Methow Valley
Summer 2011
A supplement to the Methow Valley News
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
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Contents
Photo by Sue Misao
Rejoice! It’s summer! The snows have retreated from the valley floor and the sun is finally starting to make its presence known. The warm season –OK, hot season – is upon us. While Methow folks love the winter, summer is the season in which the valley really comes alive. Endless miles of mountains and trails punctuated with cool lakes, creeks and rivers beckon. Social events fill the calendar. There is much to do. Rejoice! It is summer in the Methow Valley!
Methow Valley
Summer 2011 Paul Butler, publisher John Hanron, editor Sue Misao, design Marilyn Bardin, office manager Janet Mehus, office assistant Robin Doggett, ad manager Callie Fink, ad sales Linda Day, ad design Dana Sphar, ad design/ production
Contributors Bill Biddle, Joyce Campbell, Steven Foreman, Patrick Hannigan, Gregory Knab, Ashley Lodato, Mike Maltais, Ann McCreary, Bob Spiwak, Marcy Stamper, Amy Stork, Carol Stull, Lillian Tucker, Laurelle Walsh Cover: “Summer Morning” watercolor by Patty Yates
A publication of the P.O. Box 97, 101 N. Glover St., Twisp, WA 98856 phone 509.997.7011 fax 509.997.3277 editor@methowvalleynews.com www.methowvalleynews.com also on Facebook & Twitter
TOWNS ALONG THE ROAD.....................................................4 A FLOCK OF TOURISTS.............................................................8 SUMMER’S WEATHER................................................................10 ALONE (TOGETHER) IN THE WILDERNESS.....................12 HIKING: AIM HIGH.........................................................................14 THE CAMPOUT...............................................................................16 ROCKIN’ YOUR WORLD............................................................18 A TASTE OF METHOW WATER...........................................20 BIKING THE MOUNTAIN...........................................................22 EASY RIDES..................................................................................24 A GLASS OF WINE...................................................................26 TEE TIME..........................................................................................28 GO FISH..........................................................................................30 GOT SOME FREE TIME?............................................................32 GALLERY: SUMMER’S SUBTLE MOMENTS.....................34 A GOOD BOOK............................................................................36 NOUVELLE CUISINE...................................................................38 OUR BUSTLING MARKET SCENE.......................................40 FESTIVALS GALORE.................................................................42 METHOW FUN ON A BUDGET..............................................44 FOOD, BUGS, TANS & SNOW.............................................46 WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND HERE?.............................47 DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS............................................50
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Take that drive up the Methow Valley By Mike Maltais isitors to North Central Washington who decide to make a casual detour to the fabled Methow Valley best heed the following travel advisory: Others have done so and many have never gone back. Take, for example, this newcomer, overheard during a recent phone call back to “the world”: (Ring, ring). Hello? Hello, [identity withheld]. Guess where I am? ?? I’m in the incomparable, irresistible Methow Valley, and I ain’t gonna leave. What about me? The kids? The second home in Monte? The yacht? The… You keep ‘em. I’m staying here, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the Liberty Bell students are above average.” I think that’s Lake Wobegon, dear. Well, whatever. I be gone! Any chance you’ll reconsider this rather rash decision? Nope. Beyond that already. I bought a restaurant in Methow. And garlic seeds. I think you mean bulbs, dear. Can I send you anything? Just my socks and sandals, sun block, and that chartreuse Lycra bike
V
Photo by Sue Misao
Your adventure will likely begin in Pateros. outfit I was too embarrassed to wear anywhere else. So, there you have it. You’ve been warned. If you are coming from the west over Washington Pass, read this
Photo by Sue Misao
Relax at the Pateros Apple Pie Jamboree.
story from the bottom up.
PATEROS
Your adventure begins innocently enough here, at the mouth of the Methow River where it joins
the Columbia. Originally founded as Ives Landing in 1886, the town became over the years a major shipping hub for steamboat and rail. In 1900, Ives Landing was renamed Pateros, after a city in the
Photo by Sue Misao
Enjoy the drive through Methow’s famous tree-lined boulevard.
Methow Valley Summer 2011
Philippines, and was officially incorporated in 1913. It gradually expanded around its original site until 1967, when the construction of Wells Dam, a short distance downstream on the Columbia, required a portion of Pateros to relocate to accommodate the Columbia’s rising waters. Today, the town sits at an elevation of 804 feet and boasts a population of around 650. It’s a great spot for fishermen, boaters, birdwatchers and anyone who just wants to take a scenic walk along the river. Every July, Pateros hosts the Apple Pie Jamboree, which includes sports tournaments and boat racing on the Columbia. Hydro races are held in August. A highlight of September is the Chelan Ridge Hawk Migration Festival.
METHOW
The next town you’ll encounter along the Methow River, 11 miles upstream from Pateros on Highway 153, is called, appropriately enough, Methow. For quiet country ambiance and picture-postcard charm, it’s hard to beat Methow, a small wave-asyou-pass-through place named after an indigenous tribe of Native Americans. Life is laid back in Methow. So much so that when the highway was built upriver, Methow didn’t even bother to step out of the way,
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so the road runs smack dab through the middle of town. The speed limit is 40 and for those who pull over for a more leisurely look, a vacant storefront and adjacent restaurant – also vacant – have been cleverly situated next to the highway as a tempting opportunity for the next sharp-eyed entrepreneur primed to purchase his own little piece of 80-hour-perweek paradise. Unincorporated Methow perches at 1,154 feet. It has a population of about 260 souls, with a church to take care of them, a post office for its one zip code, a tree-lined boulevard and the founder’s original home still a prominent landmark. W.A. Bolinger was the first to sink roots in Methow when he moved his business establishment to the spot in 1889 and later he spearheaded the building of the first highway into the area.
CARLTON
What can one say about Carlton? Still waiting… OK. I’ll start. The town has been around since about 1907, is unincorporated, and is nestled at an elevation of 1,414 feet. Its business anchor is the rare and nostalgic Carlton General Store, an “ifwe-don’t-have-it, you-don’t need-it” emporium, the likes of which is fast becoming a thing of the past. The town also has a post office, fire
Photo by Joyce Campbell
Carlton’s hot spot is its famous beachfront. station, an occasional restaurant, year-round lodging at the Countrytown Motel and more than 500 residents who call the surrounding environs home. The well-known Carlton swimming hole along the northwest side of the highway bridge is a fine place to rest your feet, wade in the river and enjoy a sandy stretch of riverbank along the Methow. For those who passed on purchasing the restaurant in Methow, do we have a deal for you! A sizeable chunk
of downtown Carlton is for sale and that includes the 750-million-barrel oil deposit that underlies the town (and that nobody else knows about).
TWISP
One of the interesting features about the 33-mile drive from Pateros upriver to Twisp is that the highway crosses the Methow River 10 times en route to the valley’s hub city. At just about every crossing there’s access to the river for fishermen inclined
to wet a line in blue ribbon water. Twisp, elevation 1,637 feet, is located at the spot where the Twisp River joins the Methow. Following earlier gold discoveries, it was originally settled by H.C. Glover in 1897 and the main street in town is named in his honor. Its official incorporation occurred in 1909. Like many cities across the country whose history includes at least one natural or manmade disaster, Twisp can lay claim to a few. The
Photo by Sue Misao
Twisp has a thriving arts community.
Continued on P.6
Photo by Sue Misao
The Twisp Commons brings people together on a sunny day.
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Photo by Sue Misao
Easy riders enjoy Winthrop’s Old West scene.
Photo by Marcy Stamper
Main street in Winthrop attracts a lot of visitors. great fire of 1924 made ash of 23 downtown buildings in 90 minutes. The great flood of 1948 set the high water mark for bridge and property damage and the great freeze of 1968, with temperatures that dropped to 50 degrees below zero, did a real number on area orchards. Twisp’s unique name comes from the Methow dialect meaning “wasp” or “yellowjacket” and over the past couple of decades the place has seen a buzz of activity. The local Farmers Market that sets up shop every Saturday morning from April through October at the Community Center commons is one of the largest food and crafts venues in
the state. The Community Center, which occupies the old high school building downtown, is home to a variety of activities including a recently renovated Twisp Library. The city that was named one of the “100 Best Small Art Towns in America” in 1994 by arts author John Villani (AnythingArts.com), continues to showcase a thriving arts community in The Merc playhouse and Confluence Gallery and Art Center. Between them, Hank’s Harvest Foods and the Glover Street Market offer a range of organic, exotic and staple food items to satisfy the diverse and refined food tastes of valley residents. The recent acquisition of the former six-acre For-
est Service compound by a consortium of civic-minded donors and christened TwispWorks, promises to be a cutting-edge resource for a growing and changing selfsustaining community.
die in the Civil War. One of Winthrop’s works, The Canoe and the Saddle, chronicles his travels in Washington Territory in 1853. Waring’s original home now houses the Shafer Museum and his Duck Brand Saloon, which survived a fire that devastated the town in 1893, now serves as the town hall. A new Duck Brand Hotel and Cantina can be found nearby. Just up the
street, Three Fingered Jack’s Saloon continues to operate as the oldest legal saloon in the state. Winthrop has carefully crafted its growth to offer travelers a uniquely fashioned experience combined with all the comforts of home. Cattle drives, rodeos and the ’49er Days Celebration held the first weekend in May compete with music, art
WINTHROP
Mosey on up the road another eight miles and you can’t miss Winthrop, whose Old West makeover in 1972 has been packin’ in the pilgrims ever since. On the heels of more gold discoveries, Winthrop was founded by Guy Waring in 1891 at the forks of the Chewuch and Methow rivers and named for 19th century adventurer, soldier and author Theodore Winthrop, one of the first to
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and balloon festivals to keep visitors entertained. Nationally recognized Sun Mountain Lodge perches on the crest of nearby Patterson Mountain and combines rustic-elegant lodging with five-star dining.
MAZAMA
Photo by Paul Butler
Just a couple of local boys playing in the big backyard behind Mazama. hunting days. That’s the tour. Six towns; each one unique in its own right; and
each one drawing the unsuspecting traveler ever deeper into the web of enchantment that is the Methow
Valley. So, beware. Many are those who venture in. Few are those who depart. 4
People’s Choice Anaco Oktoberrtes fest
Travel another 14 miles north of the Stetsons and six-shooters and you’ll find Mazama (pop. 250 or so), once considered the end of the road, but no longer. At 2,178 feet elevation, Mazama is the eastern portal to one of the pristine driving experiences in the West, the 60-mile stretch of North Cross State Highway spanning the North Cascade Range to Newhalem. The newly remodeled Mazama Country Store has all the supplies to get you over the hump and numerous overnight accommodations are available nearby. Originally called Goat Creek in the 19th century, the town’s name was later changed to Mazama, which is Spanish for “mountain goat”, or what Guy Waring’s friend, President Theodore Roosevelt, called the “white antelope-goat” in his
155 Riverside, Winthrop, WA • (509) 996-3183 Open daily from May through October
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Frugal tourists still flocking to the Methow By Patrick Hannigan ow about hot dogs and s’mores around the campfire instead of going out for fettuccine and cheesecake? Could we survive a weekend on Therm-a-Rests instead of a king-sized bed? Do we really need to buy matching “Life in Winthrop is hard, but it’s harder when you’re a tourist,” T-shirts for the whole family? Today, frugality is not just fashionable; it’s a necessity for many people. Yet despite the economic challenges of the day, vacations are still a priority and the Methow remains a popular tourist destination. Individuals, couples and families are still traveling to the valley in near record numbers. They just aren’t spending as much
H
Photo by Joyce Campbell
Alta Lake State Park, in the lower reaches of the Methow, is a fine place to find refuge on a hot summer day. The park offers camping for as little as $14 a night. money once they get here. Between the beginning of the so-called “Great Recession” in 2007 and 2010, the
hotel/motel tax revenues received by the town of Winthrop increased 13 percent. That figure is based on a fixed
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2-percent tax kickback the town receives from Washington State on all overnight accommodations in Winthrop.
The simple conclusion is that tough times have not stopped growing numbers of people from vacationing in the valley. But the raw hotel/motel tax figures don’t really tell the whole story. “We’re not so much seeing a decrease in people coming, but what they are spending and where they are staying,” said Erin Goodman, events coordinator at the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce. “The higherend places are seeing it and people are camping more, not buying as much.” According to data provided by Winthrop clerk/treasurer Michelle Gaines, tax revenues from retail sales in Winthrop fell 15.5 percent between 2007 and 2010 – even as visitorship (as measured by the 2 percent hotel/motel tax) rose 13 percent. The
Methow Valley Summer 2011 upshot is more tourists are spending substantially less money on different things. The change is palpable for many of the retail or serviceoriented businesses in the valley and their employees. For the past two years, Sun Mountain Lodge (one of the largest private employers in the Methow) has shut down for six weeks in both fall and spring for the first time in nearly two decades. “Like lots of people in the valley, we make the majority of our money in the summer months,” said Sun Mountain general manager Brian Charlton. “During spring and fall in the valley, you have to be very fortunate to stay even.” That applies to many in the Methow. During the shoulder seasons of fall and spring in 2010-11, so many restaurants were temporarily closed or closed early in the evening that a visiting family could practically starve to death after 8:30 p.m. The good new is if you are reading
Page 9 this guide, it is likely summer and you can probably find food until at least 9:30 p.m. Most every business in the Methow is booming during July and August, but during the slower seasons, the challenge is keeping the doors open without going out of business. According to Aaron Studen, owner of the Twisp River Pub, that’s a tough balancing act. “During the slow times of the year, we try to give the locals incentives to come out,” said Studen. “Any yearround service business relies on the locals to keep them going during the quieter months.” When it comes to the tourist business, Laurie Myers has seen it all. Her parents built the KOA in Winthrop 37 years ago. Now owner of the Winthrop KOA, Myers has known some of her campers for decades. She said July and August have been as busy as ever the past few years, but this year she wonders about
the potential impact of higher gas prices. “I’ve noticed that when RVs get six miles to the gallon and gas is over four dollars, sometimes RVs tend to stay in one place,” said Myers. The late projected opening of the North Cascades Highway is also a concern, said Myers, because a huge percentage of her business is from the Skagit Valley, Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C. “A lot of those people just won’t come until the highway is open.” But the evidence suggests that when families are feeling the budgetary crunch, they still go camping. More campsites at Pearrygin Lake State Park are being occupied by more people and revenue for the park has tracked upward during the recession, said park manager Rick Lewis. “Our attendance has gone up every year for the past four,” said Lewis. “Our theory is that instead of flying to Disneyland or wherever, people are jumping in the car and going camping.” That observation is borne out by Cheryl Ethrington, owner of the Riverbend RV Park in Twisp for the past 10 years. “The past two years have been our best years in 10 years, but they are not spending as much money,” said Ethrington. “They cook in rather than go out and we stopped stocking stuff in our gift shop because nobody was buying it.” Kathleen and Kyrie Jardin have faith people
Photo by John Hanron
Events like the popular Winthrop R&B Festival draw a loyal – and footloose – crowd from the region. will continue to vacation in the valley. This year, the couple bought Central Reservations, a business that has connected visitors with overnight accommodations since 1984. “We’ve noticed that many families want to stay in a place with a kitchen, so they can cook their own meals,” said Kathleen. “People still want to take vacations, but they are looking for ways to make them more afford-
able.” In some ways, that’s one of the things the Methow has going for it: the activities that draw people to the valley such as fishing, hiking, biking and camping are not particularly expensive. “We are just a half-day drive from the westside, yet it feels so different here,” said the chamber ’s Goodman. “There’s really a sense of ‘getting away’ and people want that. They need that.” 4
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Summer weather By Bill Biddle Sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud; And after summer evermore succeeds Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet. –King Henry the Sixth, Part II William Shakespeare he Bard of Avon in 1590 was talking about the reign of kings and comparing it to the weather of “sunnie England.” How precisely he encapsulates the summer weather of the Methow Valley! Cares and joys abound for JuneJuly-August – but barren winter’s snow and nipping cold have only left the valley to lurk in the high country and catch travelers who venture there. These hikers and climbers will have snow at their feet, but summer on their hats. Yes, this paradox will be especially evident this summer because of the deep snows of yester winter just past. That snow will stay a long, long time in the high country. It behooves travelers to check with the Park Service and Forest Service on trail conditions above 5,000 feet everywhere,
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even in August. The heat of the valley in midsummer will have only dented the snow up high, not cleared it! But the valley will have a real summer even before and after the Fourth of July. The Fourth has always been the yardstick that measures the summers of the Methow: hot on Independence Day, winter before and after. But this summer will not follow that adage. Hot and dry for mid-summer, warm and wet before and after. After a wet and chilly April, May will seem like the start of a summer when cares and joys will abound. But heed the words of Robert Herrick (1591-1674): Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying, And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying. The arrowleaf balsamroot and the serviceberry will spread their gold and white amidst the green-gold of the aspens. Enjoy the splendor and sunshine amidst the hum and buzz of countless insects while reclining on a hillside looking at the
Photo by Paul Butler
Boisterous thunderstorms will rock the valley in late June.
Photo by Marcy Stamper
Summer hikers will have “snow at their feet, but summer on their hats.” winter snows on all the high peaks! June brings us Samuel Taylor Coleridge (17721834) who wrote in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” about the splendors of June: A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night Singeth a quiet tune. The Methow River and all of its tributaries will be much louder than a quiet tune during the first half of the month. The bounding boulders and the roaring waters will be scary for awhile, as well as some boisterous thunderstorms that will rock and roll through the valley late in the month. July and August will have mid-summer heat with lightning and thunder more often than usual. Blasts of hot air will roll down the valley as waves of warmth cascade down from the high peaks. This warm air will be wet from the melting snow that will be packed onto all of the high country trails. Ice axes will be standard equipment for all high country travelers. Late August will have a bevy of thunderstorms that will take the valley back to the opening crescendo of storms that rocked the valley in late June. September will start hot and dry, but winter is just around the corner. The rosebuds and balsamroot will be a memory. 4
Methow Valley Summer 2011
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
All alone (together) in the wilderness By Patrick Hannigan
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he Methow is a valley that sometimes feels like an island. But instead of an ocean, we are surrounded by a sea of snow-capped peaks that stretch to the horizon. A quick look at a map reinforces
the illusion: The Methow is a narrow finger of white-colored private land bounded on all sides by shades of purple, yellow and green indicating state wildlife areas, national forest, wilderness and national park. In total, more than 85 percent of the acreage in the Methow watershed is
Photo by Mike Maltais
Private land on the valley floor is surrounded by a sea of public lands, where we can wander.
public land. South is the 1.7 million-acre Wenatchee National Forest. To the southwest is the 153,000-acre Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness. The Okanogan National Forest and the 684,000-acre North Cascades National Park ring the valley to the west and northwest. North of the Methow lies the 531,000-acre Pasayten Wilderness and east of the valley is even more of the 1.5 million-acre Okanogan National Forest. So it’s not a stretch to say that the Methow Valley is a small island of civilization inset into four or five million acres of forest land, parklands and wilderness. Geography isolates this place, but also unites it. People who live in the valley commonly identify their home as “The Methow” instead of a particular town. In the Methow, the towns scattered along the valley floor are like neighborhoods that together make up a varied, but singular place. That sense of place is defined in significant part by what surrounds it. Often, no such strict boundary is evident on the ground. Farms give way gracefully to grasslands; orchards yield to serviceberry and ponderosa and beyond it all blends into wilderness. Where does it begin and where does it end? Sometimes it’s tough to tell because evidence of
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
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Visit the Spa Photo by Paul Butler
This is our backyard, which we love to explore. the wilderness all around us begins right out the back door. Wildlife does not necessarily recognize the lines between private and public or civilization and wilderness. Coyotes and black bears troll through the human landscape looking for a stray dog on which to snack or a bird feeder to raid. Every year we hear stories about bobcats living under somebody’s porch and making lunch out of somebody’s chickens or cats. Deer graze downtown and bald eagles clean up the spawned-out salmon along the river. Nature is not an abstraction, but a fact of daily life. Just as wildlife wanders into human spaces, Methow residents like to meander out into wild places. It doesn’t take more than a few minutes to discover places that reveals no obvious sign of human endeavor. Still, we tend to think of the wild land around us as an extension of our backyards. It is not separate from us, but part of our living spaces, places where we play and explore and grow to know slowly in small intimate pieces. The broadness of the wilderness surrounding the Methow is humbling. For the most part, our experience with it is limited to the fringes. Even those who venture deep into the Pasayten or the Sawtooth tend to travel the same, narrow, thread-like paths in an awesome expanse. There are a lot of places near and far where people just don’t go.
The valley itself is cozy, but not confined. It feels spacious, but homey. There is human comfort in the towns and cabins and farmhouses and irrigated fields. But the comforting view from the valley floor is deceptive: the soft sage-and-bitterbrushed hills that cradle the Methow belie the ruggedness beyond. Only when we reach a higher vantage point, such as Goat Peak or Lookout or Tiffany Mountain, is the larger picture revealed. From a perch or peak above the valley, it’s easy to feel isolated and very small. The hugely expanded horizon and sense of space gives way to a feeling akin to vertigo tinged with loneliness. We can look down into the valley and see civilization in miniature. From this distance it looks inviting and even quaint. Or we can turn the other direction and feel like the only person on planet Earth. We don’t live at the edge of wilderness, but in a valley surrounded by it. That makes a difference. We are connected to the world and at the same time isolated and insulated from it by geography. In some basic way, that reality pervades the psyche of Methow residents and contributes to the cohesiveness of community, a sort of inland case of island psychology. For all our differences here, there is an underlying sense that we are all alone out here together. 4
After an invigorating day enjoying the Methow Valley, treat yourself or someone you care for with a treatment in our warm and healing spa. The spa features an array of tempting choices. We invite you to come enjoy, relax, restore, and take time for you! Our hours of service are 9 AM-8 PM daily . Appointments may be made by calling ext. 227.
800—572—0493 or 509-996-2211
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Aim high By Ann McCreary ast winter’s abundant snow in the North Cascades means that high elevation hiking trails in the mountains surrounding the Methow Valley are likely to be snowbound until much later in the season than usual. So, hikers may need to be content with hiking closer to the valley floor while waiting for the snow on higher trails to clear. Fortunately, there are some wonderful options for easy hikes to warm up for those more strenuous hikes up high. Aflat, easy stroll along the Big Valley Trail offers shade, lovely views of Goat Peak on the return trip, and the reward of reaching the Methow River, especially welcome on a hot
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day. It’s a favorite for people with canine companions, and the trip to the river and back is easily accomplished in under two hours. The Big Valley Trail in the Methow Valley is part of the Methow Valley Sport Trails network and part of the Cascades Loop of the Great Washington State Birding Trail. Head toward Mazama from Winthrop, look for Dripping Springs Road about five miles out of town, and the trailhead is just down the dirt road. Another easily accessible lowland hike is found 11 miles up the West Chewuch Road at Falls Creek Falls. A short path from the road to the base of the first falls is paved for handicapped accessibility, the only waterfall with developed access in the Methow Valley
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area. During spring and early summer runoff, the thundering waterfall is impressive and it feels almost like cheating to get such a great reward for so little effort. A second set of falls is reached after a short hike up a trail that climbs, sometimes steeply, upstream. On warm summer days the pools below the falls entice people to take a dip in the chilly waters. Hikers can continue beyond the second falls on a trail that continues climbing up another mile or two, with views overlooking the creek. The trail starts just north of the Falls Creek Bridge and leads to the base of the falls in about 500 feet. Another waterfall hike, higher in elevation but still among the first trails to get clear of snow, is the Cedar Creek trail, a lightly traveled trail off North Cascades Highway as you head up the valley out of Mazama. The hike up to Cedar Falls is a good early- or late-season outing. During the snowmelt, you’ll be treated to an impressive display of hydrologic force as the creek careens down a series of rapids, crashing over a two-tiered cataract into a deep chasm. The trailhead is not very attractive, but things get better once you head into the woods on a well-groomed
Photo by Ashley Lodato
Hard core: heading up toward Kangaroo Ridge. path high above Cedar Creek. You’ll soon come upon an unmarked junction where you continue straight on Trail No. 476. As you climb you’ll see views north to Goat Peak and Goat Wall and after about a mile, the trail begins to travel along Cedar Creek. Hiking through groves of pine and fir, the trail in spring is bright with wildflowers, and the
forest thins to reveal vistas of surrounding slopes. After about 1.75 miles, you’ll reach Cedar Falls, thundering over two ledges into a narrow chasm. The show can be admired from overhanging rocks, but keep a close watch on kids and dogs. As the snowpack clears and higher elevations open, Blue Lake, with a trailhead just past Washington Pass,
Methow Valley Summer 2011
Photo by Ashley Lodato
Chill: Strolling through a meadow in the upper valley. Ridge and exploding with wildflowers in season. Once through the meadows the trail enters oldgrowth forest and continues ascending, crossing Copper Glance Creek once again before scrabbling up a rocky crest to a ridge, topping out at 6,400 feet. At the top you’re greeted with eye-popping views of massive Isabella Ridge. From the ridge it’s a steep, quarter-mile drop to the cirque embracing Copper Glance Lake. Stretch out on one of the massive boulders surrounding the gorgeous glacial lake and drink in the scenery. Keep an eye out for mountain goats on the rocky cliffs surrounding the lake, which has plentiful small trout. Many local hikers agree that no summer is complete without a trip around Maple Pass Loop. The highest elevation of the hikes listed here, topping at 6,600 feet, this hike is spectacular any time of year. The trip is especially rewarding in fall, with its sharp light, abundant huckleberries and blueberries, and brilliant reds and yellows of changing foliage. Maple Pass Loop also offers that supreme reward of hiking – traveling eight miles without having to retrace your steps. That means hav-
ing to decide at the trailhead whether to take the trail clockwise or counter-clockwise. Clockwise is a somewhat steeper climb up, but the elevation gain is generally gradual in both directions and you can’t lose either way. The trailhead begins at the busy Rainy Pass rest area. Maple Pass Loop offers a smorgasbord of North Cascades terrain, travelling through old-growth forest and opening into subalpine hillsides. The loop treats hikers with dramatic views of the surrounding Cascades, and vistas of sparkling Lake Ann and Rainy Lake below. Fat marmots the size of beavers whistle at passing hikers from talus fields. At the Maple Pass summit, the views are resplendent. Corteo and Black Peaks loom nearby and Glacier Peak and surrounding mountains fill the distance as you traverse fragile alpine meadows of heather across the saddle at the top of the loop. Before heading out for a hike, remember that many trailheads around the Methow Valley require a Northwest Forest Pass, so avoid fines by picking up a season pass at the Methow Ranger District office or Winthrop Mountain Sports. Daily permits are also available at some trailheads. 4
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is a relatively short but very rewarding hike. A popular destination, Blue Lake is a lovely glacial lake set against the striking Early Winters Spires. The lake is reached by a trail that is just over two miles long, and climbs about 1,000 feet through forest to open hillsides with great views of peaks across the valley. Approaching the lake you’ll cross streams flowing out of the lake, and pass a dilapidated old cabin that invites exploration. Surrounding the lake are rocky ledges perfect for picnicking, marveling at the granite spires of Early Winters, and spotting small trout in the crystal clear waters of the lake. Brave souls have been known to leap into the sparkling but frigid waters. Copper Glance Lake is another spectacular mountain lake, reached by a trailhead about 21 miles outside of Winthrop on Eightmile Creek Road. Like Blue Lake, the trail to Copper Glance Lake is fairly short – only about three miles. Unlike Blue Lake, however, it’s not a quick trip, because the trail climbs about 2,500 feet. But you’ll find the effort worth the sweat. The trail traverses high mountain meadows brilliant with lupine, paintbrush and other wildflowers in early summer (the trail usually opens sometime in June). In fall, brilliant yellow larch trees surround the turquoise lake. Starting on an old jeep road, the trail begins climbing, crossing Copper Glance Creek after about half a mile. The former jeep road continues upward and at about 1.5 miles the old road ends at a mine shaft (elev. 5200 ft). Narrow-gauge tracks lead into the tunnel that disappears into the spooky darkness of the abandoned copper mine. After the mine you’ll leave jeep trail behind and travel by a true trail, and the climb up becomes more strenuous. At about two miles, the trail emerges into lovely mountainside meadows offering views of Isabella
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Camping close to the car By Paul Butler ith all the beautiful, mountainous terrain surrounding the Methow Valley, beckoning us to come escape from the day-to-day, to explore and rejuvenate, how can one not heed that call? The question though, is how to go about venturing into these sublime and picturesque areas? One proven and practical approach is via the car camping method. Just throw everything and everyone into the rig (when in doubt, don’t leave it out) and take off, be it for a night, a week or maybe forever. The Methow provides ample and ideal car camping destinations. Of course, knowing the latest rules and regulations governing the public lands one is utilizing is the responsibility of the car camper. Paying a fee may be necessary, or some areas may be closed to car camping – park at your own risk. From these ideal car camping spots, excellent recreation destinations exist. Bring the walking boots, bike, horse, boat, fishing pole – what have you – or
W Photo by Paul Butler
Bring a good book, find a shady spot, and settle in for the afternoon.
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
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simply idle in camp with a good book, beverage in hand, maybe some mandolin music in the background while the kids frolic about. Ahhh, the good life…. The lower valley: Plenty of good options for low-key car camping exist outside of the towns of Methow and Carlton. As with any place in the valley, a reliable map denoting the myriad of Forest Service roads is handy to have along. Following dirt roads, one should check out the possibilities in the upper reaches of Foggy Dew and Crater creeks. Here, access can be gained via foot, hoof or tire (bike or cycle) into some superb non-wilderness, national forest lands and a string of pretty alpine lakes. Another fine place to venture is up the many reaches of Libby Creek, in particular near the end of the North Fork drainage. Options open up as nearby FS Road 4340 connects with the Gold Creek drainage to the south while Forest Service Road 43 heads north toward Blackpine Lake and the Twisp River Valley. Twisp River environs: The Twisp River area is a valley unto itself, and a spectacular one at that. A 17-mile long, paved road heads out of the heart of the Methow, running alongside the Sawtooth Ridge, then turns to dirt for another eight miles until coming to an abrupt halt at Road’s End near the old mining town of Gilbert. This road was once considered a possible start for a northern crossing route that would have traversed the rugged range over Twisp Pass to Bridge Creek and on to Cascade Pass. Along this stretch of road, just past the last residences and private property, is an abundance of quality car camping terrain. Multiple campgrounds, with names like War Creek and Mystery, along with other spots scattered along the river offer tranquility and access to ample outdoor recreation, whether on the valley floor itself, or via the many mountain trails emanating from the road into a wilderness full of alpine lakes and rugged peaks. Chewuch River area: The town of Winthrop sits at the confluence of the Chewuch River flowing into the Methow River. North of town, the enormous Chewuch River drainage spreads itself out offering an abundance of places for the motivated car camper to set up shop. From the forested and serene camping spots found along Eightmile Creek to the unlimited options via Boulder Creek that extend into the Loomis State Forest, there no shortage of good country to roam. The West Chewuch Road, paved up to Andrews Creek, winds its way toward its terminus at Thirtymile, and is replete with official and under-the-radar places to camp.
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Photo by Ashley Lodato
You can bring your own personal chef when you go car camping. There is good access to the river, trails and other sites like Falls Creek Falls and the firefighter memorial from the big and tragic blaze 10 years ago. It is tough to pick a bad spot in these woods. Mazama and beyond: Just outside the idyllic hamlet of Mazama, there is no shortage of places to park and establish camp. On the valley floor, or at least a very reasonable distance from the delectable sundries of the local country store, are several choice campgrounds. Heading west on Highway 20 is Early Winters, Klipchuck and Lone Fir campgrounds, while down Lost River Road one will find the Ballard and River Bend sites and plenty of unofficial spots. The more adventurous can head up “beyond Lost,” past the white-knuckle drop-off of Deadhorse Point, to the Harts Pass area, where several nice places exist to “high altitude” car camp. A more undeveloped zone for those car campers who like fewer rules and few amenities can be found on the myriad of dirt roads north of Mazama in the Goat Creek drainage. Like the many different and stellar outdoor recreation opportunities available in the Methow Valley, so are there a seemingly endless amount of car camping destinations strewn in all four directions. Perhaps you’ll find a favorite spot to return to time and time again, or maybe the lure of the unknown will drive you to new destinations. Either way, it is hard to go wrong car camping in the Methow. 4
SOUVENIRS
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Rocks rock By Marcy Stamper ome call it vertical yoga or moving meditation, or liken it to gymnastics or dance. But rock climbing is a world unto itself, pairing this intense focus and an acute awareness of being in the moment with spectacular scenery and a special camaraderie. “Climbing is very Zen – that’s really what it’s about,” said Tom Kimbrell, a veteran climber who worked as a guide for 25 years and is a former owner of Winthrop Mountain Sports. “Climbing is a metaphor for life, for its spiritual side,” said Sue Cram, a climber with 25 years of experience who splits her time between the Methow Valley and southern California, where
S
Photo by Paul Butler
This is not the time to wonder if you left the stove on. she owns a climbing school. “Climbing parallels our fear of the future and acceptance of who we are and builds a connection to our body, spirit
and mind.” “There is a certain sense of focus,” said Mazama resident Katharine Bill, who has climbed for two decades and also worked as a guide and instructor. “It’s a way to be in nature – the climbing, exposure and risks make all the distractions of daily life fall away.” Cram had the same experience. “It changed my life when I went to climb – all my troubles melted away when I tied into the rope – of necessity. It kept me sane,” she said. While climbing changed her life (she ultimately left her corporate job to work full-time in climbing), yoga changed Cram’s approach to climbing. “Climbing is really
all about breathing and being in the present – it forces you to do that because of the potential consequences,” she said. While climbing provides an intense inner experience for many enthusiasts, climbing also takes them into the larger world – literally. You may admire the Liberty Bell spires from the North Cascades Highway or a hiking trail, said Bill, but with climbing skills you find it’s actually possible to get up there. While she had always loved the mountains, rock climbing helped bring a sense of purpose and exploration to her time in the mountains and added another layer of challenge
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and risk, she said. Many people imagine climbing requires considerable upper-body strength but, in fact, the most important foundation of good technique is knowing how to place your feet, said Cram. When starting out, climbers also learn to concentrate simply on moving on rock and getting used to the sense of exposure. “Twenty feet off the ground can feel like 200,” said Bill. Climbing is done in pairs, with one person belaying (securing the rope from a stable position to secure a partner). That partnership builds a special relationship between climbers. “You spend a lot of time on a cliff in stressful situations – it involves good communication and an incredible amount of trust,” said Mark Allen, a guide with North Cascades Mountain Guides. “Climbers have a tight-knit culture. It’s very tribal and self-regulating.” People say, “Climbing? Why on earth would you do that? It seems silly to climb up to come back down again,” said Bill. But for her, climbing is a way to experience the solitude of the North Cascades. “As soon as you step off space and above rock, there’s not a lot of time to think, ‘Did I pay that electric bill?’” said Cram. 4
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Where to find the rocks Novice and experienced climbers all flock to Fun Rock, one and a half miles west of the Mazama Store, to try rock climbing for the first time and meet other climbers, for a quick ascent at the end of the workday, and to get in shape at the beginning of the season. Fun Rock offers about three dozen climbs, ranging from the easiest beginner routes to challenging longer climbs, with evocative names like Pygmalion, Drive-by-Nose Job and Gridlock, as described in the guidebook Rock Climbing Washington. Another good resource is Bryan Burdo’s Mazama Rock. Fun Rock is touted for being family- and dogfriendly, with a flat base without obstructions for belayers and spectators. The rock has both fixed anchors and routes for traditional climbing, where climbers place their own protection and remove it on the way back down. Most routes are not more than 80 feet high. While many routes at Fun Rock are suitable for beginners, there can be loose rock, making helmets important, particularly for belayers. There are several areas up the West Chewuch similar to Fun Rock, but those routes are generally more difficult, said veteran climber Tom Kimbrell. Goat Wall in Mazama also has good multi-pitch routes for advanced climbers. (Climbs are classified by the number of ropes required, which are generally about 200 feet long. Each segment is referred to as a pitch.) The Prospector Crags, about six and a half miles west of Mazama on Lost River Road, offer accessible climbs of good variety for experienced climbers. Climbers can find good beginning and intermediate routes at the Washington Pass spires, such as the south arête of Early Winters and the Beckey Route (the southwest face) on Liberty Bell, although these are alpine routes and require more experience and preparation, according to climber Katharine Bill. A backcountry permit is required to climb in North Cascades National Park.
Photo by Paul Butler
Climbing requires a lot of communication and trust.
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Have a taste of our water! By Bob Spiwak hen the locals think of water in the Methow, theymay be thinking about the stuff they drink, which may be among the best water in the world. Many bottled water aficionados have rated it equal to or better than what costs a buck or more in a plastic disposable bottle. But along with the drinking stuff, locals and visitors have visions of water-based recreation, and there are plenty of opportunities for that in the valley. There are still waters, placid lakes that can get grumpy when the wind comes up, quiet pond-like lakes, and a river that moves in a leisurely
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manner at its upper end and becomes a raging class three or four frothy torrent at its lower end. The recreation thus offered is manifold. Another facet of water in the Methow is a means to cool off, and all the above except the rapids downstream offer an opportunity to soak your body or merely splash your face. We’ll begin with the most placid public place of immersion in the valley, the Wagner Memorial Pool in Twisp. This is the only public swimming pool in the valley and some distance beyond. It was created by benefactors Otto and Kathryn Wagner years ago when a family member drowned while swimming in the river. The Wagners saw the need
Photo by Bob Spiwak
The Methow River has its moments of frothiness. for a safe place to swim and funded construction of the pool. Today, the pool, according to spokesperson Patty Yates, can brag that more than 200 swimming lessons were taken last year, mostly by children, all under the supervision of a lifeguard. Opening early in June, the pool, while not Olympic size, is still large enough for deep and very shallow ends. It hosts a swim team that calls itself the Killer Whales, and also welcomes non-competitive people who just plain want to cool off when the thermometer heads for the
stratosphere. Adjacent to the park in Twisp, the pool is worth a visit just to view the artwork on its walls. For lake fishing, there are places such as Patterson Lake, en route to Sun Mountain, whose depth ranges from 12 to 93 feet and offers several varieties of trout, along with bass and perch. It is quiet, wake speed or less only and a great place to paddle a canoe or kayak, a sailboat or board when the wind comes up in the afternoon, as it is prone to do. There is a public launch; you will need a Department of Fish and Wildlife sticker to
park there. The water, even at midsummer is chill. The most-used lake in the area is Pearrygin Lake State Park. The lake gets warmish and is the place where the jet boats and water skiers recreate, among the fishing people who have been known to raise a fist or single digit when the motorized mariners get too close. Pearrygin is heavily stocked with rainbow and other trout and there are some huge holdovers in it. The park is the fourth most heavily used in the state and has expanded several times over the last decade. There is
Newly built lodging with private decks on the Methow River in the Town of Winthrop. Fly fish or float the river right from your doorstep. 110 White Ave (Twin Lakes Rd) • Winthrop Wa 98862 • Phone: 509-996-4348 www.MethowRiverCabins.com
Methow Valley Summer 2011
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Photo by Bob Spiwak
Pearrygin Lake in Winthrop is the valley’s most popular among locals and tourists.
methownet.com
a boat launch, dock, parking for RVs as well as tent sites, and again for a cool off, a roped-off swimming area, no lifeguard, but a sandy beach for parents to lounge on while watching the kids. This is a fairly large lake, a bit bigger than Patterson. There are many smaller lakes: In the hills west of Twisp is lovely Black Pine Lake, which has a Forest Service campground and great scenery on the way to its forested location. The Twin Lakes are on the way to Patterson. Davis Lake is virtually devoid of trees on three shores, and closed to fishing in summer, making it a good place to paddle or take a dip or a few to cool off. All the above represent the placid waters in the
immediate environs of the valley. Let’s not forget the three rivers where locals swim, float, paddle and raft. At this writing it is unknown whether the Osprey River Adventures rafting outfit will be offering raft trips down the Methow this year. If rafting is in your plans, we’d suggest using Google, and notating the Methow River when you seek the information. Out-of-town companies used to descend on this river but tough times seem to have contracted most companies’ menu of options. Whether you are on an inner tube or in a raft ALWAYS wear your life preserver (or PFD) no matter how warm it is. The river can do its own thing, changing
from calm water to rapids to whirlpools. And this river is very cold; hypothermia, even in summer heat can put you under: first the water, and later, the earth. The confluent Chewuch is not much for boating or floating, but there are swimming holes on it and a host of campgrounds, or camping places along its adjacent roads. Likewise, the Twisp River, while good for small boats in the spring, is used mainly as a place to jump in and cool off when the thermometer hits the high end. As you can see, there is a water activity to suit just about any taste. And that takes us full circle: wait until you taste our water. It’s the best in the world. 4
Methow Valley
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Pick your mountain biking style By Steven Foreman umped tires, lubricated chains, full Camelbacks, spare tubes, and miles of singletrack under your pedals, the Methow Valley calls to any mountain biker.
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With trails reaching thin air at 8,200 feet over mountain passes or the rolling hills surrounding the valley, a range of technical rides makes this a haven for experts, beginners or anyone in-between. Joe Brown at Methow
Photo by John Hanron
The trails at Sun Mountain offer variety and challenge for all levels of rider. Cycle and Sport calls this place one of the least discov-
ered gems in the West. July to October is prime
mountain bike season. Snow melting off the passes dares the first long-awaited ride, and a mountain bike festival in October finishes the season in style. To break into the area, Sun Mountain offers a system of trails, from beginner to expert, at lower elevations. This is the spot to take the family or a mix-skilled group of riders. These trails mingle in rolling terrain by Patterson Lake. The lake offers a relaxing spot for a lunch break. There’s camping and resorts nearby. Kristen Smith, an employee of Methow Valley Sport Trails Association, says, “Hands down my favorite trail is Buck Mountain. It is the quintessential Methow Valley mountain bike ride with unbelievable
Methow Valley Summer 2011
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Photo courtesy of Amy Stork
Local trails and old roads offer mountain bikers fabulous views, such as this near Aspen Lake. views, wildflowers, and fun, fast single-track just moments out of town.� Joe Brown cited this area as a do-not-miss ride for anyone visiting. Locals favor this 13-mile loop of rolling terrain. For a rider looking for something technical and challenging, Angels Staircase climbs to around 8,200 feet pushing the most advanced riders to an all-day pedal over mountain passes. This is Brown’s favorite ride and also the highest mountain bike trail in Washington state. “It’s a rugged, tough climb with great descents, 100 percent single-track all day,� said Brown. “I’ve seen snowstorms here on Labor Day. It’s an epic trail adventure that’s world class by anyone’s standard. Having ridden on several continents, I haven’t ridden anything that’s better, necessarily.� This ride requires extra preparation, plenty of water, replenishing food or gels,
bike tools, and repair kits. Smith notes this ride as also one of her most rewarding with spectacular views and amazing descents. A rider looking for competition will find it on June 26th at the Loup Loup Ski Bowl for the fifth annual Methow Cycle and Sport Challenge. Not into competition? A spectator will see some of the best riders in the Northwest accompanied by a live DJ and fresh beer from the Twisp River Pub. More information can be found at methowcyclesport.com. A visitor to the area shouldn’t hesitate to step into a bike shop to pick up some of the trail maps specifically designed for mountain bikers. There are plenty of options just out the doors of the Methow Valley. “If people take the time to visit, they won’t leave disappointed,� says Brown. Smith’s favorite part about riding in the area: scenery, scenery, scenery. 4
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Valley pavement pedaling By Paul Butler ven before the snow really starts to melt off the valley floor, cyclists begin to take to the paved roadways around the Methow in earnest. Around these parts, a healthy snow year, as La Niña delivered as promised this year, can put a pretty firm kibosh on road cycling for several straight months, except perhaps for the ultra-diehards. Then comes spring, and even with its cold and windy weather, some snow- and ice-free pavement is all that is needed for the skinny-tire aficionados to hit the road, Jack, (and, yes, they are not looking back). Indeed, cyclists, both the serious and the recreational, are instead looking forward to another
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fine year of pounding it out on the limited, but laudable, pavement found in the Methow.
Ride from Winthrop to Washington Pass then back and you have yourself a full 60-mile ride worthy of a celebratory beverage afterward in town.
Here a few recommended areas to ride: 1) The North Cascade Highway The Washington State Department of Transportation starts clearing the closed-for-the-winter North Cascades Highway sometime in the spring. With a crew working on each side of the crest, the road is slowly revealed and the asphalt quickly becomes bare (though it is often wet). From the closed gate at Silver Star Creek to wherever the eastside crew has made it, cyclists can enjoy a memorable, car-free mountain ride.
Photo by Patrick Hannigan
Local riders on West Chewuch Road get out early in the spring. Where you start is up to you, but whether it is up at the gate or down in Mazama, there won’t be many cars. As the crew progresses farther, the distance increases on this
mostly up-on-the-way-out and mostly down-on-theride-back outing. Then the pass opens, and while it is still a great ride, you’ll have to share the road.
2) The Chewuch River North of Winthrop is the Chewuch River Valley with several paved roads stretching from residences and farms to the forested beginnings of the immense Pasayten Wilderness. A classic loop and “town ride” starts in Winthrop then out the West Chewuch Road and back on the East Chewuch Road, or vice-versa (14 miles). One can add more paved miles by continuing north on the Chewuch, or taking a quick spin toward Pearrygin Lake, perhaps for a quick jump in the water.
Methow Valley Summer 2011
Page 25 this rambling 17 miles of pavement and easy riding which makes a great outand-back. If you still need a few more miles, consider pedaling down the Twisp-Carlton Road for more scenic, rural riding.
Photo by Callie Fink
Take a break every once in a while and enjoy the view. There are several hilly paved Forest Service roads diverging from the Chewuch Road that ramble on for a variety of miles and provide a guaranteed leg-burning workout. Beyond the pavement at Andrews Creek, an additional 10 miles from the intersection of the Chewuch roads, a compact, dirt road takes one an additional six miles to the end at Thir-
tymile. Some folks will skip the loop segment and start the ride from the Eightmile parking area. 3) The Twisp River Similar to the Chewuch, the Twisp River Road winds its way out of town along its namesake tributary past houses, barns and fields toward the Sawtooth Mountain range. Cyclists enjoy
5) Sun Mountain climb Another paved road ride replete with good climbs and great views, especially the one from the top, is along Patterson Lake Road up to the valley’s lofty resort, Sun Mountain Lodge. Head out
from Winthrop on the Twin Lakes Road and churn past the lake before the last big hill up to the lodge where a satiating hydration session on the deck of the bar might just be the ticket before sailing back to town. 4
4) The Twisp-Winthrop loop Cyclists wanting to crank some laps without straying far from the amenities of town can find good riding along the East County Road between the Methow’s two main towns. One can mix it up by making a loop out of the ride by bombing along Highway 20. The traffic isn’t as bad as one would think and there are two quaint detours along the way via the Old Twisp Highway and Witte Road. Additional miles can be added on by taking a spin on the Twin Lakes Road loop. Finish your outing with a stop at one of the either town’s fine watering holes.
Photo by Mike Maltais
The valley’s quiet roads attract competitive bikers as well as recreational cyclists.
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Regional Winery Guide
Take time to
The North Central Washington region is host to a growing number of wineries and vintners producing some of the most notable wines in Washington State. Take a drive and explore re some of the tasting opportunities the region has to offer. Here re is a selection of wineries to get you started:
Chelan, Manson cont. Tsillan Cellars
3875 Highway 97A, Chelan, WA 98816 (509) 682-9463
Vin Du Lac Winery 105 Highway 150, Chelan, WA 98816 (509) 682-2882
Winthrop
Tildio Winery
Lost River Winery
26 Hwy 20, Winthrop, WA 98862 ~ (509) 996-2888
Omak, Okanogan Rockwall Cellars Located in Omak, Rockwall Cellars sits nestled in the scenic farmland heights just above town. Tasting room hours: Daily 11am - 6pm Wines include: Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer, Marechal Foch, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rose, Bordeaux Style Red
1
(509) 429-5121, www.rockwallcellars.com, 110 Nichols Rd., Omak, WA 98841
70 East Wapato Lake Road, Manson, WA 98831 (509) 687-8463
Chelan Estate Winery 755 South Lakeshore Road, Chelan, WA 98816 (509) 682-5454
Wenatchee
Stemilt Creek Winery 110 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801 (509) 665-3485 and 220 Ninth Street, Suite K, Leavenworth, WA 98826 (509) 888-5357
Chelan, Manson Lake Chelan Winery
Located just 5.5 mi. from Chelan, Lake Chelan Winery features award-winning wines, a retail gift 2 shop and winery tours. Tasting room hours: Daily 11am – 6pm Wines include: Merlot, Riesling, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer, Pino Grigio, Pino Noir
LARGEST SELECTION OF FINE CHEESE IN EASTERN WASHINGTON
(509) 687-9463, www.lakechelanwinery.com, 3519 State Route 150, Chelan, WA 98816
Rio Vista Wines Located just 10 minutes north of Chelan, Rio Vista is beautifully situated on the scenic bank 3 of the Columbia River. Tasting room hours: Wednesday – Sunday, noon – 6pm Wines include: Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Rosé, Viognier, Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon (509) 682-9713, riovistawines.com, 24415 SR 97, Chelan, WA 98816
Tunnel Hill Winery makes its home at the Sunshine Farm, a multi-generational family farm producing quality food in 4 the Chelan valley for more than 50 years. Stop by the tasting room and enjoy the produce at the retail fruit stand nearby. Tasting room hours: Daily 11am – 6pm Wines include: Riesling, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Viognier, Gerwurztraminer (509) 682-3243, www.tunnelhillwinery.com, 37 S State Route 97A Chelan, WA 98816 (Special advertising section of Methow Valley Summer.)
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
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taste the wine...
Regional Winery Guide
Regional Winery Guide
Wenatchee cont. Bella Terrazza Vineyards
1260 Lower Sunnyslope Rd., Wenatchee, WA 98801 (509) 662-9141
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Saint Laurent Winery 4147 Hamlin Rd., Malaga, WA 98828 (509) 888-9463
Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery 1 Vineyard Way, Wenatchee, WA 98801 (888) 874-9463
Cashmere, Leavenworth Horan Estates Winery
207 Mission Avenue, Suite D, Cashmere, WA 98815 (509) 860-0662
Okanogan Estate & Vineyards 703 Hwy 2, Leavenworth, WA (509) 548-9883 Also has a tasting room in Oroville, WA
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Let’s golf By Bob Spiwak long with all the alluring things to do in the Methow at summertime, golf is certain to be appealing to a large number of people. Within the actual metes and bounds of the valley there are two courses, but a few miles away. At the top of the valley is Bear Creek Golf Club. A couple miles from Winthrop off the East County Road, this nine-hole track has been around for a half century or so and over the decades been continually improved. At first glance the opening hole with a freeway-wide fairway might indicate an easy stroll or cart ride, but beware: the greens are small, fast and contoured.
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To play 18, the golfer embarks on a different set of tee boxes at No. 10 and can correct the errors he or she made on the front nine. This is true until parting Nos. 7/16. The two closing holes are entirely different in texture and play. Fees are moderate and can be ascertained by calling 996-2284, or on the Internet at www. bearcreekgolfcourse.com. Near where the Methow River joins the Columbia at Pateros is the turnoff to Alta Lake Golf Course. This is the only 18-hole course in Okanogan County. The front, when it was only a nine-holer, had immense greens that were played to different flags. When the new nine were built the original greens were left intact, leaving a huge target and commensurate breaks.
Photo by Joyce Campbell
Golf is good exercise. Think of St. Andrews in Scotland. Besides the greens, the complexion of the back is far different from the front and offers some nice views of the Columbia River. The first par three on the back nine is enough to make a preacher
cuss. Fees here are moderate, carts available. There is a motel adjacent and a new hotel on the river at Pateros. Call (509) 923-2359 or go to www.altalakegolf.com. The Okanogan Valley Golf Course lies about 45
miles east of Twisp off Highway 20. If you are Googling it, beware of being sent to Okanagan Valley, which is in Canada. The third vowel is critical. This is a nine-holer, opening with park-like maple trees on a dogleg left fairway. Fees are moderate, as the two above, and it is a different experience from either of the preceding courses. The opening hole is the prettiest of the three, and along the way, the scenery will be supplanted by a challenging round of play. There is a hole halfway around that requires a climb to an elevated tee box from which you hit back to a wide fairway adjacent to the fairway just played. If you are a right-handed slicer, look carefully for golfers approaching. By the time you get to the verdant finishing
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Photo by Bob Spiwak
The view from the clubhouse at Bear Creek Golf Course near Winthrop. holes, you’ll have navigated a drainage ditch that manages to capture errant balls on several fairways. For details, phone (509) 826-6937. Or, www.okanoganvalleygolf. com. Remember the vowel. The next three courses are all south on Highway 97 (Desert Canyon) or near Chelan (Lake Chelan and Bear Mountain). Desert Canyon is at Orondo and features one of the finest courses in Washington, certainly in the central portion of the state. It has bent grass greens averaging 10,000 square feet, lush fairways up, down and sideways and one of the longest par-fives in the state. There is a hotel at the complex, a bar and restaurant/snack bar. The two nines are played under different names, one “Desert,” the other “Lakes,” and the terrain reflects these terms. Fairways are generous, with some interesting situations for reaching the greens, especially if you are not positioned correctly.
Carts with GPS are included in the fees, which are higher than the courses above, and well worth it. There is even a challenging landscaped putting course for family fun. Phone (800) 258-4173 or www.desertcanyongolfresort. com/golf. Bear Mountain Ranch is the newest of the courses in the area, in its seventh year. It is a challenge from the first ball to the last, two tough holes and not a lot of lay back between. Easily the most scenic course in Eastern Washington, it is 1,600 feet above Lake Chelan and from almost every hole offers views of snowy mountains punctuated by the blue of the lake. It, too, has a 6,000-plus hole, No. 18, but offers five separate tees, as does Desert Canyon, to accommodate all skill levels of golfer. The greens are of bent grass, and similar in most cases to a Nicklaus-designed, elevated-green track. Carts are included with mounted GPS and range balls are free. There
is a snack bar with adjoining patio overlooking the 18th green. The course is reached on Highway 97A, going through Chelan and heading south about four miles. Phone (877) 917-8200 or on the web, www.bearmt.com. Just beyond downtown Chelan is the Municipal Golf Course. It’s a fine 18-hole layout and has a large driving range, restaurant, carts and a canyon to hit over on the 10th hole. The greens are small, slick and not easy to read, very subtle breaks make them a true challenge. Unlike some munis in other places, this one is groomed carefully, with some fairways wide, others narrow, a few elevated greens and climaxed by the 18th: over a pond and up a steep hill to have a rare par three to finish. Carts are available, prices slightly higher than moderate. Phone (800) 246-5361, or visit www.lakechelangolf. com. Happy hacking. 4
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Go fish By Carol Stull
N
ot having much luck fishing the enticing lakes and streams of the Methow? Try to find where 16-yearold Zach Austin drops his line and do what
he does. Introduced to the sport at age two by his dad, Robbie Austin, of Lake Stevens and Grandpa Earl Austin of Twisp, Zach caught the angling bug early. Running hard and steady with that line, these days Zach fishes “constantly,� and his family “eats a lot of fish.� Starting out like most youngsters, Zach learned to look for trout by dangling worms or Power Bait into the lake. With grandpa’s help, he taught himself fly-tying, competent casting and river-fishing techniques. Among locals in the know and visitors lucky enough to watch him on the water, Zach is gaining quite a reputation for his uncanny instinct for finding and catching fish.
“He just has a nose for it. He knows where they [the fish] hold, and he knows how to get them,� declared life-long adult fisherman Shawn Johnston. During his recent three-year stint as owner of the Outdoorsman in downtown Winthrop, Johnston got acquainted with Zach as the young fisherman whiled away many hours shopping, browsing and swapping lore in the sporting goods store. With his mom, Kim Casey, working at Three Fingered Jacks, Zach became a familiar young face around Winthrop’s main corner. At the Tenderfoot General Store, clerk Marvel Heatley reports customers have bought lots of fishing gear whenever Zach was around giving friendly, helpful advice. And they’d be back with success stories and want to see Zach again. Apparently the lad, who regularly catches trout in the Chewuch River right behind the store, knows what he’s talking about.
Photo by Carol Stull
Local angler Zach Austin and his grandpa Earl Austin idle into a hole on Patterson Lake.
Stuck behind the counter, Johnston would send Zach out on missions to test and deliver feedback on the latest flies. The storekeeper also got feedback from customers wanting to know more about “the kid catching
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all the fish out at the lake.� Johnston recalls that one visiting Outdoorsman customer, upon returning home, shipped a box of fly-tying materials to the store. The package was to be delivered to Zach as a thank-you for helpful information he had provided. And the young man owns his helpful reputation. “I like catching fish. But I get just as much entertainment out of watching others catch fish too,� admits Zach. These days Grandpa Earl remains Zach’s faithful fishing buddy and chauffeur. They go “mostly where grandpa wants to go.� That includes the dyke on the Methow River north of Twisp, near the elder Austin’s home
Zach’s tips
On the rivers “you want to find a deep hole with a back eddy in it, then work [the lure] up and down through it,� advises Zach. While he mostly walks along the bank, drifting in a pontoon boat is the best bet, he says. Summer cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing on the rivers calls for special catch-and-release rules. It’s
Methow Valley Summer 2011 still fun to watch them bite the fly – especially cutthroat, which do a lot of jumping and fight the hardest, says Zach. To make that happen you want to “match the hatch.” Find out what bugs are on the water – such as grasshoppers – and select a fly that will best fool the fish, he explains. Summer lake fishing finds Zach – like most serious anglers who want to avoid fast watercraft – on Big and Little Twin lakes and Patterson Lake. It’s no-bait, barbless-hook rules on both Twin Lakes. Both are summer-only lakes these days. And anglers can keep just one fish per day. Zach advises both waters yield nice rainbows that are “fat and healthy” – ranging from 18-inch holdovers to recently stocked 12- to 14-inch trout. To find fish on these “kettle” lakes near Winthrop, Zach notes it’s important to watch where they’re biting then troll back and forth through that area. On Big Twin, that’s likely out from the resort dock where the bottom drops off, he says. He explains that fish like cooler, deeper water. But bugs like warmer temperatures nearer the surface. To succeed, the fisherman wants to locate his/her lures at the level where the two meet. This self-styled “fishing fanatic” disputes the myth that folks must be out early to catch fish. Anytime is good, says Zach, unless midday temperatures are expected to be unbearably hot. Perhaps Patterson Lake, on the way to Sun Mountain, is Zach’s favorite. Under general rules only, here folks may use live bait to catch a variety of species – from trout to bass, crappies and perch. He notes the trout “swim all around” this lake, but here he’s most likely to fish for yellow perch to take home for dinner. One also might make a meal of fiveinch crawdads found under Patterson’s surface. Some set pots, or like Zach, one may dive down and catch them with your hands. Fingers do get pinched, he warns. Zach’s most important advice: Pick up the latest copy of Washington state fishing regulations at ranger stations and where licenses are sold. Rules are complex and change annually. Soon to be a junior at Liberty Bell High School, Zach’s main aspiration is to become a professional fishing guide when he turns 18. Whether it’s cutthroat trout in summer or steelhead in the fall, “I want to take people out on the lakes and rivers and teach them how to fish.” According to Zach, with good guide service bringing in perhaps $250 per day, and the Methow Valley ranking high among desirable fishing destinations, he’s confident this would be a worthwhile venture. 4
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Become a part of the network: volunteer By Ashley Lodato ummer is the time for sowing seeds. For some, that means that means starting a garden; for others it means putting down roots by getting involved in their community through volunteering. Whether you’re a permanent resident or a summer visitor, there is a summer volunteer opportunity for you in the valley – a chance for you to plant some seeds of your own. Why should you volunteer this summer? After all, the lazy days of summer are for vacation, relaxation, and maybe ticking off a few items on your own project list, right? The short answer is simply that you are needed. The Methow Valley is a uniquely wonderful place to live and visit in part because of our thriving network of groups that contribute to the social, economic, environmental, emotional, intellectual, and mental health of the community. Non-profit organizations such as The Cove, Methow Recycles, and the Merc Playhouse provide valuable services in our community, but without a cadre of volunteers providing ongoing assistance and special project support, many of these groups would not be able to accomplish
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as much as they do. Others, such as the all-volunteer Winthrop Kiwanis, would simply cease to exist. Time is money, and for non-profits operating on shoestring budgets, every hour donated by a volunteer is an hour that doesn’t have to be accounted for in the budget. Many Methow Valley volunteers attribute their motives for volunteering to everything from a sense of guilt to an abundance of time to a reluctance to say no. “I can’t just watch my friends do all the work,” says a volunteer who wishes to remain anonymous. “People around here notice if you don’t pull your weight.” But a great number of local volunteers agree that giving one’s time, energy, and talents to causes that benefit the community as a whole is simply a part of being a contributing member of society. “Community is very important to me,” says Midge Cross, whose volunteer contributions in the valley are legendary. “It was one of the top reasons we moved to the Methow. I want to give back to the community I live in, to do what I can to make it the splendid place it is.” “It’s not enough to just talk about being a community,” says one volunteer. “You have to walk your talk. If you value community, you need to put some effort into
Photo by Marcy Stamper
You can help create a dramatic setting for a play...
it. You have to make some sacrifices of your own sacred time.” It’s not all sacrifice, however. Those who volunteer frequently find that they get as much – or more – out of
a volunteer experience as they put into it. It may sound cliche but it’s true: volunteering benefits us because it gives us an opportunity to be a part of something larger than ourselves. When
we invest ourselves in the common cause, we put forth our strongest selves. We give a lot but we gain much more. Plugging into our communities also allows us to feel connected, because it puts us in unexpected situations of camaraderie and social engagement. “I really enjoy the spirit of camaraderie that comes from volunteering with a group of people,” says Molly Patterson, who gives time to several valley non-profits’ fundraising events. “I get to know people who I otherwise wouldn’t interact with much, and even though it’s a ton of work, we have a lot of fun working together.” Midge Cross says “The people I work with [on four valley boards of directors] are wonderful; I am energized by them and love working with them. I can’t imagine not volunteering!” “It’s partly the shared struggle,” she adds. “When we work together for shared goals we tend to bond closely, and I really value that connection with others.” The Methow Valley is a place where one person can make a difference. An afternoon spent sowing seeds of community involvement is an afternoon lost to your own garden, but the harvest is equally bountiful and perhaps far more enduring. 4
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MAZAMA RANCH HOUSE Photo by Sue Misao
...or make a colorful contribution to a town event.
Methow Valley summer volunteer opportunities Some suggestions for volunteer opportunities follow; this list is by no means exhaustive. Local museums, galleries, and civic groups frequently have need for short-term as well as long-term volunteers. Check the newspaper and local bulletin boards in the valley and online. Classroom in Bloom is a half-acre garden on the campus of Liberty Bell Jr/Sr High School and Methow Valley Elementary School. Its mission is to deepen relationships between people and the land through school and community gardening. Contact Lexi Koch classroominbloom@ methownet.com 997-2050. The Cove serves the Methow Valley by offering a food bank, homecare for elderly and homebound residents, and emergency and short-term financial assistance. Contact staff@ thecovecares.com 997-0227. Little Star Montessori School is dedicated to ensuring that children of the Methow Valley have the opportunity for a healthy and joyful early childhood education Contact Trudi Garing Littlestar1@centurytel.net 996-2801. The Merc Playhouse is a community venue in the Methow Valley dedicated to fostering a broad-based appreciation for performing arts. Contact Charlotte Nelson 996-3640. Methow Arts enriches the lives of people in rural Okanogan County by making the arts an integral and dynamic aspect of community and economic vitality, public education and civic life. Contact Ashley Lodato ArtsEducation@ MethowArtsAlliance.org 997-4004. Methow Conservancy is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring people to care for and conserve the land of the Methow Valley. Contact Mary Kiesau mary@methow conservancy.org 996-2870. Methow Recycles provides recycling services throughout the Methow Valley. Contact Betsy Cushman recycle@methowrecycles.org 997-0520.
The Methow Valley Community School brings magical, meaningful, inspiring education to valley students. Contact Deb Jones-Schuler office@mvcommunityschool.org 996-4447. Methow Valley Sport Trails Association is dedicated to developing and promoting environmentally sound recreation on the trail system in the Methow Valley. Contact Sarah Krueger sarahk@mountaineers.org. 996-3287. Red Shed is a nutritional program of Room One that provides fresh organic produce to low-income families of the Methow Valley at no charge. Red Shed also provides education on how to care for a garden and how to prepare foods from garden. Contact Kelleigh McMillan Kelleigh.mcmillan@gmail.com 997-0065. Room One is a non-profit health and wellness resource center serving the Methow Valley. The organization aims to consolidate existing health and social services, decrease domestic violence, increase parent & child health, and increase young-adult life skills. Contact Karissa McLane karissa@roomone. org 997-2050. The Winthrop and Twisp Libraries are branches of the North Central Regional Library system, which promotes reading and lifelong learning.Contact Sally Portman (Winthrop) 9962685 or Terry Dixon (Twisp) 997-4681. The Winthrop Kiwanis members are dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time. Their hands-on projects in the Methow Valley usually focus on upgrading outdoor and recreational resources used by the valley’s children. Contact John Owen (509) 322-1051.
EXPERIENCE MAZAMA IN THE
SUMMER
Beautiful Mountain Setting
Rooms with kitchenettes
Peace and Quiet
Cabins with full kitchens
Biking, Hiking and Horseback Trails
Bright Stars at Night
509.996.2040
www.mazamaranchhouse.com
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
A glimpse of Photo by John Hanron
Photo by Marcy Stamper
Photo by Sue Misao
Photo by John Hanron
Photo by Sue Misao
Photo by Sue Misao
Photo by Sue Misao
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summer’s subtle moments
Photo by Sue Misao
Photo by John Hanron
Photo by Sue Misao
Photo by Sue Misao Photo by Sue Misao
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Jump into the book world By Laurelle Walsh t’s summer in the Methow; your grass is audibly growing, your hay fever is raging, and you wonder if you should try snowblowing the drifts of cottonwood fluff from your driveway. Fortunately for you, summer also means long, languid days waiting to be filled with the most leisurely, sedate pastime: reading. Whether you manage to squeeze in a little reading between bouts with the mower, or luxuriate all afternoon in a breezy hammock, your own backyard may provide the literary sanctuary you’ve been searching for. Locate your prescription sunglasses, prepare a tall, cool beverage, take an antihistamine, move a lawn chair into a spot nottoo-shady and not-too-hot, and most importantly, tell
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NO ONE of your afternoon plans. Just follow the example of Winthrop reader Monica Petelle, who has somehow mastered the art of floating in the pool on her “Tweetie Bird tube” while simultaneously balancing a book AND an iced coffee. Or Marilyn Sabold, who murmurs from her backyard hammock, “I jump into the book world and time travel or place travel.”
Gadgets for reading
When actually traveling this summer, you may wish to take your reading material along with you. For this, an e-reader is a lot lighter than a stack of books. Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes and Noble’s Nook are electronic devices that solve the age-old problem of how to pack enough books for your
journey. Dale Peterson uses his Nook every day and says he was skeptical at first, but now likes it more than he expected. It stores around 1,500 titles, and Peterson says he can choose, buy and download a book in a couple of minutes, wirelessly. One potential pitfall he sees is the danger of downloading too many books and getting backlogged. Peterson bought a protective cover for his 12-ounce Nook and says “I wouldn’t hesitate to throw it into my backpack and take it with me.” Another way that technology can actually enhance your reading experience is through audio books. Many people bring audio books on long car trips, or when they’re at the gym, but what
Photo by Mike Maltais
Books get passed around in this valley. about on the trail? Listening to a book on his mp3 player solved a quan-
dary for Frank Vander Wall: How to bring a book on the Pacific Crest Trail when every ounce counts? “It weighs less than three ounces and takes up hardly any room in my backpack. I didn’t listen while on the trail, but it was nice to have a book in my tent before going to sleep.”
Children’s books on the trail
Local author and illustrator Erik Brooks will be back on the trail this summer with another of his great children’s books, Totem Tale: A Tall Story from Alaska. Following up on the enthusiasm for last winter’s “StorySki,” Methow Valley Sport Trails Association is constructing a “StoryHike” – a one-halfmile loop at the Beaver Pond Trail at Sun Mountain, which takes you page by page through the story. Brooks will read Totem Tale and lead a walk at the “StoryHike” for National Trails Day on June 4 at 10 a.m.
Summer reading program
“One World, Many Stories” is the theme of the summer reading program at the Twisp and Winthrop
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Photo by Ann McCreary
The love of reading is passed on to local children through book fairs and a variety of summer reading programs.
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Nouvelle cuisine By Amy Stork ired of the sameold, same-old? Here’s a roundup of new dishes and drinks from Methow eateries this summer, plus just a few irresistible
T
Andy McConkey 509-429-9456 fishbag@methownet.com
old favorites from local establishments. What Wesola Polana’s unique combination of Spanish-style tapas, Polish beer and all-American breakfast lacks in culinary
eorn t a W Stoptructi Cons
LIC# STOPWCL923MU
coherence is made up for by the restaurant’s unique setting (adjacent to the modernist Rolling Huts along Highway 20 south of Mazama) and uber-friendly service. Just back from Spain, Pablo Hernandez is “boiling down a really long list” of potential new tapas dishes, but says his updated menu will definitely include stuffed dates, salmon and chicken dishes, and his aunt’s granola pancakes at breakfast. Check the website regularly to get in on spontaneous limited-seating paella events. (18381 Highway 20, Winthrop, 996-9804, www. wesolapolana.com) R i c h a r d Wa s s o n ’ s Methow Valley Ciderhouse tasting tent is up and running. Three hard ciders are on sale, available at the tent as well as at grocery stores and restaurants from Mazama to Pateros. In addition to the Pinnacle Goat, Howling Wolf and Screaming Eagle ciders, Wasson says he is working on Honey Bear, a new and sweeter blend that will incorporate more apple juice concentrate. Listen to live music on Saturdays at the tasting tent, plus drumming on Thursday evenings. (13B Walter Road, off the East Chewuch Road in Winthrop, 341-4354, www.methowval-
Photo by Sue Misao
So many restaurants, so little time. leyciderhouse.com) Ryan Clement says he’s ready to bring on the second of the two roosters implied in the name Dos Gallos, when he and chef Gregoria Arellano add several “superauthentic” Thai curries to what Clement says will be a somewhat simplified menu of Mexican bites. Diners can soon chow down and even sip a beer or two at the restaurant’s new outdoor seating area, and finish the meal with one of a dozen flavors of “paletas,” Mexican-style
popsicles made in Quincy, Wash. (716 Highway 20, Winthrop, 996-3278, www. methownet.com/dos_gallos) At the Twisp River Pub, head brewer Jesse Bonn and assistant brewer Steve Baker are conjuring up a light summer ale bittered with spruce tips instead of hops, and finished with yarrow. Bonn says this year’s blend will be a bit lighter on the yarrow than last year’s experiment, and reflects a style common to Sweden and other
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northern countries where hops were not traditionally available. “The paradigm of making beer with hops is only two or three hundred years old,” Bonn said, “These other styles existed much longer ago. When German purity laws came about due to the overuse of bitter herbs and a scarcity of wheat, they led to more consistent and safer beer, and most beer is still done under those rules. But I like to go outside of that [paradigm], too.” (201 N. Methow Valley Highway, Twisp, 997-6822, www.methowbrewing.com) At the Freestone Inn (31 Early Winters Dr., Mazama, 996-3906, www.freestoneinn. com), chef Suzanne Same is introducing small bite desserts including chocolate almond caramel bars, and spicing up the menu with a Thai-inspired chicken dish served with peanut-jasmine rice. At the Arrowleaf Bistro (253 Riverside Ave., Winthrop, (509) 996-3919, www. arrowleafbistro.com), chef/ owner Jon Brown is striving to add more local options to the menu, which now features steak from Crown S Ranch in Winthrop as well as organic chicken. Tappi (201 Glover St., Twisp, 9973345, www.tappitwisp.com) chef/owner John Bonica’s spring travels in the Tuscany region of Italy have inspired him to create a new vegetable and farro soup as well as
Illustration by Tania Gonzalez Ortega
new specialty pizzas for his wood-fired oven. Chef/owner Jen Nawrot at Paco’s Tacos (315 North Methow Valley Highway, Twisp, 997-7226, www.pacostacosonline.com) plans to complement the regular menu of tacos, large and small burritos and salads with new specials like salmon tacos with pineapple-jalapeno drizzle, and a chipotle steak burrito. And brand new… At least three new restaurants will celebrate their
first summer in the Methow this year. Visit Twisp Orchid (109 W. Second Ave., Twisp, 997-4321, www.twisporchid. com) for fresh Thai appetizers, salads and main dishes made to order from mild to spicy. The brand new Hoot Owl Café (123 Glover St., Twisp) will serve breakfast and lunch, and NOCA (134 Riverside Ave., Winthrop, 996-9244), a new coffeehouse launched by the owners of the Arrowleaf Bistro, will feature simple and affordable “gourmet to go” foods like savory and fruit
turnovers, gourmet baked potatoes and salads, plus
specials like enchiladas and sushi. 4
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This little piggy went to market By Amy Stork armers markets are where you go to see and be seen, greet friends from near and far, lay your eyes on new faces, soak up the tunes and eat a few treats... But let’s not forget about the food. With three markets a week and a daily fruit stand, it’s hard not to eat well in the Methow Valley during the height of summer. New this year, the website methowvalley.com will keep you informed of what’s available at each week’s markets. And who better to instruct you on how to eat these lovely goods than the producers themselves?
F
Methow Valley Farmers Market
At the Methow Valley
Community Center in Twisp, Saturdays from 9 a.m. – noon, April through October From April’s veggie starts and greens through October ’s pumpkins and potatoes, the growing season plays out across the tables of anywhere from a handful of early-season vendors to several dozen booths at Twisp’s Methow Valley Farmers Market, a summer standby for more than 30 years. Farmer’s market board of directors member and market vendor Heidi Bard says one thing that makes the Twisp market special is that booths must be staffed by someone involved in growing or producing the food or goods. “Usually the person is both the owner and the grower, so they can explain how the food is grown. Crafts
have to be handmade and sold by the person who made them. There is no reselling of items, you have to either grow it or make it yourself or add value, for example by making jam from fruit you purchased from another grower.” Bard says this year the market will continued to expand into the Commons Park next to the Community Center, where shade umbrellas, hot and cold drinks and more ready-to-eat foods will encourage people to relax on the grass. T h e M e t h o w Va l ley Farmer’s Market now has its own website (www. methowvalleyfarmersmarket. blogspot.com). Check it out for listings of live music, kids’ activities like the famous zucchini races, a roster of vendors, and instructions for becoming a vendor. Asparagus, bacon and chevre sandwich Courtesy of Kelleigh McMillan, a regular vendor at the Methow Valley Farmer’s Market in Twisp. Asparagus is available from May through early or mid-June. Ingredients: Asparagus (skinny young “shoestring” asparagus is best) One slice of bread Two slices of bacon (“preferably from a local pig”) Butter or mayo 1 T Sunny Pine Farms goat chevre Salt and pepper to taste Either steam asparagus until tender, or steam for two to three minutes, then lightly brush with olive oil and place on a mediumhot grill for another 4 to 5 minutes. Cook bacon. Toast bread, smear with butter or mayo. Add bacon, then pile high with asparagus. Top with crumbled chevre, salt and pepper to taste.
Photo by Sue Misao
The valley’s food is on display at farmers markets from Twisp to Mazama.
Smallwood Farms Fruit Stand
On Highway 20 just north of the Winthrop park, seven days a week 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning around June 20th. Dennis and Mallory Carlton are following a long family tradition with their Smallwood Farms fruit stand, a fixture just north of Winthrop most of the summer. Dennis’ grandparents started their farm in Okanogan in 1955, and his family has been selling fruit along Highway 20 since the North Cascades Highway opened in 1972. Now, the Carltons grow a wide variety of tree fruits and five acres of row crops, sold at local markets and their on-farm fruit stand just outside of Okanogan. Smallwood also offers a Community Supported Agriculture subscription. “We don’t certify [as organic] because it is so expensive,” Dennis said, “But we don’t use any synthetic chemicals, and we follow the Washington Department
of Agriculture guidelines for organic. Come see the farm and you’ll see how we do things.” Grandma Smallwood’s Blender Peach Pie Courtesy of Mallory Carlton, Smallwood Farms. Ingredients: 2-3 ripe peaches 2 c. milk 4 eggs 1/8 t. salt 1 c. sugar 4 T. butter or margarine 1/2 c. flour 1 t. vanilla Pre-heat the oven to 350F. Slice peaches and use them to cover the bottom of a 9inch pie plate. Put all other ingredients in a blender and mix on low. Pour the mixture over the peaches. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Makes a custard-like pie.
Winthrop Market
In the Winthrop park, Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
Methow Valley Summer 2011 Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend The Winthrop Market celebrates its third year this summer, and organizer Erin Goodman says she’s excited to see the market continue to grow. “We have a small but consistent and committed group of vendors. We would like to grow in terms of more farmers.” Last year, about 20 booths including farmers, craftspeople, artists and non-profit groups rounded out the market. Goodman says live music every week, theater in the park and just hanging out in the shady park make for a nice afternoon. “Our goal is to be a community experience, not just a shopping experience.” Crispy kale Courtesy of David Sabold, one of the founders of the Methow Valley Farmers Market and a regular vendor at markets in Twisp, Winthrop and Mazama. Kale is one of the first greens available at local markets. Ingredients: Several quarts of curly kale Olive oil Coarse sea salt Attention Rinse kale (especially to remove any aphids). Shake well or pat dry with a dishcloth. Cut the tender leafy parts from the mid-ribs of the kale. Tear into chip-size pieces. Coat the pieces with olive oil and place on a cookie sheet. Scatter some course
Page 41 sea salt onto the leaves. Slide the sheet into the oven under the broiler. Important: Don’t multitask during this phase. Pull up a chair and WATCH CLOSELY for four to six minutes, depending on how close you placed the sheet to the broiler. Stir once or twice to expose more surfaces. Look for browning edges, and then pull out a piece to test for crunchiness.
to ripen after zucchini, usually around the first week in August.
Mazama Market
Place all ingredients except oil in a food processor. Start the machine and slowly add olive oil while running. Blend to a paste, then add salt and pepper to taste.
At the Mazama Community Center on Goat Creek Road, Wednesdays 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., July 13 to about midSeptember Nine years ago, Mazama Market organizers Ann Diamond and Dana Christiansen started the market with the goal of building community locally even as the nation was getting involved in several foreign wars. Today, “we have no rules and no cost, and we love rummage, dogs and kids,” said Diamond. The market has local music and kids’ activities – like last year’s “egg-drop parachutes” (raw eggs parachuted from an airplane) and this year’s planned Room One bowl painting party in mid-July. The Mazama Store makes pizza on Wednesdays, and people “just come out and have a good time,” Christiansen said. Baked pesto spaghetti squash Courtesy of Dave Ford, a regular vendor at the Mazama market. Spaghetti squash is the first squash
For pesto sauce: Ingredients 2 c. loosely packed fresh basil leaves 1/3 c. pine nuts 2 cloves garlic, peeled 1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese 1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil
For main dish: Ingredients 1 medium spaghetti squash 1 T olive oil 3/4 c. pesto sauce 4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese 1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese Bake spaghetti squash whole for one hour at 375F, until you can pierce it easily without resistance with a knife. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scrape out the innards, separating the strands with a fork. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat, then add the squash. Using a couple of forks to lift, mix in the pesto. Cook just long enough to heat through, then mix in cheeses. Continue to heat until everything is well mixed and the cheese starts to melt. Serve immediately. (Serves 8) 4
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
The festivals of summer By Lillian Tucker he warm months of summer bring with them ample opportunities to get together and enjoy great food, music and art. No matter when you visit the Methow Valley there is a good chance that a festival awaits.
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Methow Valley Rodeo – Memorial and Labor Day weekends The tradition of the small-town rodeo continues every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends with events like saddle bronc, barrel racing, team roping and of course – bull riding. But before the stomping of hooves fills the air with dust a band of red, white and blue sequined riders will delight the crowd with a drill team performance. Pack a picnic or patronize the concession stands. Kids get a special treat during the Memorial Day weekend rodeo, where they can watch their peers compete in events like calf riding, junior bareback and breakaway roping. Those young-at-heart in the crowd will even get the chance to leave their grassy seat on the hill to enter the arena where they can try their luck at catching a sly chicken – which will be attempting to escape the grasps of dozens of little hands. It all takes place at rodeo grounds at 1100 Twin Lakes Rd., between Twisp and Winthrop. Events start at noon and will run into the early afternoon. Admission starts at $5 for children and $10 for adults. Kids under 5 can watch for free. Twisp Rural Roots Film Festival – Memorial Day Weekend It’s the second year for this grassroots film festival, which highlights the con-
Photo by Sue Misao
Pipestone Music Days presents local musicians. cerns of people living in rural areas. The line-up includes Sun Come Up, which follows a group of Carteret Islanders, some of the world’s first environmental refugees, and Legends Come Alive, an animation compilation from Northwest Film Forum’s Children’s Film Festival. Viewings will take place at the Merc Playhouse in Twisp. More information is at www. ruralrootsfilmfestival.org. Pipestone Music Days – Memorial Day Weekend Spend some time Memorial Day weekend enjoying local musical talent. The prelude begins Saturday, May 28, at 7 p.m. as close to 75 musicians are set to come together to premiere the latest original work by local guitarist/composer Terry Hunt. For the composition, The Stafford Poems, Hunt hand-picked 17 pieces of the poet William Stafford. The performance will start with a bang, literally, as Stafford’s words are transformed into music: “A shudder goes through the universe, even long after. Every star, clasping its meaning as it looks back, races outward where something quiet and far waits.” The orchestra will top the night off with a variety of short pieces based on
themes from the British Isles, but not before Tara Kaiyala performs two movements from a Beethoven violin concerto. Kaiyala, a Twisp violinist, and several other Pipestone faculty members, also spend their time teaching more than 100 young musicians from around the valley. On Sunday, May 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. those young talents will get a chance to show off the hard work they have done all year. Music Days, Pipestone’s only fundraiser all year, will be held at the Methow Valley Community Center off of Highway 20 in Twisp. For more information, call 997-0222. Winthrop Wine Festival – June 10-12 On this weekend in early June, the Winthrop Park will be the spot to enjoy music, hors d’oeuvres, art and, of course, wine. The tastings will include wine from around Washington. All attendees must be over the age of 21 and designated drivers will be greatly appreciated. For more information visit www.winthropwashington. com/winefestival. The Fairy & Human Relations Congress – June 24-26 For the last 11 years
the Fairy Congress has attracted nearly 300 people to the Methow Valley to take part in a gathering that is “dedicated to promoting communication and co-creation with nature spirits, devas and the faery realms.” Past participants describe it as an idealist event that is visionary and buoyant with hope and friendship. Besides camping, dancing and sharing organic meals, the Congress also includes many workshops. Topics range from earth stewardship to learning how to open your telepathic senses. Adult registration starts at $250 and includes all workshops, meals and camping. Considerable discounts are available for those who are 25 years old and younger. Information and registration is at www.fairycongress.com.
Methow Arts Festival – July 4 People of all ages are invited to spend Independence Day with the arts. The festival takes place at Twisp River Park from 11:30 to 4:30 p.m. and includes hands-on art booths, food, performers, music, contests, community art, jugglers and more. For more information call 997-4004. Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival – July 15-17 Named best blues event by both the Washington Blues Society and the Inland Empire Blues Society, the 24th annual blues festival promises a rocking weekend full of live music that is sure to keep you dancing. The line up this year includes Jimmie Vaughan and the
Methow Valley Summer 2011
Page 43 More information is at www.methowmusicfestival. org.
Photo by Sue Misao
The North Cascades Oldtime Fiddlers Contest is one of several events that come to the valley each summer. Tilt-A-Whirl Band featuring Lou Ann Barton, Booker T., Commander Cody and many more. The music gets a jumpstart Friday, July 15 at 7 p.m. and continues all weekend, culminating with an all-star jam Sunday night. Tickets are
available at the gate or online at www.winthropbluesfestival. com. The Methow Valley Camber Music Festival – July 22, 23, 26, 28 and 30 The last two weekends of July will come alive with
music every night at 7:30 at Signal Hill Ranch. Festivalgoers are welcome to enjoy gourmet food and local wine, beer and cider while taking in performances, which artistic director Kevin Krentz hopes will be exciting, engaging and virtuosic. He said the
music has been designed to blow the audience away. Each concert will be followed by an “afterglow party,” where audience members can mingle with the musicians. Younger, budding talents will put on free concert at 5 p.m. on July 30.
North Cascades Oldtime Fiddlers Contest – Aug. 27 Spend the Saturday at Spring Creek Ranch in Winthrop drinking in the celebration of a living American folk art. “This is a contest where you will see an 8-year-old taking impromptu instruction from a 70-year-old as oldtime fiddle music passes from old to young,” said contest chair Brad Pinkerton. Competitors can sign up as early as 8 a.m. with the event kicking off at 9 a.m. The all-day music festival will break at noon for the North Cascades Giant Insect Contest, for kids 12 and under. The winner will get a free hot air balloon ride. The ranch has two houses for lodging and areas for camping and RV parking. Saturday’s event costs $15 for adults, $8 for seniors and is free for those under the age of 12. The weekend will also be marked by two free events in Winthrop. On Friday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. there will be a fiddler’s jam at The Old Schoolhouse Brewery in downtown Winthrop. Down the street from there is the Shafer Museum, which will host a bluegrass jam on Sunday, Aug. 28. Music and dancing starts at 1 p.m. The museum will also have a professional fiddle teacher on hand giving free lessons to anyone that is interested. Contact the Spring Creek Ranch at 996-2495. Pinkerton can be reached at 996-2111. The Winthrop Auto Rallye – Sept. 9-11 Come enjoy the spectacle as car-enthusiasts show off their hard work and passion. The event includes a parade through downtown Winthrop on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. Directly following that will be a three hour show ‘n shine, where families can relax or dance to live, classic oldies and munch on barbecue on the street in an authentic 1951 double decker bus. 4
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Plenty of pleasures for penny-pinchers By Marcy Stamper here may be no free lunch, but there are exhilarating and nourishing free experiences to be had all summer long. Whether your tastes run to music and art, hiking and swimming, history or vintage cars, you can fill your days and nights without emptying your wallet. Watch the creative process in process at galleries in Winthrop – painting and drawing at Sage Hens Studio, glassblowing at Winthrop Glass Works, and costume design at Confluence Gallery in Twisp – or admire the finished product at numerous venues in both towns. The Winthrop Gallery hosts rotating exhibits of members’ work as well as
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special shows, including watercolor painting, landscape photography, bronze sculpture and woodworking. The Methow’s agricultural heritage is the focus of the gallery’s harvest-season show, “Farm and Field.” Confluence Gallery swoops in on our favorite critters – and the plants that attract them – in “Birds, Bees and Buds” in June, followed by artists’ depictions of the heat and light of summer. You can hobnob with artists and learn about their sources of inspiration at relaxed, festive art walks in both Winthrop and Twisp held throughout the summer, when galleries and shops stay open late and offer refreshments. Garden art by local and regional artists is on view all summer long in the court-
Photo by Joyce Campbell
An open reception at Confluence Art Gallery in Twisp added a free dance performance during the evening. yard garden at the Methow Valley Inn in Twisp. At the other end of the valley, sculptures in wood and found objects by Dan Hulphers will be on view in the courtyard at the Mazama Store. Do your artistic tastes
run more to music than the visual arts? Fans of chamber music can revel in the highenergy performances of the promising young musicians, in town for a high-octane music camp at the Methow Valley Chamber Music Fes-
tival in July. The youthful musicians will perform at various eateries (and even out on the street) throughout the festival week, while festival musicians let the public listen in on some of their rehearsals. Aficionados of jazz, rock, cowboy music and bluegrass can listen and dance to their favorite tunes at gigs with no cover charge at the Twisp River Pub, Old Schoolhouse Brewery and other taverns and restaurants on many summer nights. You can enjoy musicians, poets, comedians, and just about anyone who wants to take an act on-stage at the Merc Playhouse’s monthly Open Mercs. Or experience the thrill of performance yourself and sign up to perform. You can also get into the act and swing your partner at the opening street dance for a weekend of square dancing with troupes from around the Northwest. The arch comedy of manners Hay Fever by Noel Coward will be presented as readers’ theater by a group of talented actors at the Merc Playhouse, with admission by donation.
The great outdoors
In the Methow we are blessed with hundreds of miles of trails and open
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Chalets
Methow Valley Summer 2011
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Ms. Kitty’s place
old time photo parlor
Photo by Sue Misao
The river is free, once you’re on it. space, free for you to explore on foot, horseback or bicycle. The trail network at Sun Mountain Lodge offers captivating views and a range of terrain, from level to challenging. While many U.S. Forest Service trailheads charge a fee and state parks and wildlife areas may soon require a pass for vehicle access, numerous trails throughout the valley are still free. North Cascades National Park is one of the few national parks that is always free, so head up the North Cascades Highway to countless hikes. You can find short nature trails or alpine routes for multi-day or longer backcountry excursions. Anyone interested in camping in the backcountry just needs a free backcountry permit from the National Park or Forest Service. There are also several special days when the public is invited to play for free in all its public lands. National Trails Day is June 4, National Get Outdoors Day is one week later, and National Public Lands Day is Sept. 24. You can swim or float in refreshing lakes and rivers for free – or the price of an inner tube or inflatable raft. Patterson Lake boasts numerous spots for swimmers and boaters accessible by a short walk. For an all-day outing, head up to hushed Black Pine Lake, perched high on the ridge between the Twisp River and Libby Creek drainages, for a picnic and a swim in azure water. Particularly in late summer, when the water level in rivers has dropped, splashing in swimming holes or floating downstream is the quintessential free indulgence. Look for pullouts on the side of the road and talk to locals to find safe, popular spots. You can always indulge your interest in watchable wildlife of all species. The main intersection in Winthrop makes a great spot for people watching, and Twin Lakes, the Sun Mountain beaver pond and wetlands around the valley reward the observant birdwatcher, particularly early or late in the day. On the Fourth of July, take in Twisp’s parade of people, animals, dancers and drummers, followed by a barbecue hosted by the Backcountry Horsemen. Spectators and athletes will also love the Pateros Apple
Pie Jamboree, which offers golf, a parade and youth circus, a quilt show and jet ski races, among other activities.
Owl Peak
Educational experiences
Learn about fish and how we keep their populations healthy on Kids’ Fishing Day at the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery, when young anglers are issued a passport, a fishing pole and bait and set loose on several ponds and fishing areas. Successful fishers can go home with one rainbow trout. You can also take a self-guided tour of the hatchery at any time. More natural-history education comes courtesy of the Methow Conservancy, which hosts monthly programs, usually on the first Tuesday. The first summer presentation is on identification of bird feathers. The Conservancy also leads free field trips throughout the summer. Curious about valley history and pioneers? The Shafer Museum is throwing an opening-day party with hands-on demonstrations and music on Memorial Day. The museum’s exhibits of farming and mining machinery, clothes and dry goods, and thousands of photographs of the Methow are on view in period buildings and open by donation all summer long. More history unfolds at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base, which offers free tours on a regular basis. Learn about how these brave souls fought fires by parachuting out of airplanes. The bulging fenders and sharp fins of antique autos are on parade – and then on display for a closer view – at the Winthrop Auto Rallye in September. Classy twowheeled vehicles come to town for the Tumbleweed Run motorcycle rally, with bike games, a show and parade of HarleyDavidsons. Check the calendar on pages 47-49 of this guide for dates and times, and check listings closer to the events for details on special programs and locations. And while these events do not require an admission fee, the organizations that present them and the restaurants that host them depend on the generosity of the community to be able to continue to offer more free events, so please be generous. 4
Owl Peak
Offered for sale by the Methow Conservancy Your Chance to Own a Unique Piece of the Methow Valley •
Approx. 238 acres of incredible native shrubsteppe, sitting high above the Valley floor;
•
One-of-a-kind views of Gardner Mountain & the Sawtooth Wilderness
•
Stunning rolling terrain, a seasonal creek, aspen woodlands & abundant wildlife
•
Fantastic skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, & stargazing out your back door!
For more information contact Jeanne at the Methow Conservancy at 996-2870.
Methow Conservancy Your local nonprofit resource for: • The free Good Neighbor Handbook & Restoring the Shrub-Steppe Handbook • Land stewardship and mapping services for any landowner • Conservation-based classes, programs, outings & more • Permanent land protection options for willing landowners
www.methowconservancy.org ~ 996-2870 Inspiring people to care for the land of the Methow Valley
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Methow Valley Summer 2011
Let it snow By Sue Misao ummer in the Methow Valley is a frenzied flurry of activity. Some people think this is all centered around food – planting it, watering it, weeding it, picking it, eating it, jarring it – it’s a hot, sweaty, dirty business – and taking what’s left of it to potlucks. But for many, summer is all about maintaining an even tan, or, for the superwhites, not burning. People are either chasing after as much sun as possible or avoiding it like the plague. The sun is big and hard to ignore unless you time it just right. Some people spend the entire summer at war with insects: flies buzzing the center of the room, yellow jackets hiding in the grass, hornets dive bombing you in the garden, spiders under the bed, ants in your pants, ticks attached to the dog, earwigs in the corn stalks, and mosquitoes on your arms, blatantly sucking the blood right out of you. And always some kind of strange beetle-like creature showing up on the window sill. Other folks look forward to summer so they can finally play outside without spending a half hour suiting up. But if winter’s highlight is snow, then summer ’s
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Photo by John Hanron
Only 80 more years of this? Good.
highlight is water, which in these parts is nothing more than warmed-up snow. You can swim in it, float on it, bathe in it and drink it. You can water your garden and even drown ants with it. Very handy. You can wash your car. If you don’t have a car, you can wash my car. You can hose the bird droppings off your lawn chairs, and you can put out dangerous fires. Also, you can grow pretty flowers. You can’t do any of that with cold snow. All you can do with cold snow is slide down it and pay people to move it out of your way.
Recently a friend told me that our snow ecology will disappear in 80 years and from then on the only snow we’ll ever get is rain. She said I would have to stop growing alfalfa at that point. I said I don’t grow alfalfa and she said well you better start growing it otherwise how are you going to stop? I said OK and went home and grew an alfalfa field and now I’m waiting for 80 years to go by so I can finally stop because I have no use for alfalfa and now I’m stuck with it for the next 80 years, and I’m beginning to think I made a huge mistake. 4
Methow Valley Summer 2011
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What’s to do around here? A guide to what’s happening in the Methow Valley
May Sundays: Winthrop Market in the Winthrop park. 10am-2pm
Saturdays: Farmers Market with local produce, crafts and music at the MV Community Center, Twisp. 9am-noon 18: Magic night with Cary Durgin at Twisp River Pub. $5. 997-6822. 8pm 19: Soils & native plant restoration with Dr. Andrew Kulmatisky at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 996-2334. 6-8pm 20: Folk music by Olivia De La Cruz at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm 21: Artist reception for Paula Christen (watercolor), Shannon Fharnham (sculpture) and Dennis O’Callaghan (photography) at the Winthrop Gallery, 237 Riverside, Winthrop. Free. 996-3925. 6-8pm 21: Bluegrass with the Blackberry Bushes at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $1. 996-3183. 7pm 21: Funky blues duo with Nick Vigarino at Twisp River Pub. Free. 997-6822. 9pm 25: School concert by Liberty Bell Jr/Sr High School music students at LBHS multipurpose room. 996-2215. 7pm 27-29: Twisp Rural Roots Film Festival presents three days of films at the Merc Playhouse in Twisp. www.ruralrootsfilmfestival.org. 27: Rock’n’roll with Eternal Fair featuring Andrew Vait at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm 28: Mazama 1k, 5k, 10k fun runs and “World Famous Pancake Breakfast” at Mazama Community Center. $12-$25. MVSTA 996-3287. 9am 28: Book sale at the Twisp Library. 997-4681. 9am1pm 28: Soup bowl painting at Twisp Farmers Market, for soup dinner fundraiser for Room One in late October. $10. 997-2050. 9am-noon 28-29: Methow Valley Rodeo with ropin’ and ridin’ at the rodeo grounds on Twin Lakes Road. 28: Pipestone Music Days with the Pipestone Orchestra premiere of Terry Hunt’s Stafford Poems, Beethoven, youth symphony orchestra, Cascadia Choral at the MV Community Center, Twisp. $15. 997-0222. 7pm 28: Rock’n’roll with Eternal Fair featuring Andrew
Vait at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm 28: Flamenco and Gypsy jazz fusion by Tambura Rasa at Twisp River Pub. $5. 997-6822. 9pm 29: Pipestone Music Days with student recitals on piano, violin, viola, cello, flute, guitar and drums at the MV Community Center, Twisp. By donation. 9970222. 1-4pm 29: Classic rock by the Impressionists at Twisp River Pub. Free. 997-6822. 9pm 30: Shafer Museum opening day celebration with hands-on demonstrations, music, cookies and more. 996-2712. 1pm
June
Commentaries” exhibit at Peligro metal arts studio, 109 N. Glover St., Twisp. 997-9700. 4-8pm 4: Artists’ reception and opening night for “Birds, Bees and Buds” and “Confluence Couture” at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. 997-2787. 4-8pm 4: Bluegrass with the Shed Boys at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm 4: Elbow Coulee performs rock’n’roll at Twisp River Pub. $5. 997-6822. 9pm 7: Bird Feathers – a guide to North American species with David Scott. Location TBA. Info: Methow Conservancy 996-2870. 7-8:30pm 9: Slide show of “The Children of Lake Atitlan” at Confluence Gallery, with Juan Manuel Chavajay Cotuc of Guatemala. Free. 997-2787. 7pm 10: Bluegrass by Polecat at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm 10: Electric violin rock with the Geoffrey Castle Band at Twisp River Pub. $5. 997-6822. 9pm 10-12: Winthrop Wine Festival in the Winthrop park and other venues around town. 11: Free fishing day for kids at the Winthrop Fish Hatchery with fish art and demonstrations. 996-2424. 10am-2pm 11: Americana music by Cody Beebe and the Crooks at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm 12: Fashion design “Vision Board” class with Lisa Doran at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. 1-3pm 17: Slide show & book signing by Craig Romano, author of Day Hiking in the North Cascades, at Trail’s End Bookstore, Winthrop. 996-2345. 6pm 17-19: Botanical Illustration Weekend with Quinn Fitzpatrick and Kim Romain-Bondi at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. $275. 996-2334. 18: Landscape sketching and drawing two-day class with Michael Caldwell. $112. Registration: Confluence Gallery 997-2787. 10am-2pm 18: Funk & rock with RL Heyer Trio at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm 19: Fashion design “Duct Tape Dummies” class with Donna Keyser at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $50. 997-2787. 10am-2pm
Sundays: Winthrop Market in the Winthrop park. 10am-2pm
Saturdays: Farmers Market with local produce, crafts and music at the MV Community Center, Twisp. 9am-noon 2: School concert by MV Elementary music students at MVE. 996-2186. 1pm 2: “Riding with Reindeer” book reading by Bob Goldstein at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 996-2334. 6-8pm 3: Folk music by Carolyn Cruso at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm 4: Twisp River Trail work party and potluck. Meet at Buttermilk Sno-park. Free. 997-0133. 8:30am 4: Paper art class with Leslie Strand at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $30. 997-2787. 10am-2pm 4: “Insect Hallucinations, Visualizations and Prophecies: Doodles and Other Serious Social
More calendar on Page 48
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Methow Valley Summer 2011 Wednesdays: Community Market with music, crafts, food and more at the Mazama Community Center. 996-3299. 5-7pm Saturdays: Farmers Market with local produce, crafts and music at the MV Community Center, Twisp. 9am-noon
1: Fiasco performs blues, rock and funk at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm 2: Blues & rock performed by Fiasco at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm
2: Gypsy jazz performed by SisterMonk at Twisp River Pub. Free. 997-6822. 9pm
3: Fashion design “Beer Can Bling” class with 20-24: Drama Camp for youth (ages 8-18). Learn singing, dancing, scenes, monologues, set design and costuming at the Merc Playhouse. $200. 9977529. 10am-4pm 21: Book-It Theater performance of The Secret Garden at the Winthrop Library (10:30am) and Twisp Library (1pm). Free. 997-4681 or 996-2685. 21: Little Star Montessori school auction “Beyond the Orient Express: A Trip Through the Far East” with dinner, live music and dancing at the Winthrop Barn. $35. 996-2801. 5pm 22: Hottell Ragtime Jazz Band performs at Twisp River Pub. Free. 997-6822. 6:30pm 23: Frogs & salamanders field trip with Julie Grialou at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 996-2334. 6-8pm 24: Sagebrush blues with Ravinwolf at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $1. 996-3183. 7pm 24-25: Discovery and Cooking With Wild Foraged Foods and Fish at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. $245. 996-2334. 24-25: Readers’ Theater featuring Hay Fever by Noel Coward at the Merc Playhouse. Admission by donation. 997-7529. 7pm 24-26: Fairy & Human Relations Congress at Skalitude Retreat in Carlton. www.fairycongress.com 25: Twisp Art Walk in and around the galleries of Twisp. 5-8pm 25: Artist reception for Laura Aspenwall (blown glass), Teri Pieper (photography), Suzanne Powers (oil painting) and Patty Yates (watercolor) at the Winthrop Gallery. Free. 996-3925. 6-8pm 25: Sagebrush blues with Ravinwolf at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $1. 996-3183. 7pm 26: Fashion design “Restyling” class with Lisa Doran at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. 997-2787. 1-5pm 26: Soup bowl painting at the Winthrop market, for soup dinner fundraiser for Room One in late October. $10. 997-2050. 26: Book signing and talk by chef Becky Selengut, author of Good Fish!, at Trail’s End Bookstore, Winthrop. 996-2345. 3pm 28: Kids’ books talk by Erik Brooks at the Winthrop Library. Free. 996-2685. 10am 30: Riparian Residents from Owls to Fungi field trip with John Lehmkuhl at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 996-2334. 6-8pm
July Sundays: Winthrop Market in the Winthrop park. 10am-2pm
Autumn Jateff at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $15. 997-2787. 1-4pm
4: Independence Day parade down Glover Street in Twisp. 997-5693.
4: Methow Arts Festival with hands-on art booths, Mud Bay Jugglers, music, food and more in the Twisp City Park, following the 4th of July parade. 997-4004.
4: MV Backcountry Horsemen BBQ (1pm) and meeting (noon) at Twisp River Horse Camp. Free. 997-4802.
6: Puppet show at the Winthrop Library. Free. 9962685. 1:30pm
7: Puppet show at the Twisp Library. Free. 9974681. 1pm
9: Fashion design “Helmets, Hats and Handbags” class with Matthew Armbrust at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $15. 997-2787. 1-4pm
9: Book reading by Ana Maria Spagna, author of Potluck: Community on the Edge of Wilderness, at Trail’s End Bookstore, Winthrop. Time TBA. 9962345.
9: Re-dress skate party to “flaunt” your most aerodynamic recycled fashions at the MV Community Center, Twisp. $5. 997-2787. 6:30-10:30pm
9: Alternative rock by the Brody Blackburn Band at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm 13: Soup bowl painting at the Mazama community market, for soup dinner fundraiser for Room One in late October. $10. 997-2050. 14: Campfire presentation at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 996-2334. 6-8pm
15: Untamed blues with the Vaughn Jensen Band
at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $1. 9963183. 7pm 15-17: Pateros Apple Pie Jamboree at the Pateros park, with golf, vendors, parade, 3-on-3 basektball, quilt show, music, jet ski races, youth circus, fireworks, games, food, bingo, raffle and more. (509) 923-2760. 15-17: SE Asian Trunk show and sale at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. 997-2787. 10am-4pm 15-17: Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival with Jimmy Vaughan, Booker T, Commander Cody and more. www.winthropbluesfestival.org. 16: Field sketching art class with Maria CoryellMartin at Chickadee Trailhead, Sun Mountain. $85. 997-2787. 8:30am-noon 16: Paper art class with Leslie Strand at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $30. 997-2787. 1-4pm 16: Rhythm & blues with Chris Eger and the Powerhouse Horns at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm 18-21: Primitive skills day camp for kids (ages 7-13). Learn fire, shelter, wild foods, crafts, nature awareness and more. $115. Info: Katie Russell 9970301 or wilderbabe@wilderbabe.com. 9am-1pm 19: Pacific Science Center program at the Twisp Library. Free. 997-4681. 1pm 21: Edible & medicinal plants of the Methow Valley with Rosalee and Xavier de la Foret at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 9962334. 6-8pm 22-30: MV Chamber Music festival features 10 days of world-class music at Signal Hill Ranch (between Twisp and Winthrop), plus open rehearsals and student demonstrations around the valley. Info www. methowmusicfestival.org 22: Cowboy music and classic rock with RT Jr. Band at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm 22-24: Theater in the Park You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown in the Twisp park. 997-7529. 22-24: Tumbleweed Run motorcycle rally at the Winthrop Barn and town, with poker walk, bike games, show, parade, prizes and more. www.tumbleweedrun. com. 23: Fashion show “Methow to Milan” runway fashion show and party in Twisp. 997-2787. 7-10pm 23: Acoustic folk by Olivia De La Cruz at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm 25-28: Primitive skills day camp for kids (ages 7-13). Learn fire, shelter, wild foods, crafts, nature awareness and more. $115. Info: Katie Russell 9970301 or wilderbabe@wilderbabe.com. 9am-1pm 26: Bilingual & sign language story time at the Winthrop Library (11am) and Twisp Library (1pm). Free. 997-4681 or 996-2685.
Methow Valley Summer 2011
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27: Hottell Ragtime Jazz Band performs at Twisp River Pub. Free. 997-6822. 6:30pm
September
28-31: Theater in the Park You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown in the Winthrop park. 997-7529.
Sundays: Winthrop Market in the Winthrop park.
29: Artists’ reception for Mary Powell, Gary
10am-2pm
Harper and Phil Woras at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. 997-2787. 4-8pm
29: Rock & blues by City Faire at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $1. 996-3183. 7pm
29: Luc and the Lovingtons perform rock’n’soul at Twisp River Pub. $5. 997-6822. 9pm
30: Rock & blues by City Faire at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $1. 996-3183. 7pm
August Sundays: Winthrop Market in the Winthrop park. 10am-2pm
Wednesdays: Community Market with music, crafts, food and more at the Mazama Community Center. 996-3299. 5-7pm Saturdays: Farmers Market with local produce, crafts and music at the MV Community Center, Twisp. 9am-noon 1-5: Drama Camp for youth (ages 8-18). Learn singing, dancing, scenes, monologues, set design and costuming at the Merc Playhouse. $200. 9977529. 10am-4pm 2: Puppet show at the Winthrop Library (10:30am) and Twisp Library (1pm). Free. 997-4681 or 996-2685. 3: Hiking Washington’s History with Judy Bentley at Mazama Community Center. Free. Methow Conservancy 996-2870. 7:30pm 4: Bats of the Methow with Kent Woodruff at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 996-2334. 6-8pm 4-14: Theater in the Park You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Thursdays through Sundays) in the Winthrop park. 997-7529.
5: Bluegrass by Polecat at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm
6: Artist reception for Pearl Cherrington (mixed media), Adele Eustis (oil painting), Don McIvor (turned wood) and Kathy Meyers (acrylics) at the Winthrop Gallery. Free. 996-3925. 6-8pm 6: Country funk performed by Open Country Joy
Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 9962334. 6-8pm
13: Tour of Homes in the Methow Valley (10am5pm) and benefit BBQ dinner and entertainment at Bernie Hosey’s house (5-9pm). 997-2787. 18: Live raptors with WSU Raptor Club at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 9962334. 6-8pm
19: Groove Patrol performs funk, rock and jazz at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 9963183. 7pm 19-21: Heart of the Methow Traditional Native American powwow in the Twisp park. 997-4904. 20: Paper art class with Leslie Strand at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $30. 997-2787. 1-4pm
20: Hottell Ragtime Jazz Band performs at Twisp River Pub. Free. 997-6822. 6:30pm
20: Groove Patrol performs funk, rock and jazz at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 9963183. 7pm
at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 9963183. 7pm
24: Rock’n’roll with Massy Ferguson at Twisp River Pub. Free. 997-6822. 9pm
11: Geology of Mazama with Eric Bard at North
25: Grouse of the Methow with Dr. Michael Schroeder at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 996-2334. 6-8pm 27: Cutthroat Classic 11.1-mile trail run from Rainy Pass to Cutthroat Lake. $40-$50. MVSTA 996-3287. 8am 27: NC Oldtime Fiddlers contest and Giant Insect Contest at Spring Creek Ranch in Winthrop. 996-2111.
27: Artist reception for “Farm & Field” (celebrating rural settings and open spaces) at the Winthrop Gallery. Free. 996-3925. 6-8pm 27: Comedy night with Gallagher at Twisp River Pub. $25. 997-6822. 8pm
28: Oldtime fiddle jam at the Shafer Museum. Free. 996-2111. 1pm
Wednesdays: Community Market with music, crafts, food and more at the Mazama Community Center. 996-3299. 5-7pm Saturdays: Farmers Market with local produce, crafts and music at the MV Community Center, Twisp. 9am-noon 1: Campfire presentation at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 996-2334. 6-8pm 2: Rhythm & blues with the Chris Eger Band at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 9963183. 7pm 3: Rhythm & blues with the Chris Eger Band and the Powerhouse Horns at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm 3-4: Methow Valley Rodeo with ropin’ and ridin’ at the rodeo grounds on Twin Lakes Road. 8: Campfire presentation at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 996-2334. 6-8pm 8-11: Okanogan County Fair with pigs and cows and chickens, food, music, rides and more. (509) 422-1621 9-11: Winthrop Auto Rallye classic car show in downtown Winthrop. 9-11: Fur Trade Brigades field trips and presentations by the Okanogan County Historical Society in Brewster, Pateros, Okanogan and Omak. (509) 4224272. 15: Campfire presentation at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. Dessert is $5. 996-2334. 6-8pm 21-26: Saskatoon Circle Primitive and Traditional Living Skills gathering at Skalitude Retreat Center, Carlton. $115-$225 (or call for special senior/Native American rates) www.saskatooncircle.com 24: Artists’ reception for “Concept to Creation” at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. 997-2787. 4-8pm 24:Twisp Art Walk In and around the streets and galleries of Twisp. 5-8pm 30: MVSTA Fall Bike Festival weekend begins, with rides, events and cycling activities for the whole family. 996-3287 or www.mvsta.com. 30: “Fall Colors” Methow Valley Watercolor Retreat with Maria Coryell-Martin at North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama. $295. 996-2334. 4
Times & dates subject to change. Call ahead!
Page 50
Methow Valley Summer 2011
Directory of advertisers
Photo by Paul Butler
Air Charter Service Catlin Flying Service .............46 Architects CB Anderson Architects...........6 Johnston Architects ..................2 Automotive/Gasoline Gabby Cabby .........................25 Kevin’s Collision Repair ........23 King’s Pacific Pride & Car Wash ....................36 Mazama Store ........................20 Winthrop Motors ....................41 Banquet Halls/Event Facilities Barn at Wilson Ranch ............32 Loup Loup Ski Bowl................8 North Cascades Basecamp .....32 Merc Playhouse Theater.........12 Twisp Valley Grange ..............25 Winthrop Barn........................44 Bicycle Dealers/Repair Methow Cycle & Sport ............6 Winthrop Mountain Sports.....44 Builders/Contractors Hilton Construction................44 Stopwater Construction..........38 Building Supplies Cascade Concrete ...................14 Doug Haase Excavating .........25 North Valley Lumber .............41 Cafés/Dining/Espresso Blue Star Coffee Roasters ........9 Breadline Cafe .......................38 Carlos1800 ...............................7 Cascadian Home Farm ...........51 Cinnamon Twisp Bakery ........25 Dos Gallos..............................28 East 20 Pizza ..........................28 Freestone Inn..........................16 Glover Street Market..............14 Heenan’s Burnt Finger BBQ ...16
Cafés/Dining/Espresso, Cont. Hometown Pizza ....................15 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso .....8 Mazama Country Inn .............23 Mazama Store ........................20 Noca Coffee Bar.....................19 Old Schoolhouse Brewery .......7 Paco’s Tacos .............................8 Rocking Horse Bakery ...........23 Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe.............38 Sunflower Café.......................13 Sun Mountain Lodge........13, 42 Twisp Orchid ..........................39 Twisp River Pub .......................3 Wesola Polana ........................37 Winthrop Tipi Dinners ...........20 Campgrounds Silverline Resort.....................23 Winthrop KOA .......................30 Car Wash King’s Pacific Pride & Car Wash ....................36 Concrete Cascade Concrete ...................14 Events/Festivals Merc Playhouse Theater.........12 Methow Arts Festival ...............9 Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival ................15 MVSTA ..................................18 Oldtime Fiddlers Contest .......22 Omak Stampede .....................17 Winthrop Market ....................13 Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival.............43 Excavating Doug Haase Excavating .........25 Galleries Confluence Gallery ................12 Peligro ....................................12
Groceries/Hardware Glover Street Market..............14 Hank’s Harvest Foods ............26 Mazama Store ........................20 Valley Hardware Do-it Center ...................30 Winthrop Motors ....................41 Health/Medical Methow Valley Family Practice ..............29 Omak Clinic ...........................19 The Country Clinic ................10 Ulrich’s Valley Pharmacy.......22 Internet Methownet.com .....................21 Local Goods & Produce Blue Star Coffee Roasters ........9 Cascadian Home Farm ...........51 Glover Street Market..............14 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso .....8 Thomson’s Custom Meats......39 Methow Valley Ciderhouse ....46 Winthrop Market ....................13 Lodging Blue Spruce Motel .................41 Brown’s Farm.........................22 Central Reservations ..............52 Cottonwood Cottage ..............16 Freestone Inn..........................16 Hotel Rio Vista .......................25 Mazama Country Inn .............23 Mazama Ranch House ...........33 Methow River Lodge & Cabins ........................20 North Cascades Basecamp .....32 Silverline Resort.....................23 Sportsman Motel ....................30 Sun Mountain Lodge........13, 42 Wesola Polana ........................37 Winthrop Inn ..........................33 Winthrop KOA .......................30 Winthrop Mountain View Chalets ..................44
Massage Practitioners Green Lotus Massage...............8 Sun Mountain Lodge........13, 42 Museums Shafer Historical Museum .....36 Organizations Brewster Chamber .................51 Cascade Foothills Farmland Assoc..............27 Confluence Gallery ................12 Merc Playhouse Theater.........12 Methow Arts.............................9 Methow Conservancy ............45 MVSTA ..................................18 Omak Chamber ......................11 Pateros Chamber ....................51 Shafer Historical Museum .....36 Twisp Chamber ........................2 Twisp Valley Grange ..............25 Winthrop Barn........................44 Winthrop Chamber .................13 Photographers Ms. Kitty’s Place ....................45 Propane Sales North Cascades Propane Service .............16 Real Estate Blue Sky Real Estate..............21 Methow Conservancy ............45 Re/Max Valley Life ..................7 Recreation/Activities Bear Creek Golf Course .........29 Flyfishers Pro Shop ................30 Freestone Inn..........................16 Loup Loup Ski Bowl................8 Methow Power Sports ............10 Morning Glory Balloon Tours .................39 MVSTA ..................................18 North Cascade Heli ...............46
Recreation/Activities North Cascades Mountain Guides............18 Ohme Gardens .......................22 Skagit Tours / North Cascades Institute 51 Slide Waters ...........................28 Sun Mountain Lodge........13, 42 Winthrop Tipi Dinners ...........20 Recycling Services Methow Recycling Roundup .........................21 Retail Confluence Gallery ................12 Flyfishers Pro Shop ................30 Glover Street Market..............14 Hank’s Harvest Foods ............26 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso .....8 Mazama Store ........................20 Methow Cycle & Sport ............6 Outdoorsman ..........................37 Peligro ....................................12 Poppie Jo Galleria ..................40 Rawson’s ................................24 Red Hen Trading Co. ............15 Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe.............38 Sun Mountain Lodge........13, 42 Ulrich’s Valley Pharmacy.......22 Valley Hardware Do-It Center ...................30 White Buck Trading Co. .......17 Winthrop Motors ....................41 Winthrop Mountain Sports.....44 Theaters Merc Playhouse Theater.........12 Transportation Gabby Cabby .........................25 Wineries Lake Chelan Winery ..............26 Rio Vista Wines......................26 Rockwall Cellars ....................27 Tunnel Hill Winery/ Sunshine Farm ...............26
Experience the North Cascades Skagit Tours July/August 2011 Diablo Lake boat tour and lunch Walking tour of historic Newhalem and Gorge Powerhouse n Explore the hydro highway by van and foot then picnic in the Park n Special tours coming in fall 2011 Visit www.skagittours.com for more information. For reservations, call 206-684-3030. n
Skagit Tours 2011
n
North Cascades Institute Celebrating 25 years of connecting people, nature and community through education. You are invited to the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center for: n Family Getaways n Diablo Downtime n Base Camp n Adult Classes n Group Rentals n Youth Programs www.ncascades.org or 360-854-2599
North Cascades National Park Something to savor Enjoy summer learning and recreation. www.nps.gov/noca or 360-854-7200