Dear Readers,

During the next month, Stehekin Choice will be publishing a Stehekin Heritage publication dealing with the Upper Stehekin Valley Road. Separate pages will be published until the sixteen-page publication is complete.

Valley residents worked to produce this publication during the winter months. The exceptional quality of this publication is entirely the responsibility of Normabeth Conrad, Rene Courtney and Roberta Courtney. They worked during the winter months to prepare material for publication.

The "Open the Road" publication is currently being distributed on the Lady of the Lake and Lady Express, as well as, the Stehekin Valley Ranch, Stehekin Pastry Company and Discovery Bikes.

The front page of the road publication tells a story in pictures. The center-top picture shows long time valley residents Darrel Wilsey, LeMerne Sullivan and BettyWilsey standing at the stop sign near Car Wash Falls. This is the spot where the Upper Valley Road ends today. Darrel, LeMerne and Betty visited Horseshoe Basin (picture at the bottom of the page) many times before the flood of 2003. With the road permanently closed at Car Wash Falls, it is highly unlikely they will be able to access Cottonwood Camp and Horseshoe Basin again. In short, Darrel, LeMerne and Betty are unable to access the heart of the Cascades because the Upper Valley Road is closed. For their benefit and for the benefit of so many others young and old, we hope you will support the simple theme of this publication: "IT'S TIME … REOPEN 'THE WAY THROUGH' TO MORE THAN A VERY FEW."

After reviewing the paper, it is my hope you will support reopening the Upper Stehekin Valley Road. Two essential methods to show this support will be by writing letters to elected officials and the National Park Service, and making financial contributions to Stehekin Heritage. Both activities will help us reach the goal of re-opening the road.

Ron Scutt
Editor Stehekin Choice