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Catcher. On the children’s shelves, Tate-Libby loves the “very cool hand-stitched and block-printed children’s books from India. Each book is one-of-a-kind and a very nice way to celebrate diversity,” she said. The handmade books “even smell like India,” she said. As part of Winthrop’s Christmas At the End of the Road celebration on Friday, Nov. 23, Trail’s End will host storytelling and treats at 3 p.m., before the hot air balloon Night Glow on Riverside Avenue. After the holidays, Trail’s End brings author Laurie Arnold, enrolled member of the Lakes Band of the Colville Confederated Tribes, and director of Native American Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame, to the valley “at a date to be determined,” Tate-Libby said. Arnold will discuss her new book, Bartering
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with the Bones of Their Dead, which details the 20-year debate over termination of federal recognition of the 9,000-member Colville Confederated Tribes. The author brings to her work “the perspective both of a thorough and careful historian and of an insider who grew up listening to the voices and memories of her elders” on the reservation, said the University of Washington Press. On March 5, Trail’s End joins the Methow Conservancy in welcoming wildlife tracker, photographer and author David Moskowitz to the valley to present his latest book to be released in February, Wolves in the Land of Wild Salmon. Describing the behaviors of individual wolf packs he has observed, combined with existing research on wolf biology, “Moskowitz uses the tracker mindset in his examination of wolves and their interactions with humans and nature,” according to Publishers Weekly. ❄
No reason not to go Nordic By Ashley Lodato Spending significant periods of time in the Methow Valley without Nordic skiing is like visiting Disneyland without going on the rides; you’re not getting your money’s worth. You may already have your season’s pass, your own equipment, and your favorite trails; if so, you’re all set. You may, however, be wondering how to break into this sport that so many people seem to have already mastered. Rest assured – everything you need to become a Nordic skier (or a better Nordic skier) can be found right in the valley. Trails The first reason to Nordic ski in the Methow Valley is to experience first-hand the incredible trail system that puts the valley on the international map for Nordic enthusiasts. Overseen by the
Methow Valley Sport Trails Association (MVSTA), the trail system encompasses more than 200 kilometers of interconnected groomed trails stretching from Mazama to Sun Mountain. Varied terrain – from flat open fields to gently rolling hills to curving forested climbs – combined with spectacular views makes the skiing interesting as well as breathtaking. The trail system comprises three main areas, all connected by the 30K Methow Community Trail, which stretches from Winthrop to Mazama with spurs up to Sun Mountain and out to Wilson Ranch and Early Winters Creek. • Mazama: Mazama’s trails are generally the flattest, with the exception of the demanding Doe Canyon and Fawn Creek trails. Several scenic loop options exist, including the popular
10K loop that leads from Mazama Junction down to the Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge and back as well as the “latte loop” that provides lodge-to-lodge skiing via the Mazama Country Inn, North Cascades Basecamp, the Freestone Inn, and the Mazama Ranch House. A warming hut located on the outlying trails provide skiers with an inviting place to picnic or rest and create an objective for those who prefer destination outings. • The Rendezvous: Skiing in the Rendezvous is not for the faint of heart, as nearly every trail involves lots of ups and downs. Some of the most spectacular skiing in the valley can be found here, however, and the network of trails and European-style mountain huts makes skiers feel that they have traveled well off the beaten path. Although the Rendezvous
Methow Valley Winter 2012/2013