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× ‘It’s a long way to get here’: The journey to vaccinate Lake Chelan’s most remote communities against COVID-19 By Evan Bush, The Seattle Times Published: April 18, 2021, 2:45pm Share: 4 Photos Mountains of the North Cascades in the distance as Ray Eickmeyer and Mistaya Johnston travel by boat to vaccinate those at Holden Village, Stehekin and workers at a mine remediation water treatment plant operated by Rio Tinto, on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. (Amanda Snyder/The Seattle Times/TNS) Photo Gallery STEHEKIN/LAKE CHELAN Little Fella, a 30-foot cabin cruiser, bounced violently in the rough morning chop, carrying precious cargo to some of the most remote communities not only in Washington, but in all of the Lower 48. ....
“It feels like Christmas. It’s really exciting,” said Victoria Kerssen-Gripp, a Holden Village resident. A small group of people lives at Holden Village year-round. The village typically hosts visitors who come to disconnect from the outside world and focus on worship. But not in the age of COVID. “Since the pandemic, we’ve been shut down,” said Mark Bach, co-director of Holden Village. The COVID-19 vaccine allows the opportunity to open again and even reconnect with loved ones they haven’t talked to in months. “It makes (me) feel safer for when we go out so that we are able to see the people we are trying to stay connected to on the outside world but also to care for each other,” said Kerssen-Gripp. ....