R. Duke Watson, 1915-2010

Today's Seattle Times has a notice of the death of R. Duke Watson, a remarkable Northwest mountaineer. Here is the paid notice that ran in the paper:

www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/o...estory&pid=142327975

And here is my 2006 profile of Duke from the Northwest Mountaineering Journal:

www.mountaineers.org/NWMJ/06/061_Watson1.html

Mountain soldier, pioneer climber and skier, conservationist, adventurer, and family man, Duke continues to inspire me. He lived to 94, and will be fondly remembered by his many friends.

The next time I'm up at Washington Pass, I'll climb Wamihaspi (AKA Blue Lake) Peak and think of Duke. "Wamihaspi" is a contraction of "Watson, Milnor, Hall and Spickard" who made an early ascent of the peak. The name was a joke, but the Indian-sounding word made it into Fred Beckey's red guidebook.



Duke Watson leading a group on the Crystal Mountain to Chinook Pass traverse, circa 1963. Photo: Duke Watson Collection, The Mountaineers Archives.
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When I ski at Crystal Mountain, I'll also think of Duke. With Warren Spickard, Duke was one of the founders of the ski area. The names Silver Queen, Silver King, The Throne and Threeway Peak were bestowed by them. Duke was also an avid backcountry skier with the earliest-known ski ascents of Snowking and Ruby Mountains in the North Cascades and Snowgrass and Big Chiwaukum in the Alpine Lakes, in the 1960s.



Duke Watson on Silver Queen pointing out Crystal Mountain landmarks to a party including a National Park Service representative, circa 1963. Photo: Duke Watson Collection, The Mountaineers Archives.

Thanks for posting an amazing story, Lowell.

Duke was an inspiring guy. Thanks for connecting us all to this history, Lowell.

Thanks for the reminder, Lowell.

I grew up skiing at Crystal Mountain, and my friends had last names like Watson, Spickard, and Giese. Somehow it never ocurred to us to ask the older generation about the history of our sport at the time; I'm glad you continue to make the effort.

Thanks for posting this Lowell and Duke will be missed by many of us old timers. I too grew up skiing crystal and knew Duke through another Crystal founder, Bill Black and his family.