August 23, 1897 started differently than the six days before it. The dense clouds and rain that had hung over the Cascade Mountains for almost a week suddenly cleared and the sun shone brightly on the wonderland around Twin Lakes. Jack Post, an old sourdough who had prospected in the area for over 10 years, woke at dawn. He started coffee for himself and his two prospecting partners—Russ Lambert, a lawyer, and Luman Van Valkenburg, a logger. All three of them were from Sumas. The three had been camped at Twin Lakes for over two weeks prospecting as much of the surrounding area as possible. At an elevation of 5,200 feet, this August morning was as cold as any clear morning at Twin Lakes; a blanket of frost covered the camp and a light layer of ice formed on the lake edge. Post and his companions had needed the weather to improve to complete the high area searching.

A few years later, Bert Lowry, an old-time prospector and trapper, was prospecting in the Twin Lakes area and traveled to the now-quiet Jack for a look around. Entering the Lulu shaft with a light, he noticed a floating object in a mined-out winze, which was full of seepage water.

 

After a closer look, Lowry determined that the floating object was in fact a man’s body. He quickly recalled the disappearance of Martin Orner. The body had been tied with rope to large rocks and thrown in the water hole. Over a period of time, the rope had rotted through and the body floated to the surface.

East Twin Lakes, elevation 5,200 feet.

Jack Post

The view from the Lone Jack looking at the road coming in.