Pete Lowry's San Juans Photos

THE FIRST MLC TRIP to the San Juans was in 1970, give or take—anyway before the Angells, Williams, Leas, and landowner Bob Ellis created Camp Cedar Rock, which then became MLC students' regular summer island destination.

Among the photos alumnus Pete Lowry took in early MLC years were the 35 images from that trip reproduced on this page.

Pete captured fellow campers on the trip up, on the ferries, in the campground at Cascade Lake on Orcas Island, and in various spots visited during the five-(or-so)-day expedition.

Like Pete's other photos, some were damaged in storage but kept their visual integrity, and some were printed and passed around at the time, but many have never been seen until now.

"I went up there twice for summer camp and took another trip one time with Eric Mick and some others," Pete told Jevan Williams, "and I’m not sure I remember which of my memories are from which trip."

"But I clearly remember many of the photos, having looked at the prints at a few points over the decades, and I remember the camp clearly, as well as the ferry and being on the top of Mt. Constitution .... I'm pretty sure it was my first experience with the Washington State Ferries, and I definitely remember being really impressed ... and my first experience with a canoe, and I loved it (probably one of the reasons Eric Mick and I later bought one) ... and probably my first experience being at the highest point of somewhere ...."

Click on images to enlarge. If you yourself remember anything about the trip, or can identify people unidentified in the photos, please let us know!

Jeff Blalock, Christopher Dubay, Ted Mick and Pete Lowry, summit of Mt. Constitution.

Marga Taylor, Sarah Church (in hat), unidentified, boarding bus on Glisan St.

Eric Mick with impressive backpack, and the "MEC Mobile," VW bus MEC248.

Sarah Church, on the bus trip up to the San Juans.

Gillian Floren (white shirt), Kristi Daggett and other campers at rest stop.

Campers, unidentified aide on bus to San Juans; Lee Gordon lower left.

Jeff Blalock on ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island.

Setting up at the Southend Campgrounds, Cascade Lake, Orcas Island.

Entrance road and outhouses, Southend Campgrounds.

Barbara Wallace at Cascades Lake camp ("may her soul rest in peace").

Bob Dragoon, Marlys Mick, Jeff Blalock, Christopher Dubay, Bill Wheeler, Ted Mick, Gillian Floren, Lee Gordon.

Cascade Lake campsite, Orcas Island.

Sarah Church and Christie Daggett .... ("how incredibly OLD that bus looks !!").

Colorful triple exposure, by the water.

Sarah Church, Marga Taylor and others.

Canoeing in open water.

Leslie Asbjornson.

Gillian Floren.

Barry Pelzner, unidentified, day excursion.

Gillian Floren, unidentified, ghost trailer.

Ted Mick and Tommy Taylor in bow of return ferry.

Campers in bow of return ferry.

Eric Mick, Sarah Church, Ted Mick et al on ferry.

Campers and strangers on return ferry.

Campers, lakeside rocks, Cascade Lake campsite.

Martha Church, Brooke Ann Floren and Barry Pelzner on bus to the San Juans.

Bill Wheeler, unidentified, Wendy Mick, Ursula Galaher and Christopher Dubay playing cards on the ferry.

Jeff Godsil and Eric Mick.

Four girls—who are they?

Tommy Taylor, carrot, sun effect on fishing pole.

Ann Groshong.

Canoeing near shore, open water.

Gillian Floren in hammock ("I remember lots of friendly competition to use it—there was only one I think!").

Ann Groshong, unidentified.

Hikers from above.