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Methow Valley Summer 2010
From RVs to pup tents
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By Bob Spiwak
amping may well be the most pursued Methow pastime for visitors as well as locals. And while they may be separate subjects of discussion, in terms of distance traveled, ultra-light backpack gear and 24-foot motor homes share a lot of what we’ll discuss here. Beginning with the motor home that some regard as camping, there is a need for a place to park the rig. These are always found in the state parks like Pearrygin near Winthrop and Alta Lake a few miles from the Columbia River at the south end of the valley. There are Forest Service campgrounds, some of which will accommodate the big rigs; others offer a site for car campers, which we’ll define as having neither trailers nor motor homes. The list of places under the auspices of federal, state and local rules and regulations is lengthy for tent campers, whether a 10-person wickiup erected from its bag in the SUV to one or two person shelters and all in between.
There are only two highways into and out of the valley, but for places to camp you can box the compass. In any direction there are camping places: some in Forest Service fee campgrounds, others at trailheads where a Forest Service permit ($5 daily or $30 a year) is required. These and explanations are available at USFS offices and signed trailheads. There are numerous campgrounds up the Chewuch River. Boulder Creek will handle any of the motorized campers and has sites for smaller camping parties. One of the more popular and usually full campgrounds is Falls Creek, deriving its name from a beautiful waterfall and cascade of the creek. The falls is a pleasant quarter-mile, almost-level walk with an asphalt path that will accommodate a wheelchair or walker. You might want a map to plot out where you want to go and why. The Methow Valley Sport Trails Association has one, free at the info centers of Winthrop and Twisp, most of the lodging establishments, Winthrop
Photo by Bob Spiwak
Mountain Sports, and Mazama’s store, inn, Ranch House and probably the bike shop as well. The Chewuch (sometimes pronounced “chee-wack”) route is one of the easiest ways to reach the Pasayten Wilderness, via Lake Creek, and is heavily used in the summer. Harts Pass is perhaps one of the most popular off-road destinations in the Methow. The wildflowers are mind boggling, the views of mountain peaks spectacular. On a clear day, one can see Mt. Baker from the Slate Peak lookout, now abandoned. This has a small parking area a quarter-mile below and is an uphill climb on a gravel road from there to the site. The road to the lookout frequently does not open until sometime in July. A thousand feet below are two campgrounds, Meadows and Harts
Pass. The former was almost destroyed by a devastating fire. The trip up from pavement is about 20 miles, all gravel and not fit for Corvettes or Lamborghinis. If the driver is acrophobic, have another take the wheel at Cache Creek. A less-than-half-mile stretch up the road is appropriately named Dead Horse Point. Even though it may be hot summer on the valley floor, be prepared for rain, fog, snow or a combination of all at these high altitudes. Likewise, thunderstorms can be exciting to watch, but at the first hint, get off the high ground to a lower place where you can be away from trees. The lightning can be ferocious. Keep this in mind when you pitch your tent and keep the fly on. The greatest threat when you are off the beaten path is fire. Do not burn your toilet paper. Even where there is an installed fire pit, make certain the fire is out, watered, stirred and watered again before leaving. Pick up your trash and that left by others less sensitive. Beer cans do not burn nor melt in a campfire. Be aware that forest-use fees required are returned to this ranger district to finance trail maintenance, bathroom pumping and other amenities.