David Thompson 50 mile & Mini Thompson Race
June 25th...Let It Be Scheduled. Let It Be Run. Experience Adventure - 200 years in the making.
The Thompson 50 - Start at Pateros with 8:00am check in. Short portage around Wells Dam, mandatory check in at Chelan Falls Park, all paddlers will exit boat and run to table for check-in, then return to boat for paddle to Entiat City Park for second check-in, then paddle to finish at Lincoln Rock State park. Pre Pay and Register>>
'Mini' Thompson, Start at Entiat City Park with 1:30pm check-in then to Lincoln Rock, for a Ten Mile experience. We invite you to paddle this historic section of the Columbia, traveled by David Thompson and his brave Brigade while completing the Fur Trade Highway to the Pacific Ocean. Challenge yourself to take part in the best canoe race on the Columbia River in 200 years!
For quick-loading JPEG course maps click on David Thompson 50-mile or David Thompson Mini.
To see a higher-resolution but slower-loading PDF map showing both routes, click here>>.
More Race Information and printable registration form>>
Join your Community in honoring the 200th Anniversary of Thompson's momentous Journey
When David Thompson and his small crew headed down-river in a 10-person cedar board canoe they passed the Wenatchee River's confluence with the Columbia and disembarked at a large village near present day Rock Island. During a four hour visit the natives presented the crew with gifts of salmon, root vegetables and berries and blessed them on their journey. The Voyageurs reached the ocean on July 15, 1811.
An International Brigade of Canoes is Approaching! Nearly 200 paddlers in 20 voyageur-style replicas of the canoes used by fur traders across Canada. They will be paddling through NCW June 24-28th. Fun for the whole family - Celebrate with your Community - Mingle with the people from our past.
- Friday, June 24: 4:p.m. Pateros - Voyageurs Arrival , Frontier Reenactments, Music and More
- Saturday, June 25: Entiat - Riverside Dinner - Special Park Festivities
- Sunday, June 26: 4:00pm Wenatchee - Confluence State Park - Special Brigade Arrival Ceremony - Live Music - Interpretive program -- No-host Country Boys BBQ & WA Baked Potato Dinner. Buy BBQ Ticket>>
- Tuesday, June 28: 11:00am Rock Island - Historic Landing Dedication and Departure Ceremony
Wenatchee Celebration and festivities Confluence State Park, Olds Station
Sunday June 26: 3:00 PM - Arrive Confluence State Park for best parking.
4:00 Exhibits Open
- 4:15 Hank Cramer Performance: One of the best-loved folksingers in the American West
- 5:00 Official Ceremonial Arrival of the 2011 David Thompson Columbia Brigade
- Black Powder Musket Greeting
- Canoe Arrival Maneuvers
- Canoe Landing
- 5:45 - 6:45: No-Host Dinner at Food Tent (buy bbq tickets)
- Country Boys Barbecue and Washington Potato Buffet
- People in Boats Canoe rides until Dusk
- 6:45 David Thompson Interpretive Program
- On Stage
- 7:00 All Strings Considered Performance
- On Stage
- Finale with Hank Cramer and All Strings Considered performing an ensemble rendition of Woody Guthrie's "Roll on Columbia" with the audience joining in the chorus.
- 7:45 Informal Riverside sing-a-long led by Tom Cushing and Hank Cramer
June 28: 11:oo a.m. Rock Island Historic Landing Dedication and Brigade Departure Ceremony.
Location: Specialty Chemical Products - Hwy 28, Rock Island
Site of the Historic Rock Island Furnaces - Entrance off Hwy marked by large flags.
Enjoy a last experience with the Brigade as they as they prepare their canoes to portage around Rock Island Dam and acknowledge and dedicate the historic David Thompson landing site at Rock Island, WA. As was done 200 years ago, take part in blessing the Brigade's journey on to the Pacific Ocean. And enjoy an Ala Cart Hot Dog.