Lester Ghost Town

October 22, 2016


I love fall. I enjoy watching the leaves change colors and float to the ground. I love the change in lighting as we rotate away from the sun. I'm a kid at heart, so love splashing in the puddles and jumping on leaves. I love the chill in the air, foggy mornings and the aroma of baking that begins with fall. I love autumn not only because of these reasons, but because, frankly, I love the fun of Halloween. It seemed only natural for me to hold out a trip to the ghost town of Lester until October.

Historical photo (c.1984) showing Guard's house & Warehouse

A little history on the town of Lester. It started out a logging camp back in the 1800's. When Northern Pacific Railroad laid tracks over Stampede Pass, the little community tucked away in the woods was the perfect location to re-supply their steam locomotives. They would fill up with water from the nearby river and coal before the long haul up the pass. Eventually a depot went in, as well as a roundhouse, coal dock... and, in 1892, the town of Lester was born. With the transition to diesel locomotives the town began dying. In 1962 the City of Tacoma began buying property in an effort to protect its Green River Watershed. In 1984 the Stampede Pass line was mothballed - the final nail in Lester's coffin. Tacoma purchased the majority of the remaining property, leaving just one resident in town. Gertrude had been the school teacher and truly loved Lester. She continued to live there until her home burned down in 1993, but Lester was her true home and she revisited often until her death in 2002, at the age of 99.


There are a few buildings still standing in Lester, and they were our destination for the day. It had rained all week, but the day dawned bright - a good day to visit Lester and perhaps encounter Gertrude's spirit. The Poplar trees were a vibrant yellow, in stark contrast to their evergreen neighbors and the blue of the autumn sky. We bumped and swerved our way 13 miles down a twisty forest road, enjoying the changing view with each turn, until we arrived at the gate that signified the end of the road - and the beginning of the trail.




The 'trail' follows an old roadbed to the town. It is still utilized by the City of Tacoma and Burlington Northern Railroad, so is wide and well maintained. It was a nice change from the rough trails I've traversed this past year. The Green River quietly wandered alongside us for a portion of the way, lending itself to the beauty of the landscape. We were able to let the dogs off-leash, and they enjoyed the freedom to romp and sniff. Buster and Cupcake were last minute additions to the trip and they enthusiastically ran up ahead, each making the adventure their own.

After a nice leisurely 3.5 mile walk, we arrived at the town of Lester ... or rather, what little remains. The only structures still standing are the guard's house, one other home and a shed. The old warehouse has caved in under the weight of winter snows and time, and isn't rapidly being reduced to a pile of lumber. We adventured around, looking for foundations of other structures, relics and artifacts. The two houses are still surprisingly structurally sound, so the grandkids and I poked around inside them. Buster was really hoping to encounter a ghost or two, but wasn't disappointed at not finding any. Entering the homes was like stepping through a portal back in time. The kids stayed close as instructed and touched nothing but investigated everything. I explained what things where and how life was lived 'back in the day'. They hung on every word, asked questions and soaked it all up like sponges.


Looking out at the hillside from the guard house





What remains of the Warehouse

 

Mist rising from the Ruins (warehouse)

Awesome Sofa Frame on Porch



My little ghost busters

Autumn sun rising over old residence

From the buildings we wandered out into the woods, which are edging ever closer to swallowing up all evidence of the town. Buster went off a wee bit on his own, searching for ghosts or zombies, always staying within line-of-sight (Nana has trained him well). Cupcake and I shook trees to make them rain on each other, climbed over logs and generally just enjoyed each other's company. While out there we came across two old washers, one with the wringer apparatus still attached. There were parts to a car or two strewn about, and a smaller wood cooking stove. However, beyond these nifty relics, we found no further testimony to the residents who once lived here.

Old Quarter Panel covered in Leaves

Washing Machine Wringer

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We started walking back out of the woods as a train came rolling to a stop in front of the guards house. It lent an eerie feel to our adventure as we thought back to the life that once bustled here, centered around the arrival of the trains. We watched as the train resumed its journey and pulled away, then crossed the tracks to explore the meadow. I had hoped to find some building foundations, but what we found totally made Buster's day. There, hidden in the tall grass, was the skeletal remains of an elk.

It came time for us to think about our return trip home. We walked down the tracks until we came to a cement culvert over a stream. We sat here, dangling our legs over the edge and had lunch while admiring the awesome colors that blanketed the surrounding hills. Buster announced that autumn was his favorite time of year. I think I would have to agree with him.

While we sat, we talked about our day's adventure. We discussed plans for future outings, including a return to Lester for another day of exploration. I love autumn days, and this one will go down as one of my favorites.

Hike 49 of 52.
Distance: 7.5 miles
Elevation gained: 300'
Highest Elevation Achieved: 1640'