Sacred Mountain – The Chelan Butte by Evie Hirschberger

Information released by the Chelan Basin Conservancy

“The Chelan Butte represents many different things to many different people.

Recreation wise; it is a place to hike, explore, hang glide and paraglide from, and enjoy the spectacular views of both the Columbia River and Lake Chelan from up on top.

It is also the home of multitudes of wildlife. There are Big Horn sheep, mule deer, and whitetail deer. Many species of birds from Golden eagles, Redtail hawks, Great Horned Owls, and falcons, to Mountain Bluebirds, Meadowlarks, swallows, and more.

In the Spring the wildflowers like Lupine, Balsam Root, Indian Paintbrush, Buttercups and more can be found.

The Chelan Butte is also an important watershed, and plays a key role in the Lake Chelan Valley. Keeping and protecting water quality was one of the three top priorities in the Comprehensive Plan Update. Protecting the view of Chelan Butte was another. These are just a few of the reasons why it is so important to not only protect the view of the Butte, but protect it from exploitation and degradation.

I didn’t grow up here in the valley, but I have lived and worked here for the past 32 years. I have walked all about on the Butte, and it has been my backdoor neighbor. I have seen the Butte dressed in vibrant green for St. Patrick’s Day, and I have seen it ablaze with fire more times than I care to see again. It is as much a part of this valley as is the lake.

Protecting them goes hand in hand.”

About the artist: Evie graduated with a B.S. in Fine Arts from Oregon State University. Her first big show was an Osprey painting that was accepted in 1981 in the 1st Pacific Northwest Juried Wildlife Exhibition in Seattle. Her artwork is hanging in both the Main Street Gallery in Chelan, and at Confluence Gallery in Twisp. She has participated in the Riverwalk Fines Arts events as far back as in the nineties and recently in the Lake Chelan Arts Festival.

CHELAN BASIN CONSERVANCY supports preserving the Chelan Butte in its natural state for future generations to enjoy. This unique original painting on glass is being auctioned to support CBC’s efforts to preserve the Chelan Butte, public access to Lake Chelan and protect the Watershed.

If you can see the elephant on the Butte, you will want to bid on this painting and help support CBC’s numerous public interest activities, by calling Tammy Lee Hauge at 509-682-3168. Opening bid is $400.00. Bids will close on September 30, 2019.