Impossible Beyond This PointTrue Adventure Creating a Self-Sufficient Life in the Wilderness

Dec 18, 2015 A Little Pre-Horn Family History of the Flat

In the book, we touched on some of the early history of Raymond Flat. For the people who might have an interest in that, I am going to post some pictures I got from the estate of the late Jim Smith of Junction City. He did slideshow presentations for the local historical society about his time growing up in the Helena area in the 1930s.

To my knowledge these are the only early photographs of the Flat. I heard rumors of them right after we first move onto the Flat   but it took me nearly 40 years to get my hands on these rare photocopies of photocopies. If anyone knows of any other historical photos of this part of the North Fork, I would love to see them. Thanks, Joel Horn

The construction of the log crib dam across the North Fork. The dam tender’s cabin that burned down is visible in the upper left of the photograph.

The dam building crew posing on the dam. The cedar trees our summer kitchen was under is just above the peavey the center man is holding.

Looking upriver at the dam. The beginning of the 14-mile-long flume can be seen on the left.

On the lower left is the floodgate to the flume.

This is the water pouring over the dam after it was finished. Notice the driftwood logs that are wedged on the top of the dam.

And here is a picture of John S. Barnes (Red) in the 1930s.

Nov 3, 2015 My wife Crystal and I packing Christmas jewelry orders out in 2 feet of snow. Dec 2002.

Apr 27, 2015 A color picture of Red (John S Barnes)

Care for some snuff?

Apr 24, 2015 Gold mining early 1980s

Notice the D10 dozers and 400 excavators…..