.
Useful, certainly in some situations! Sounds un-SCOTUSian to me.