First I googled "Mukilteo shipwreck" and found two helpful things. The first is that the property was/is an old salvage yard for ships. And looking at the satellite photos again I saw what look like a few more boat carcases underwater near the shore. The second is that Microsoft's live maps' birds eye view of the area is an excellent resource and the best looking picture of it.
I found a public park a mile south of the shipwreck called Picnic Point. From there I could see that there really was something there. So I drove the tiny road out to the property but stopped when I saw thousands of no tresspassing signs at the driveway entrance. From there the trees are too thick to see anything so I went home. After more google mapping I found a road and some houses about a half mile north of the wreck that looked like they may have a good view. I parked at the large office building outside of the development and walked the trail along the perimeter to the edge of the cliff. There may also be a trail that goes through the dense valley of trees to the beach? At the lookout point a hundred or so feet above the beach I could only see trees. But as I inched closer to the cliff I saw a rope tied around a tree and a steep path down the cliff. Eventually the steep path turned into stairs carved into the cliff. It's not as treacherous as it sounds. From the beach the view was very clear and the wreck looked less interesting than the aerial view. There were enough no tresspassing signs stuck to the ship to make it less photogenic than I'd hoped. getting any closer would require walking along or beside the train tracks. No trains came through while I was there but those tracks are used heavily. If a train comes from the north there would be very little warning. From the south there would be just enough time to get out of the way. There's water on one side and a cliff on the other so it would not be a pleasant experience.
If I felt like getting any closer, which I don't because it's not as interesting or photogenic as I'd hoped, I'd take a boat and stay offshore.
It does look interesting in infrared with some stormy clouds. But most things would.
8 comments:
Great story and pics!
I live near Picnic Point and with a low tide walked north from the park to the old hull in question. I was met by the property owner who was quite insistant that I leave. I felt a little insulted but upon looking at the aerial photos and boundry lines noticed that the tidelands around there are his yard. I know I wouldn't like having curious people traipsing through my back yard so I have no problem with his position. Recently during low tide, I walked up the beach and stopped several hundred yards south of the wreck. It shows up quite well in afternoon light with polarizer. Made a couple of panos which show promise. I'll go back to try again when the tide's out and there's a nice sky. There are a few 'keep out' signs and a satellite dish, but they are small and can easily be removed in Photoshop.
Thanks for the detailed story. I was going to go there with my kids today and I did exactly the same research (Google maps, Live Maps). Now I know that it's private property and I'll change my itinerary. Thanks for saving me some time!
I went there once, too, after having seen it on google maps, and our launch point was from the Picnic Point park. We walked up the railroad tracks to the site, but there was a house there, and a nice yard, and someone had apparently removed the derelict ship, from what I could tell. We were right up to the driveway and didn't see a thing. This was August 2007.
Me and my 2 brothers climed all through the ship back in 1985. there was some barbed wire we could sneak through on the north side of the ship. we lived at the top of the road that wen't to the sewer plant between Olympus Terrace and harbour pointe. A bit of a hike but, super cool for an 8 year old.
Thanks for this information. After reading your story I looked up the property on Snohomish County Online Property Information (SCOPI). The ship itself is on private property but area just 10 or so yards North and East is land owned by BNSF railroad.
5-19-2012
I spoke with owner today.His grandfather would salvage ship's for the metal's in the 1960's.He is a very nice person to talk with.He get's a lot of people who truspass,leave garbage behind,etc.Alot of disrespeat.
I meet the property owner today. very nice person to talk with. He told me his grandfather salvaged ships there in the nineteen sixties.Alot of people trespass and vandalise the boats. People litter and ignore the signs etc.
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