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| Early morning Launch from Chelan Docking Site--Stehekin Bound! |
Steadily
churning on the waters of Lake Chelan, in all kinds of weather and conditions
during any season you can find a 30 by 80 steel barge laden with freight bound
for Stehekin and all points thereof. Locally known as “The Barge” this well
known craft carries a you-name-it menagerie of supplies to the ports of
Chelan, Stehekin, Lucerne, and many private homeowners and remote cabins along Lake Chelan. Founded by Tom Courtney of Stehekin and serving
the area since 1977, the barge service is an essential part of all aspects of
community life in our valley.
Fuels
for our cars and trucks and machinery, stacks of lumber and logs for our homes
and buildings, vehicles that take up half of the deck or just a small corner,
animals of all kinds and their precious hay and feed, the list is as varied as
the customer. Moving vans, pallets of flour for the Stehekin Pastry Company,
gravel for special projects, trailers tractors and canoes--anything that is too
large for the passenger boat arrives in Stehekin from a 55 mile full day trip
up Lake Chelan, powered by a 50 foot work boat with two 671 Detroit engines.
The
barge arrival means anticipated supplies have arrived and it’s time to get to
work! You may see the unloading process taking place at the Stehekin Landing
with boom trucks, trailers, rolling vehicles and two legged delivery to valley
residents eager to get on with their projects or ready to drive a new (usually
used!) rig home. Summer influx of seasonal workers and tourists means many full
barges in the spring and fall.Fire season brings unexpected all night trips.
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| Gravel and Excavator bound for special project |
The
crew of Mountain Barge Services LLC is dedicated to accommodate all kinds of
projects along the shore of Lake Chelan such as dock work, buoy setting,
propane delivery,and even fire fighting
emergency work. On July fourth, look under the exploding fireworks in Chelan and
Manson and find the barge crew sporting the event, keeping the deck as a launch
site steadily in place.
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| Fireworks launch from barge deck Manson Bay |
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You
might find it strange to know that even Stehekin’s trash is transported down
the lake via this vessel. Or, in the spring, you might see the arrival of the
pack trip horses for Stehekin Outfitters.
At one point you would have watched an 85 ton crane rolling off the
barge to help construct Harlequin Bridge.
There are countless stories of storms, a missing pig upon arrival, a
horse jumping overboard to get to shore faster….all in a day’s, or make that
three day’s work considering the full spectrum of loading, unloading and return
trip.
Tom
will tell you his business has been challenging, with never a dull moment, but
enjoyable. With new plans ahead, Tom says it’s good to expand, provide more
jobs, and that no business survives without changing and adapting. There is plenty to relate about Tom’s life
work that has made Mountain Barge Services operate smoothly, along with his son Reed's dedicated management and an excellent support crew.
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| Fair weather journey! |
New
plans are unfolding including a new warehouse at 41 Anderson Rd, Chelan, as
well as a new office location at the same address. A weekly barge is a welcome
addition to Stehekin’s residents.
Thank
you Mountain Barge Service for forty years of dedicated, essential service to
Stehekin!
