PNW Lake Chelan Gathering Pics...

[EricG]

This past weekend we held what will become the annual Pacific Northwest Donzi Club Lake Chelan gathering. We had a record turnout for a PNW gathering - 5 boats (yes, 1 was a Seaswirl, and 3 came from the same family :D , but still a good turnout for us).

Lake Chelan is located in Central Washington State, and winds it's way 55 miles from the Apple Orchard country of the Wenatchee valley, through a 1500' canyon up to the base of the North Cascade Mountains. The road stops 25 miles up the lake, so the remaining 30 miles are nothing but untouched nature (except for a small village accessible only by boat or float plane at the end). Oh yeah, the lake is 1500' feet deep.

You enter the lake by crossing a over a small pass, but this is what greets you when you get to the top.
http://www.donzi.net/photos/egudgel80.jpg

The accomodations were up to the High standards of the PNW Donzi Club. I feel I got the best spot wink
http://www.donzi.net/photos/egudgel81.jpg

Once Kathy and I setup camp, we were greeted by Owen "Formula Jr." and Henry in his sickeningly well performing Seaswirl Cuddy:
http://www.donzi.net/photos/egudgel82.jpg

To be Continued....

[EricG]

Also present was Jeff "Scubado" in his immaculate 22ZX:
http://www.donzi.net/photos/egudgel83.jpg

And his sister Desiree (sp?) - who was piloting her first boat - A brand new 16...which she runs a lot harder than you would expect a first time boat owner to do... wink :D
http://www.donzi.net/photos/egudgel85.jpg

On Sunday AM, Jeff and Desiree's dad (I'm sorry, I can't remember his name :mad: )showed up in his completely original 3 hatch 18 (Hull# 18-555 or 18-SS5 (I've got pictures). It's increadible!!
http://www.donzi.net/photos/egudgel84.jpg

And we ran up the lake towards the Village of Steheiken. On the way, we did a formation Fly-by of the Lady of the Lake:
http://www.donzi.net/photos/egudgel88.jpg

Did I mention that Owen's Seaswirl runs way too well!!
http://www.donzi.net/photos/egudgel89.jpg

To be continued...again.

[EricG]

Final Post...

On the way up, we stopped at Domke Falls...who needs 76 falls anyway wink
http://www.donzi.net/photos/egudgel90.jpg

Finally, we stopped at Steheiken...
http://www.donzi.net/photos/egudgel91.jpg

And enjoyed a nice picnic. From front left: Kathy, Desiree, Jeff, Jeff's Dad and Mom, Owen, and I. Also, Tim, Pete, and Stacia (sp?) were there, but they somehow hid well during this photo.
http://www.donzi.net/photos/egudgel92.jpg

Overall...it was a great gathering on a great lake. Maybe next year we can have 6 boats :D !!
EG

[Barry Phillips]

What a beautiful area, is there sking on those snow covered mountains in the background?

SO-SLO

[Forrest]

What a great place! Other than the water being cold all of the time, you just can't beat it.

More pictures please!

[Scubado]

Chelan was great! Nice meeting some other Donzi board members. Owen and Henry (Donzi dog) met us there when we arrived Saturday. Owen's Sea Swirl kicks ass! That thing just plain moves! Henry would be a shoe-in for astronaut training with all the airtime he's logged. Looking forward to our next get together.

This is Eric and Kathy @ The Falls what a beautiful boat and couple:
http://www.donzi.net/photos/leipham011.jpg

The Mountains are breath taking
http://www.donzi.net/photos/leipham007.jpg

Daryl's Donzi @ the falls
http://www.donzi.net/photos/leipham014.jpg

Saturday we ran down the lake to the town of Chelan. After 55 miles of sunshine the water was toasty warm and incredibly clear. Great for swimming which we did plenty of. We stopped in town for ice cream. Not much wind on Saturday, perfect for my first skiing of the year behind Desiree's ski sporter.

This was taken at the outlet end of the lake in the town of Chelan.
http://www.donzi.net/photos/leipham004.jpg

[oldLenny]

...very cool...next year...promise. :D

[Eugene Nahemow]

Absolutely beautiful!
I will have to take a trip North at some point.

[Donzigo]

Thanks for sharing. How beatiful.

[JimG]

Great pics! Looks like a great time!

More pics of the red 18, please! It's GORGEOUS!

JimG

[smoothie]

I dont know what looks better the red 18 or the falls and mountains,what a great place to do some cruising,I wish I was a little closer :cool:

[boldts]

You guys sure are lucky! Those are some beautiful pictures. I got out to Portland OR. a few years ago and I was just amazed at all the water in the area. Washington must be even better.

Scott
I dare you guys to drive behind those falls :D

[Blewbyu]

I WILL make it next year!!!!!Looks like ya had a great weather weekend!Beautiful camping area.Henry looks embarrassed tho......
Some good lookin' boats folks!!!I'm soooo jealous of y'all.Haven't even splashed my X boat this year.My son had his Wellcraft in the other half of my garage, and had me blocked in until yesterday. :( Missed that WHOLE week of 80+ weather.Summer was sure short this year! :cool:
Any chance we can do the Scramarama in late Aug this year? I'm off thru the 30th of Aug.
Owen-Looking forward to seeing the GT-how are you doing on it? Ready this summer??

[Formula Jr]

Eric said, "You like natural water? Well here's some natural water." And he was right.... the wind effect, following seas coming back from Steiken, were both white capped and 3 or better. Beautiful stuff. You guys are spoiling me. First Eric shows me the South Sound, then Len, the Gulf Islands, and Now the North Cascade Lake of Chelan. You guys in Florida don't understand this yet. We may live with wet winters, but when the rain clears, we get to play in this. And this is just a scatch of all of it: A backdrop that makes you wonder if the world CAN get any more beautiful. Water in colors that boggle the mind. Yes, that is a raging waterfall, 400 feet or better. Yes, that canyon, just is, its in the middle of no where and followes up twenty miles. And No one lives there. And there are no roads. This is one of Many North Cascade Lakes. You may not be able to drive under a fall, here, but that isn't important if you can ride right up to it and feel the mist and power of the water. I got to play, in the middle of one of these falls. The standing waves and the way the water was moving, was a dance. Does life get better than this? 'frad not. And That's OKY by me.

[Formula Jr]

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