:: KACHESS & STEAMBOAT ROCK

Summers in the Pacific Northwest are full of indelible moments and experiences: warm gusts of air rushing through the Douglas fir and cedar treelined trails, sun dappled lakes with tepid water, mouthwatering smells of mesquite wood burning and outdoor grilling, and of course what all us Northwesterners desperately crave after the cold months: glorious sunshine! There was plenty of that golden goodness on a hot Friday August morning when I drove out east to meet my buddy Brian for a camp and kayaking weekend.

Our first stop was Lake Kachess, just west of the town of Cle Elum along the I-90 corridor. Kachess has been a favorite summer destination (although increasingly crowded) for years and an easy spot to access from Seattle at just over an hour drive. I managed to book my favorite camp spot (I always take notes of the tastiest spots at every campground I stay) situated close to the water, and lots of privacy. We landed early afternoon, set up our tents (my little backpacking tent for me and a car tent for Brian), inflated our kayaks and ported a short distance through the forest to the shore. The water was glassy and a beautiful clear turquoise as we looped around the middle part of the lake, along the banks and shores and navigated through a grove of partially sunken trees.

After a few hours we shored up with the kayaks and head back to the camp to chill. Before sunset I took Brian on a quick hike through the other side of the campground where a short, steep trail led up to a granite peak with fantastic views of the lake and valley. Definitely an appropriate spot for a drone shot and a beer.

The next morning we ate a simple breakfast, packed our gear and headed to Brian’s house in East Wenatchee where we loaded into one vehicle for the drive out to Steamboat Rock. We headed north along Lake Chelan to the tiny town of Orondo where we cut east through the dusty town of Waterville (ironically named), through Coulee City and then north again along the Banks Lake reservoir. As we ventured closer to Steamboat the scenery started to become more dramatic with towering basalt cliffs flanking both sides of the highways.

After a not so restful sleep in the tent (I rarely sleep well when camping unfortunately) we rose early to hit the water for a long day of paddling and exploring. The water was so flat and wonderfully warm as we made our way across the open water towards a series of islands, rock formations and beaches. There were some many intriguing spots to explore and a few treacherous areas where cliff jumpers did not heed the shallow waters (there were a number of memorial plaques bolted to the cliff walls). I made notes to myself to come back here with so many amazing spots for island camping.