- Fort Vancouver had been founded as a Hudson’s Bay Company post as early as 1825 and was still partually occupied by them. The U.S. Army post originally occupied space which was leased from the Company. It was first called Columbia Barracks and on July 13, 1853 it became known as Fort Vancouver. The name of the post was changed to Vancouver Barracks on April 5, 1879. (Frazer, p. 176-177.).
- The months of April and May, 1853, passed rapidly, and are full of pleasant memories of hunting, riding, fishing, and making friends. I was able to save a little money out of my pay, as eatables were more abundant and cheaper than in Vancouver8, where the mess bill consumed nearly my entire pay. There was a fine post garden, from which we had a large supply of rejected potatoes that we fell heir to, from the artillery. They were too small for our use, but the Indians were fond of them, and brought us all the clams, fish and game we wanted in exchange for the little tubers.
- Mount Pilchuck (wa100.dnr.wa.gov)
The hike to the top of Mount Pilchuck is relatively short and steep but rewards hikers with sweeping views of the snow-capped peaks of the Cascades. With a historic fire lookout perched at over 5,300 feet, the panoramic view from the rocky summit of Mount Pilchuck includes Mount Baker and Mount Rainier, as well as the South Fork Stillaguamish and Pilchuck River valleys. The trail, which starts on U.S. Forest Service land before climbing into Mount Pilchuck State Park, gains 2,300 feet over 2.7 miles, making this strenuous hike one of the most direct ways to reach great views in the Cascades. Be prepared to meet lots of new trail buddies on your trek if you visit on a weekend—hikers seeking more solitude may need to make the climb on a weekday.