Due to several inches of rain forecast for the next few days, we have decided to cancel the work party scheduled for October 19. If there is any chance of another work party in the 2019 season/year we will post an update here.
Thanks to all our volunteers who helped at work parties this year.
Our next 2019 work party is scheduled for Saturday September 21 (always the 3rd Saturday of the month).
In august we had a great turnout and volunteers accomplished a lot of trail work and brushing around the townsite cabins. We also completed some structural repairs on the Forest Service resort cabin #4 (up above the lodge site) and completed preparing the roof for new shingles (at least on the first half/side). Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with labor and packing materials and tools to the work sites.
A sizable job for this months work party will be installing the shingles on the now repaired roof of cabin #4. This job has consumed much of the year-to-date work parties and we hope to have that half of the roof replaced before the end of the season. Several volunteer’s help can be used to assist with others who will be installing the shingles, so even if you don’t enjoy working on roofs, you can still help from the ground.
Plan to meet at Barlow pass for a 9:00 departure to the new road and gate. You need not park at barlow – just come find us at the old gate and we’ll direct you towards the new gate. We’ll plan on having our entire crew mobile on the new road by 9:10. If you want to volunteer but need a ride we can certainly provide room to get you into the townsite.
We’ll plan on working in the townsite until about 3:00 so please plan on staying that duration. We will likely only have 1 key to the gate meaning we must all make one entrance and one exit.
Feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions.
Also notable – David Hartze put the final touches on the new MCPA bulletin board on the old county road – giving visitors good guidance on reaching Monte Cristo and providing MCPA a permanent place to post Monte Cristo and MCPA information. A photo of the newly completed board is shown below.
Join us Saturday August 17 for our next summer volunteer work party in the Monte Cristo Townsite. Main project will be working on installing the roofing on resort cabin #4 and doing some structural repairs to the same. There will be plenty of work to accomplish on the ground as well, such as handing up materials, hauling materials into town and townsite brush clearing.
Meet us at the barlow pass gate in time to leave at 9:00. Please RSVP via email as found on the “contact us” page so we’ll know who to expect and/or wait for. We’ll begin congregating at the barlow gate by 8:30 and will plan to leave for town (via the new road) at 9:00. Remember there is no cell phone service once past Verlot so there is no meands to tell is you’re running late.
We’ll plan to be working in town until 2 or 3 in the afternoon.
Volunteers and members are welcome; we can provide transportation into town if your vehicle is not capable of the high clearance road.
We are all set to go on the July 20 Saturday work party. Plan is to meet up at Barlow Pass and depart @ 9:00 to head in to the town. Current plan is to work until 2:00 PM, although if there is sufficient work and willingness remaining, we’ll also accommodate a later exit time. A 2:00 PM exodus really only amounts to 4 hours of work time in the townsite, so that should be considered the earliest exit time.
The materials for Cabin #4 re-roof project are loaded and ready to truck to the townsite bridge – from where many hands and feet will be needed to transport them to Cabin 4. There are a lot of pieces, but taken in small amounts in should not be a difficult job. I will bring a handtruck for assisting with the shingle bundles; feel free to bring a wheelbarrow or handtruck of your own if possible.
In addition to moving the materials and additional work on tearing off the old cabin #4 roof, we can also use construction help installing the new sheathing boards and there is ample brushcutting that can be done around the townsite. In other words, if you come, we’ll have work for you.
Any and all members and volunteers are welcome to join us on July 20 for a MCPA work party in the Monte Cristo Townsite. Our main project for the day will be working on replacing the townsite cabin #4’s roof. Part of the roof was removed at the 6/15 work party and on 7/20 we plan to haul in supplies and begin reconstructing the roof. Much manpower will be needed to haul in supplies from the townsite bridge/parking area to the cabin just uphill from the railyard/grassy area (about 1000 feet). Carpentry work will be available for anyone inclined to work on the roof as well. Townsite cleanup and trail work is always available for anyone to tackle as well.
Meet us at Barlow Pass gate for a 9:00 departure into the townsite via the new Forest Service access road.
Any questions of to confirm your availability, contact us as listed on the “Contact” page above. While not necessary (you can just show up by 9:00 Saturday) it is nice to have an idea who we should be expecting.
Pictures of the work-in-progress on cabin #4 roof from June 15:
Also photos of the new Bulletin Board David Hartze built and installed along the Barlow Pass route at the June 15 work party:
Our first work party of 2019 will be Saturday June 15 – the earliest possible 3rd Saturday of a month. Meet at Barlow Pass gate for reconnaissance and a 9:00 AM start (we typically arrive as early as 8:30….and we may begin selected projects earlier as deemed possible; feel free to contact us with any specific needs or questions).
We have not traveled to the townsite yet this season, so may spend the day removing windfalls on the county and remediation roads, and possibly constructing a new billboard near the clayslide. Otherwise work for the day will likely consist of general townsite brush cleanup and preparations for the upcoming tourist season. Bring ground and brush tools, and as always, be prepared for unexpected changes in the weather.
Our 2019 annual meeting is scheduled for June 1 at Noon behind the Verlot Public Service Center. Drinks, hot dogs and buns will be provided; please bring a dish or snack to share with all. We will discuss current events and plans for the 2019 season.
2019 Winter Social, potluck and a special presentation by Craig O’Brien and Daryl Jacobsen – featuring history and photographs of the mines of the Silverton and Monte Cristo districts. They will also have copies of the books “The Everett & Monte Cristo Railway” and “Discovering Washington’s Historic Mines – Vol 1” on sale for a significantly discounted price.
Members, families, friends and anyone else interested in Monte Cristo history are welcome to attend.
February 23 5:30 PM Jennings Memorial Park
6915 Armar Rd, Marysville, WA 98270
Also, 2019 annual dues for members of $24 are now due; we have changed to a calendar year membership instead of the prior june renewal period. Please see http://mc-pa.org/?page_id=48 for a membership form and address to mail your dues to.
Last work party of 2018 season! Meet us at Barlow pass 9:00 am to group together and commence our trip into the townsite. There is a variety of work to do, including more trail work on the Glacier Basin trail, securing items for winter, brushing around the townsite, and discussing and visualizing our interpretive site plans.
Given late October weather can be unpredictable, we will postpone or cancel the work party if the forecast looks ominous towards the end of the week. Check back here for updates; by Friday Oct 19 at the latest will will post a final determination.
UPDATE: Weather looks clear and dry for the next several days; we can plan on the work party happening.
ALSO, Kal will be bringing a lunch for all volunteers. Feel free to bring an item or snack of your own to share!
As usual, dress for changing weather regardless; bring any hand tools suitable for the work you want to do; the MCPA also has the ground and trail tools we’ll need already on site.
Feel free to drop us a line (see contact us page) with any questions or just to let us know to look for you.
Note we may only have 1 key for the forest service gate, so please plan to travel in with the group at 9:00 am and we’ll all plan on a single exit early afternoon.
On the newletters page, also below.