[HitTheTrail]

From about 1915 up until the late 1960’s, most of the irrigation water for the orchards in Manson and Chelan came down an old wooden penstock/metal pipe from Safety Harbor Creek starting up around the 6500’ level. The pipe went down and up all the steep valleys across to Antilon Lake just by the force of the hydraulic head pushing the water along. Finally, a combination of maintaining that crazy narrow road out to Safety Harbor Creek and fires burning up the pipe forced them to start pumping out of the lake in the 1960’s. This week we hiked the Safety Harbor creek trail 1261 along the old pipeline up into Horsethief Basin. It is an interesting bit of history.

Looking down Safety Harbor creek toward Lake Chelan from about the 5000' level

Lots of rock roses on the Safety Harbor creek trail

Junction of summit trail and trail going out to Uno.

Intake dam for irrigation pipe in Safety Harbor Creek at around the 6500' level

Part of the old penstock wooden pipe

A row of steel bands from the old wooded pipe after the big fire

Our campsite just below Horsethief Basin and the summit t rail

[lookout bob]

Interesting indeed! You made me think of the bits of old pipeline that are uphill from Moore Point. Those pipes used to supply the hotel that was there. We hiked part of the upper Safety Harbor creek a year ago and were delighted by the lewisia that was blooming everywhere. Did you see any? Great pictures and report!

[HitTheTrail]