July 31, 2014
July 31, 2014
This morning we rise early and drive an hour west. Since leaving Idaho, we have been passing through huge expanses of golden wheat fields ready for harvest. Near the Columbia River we descend down into the river gorge with its walls of exposed volcanic rock. We cross the bridge and head up the other side to the little town of Chelan, Washington. It is like the Wizard of Oz when it suddenly went color. Chelan is a popular tourist town at one end of another long ribbon lake. We are here to visit Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. It sits on the far opposite end from the city of Chelan. The only access is either floatplane, a very long mountainous hike, or a daylong boat ride. We opt for the boat.
With some difficulty we find the office for “Lady of the Lake” and buy round trip tickets. Thinking this was just a National Park shuttle we are surprised how many people join us. On the ride we learn more about the Lake. Unlike Roosevelt, Lake Chelan is not man-made. It was carved by glaciers plowing down the east side of the snowy Cascade Mountains. At 1486 feet deep, it is the third deepest lake in North America. Lake Chelan with its steep walls is like an inland fjord.
Roads follow each side of the lake about halfway and are filled with large summer homes each with a boat dock. For being in the middle of nowhere, this is a very popular Washington spot. In between the million-dollar homes are numerous apple orchards and vineyards.
After four hours we make it the fifty miles to the isolated community of Stehekin (rhymes with Mohican). Stehekin has several miles of road, but they do not connect with the outside world. We immediately join a bus tour with a National Park ranger. Since we are the only ones to sign up, we get a private tour of the area. Our first stop is a few miles away at Rainbow Falls. It is a beautiful 300-foot waterfall. We also stop at the town’s original two-room schoolhouse. The new one is no bigger and has only a hand full of elementary students. After the tour we stop in the Visitor Center for the short film. One of the rangers told us she and her husband have lived in this very isolated community for twenty-three years!
After our ninety-minute stop in Stehekin, it is back on the boat for the four-hour return journey. The scenery of Lake Chelan is beautiful, but eight hours of it on a slow boat is a little tedious. Back in the town of Chelan, we find the local RV park has no vacancy. So we punt and head up the Columbia River gorge. There is almost a constant line of apple orchards lining the river. I knew Washington state grew apples, I guess I didn’t think they only grew them along the riverbanks of the dry eastern half of the state.
In Pateros, WA we find the state park to be closed because of wildfires. We continue driving to the municipal park in Brewster, and find this campground overflowing. At first we think it is filled with what looks like fire response crews, but turns out to be fisherman here for a King Salmon derby. Overflow dry camping is in an adjacent parking lot. We pull in next to several boat trailers and call it a night. If only I had my fishing tackle and a boat, I would be set.
This morning we rise early and drive an hour west. Since leaving Idaho, we have been passing through huge expanses of golden wheat fields ready for harvest. Near the Columbia River we descend down into the river gorge with its walls of exposed volcanic rock. We cross the bridge and head up the other side to the little town of Chelan, Washington. It is like the Wizard of Oz when it suddenly went color. Chelan is a popular tourist town at one end of another long ribbon lake. We are here to visit Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. It sits on the far opposite end from the city of Chelan. The only access is either floatplane, a very long mountainous hike, or a daylong boat ride. We opt for the boat.
With some difficulty we find the office for “Lady of the Lake” and buy round trip tickets. Thinking this was just a National Park shuttle we are surprised how many people join us. On the ride we learn more about the Lake. Unlike Roosevelt, Lake Chelan is not man-made. It was carved by glaciers plowing down the east side of the snowy Cascade Mountains. At 1486 feet deep, it is the third deepest lake in North America. Lake Chelan with its steep walls is like an inland fjord.
Roads follow each side of the lake about halfway and are filled with large summer homes each with a boat dock. For being in the middle of nowhere, this is a very popular Washington spot. In between the million-dollar homes are numerous apple orchards and vineyards.
After our ninety-minute stop in Stehekin, it is back on the boat for the four-hour return journey. The scenery of Lake Chelan is beautiful, but eight hours of it on a slow boat is a little tedious. Back in the town of Chelan, we find the local RV park has no vacancy. So we punt and head up the Columbia River gorge. There is almost a constant line of apple orchards lining the river. I knew Washington state grew apples, I guess I didn’t think they only grew them along the riverbanks of the dry eastern half of the state.
posted by Mike and Aimee at 8:13 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home