In the shadow of the Sleeping Lady Mountain, sits Leavenworth. Just on the east side of Stevens Pass. We spent a couple nights there, thanks to Paul and Barbara, and one of Paul's clients. They rent this resort cabin, just outside of town.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself.
We caravanned across the pass about mid day on Monday. We were hoping that chains would not be required, and though it was snowing, the roads were only wet, and the temperature was above freezing, barely, at 34 degrees. No chains, and No visibility. This pass is about 6,000 feet. The lowest of all the passes. We skated right over.
The girls pose in the snow, at the summit. We took two vehicles.

Paul


Leavenworth, is a pretty touristy town, with a Bavarian theme. Lots of shopping possibilities. Also some interesting things to do, like a visit to the fishery. Fish Hatchery. Lots of wee salmon (1.6 million, to be exact) to be released for the 500 mile trek to the ocean. Believe it or not - each and every one of these fingerlings is tagged with a tracking device - by hand! 15,000 get a real fancy tag that's read electronically at every dam. The balance get a less fancy tag that isn't read electronically, but is still attached by hand. Whoa!

Here's Evelyn, face to face with an Eagle.

Here's where the 'fry' are grown to about four inches in length. Fed by hand in these watery pens. Then they are transferred to outdoor ponds, which are covered to protect them from predators - like that eagle.

Then they are released (in a few weeks) into the Wenatchee River. Evelyn is standing on a Native American fishing platform from the mid 1800's. Similar platforms are on the other side of the river. The salmon were caught on their way back upstream to mate and die. The hatcheries were necessitated by the fact that large man made dams do not allow the salmon their normal migration.

Paul, Barbara and Anna at the hatchery


Ann, Evelyn and Anna by a glass piece of artwork by Chihuly. This was at the Sleeping Lady Resort, which we decided to check out, just for fun.

Evelyn inspects a sculpture of a successful fishing trip, from the salmon's point of view.

Back in town, Ann is trying to open a door that looks so realistic. All the buildings have such cool murals.

Hey! Here's the cabin. Ann is on the porch. All the amenities were provided, including the hot tub.

Playing with the zoom. . .

The gang on the porch, just before we left.

On the way back the temperatures were great! Hit the mid seventies. We stopped and had lunch by this waterfall.


The girls, downstream

Zoomed. (no tripod)


Hot tub!

Ann got a hole in one on the 18th hole! She won a wooden nickel.