Lake Chelan and Stehekin Washington

The 3 deepest lakes in the United States are all in the Western

part of the country.

Crater Lake in Oregon at 1,932 feet,

Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border at 1,645 feet 

Lake Chelan in Washington at 1,486 feet. 

Lake Chelan - very narrow, very deep, 50 mile long lake slices northwestward into the
Cascade Mountains, and is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. 
The native American word Chelan (originally spelled Tsillan)
means "deep notch" a justifiable distinction.

Lakeshore RV Park

Part of a City Park right on the lakes edge

Umpqua Black Licorice Ice Cream

Before

and

After

Stehekin 

We embraced the pioneer spirit and took the journey on the Lady of the Lake ferry to the remote community of Stehekin.  An off-the-grid community.  Located on the northern shore of Lake Chelan. There are no roads to this tiny uplake, mountain wilderness village.  It is accessible only by boat, floatplane or by hiking.  Stehekin is an Indian word meaning "the way through." This no doubt came from following the east-west route over the Cascade Pass that provided relatively easy passage for them.

Fire crews working on a lightning strike fire

The big town of Stehekin

Rainbow Falls - 312 feet

Cool picnic table made of large timber

In 1921 Stehekin needed a new schoolhouse. Residents gathered their resources and built the one room log structure.  For 67 years the children were educated in this rustic example of heritage.  The new schoolhouse is 1/4 mile down the road.  The new school is also considered a one-room school house, teaching kindergarten through 8th grade in one classroom.  However, the modern building has indoor plumbing. After the 8th grade the family has to decide what to do.  Home school, bording school or move.

The Lady of the Lake.  The original Lady of the Lake was powdered by firewood.  The trip from Chelan to Stehekin took 2 days and required 10 to 12 cords of wood each trip.

One of our stops along the way was Holden Village.  It once one of the largest copper mines in the United States. Over the next few years the US Forest Service in cooperation with Washington Department of Ecology are working hard to clean up contaminants that were left over from the Howe Sound Holden Mine.