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MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2015
Vol. CXXIV, No. 148
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices Visit our Web site at at www.tacomadailyindex.com
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Vancouver Notch
A Pierce County resident wants to formally name this v-shaped depression (pictured below) in the foothills of Mount Rainier after Captain George Vancouver, who explored the region in 1792. (PHOTO BY LINDA VAN NEST / COURTESY BARBARA REID)
Mount Rainier foothills could soon honor the late explorer Posted online Fri., July 31 By Todd Matthews, Editor In the spring of 1792, British Navy Captain George Vancouver was aboard the H.M.S. Discovery in Puget Sound and surveying the natural environment when he noticed a large, v-shaped notch in the foothills of Mount Rainier. Vancouver, whose ship was anchored at Restoration Point on the southern end of Bainbridge Island, was intrigued. What could lie within and beyond that carved and concave feature? A large river? The Northwest Passage? He noted the feature in his journal—"The appearance of a very abrupt division in the snowy range of mountains immediately to the south of Mount Rainier, which was very conspicuous from the ship, and the main arm of the inlet appearing to stretch in that direction from the point we were then upon"—and boarded one of two smaller boats that headed south, past Vashon Island, and into Commencement Bay, only to find what he believed to be a dead end. Vancouver noted, "We were excessively anxious to ascertain the truth, of which we were not long held in suspense. We found the inlet to terminate here in an extensive circular compact bay, whose waters washed the base of mount Rainier." Vancouver would go on to name dozens of mountains, waterways, and islands in the Puget Sound area—but the v-shaped notch remained nameless and largely elusive. That changed several years ago when a Puyallup resident named Barbara Reid started to explore Puget Sound in her own boat. Reid, 72, retired from the Army 30 years ago, bought a Swedish-made Albin 25 watercraft in 1999, and soon began to navigate the Columbia River, Snake River, and the route taken by Peter Puget (Vancouver's lieutenant) as he explored Puget Sound. In total, she logged more than 8,500 nautical miles over 15 years before recently selling the vessel. Three years ago, Reid was reading Vancouver's journal when she came across his note about the vshaped notch. She could see it, too. Reid's observation set in motion a plan to name this feature Vancouver Notch. She shared her idea with local historical societies, museums, yacht clubs, governments, and elected officials. Earlier this year, she submitted a 24page application (with six letters off support) to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to formally name Vancouver Notch. "It is clear that the notch was visible from not only CONTINUED Restoration Point but the enON PAGE 2