#1: The Stehekin River. It flows from the North Cascades into the northwest end of Lake Chelan.
#2: The Stehekin Pastry Company. "Martha Stewart was here" isn't written on the bathroom walls but it could be.
#3: Hikes to pretty places. Coon Lake, below, is an easy day hike from High Bridge.
#4: Sticky Buns, as big as your head. Not really, but close. This year we timed our trip all wrong - the bakery was CLOSED for the season on weekdays. Just as I was contemplating a fit, we were pointed to the fresh baked goods sale in the gazebo. Genius.
#5: Access to the Pacific Crest Trail. PCT hikers make their way on the trail through Stehekin in route to Canada. Always a bit smelly, they're super nice and weave bewitching tales about nearly freezing to death or close encounters with cougars and bears. This year, we met three fit and trim seniors who'd been on the trail since April. They were five days shy of wrapping up the 2,650 mile jaunt from Mexico to Canada.
#6: Fall foliage...or spring flowers...or wintry icicles. No matter the season- always captivating.
#7: Cowboy Coffee: the real reason I keep going back.
#8: Hammock lazydaying: conveniently perched outside our tent cabin.
#9: Cute fishermen who wander from the forest. Can't promise one for you, but this one came sauntering up asking if wanted to share a sticky bun - cheeky mountain man.
#10: Dirt roads. Only three miles of paved road in all of Stehekin.
#11: Endless photo-ops. A good thing for camera-crazies.
#12: Old buses. Shuttle buses take you to the landing, ranch, bakery, or trail heads. Though, given all the pie and sticky buns it's better to forgo the bus and sprint wherever you go.
(They've recently purchased fancy new red buses but I'm still in denial about this. The cool old vintage below is parked for retirement. Sad.)
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