RUINS OF A DOWNED WORLD WAR II AIRCRAFT
Located in the Olympic National Forest Wilderness Area, the Tubal Cain Trail takes you through a forest to a B-17 plane crash from 1952.
In January of 1952 during an unusually fierce snowstorm, a search-and-rescue B-17, returning from a rescue mission in Canada, hit the Olympic mountains at 1,300 feet, claiming the lives of three airmen. Five of the eight crew members survived the harrowing descent to safety.
For more than six decades, wreckage of that plane has survived as one of the most unusual destinations in the Pacific Northwest. It combines the region’s rich aviation history with spectacular mountain scenery and wildlife.
The journey to the crash site is a wonderland of native rhododendrons, leathery-leaved evergreen salal, hemlocks jacketed with strands of sage-colored lichen and lush trees covered in beards of moss. A mountain creek running with the path must be crossed at several points along the trail. Around 3.2 miles into the hike, a side trail named Tull Canyon, will lead you to the B17 crash where you'll be standing amidst piles of shattered metal. While the military has long since removed sensitive components, you can still find metal wings, landing gear, and hydraulic shafts.
Inspired by the crash site, I thought to use a life model in order to give reference to the size and scope of what is left of the once magnificent B17.
