Enchanted Valley Chalet moved out of the path of river bank

Movers are expected to complete the temporary move of the historic Enchanted Valley Chalet this week, the Olympic National Park said on Tuesday.

Work to lift the chalet, which was imperiled by the East Fork of the Quinault River, off its foundation began last Saturday. Four steel sliding beams had been placed under the chalet and it was moved eight feet east of its original location on Sunday.

On Monday, contractors with Monroe House Moving Inc. continued the move, sliding the chalet an additional 60 feet. A helicopter will be used to transport materials back from the site starting Thursday.

Equipment and materials including hardware, tools and camp supplies were transported the 13 miles from Graves Creek Trailhead to Enchanted Valley on mules beginning Sept. 1. A planning and environmental analysis will begin shortly to plan for the final disposition of the chalet.

The chalet is located 13 miles from the nearest road, deep within the Olympic Wilderness. The chalet was constructed by Quinault Valley residents in the early 1930s, prior to establishment of Olympic National Park.

It served for several decades as a backcountry lodge and, more recently, as a wilderness ranger station and emergency shelter. The chalet was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.