When I was working at the Navy Yard, a smart and good looking draftsman was hired whom I admired. He was an outdoor man and during his vacation went mountain climbing. He came back full of enthusiasm and badly sunburned. His name was Geo. Hanneman and my sister Caroline was attracted toward him but to no great effect. He told me of belonging to the Mountaineers. This was the summer of 1909. He told of the trips they made to the mountains and forests. I asked him if he would like me to guide them on a good trip thru the forests. He was interested, took the matter up with the club and told me they would like an exploratory trip of two men and two girls. I agreed to guide them and a date was set for Sunday. I decided to show these city folks a little rough going to see how they would take it. We went through heavy forest, as no logging had been done at that time. Taking the roughest route possible I finally wound up hours later at Mr. Paschal's "Hidden Ranch". Mr. Paschal was a wonderful old gentleman who had come to this very isolated place from the East. They were Quakers, and brought with them two daughters, Mary and Patience, who was then about 12 years old.
There were 2 other children grown up living in Seattle, I think. The son was a doctor.
Mr. Paschal was so friendly and hospitable to the party of young mountaineers that a deal was made to bring the entire club out for a trip the next Sunday. The little party did not appreciate my leading them thru the jungle, but from then on the Paschals and their "Hidden Ranch" was a favorite outing for the Mountaineers.
In a few years, the Mountaineers acquired some forest land adjoining the Paschals and later built an outdoor theater in which to the present time, each summer they have a theatrical play participated in by many members.
I may say (1974) that Patience Paschal is still living on Hidden Ranch and is hale and hearty at nearly 80 years of age. She is a composer of beautiful music and loves her forest which still surrounds her.
I don't think many Mountaineers know the story of how they originally found Hidden Valley.