Cle Elum in April
Due to its proximity to Snoqualmie pass and abundance of river, lake, and hiking options, Cle Elum can be fun any time of year.
From here to there
It’s springtime, the last weekend of April as we make our way from the westside of the Cascade mountains, over Snoqualmie pass to Whispering Pines RV Park. Snow still blankets the peaks of mountains and patches of white cover the ground, but the roads are dry. We keep the radio off as we listen for the hum of the fan clutch in our 2005 Dodge Durango. Ever since Mr. Mile updated the cooling system, the fan clutch has been unreliable. This is the fourth one he’s installed this year, and we hope this one will be the last.
When the engine starts to heat up because it’s working hard under the load of our Travel Trailer while trying to climb a mountain pass, we discover that the fan clutch saga continues. The fan clutch never engages and we watch in horror and anticipation as the temperature gauge needle pushes toward red. Will we end up stuck on the side of I-90? And then Mr. Mile does something unexpected, he turns the heat up full blast and rolls down the windows. Snow-chilled wind rushes in as the vents shoot hot air at us. He’s forcing the vehicle to transfer heat from the engine to the cab. The temperature gauge drops to normal levels. Brilliant!
Why Cle Elum
Memories from over twenty years ago have called me back to the area. Daydreams of long weekends during the summer with my best friend and her family at Ensign Ranch, a property owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As teenagers we reveled in the sun-dappled trails, splashing across creeks, and exploring shady swimming holes during the day. Horseback riding, canoeing, and trips to Roslyn for ice cream kept us busy and mostly out of trouble. Saturday night we’d go to the lodge for dancing, spilling out onto the lawn when the air inside became thick with sweat. I-90 a stone’s throw away, but still not enough light pollution to dim the bright stars in the black night sky.
A brief history
Before being occupied by white men, the railroad town of Cle Elum was originally home to the Kittitas band of Indigenous people. Now, only their names remain. Cle Elum is said to mean swift water. While Naneum, apparently the Kittitas’ former racetrack, is a working forest managed by the Department of Natural Resources. Sadly, it’s difficult to find information about the culture of these early people. An article in The Seattle Times from 1998 lamented the end of the line. Today, much of the history of the area revolves around the coal and timber industries, the arrival of the railroad, and the rise of tourism.
The well-known Suncadia resort calls this area home. An ever-expanding community consisting of a hotel, an inn, condos, and vacation homes. Amenities include onsite spas, swimming pools, restaurants and more. Since Cle Elum is a hub of activity in both winter and summer this is a good year-round resort.
A few of our favorite things
Spring is a transitional time, the snow is starting to melt and the ground isn’t totally stable. Many of the hikes that I researched, read about, and dreamed of doing were closed. We were also limited as both Mr. Mile and I were recovering from COVID. Instead, we bummed around the towns of Cle Elum and Roslyn, finding time for a brief stop at Speelyi Beach Day Use Area on Cle Elum Lake.
Some of the standout places we visited:
We liked the layout and variety in this antique store. The space was divided into separate “rooms” which made it fun to explore. BONUS! We found this cool wooden bowl.
This place was pretty busy both times we stopped by. The service was friendly, there were plenty of big tables for hanging out, plus the food and drinks were good. We also found this cute Lego Hundred Acre Wood adorned a full bookcase.
Wherever we visit, we like to pick up a sticker or two for the fridge door in our travel trailer. This was one of the only places in town to sell them. However, I’m glad we made our way here because the breakfast burritos we picked up for the following morning hit the spot.
Cool art. Check. Awesome owner. Double check! Tony took the time to tell us his story and show us his technique. Come in for the amazing art and stay for the company. We’re already making plans to come back and arrange a workshop.
Just for the art:
Tag, you’re it! Tell us what brings you to Cle Elum.
