Lost Creek Mine - Slumach

In Memory of “Arlie” Nicholson 1938 - 2001Lost Creek MineHistorical analysis of the legendary gold deposit of Pitt LakeBy R.W. Nicholson1. Introduction2. Slumach3. Jackson4. Shotwell/Harrington5. R.A. “Doc” Brown6. Fire Mountain7. G.S. “Stu” Brown8. “Stu” Brown - Letter Collection9. “Stu” Brown - Conversation10. Vickers Creek11. General Geology12. Trail Systems13. Summary14. Unusual and UncannyDedicated to the memory of those who have lost their lives pursuing this legendand to those who still accept the challenge.Copyright © 2002 Robert W. Nicholson

1. IntroductionSince the beginning of time, mankind has assembled anextensive collection of myths and legends that continueto puzzle the curious and inquisitive. Each and everyone of these mythical and legendary records will continueto be re-counted, re-examined and relentlesslyprobed until they are solved or resolved.While there are definite commonalities between mythsand legends, there are also distinguishing differences.Legends are based on some aspect of factual eventsthat have escaped their initial boundaries and grownincreasingly distorted with time. Mythology on theother hand, is based on primeval beliefs and traditionalideologies that have attempted to rationalize andinterpret the unexplained by incorporating, demigods,supernatural creatures and super heroes.Almost every corner of British Columbia has experiencedsome of this provinces rich and colorful mininghistory. With that history come the inevitable legends.Legends of murder, mayhem, hidden fortunes andmysterious lost gold mines. For the most part, legendsof hidden fortunes and lost gold mines have had a tendencyto incorporate murder, deception, betrayal, andsome aspect of the supernatural into their story.One of the most famous of British Columbia’s elusivefortunes that contains a captivating blend of mythologicalintrigue is the fabled Lost Pitt Lake Mine. Thislegendary mother lode is also known by other namessuch as, The Lost Creek Mine, Slumach’s Lost GoldMine and Jackson’s Lost Creek Mine.According to legend, hidden somewhere in the southwesternregion of British Columbia, beyond the head ofPitt Lake, lies a creek so rich in placer gold that it literallydefies imagination. Nestled somewhere in thosesteep and treacherous mountains with their deceptiveunforgiving glaciers is the elusive mother lode ofmother lodes.Since its conception in the late 1880s, countless prospectorsand fortune hunters have searched in vain forthis elusive creek of gold. In their quest for fame andfortune at least 25 of these unfortunate souls have diedor simply vanished into the wilderness never to be seenor heard from again.Of the thousands of nameless prospectors who havesearched for this legendary fortune, only five, in additionto the legends founder, have been historically identifiedor otherwise accredited as successfully locatinga source of gold. It is the stories surrounding Slumach,Jackson, Shotwell and Harrington, R.A. Brown alias“Doc” or “Volcanic” Brown and G.S.(“Stu”) Brown thatforms the basis of this book.The ghost of the legends founder, Slumach, is said tozealously guard the site slaying anyone who tries toretrieve the gold. Some will swear that they have seenthis ghostly apparition and claim to have been sparedits wrathful vengeance only because they immediatelyretreated back to civilization. Many believe that someof the deaths and disappearances that have occurredover the years are the direct handiwork of this ghostlyassassin.Modern science may have validated the existence of theparanormal and supernatural entities however a hostileenvironment and nature itself can be just as lethal andunforgiving as any ghost seeking revenge.The mountains and glaciers beyond the head of PittLake are treacherous and will not pamper the inexperienced,unprepared or unlucky. The rugged mountainterrain is steep, littered with gullies, canyons, ravinesand treacherous unstable talus slopes. Above the treeline the barren rock becomes smoother, slipperier andeven more dangerous. Numerous glaciers and snowpacks in the area provide an illusion of safety with theirthin and peaceful looking cover over deadly ice crevices.World class sized grizzly bear are on record as havingbeen taken out of the search area. Exceptionally largewolves, head and shoulders above the stumps of freshlyfallen trees, have been seen by loggers working beyondthe head of Pitt Lake. A helicopter pilot has reportedexamining the remains of an uneaten yet disembowelledand dismembered mountain goat on an ice pack.Several credible researchers have also reported sightingthe fabled Sasquatch. I personally have seen a wolverinethat was at least the size of a large German Shepherddog. The weather, particularly in and around the immediatevicinity of the glaciers and ice packs, is unpredictableand can change suddenly and drastically withina few minutes. Anyone caught unprepared on a steepbarren rock slopes or in the lower ravines and gulliesduring heavy rain storms can easily become trappedand face life threatening situations.The existence of a vengeful ghost is best left to individualopinion and belief. The existence of Sasquatchhowever is a more openly debatable subject. Nativehistory, numerous reported sightings and current avail-Copyright © 2002 Robert W. Nicholson