55 mile paddle of lake Chelan

[BWilliam]

My grandparents lived on lake Chelan for many years so I have a lot of fond memories on that lake. Since I've gotten into paddle boards I've always thought that would be a great paddle to go from Stehekin to Chelan. A few guys beat me to it but it's still on my bucket list. 55 miles long and averages about a mile wide. One of the deepest lakes in the U.S. No roads to the north end of the lake so you have to take a boat to get there.

http://www.golakechelan.com/?name=News&file=print&sid=16867/







Will

[PonoBill]

Wow, that looks like fun. Three days though, really? Matt's such a weenie. I kick his ass on Viento runs regularly.

OK, maybe not regularly. But with enough of a head start...

[covesurfer]

Wow, that looks like fun. Three days though, really? Matt's such a weenie. I kick his ass on Viento runs regularly.

OK, maybe not regularly. But with enough of a head start...

Yep, too much aluminum exposure.

Parker's fast. He held his own with the elites in the Gorge course race, it was impressive.

I've kept him in sight (as in, speck on the horizon) on a few Viento's but that's as good as it gets. Art can keep up with him, sometimes.

[headmount]

You could tell just by looking at them that they were good to go.

They do some hang gliding events up there I think.  Cool area.

[Off-Shore]

That looks like an awesome paddle... especially if the wind is in the right direction!

[PonoBill]

I've never been there. It's on the list for next year. Got to do it, but I'll probably split it into two chunks instead of blasting the whole way, I'd like to cruise it. 4.0 mph for 55 miles is two leisurely eight hour days. To do the 55 miles in 12.5 hours with a lunch break and boat supply for water they had to be averaging 5.5 to 6. No thanks. I'm thinking shore resupply for water and food, and a campsite that gets stocked on the way to the north end.

[headmount]

You better bring me with you

[pdxmike]

You better bring me with you

Your Norwegian blood must be kicking in.  That looks about as close to a fjord as you'll get outside Norway.

[BWilliam]

You better bring me with you

Your Norwegian blood must be kicking in.  That looks about as close to a fjord as you'll get outside Norway.

Pretty much...




Many places its just a sheer wall coming out of the water. I was always amazed at how clear the water was, even thirty or forty feet deep and you could still see the bottom. I've seen it smooth as glass as well as very choppy when the wind is howling down the lake. Great to be going with it, suck big time to try going against it. I like PB's leisurly paddle idea. I'm definitely going to do this when we are out visiting relatives.






William

[supthecreek]

Pretty cool place.... I'd wait for perfect weather and just dink along, looking at the spectacular surroundings & wildlife.

[BWilliam]

The Chelan Ranger District has 22 primitive campgrounds which are first come, first served. Ten “boat-in” campgrounds are located along Lake Chelan and require a Dock Site Permit of $5/day or $40 for a season’s pass....

http://www.lakechelan.com/what-to-do/activities/camping/

Good descriptions of the different lake sites with topo maps.







Will

[CascadeSup]

Years (and years) ago we rented a houseboat for a week, took a couple of windsurfers, and cruised from the town of Chelan up to Stehekin and back.  The upper end of the lake is really something to see.  It never got really windy, but the best wind we found was also up on the north end from Refrigerator Harbor to Stehekin.   

Fun, fun times.

[pdxmike]

You could do that Lake Chelan paddle with some car shuttling, like a downwinder.  Just be sure the guy who's car is at the end doesn't leave his keys in the other car at the start. 

[gorgebob]

OK. I am in. North wind a must, camp set up halfway would be sweet. Now trying to think of other bodies of water that could work as well.

[CascadeSup]

You could do that Lake Chelan paddle with some car shuttling, like a downwinder.  Just be sure the guy who's car is at the end doesn't leave his keys in the other car at the start.

Um, check again.  There is a road at the Stehekin end of the lake, but you can't drive there.  Boat, fly or hike.

The part you can drive, 25 Mile Creek to Chelan misses the most scenic part of the lake.

Given the shape and orientation of the lake, you'd be pretty fortunate to get a downwinder for the whole way - I'm thinking maybe a quarter of the way.


Then again, you could do Lake Roosevelt behind Grand Coulee Dam as a car shuttle.  It's 151 miles long.