Welcome to the Stehekin Heritage blog. We are a group of people who live in, and love, the Stehekin Valley. Nestled in the heart of the North Cascades mountain range, at the end of 55-mile long Lake Chelan, we live in a land-locked community of fewer than one hundred year round residents. Private residences are spread from the boat landing area to nine miles up the Stehekin River Valley.
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| Docks at the Landing |
Since there are no roads that lead into Stehekin, to come and go requires time. Many people liken Stehekin to an island, and there is a regularly scheduled
ferry service that runs year round. The boat schedule ramps up in the busy season with two boats running daily, and slows to only one boat running three days a week in the middle of winter. Mail comes and goes by way of the boat, and groceries travel from the markets at the other end of Lake Chelan to the dock at Stehekin where they are picked to fill pantries and refrigerators -and ultimately hungry bellies.
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| "Meeting the boat" in Stehekin |
There are a total of about 14 miles of open road in Stehekin, and the vehicles in the valley have all arrived by way of the barges that have hauled freight on the lake for more than 100 years. Gas is available at at self-serve pump that locals use with a computerized system for monthly billing. All the gas and diesel arrives by barge.
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| Courtney Barge loading in Stehekin |
Stehekin has a public school that accommodates students in grades one through eight. All grades are taught by one teacher, and when the numbers require it, there is an aide in the classroom. Most children get to school under their own power - generally by bicycle when the weather allows.
This brief introduction is very superficial, but in the months ahead we hope to publish more in-depth posts, taking you deeper into Stehekin as we know it - a glimpse into life within the Stehekin community.
Please check back.
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| Children enjoying a summer rain shower at the landing |
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