Map of proposed William O. Douglas Trail
May 23, 2011 by YH-R Outdoors
Davis High School: It was Yakima High when Douglas graduated first of his class in 1916, earning a full scholarship to attend Whitman College in Walla Walla. He returned to Yakima and taught English, Latin and public speaking from 1920 to 1922.
Naches River Bridge: Douglas spent many hours visiting with hoboes near this bridge, sharing food and philosophical discussion.
Selah Gap: The climb up this ridge was one of Douglas’ favorite sagebrush hikes. The conditioning he did to help overcome the debilitating effects of his boyhood poliomyelitis would often include a 2-mile walk to the Naches River railroad bridge to cross the river, followed by the 500-foot elevation gain on his climb up the Selah Gap hillside.
Indian Painted Rocks: This ancient Indian pictograph site overlooks Powerhouse Road (and the future William O. Douglas Trail) near the confluence of the Naches River and Cowiche Creek.
Snow Mountain Ranch: Douglas frequently visited the ranch during recesses from the Supreme Court, because his best friend, Elion Gilbert, lived here. Douglas often hiked and rode horses with Gilbert in the Cowiche Mountain area; he sometimes even slept in the barn.
Kloochman Rock: As a 15-year-old, Douglas and a friend, Douglas Corpron, climbed a previously untried route up this mammoth basalt structure, avoiding a certainly fatal fall by such a slim margin that he would later write in “Of Men and Mountains” about the life-and-death lessons he learned as a teenager on Kloochman Rock.
1914 Sheepherder Camp: Douglas camped with a sheepherder here at the beginning of World War I, and the two discussed the gathering storm of war and the growing potential that the United States would become involved.
Cowlitz Pass Indian Trail: Now known as the San Ridge/Shell Rock Lake Trail, this trail was heavily used by Native Americans for centuries as a primary route across the Cascades.
Fish Lake: It was here that Douglas spent many long hours fishing for cutthroat trout. It was also here that he once heard the screech of a cougar, feeding his own hunger for that call of the wild.
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, Mount Rainier National Park: Each of these national treasures are part of William O. Douglas’ judicial legacy.
— Information courtesy William O. Douglas Trail Task Force
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