CHERT PROCUREMENT IN THE UPPER SKAGIT RIVER VALLEY OF THE NORTHERN CASCADE RANGE, 1993

CHERT PROCUREMENT IN THE UPPER SKAGIT RIVER VALLEY OF THE NORTHERN CASCADE RANGE, 1993

by Robert R. Mierendorf, North Cascades National Park Service Complex,
U.S. Department of Interior

The National Park Service (NPS) conducted an archeological survey and test excavations at a prehistoric archeological site, the Desolation Chert Quarry (45WH224), in the Ross Lake vicinity. The purpose of the test was to assess the significance of the quarry to the National Register of Historic Places.


Exploratory Archeological Survey For Glassy Volcanic Rock Sources in the Silver Creek Watershed, 1997

Exploratory Archeological Survey For Glassy Volcanic Rock Sources in the Silver Creek Watershed, 1997

by Robert R. MIerendorf, North Cascades NPS Complex

The investigation consisted of a field survey centered in the watershed of Silver Creek, a tributary of the upper Skagit River. Today, Silver Creek drains into Ross Lake, a reservoir operated by the Seattle City Light Department (SCL).


Grizzly Bear Carrying Capacity in the North Cascades Ecosystem, 2016

Grizzly Bear Carrying Capacity in the North Cascades Ecosystem, 2016

PREPARED BY:
WASHINGTON CONSERVATION SCIENCE INSTITUTE
Andrea L. Lyons, MS, William L. Gaines, PhD, James Begley, MS
USDA FOREST SERVICE, PACIFIC NORTHWEST RESEARCH STATION, Peter Singleton, PhD

Historical records indicate grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) once occurred throughout the North Cascades of Washington (Almack et al. 1993, Gaines et al. 2000) and into British Columbia, but the population has since declined due to intensive historical trapping, hunting, predator control, and habitat loss.


Hozomeen Video: A story about chert, identity, and landscape, 2010

Hozomeen: A story about chert, identity, and landscape, 2010

Produced by: Benjamin Drummond and Sara Joy Steele, bdsjs.com

Hozomeen: A story about chert, identity, and landscape from North Cascades National Park on Vimeo.


Gathering at Hozomeen

On September 12 and 13, 2009 the Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission invited Washington and BC First Nations, archaeologists, anthropologist and other interested people to gather at International Point in the Upper Skagit Valley.

This two-day ‘Gathering at Hozomeen’ focused on understanding and honoring the long history of Indigenous Nation involvement in the Upper Skagit River Watershed.

The event included demonstrations of tribal and first nations traditional activities, tours on Ross Lake, interpretive walks, displays, speakers and celebration. Throughout the two-day program there were opportunities to share knowledge and stories about this unique mountain landscape.

The following video clip tells the story of Hozomeen Chert, a unique flint rock mined historically for tool-making only at Hozomeen Mountain and has been archaeologically re-discovered and documented in places like La Connor, Washington, Lytton, BC, Chilliwack, BC and others. These historic tribal and first nation peoples share a travel and trading history connecting them at Hozomeen.

Additional Materials:

A Gathering at Hozomeen from Vimeo.


Human History of the Upper Skagit Watershed, 2008

The following document provides an overview of human history in the Upper Skagit Watershed, largely focused on the lands upstream of the Ross Lake Reservoir. The information has been gathered from many publications, as well as personal communications.
In roughly chronological order, the main eras covered are:

  • First Nations
  • European Contact
  • Fur Industry
  • Gold Rush / Mining
  • Homesteads
  • Hydroelectric
  • Logging
  • Modern Highways
  • Wilderness Preservation

Fraser-Cascade Mountain School and Hope Mountain Centre, Hope BC


Archaeology of the Little Beaver Watershed, Mierendorf, 2004

Archaeology of the Little Beaver Watershed, North Cascades National Park Service Complex
2004
by Robert R. Mierendorf

This technical report describes the results of an archeological survey funded by the Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission (SEEC). The goal of such a survey is to recognize and record the archeological remains of past human activity from both the pre-contact and contact time periods.