2014 Methow Valley News Summer Guide

Methow Valley FREE

r e m Sum 2014

Activities Maps Visitor Information A supplement to the Methow Valley News

WinthropWashington.com

Enjoy the Methow’s endless summer

Play hard in the Methow, but don’t forget to relax. Photo by Ashley Lodato

It’s hard to know where to begin in the Methow Valley.

Should you go biking (road and mountain), hiking, fishing, backpacking, swimming, picnicking, golfing, rafting, kayaking, camping, climbing, horseback riding, bird-watching, or take a leisurely stroll down the welcoming streets of Winthrop and Twisp, or attend one of the many artistic and musical events on our jam-packed schedule?

All of that and more is what the Methow Valley offers to firsttimers and frequent visitors alike during our glorious summer season of long days and abundant sunshine. The best advice we can offer: Relax. Slow down. Explore the valley at your own pace. Check out the stars at night.

Despite the range of activities, this is a take-it-easy place. You won’t cover it all in one visit. Look around and see what you’d like to try next time. Sample the local dining, lodging and shopping options, and take home some of our local products.

Mostly we hope you’ll feel at home. The people who live and work here love the Methow Valley, and they love sharing it. Our local businesses are friendly and ready to help you in any way they can.

So where to begin? Anywhere you want. You won’t be disappointed.

– Don Nelson

Methow Valley Summer

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MethowSuValley mmer 2014

A supplement to the Methow Valley News

6 8

Back-road adventures

10

Hiking with the kids

25 16

Steer yourself toward some intriguing out-of-the-way places

Off-trail activities

The Methow offers a variety of attractions that don’t involve working up a sweat The Methow is teeming with beautiful hikes suitable for tots, teens — and their parents

Fly away

Proven fly patterns lure local trophy trout

17 Outdoor options 18 Fishing map

The Methow’s lakes and streams From relaxing to roughing it, the Methow offers lots of camping possibilities

19

Take a bit of the valley home with you

Methow-made products are plentiful and portable

20 Away from it all 22

The sky’s the limit

ON THE COVER: A Methow moment: the operative word is “fun.”

PHOTO BY STEPHEN MITCHELL

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Methow Valley Summer

Summer stargazing is superb in the Methow Backpacking is about solitude and discovery, but make sure you’re prepared

25 Trail maps 26 Swing time 28 Visitor’s tool kit 31

10

Steep learning curve

Methow Valley rock climbing offers an array of challenges Finding your way around the valley Golfers can choose from a variety of scenic courses in and around the Methow Help is just a phone call away

Contributors

46

Don Nelson

is publisher and editor of the Methow Valley News.

Marcy Stamper

is a Methow Valley News reporter.

32

Experience the Methow’s magical winter

Visitors can enjoy every snowrelated activity imaginable

34 Swimming with 36 possibilities

Pedaling paradise

Miles of Methow trails and roads beckon every type of bicyclist

For a refreshing adventure, wade or dive into the Methow’s lakes, streams and rivers

38

School’s out!

Time for camp

40 Whatever floats 42 your boat

Back in the saddle

Ann McCreary

Take a trail ride or go horse packing from the valley floor to the backwoods

is a Methow Valley News reporter.

L aurelle Walsh

is a Methow Valley News reporter and proofreader.

Drift lazily or dig in a paddle on the Methow’s lakes and rivers

44

Buy a pass before you park

Mike Maltais

is a Methow Valley News reporter.

Most of the valley’s public lands require a recreation pass, but it can get complicated

46

Ashley Lodato

Summer Calendar 2014

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

It’s an eventful season

Learning looks a lot like fun at the Methow’s many programs

Bob Spiwak

19

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

Joanna Bastian

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

A publication of the Methow Valley News

David Ward

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

P.O. Box 97, 101 N. Glover St., Twisp, WA 98856 509.997.7011 • fax 509.997.3277 www.methowvalleynews.com editor@methowvalleynews.com

Don Nelson | publisher /editor

Robin Doggett | advertising manager

Darla Hussey | design

Sheila Ward | advertising assistant

Marilyn Bardin | office manager

Dana Sphar | ad design /production Methow Valley Summer

[ 5 ]

Back-road adventures Steer yourself toward some intriguing out-ofthe-way places

By Marcy Stamper

Y

never know what you’ll see when you meander down a back road in the Methow Valley. Well, that’s not entirely true — you can expect farms, stunning mountain vistas, lakes and rivers. But then there’s the unexpected — sightings of grouse, bear or porcupine, hidden geological wonders that look as if they’ve been transplanted from the Southwest, or a field of kinetic sculpture.

We propose three back-road explorations that will provide a glimpse of some of the area’s unique attractions and deepen your sense of what makes this place special. One is a paved loop, while the other two take you on gravel and dirt roads. We also provide suggestions for places to stretch your legs and see scenery not visible through the windshield.

OU

Chewuch loop

The 24-mile Chewuch loop is a paved tour that takes you from Winthrop past country homes, farms and ranches and into the National Forest.

As the road climbs gradually, you’ll see the shrub-steppe hills with few trees give way to a forested river valley.

A short walk on a level, wheelchairaccessible path takes you to a dramatic waterfall at Falls Creek.

You can do the loop in either direction, but we propose doing it clockwise, heading out of town on West Chewuch Road and returning on East Chewuch Road, keeping extraordinary

views of the Cascades front and center for much of the route.

From Falls Creek, you can extend the drive another 24 miles (each way) to see more of the Chewuch River as it carves its way through the forest and between the narrow walls of a box canyon. The road ends at Thirtymile, where there is a moving memorial to the four firefighters who perished in the Thirtymile Fire 13 years ago. All but the last mile is on pavement.

Bear Creek/Pipestone Canyon

The Bear Creek/Pipestone Canyon route takes you east of the settled part of the Methow Valley on paved and gravel roads, climbing high enough to provide stunning vistas of the North Cascades. In about 30 miles, you will visit two small lakes and get a good glimpse of one of the Methow’s most dramatic — but secluded — geological features.

The route can start from either Winthrop or Twisp, and be done as a loop or as a one-way trip between towns.

We take you east and south from Winthrop so that the mountains are in front of you for much of the route.

You’ll pass small, uncrowded lakes where you can watch birds, fish, or just relax. There are many opportunities to stretch your legs and explore the open, sagebrush-covered hills in the Methow Wildlife Area along the route.

The route takes you to the angular red-rock cliffs and eroded rock formations of Pipestone Canyon. You get a partial view of the canyon from the end of the road, but to really appreciate its beauty, walk the fairly level trail that follows the base of the canyon for a little more than a mile. A more strenuous hike high on the ridge allows you to peer over the rim of the canyon.

The only caveat is that this dry, rocky area is prime habitat for rattlesnakes, so you may want to return in the cooler seasons to explore on foot,

Pipestone Canyon. PHOTO BY MARCY STAMPER

when the snakes are less likely to be out.

Part of the route is paved but most is on gravel roads, with a few rough sections.

Harts Pass/Slate Peak

Probably the quintessential backroad excursion from the Methow Valley, the stunning route from Mazama to Harts Pass and Slate Peak takes you more than 5,000 feet above the valley floor to an old fire lookout on the Cascade crest. At 7,400 feet, Slate Peak is the highest point you can get to by car in Washington.

After seven paved miles that ascend gradually from Mazama to Lost River, the road climbs, often steeply, into the mountains. The road can be driven in a passenger car (trailers are prohibited), but some sections are very rough and rutted, and the quarter-mile stretch at eerily named Deadhorse Point is extremely narrow and has a steep drop-off. The entire route is usually not snow-free until July — check current conditions before you head out.

Despite these

cautions, the Harts Pass Road (about 20 miles one way to the pass from the turn at Lost River, and another two miles to Slate Peak) provides an unequalled view of the mountains, incredible wildflower displays during much of the summer, and access to numerous trails and campgrounds for more exploring.

About halfway up, you see evidence of the wildfires that are part of the forest ecology of the area. The most recent fires engulfed large swaths of the mountains about 10 years ago, so you can still see the fascinating patchwork pattern of the burn and the lush vegetation that has sprung up since the fire.

From Slate Peak, you can take in a 360-degree vista, providing some insight into why the U.S. military considered installing a radar station there.

The Harts Pass Road was initially constructed for access to high-mountain mines. As you drive the narrow road, try to imagine latter-day prospectors hauling tons — literally — of equipment to the mines, and trucking ore back down for refining. It’s no wonder it was so hard for them to turn a profit.

Slate Peak. PHOTO BY MARCY STAMPER

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Methow Valley Summer

To see some of the actual equipment the miners used, drop by the Shafer Museum in Winthrop after your drive.

Driving directions Chewuch loop

From the Winthrop Barn, turn left on Highway 20 and make an immediate right on West Chewuch Road. The first good views of the Chewuch River come at around 6.5 miles. Reach a stop sign at 6.9 miles. Go straight for about 5 miles on Forest Service Road 51 to the bridge over Falls Creek and the trail to Falls Creek falls on your left.

The paved, level trail takes you to the falls in less than half a mile. If you want to experience more of the forest, continue on the dirt trail that climbs up the hillside and away from the falls after you reach the waterfall. Walk back to the road the way you came, or cross Falls Creek on a primitive bridge and follow the trail on the right side of the creek.

Retrace your steps on the road to the stop sign (at 17.2 miles from the beginning of your drive) and turn

left, crossing the Chewuch River. Bear right after the bridge. Pass the Pearrygin Lake State Park turnoff at Bear Creek Road on your left at 22.3 miles.

Continue straight into Winthrop — the road will bend to the left onto Riverside Avenue. Turn right at the four-way stop at 23.9 miles and head over the bridge. Turn left into the Barn at 24.1 miles.

To go to Thirtymile, continue straight ahead from Falls Creek for another 24 miles to the end of the road.

It is paved until approximately 1 mile from the end.

Pipestone Canyon

From the four-way stop in Winthrop, head northwest one block and follow the road as it turns right onto Bridge Street. Go 1.6 miles and turn right on Bear Creek Road toward Pearrygin Lake State Park. Pass the first entrance to Pearrygin on the right at 2.6 miles. The old Lloyd Ranch, now owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, is on your left at 4.2 miles. The pavement ends at 4.4 miles.

Follow the road as it bends to the

right on Bear Creek Road until you come to a “T” at 6.4 miles, and turn right to stay on Bear Creek Road. The road is flanked by both wetlands and shrub-steppe and offers dramatic views of the Sawtooths.

Turn left on Lester Road at 8.3 miles. (Take note of a field of sculpture and wind-propelled whimsy on your right just before the turn, but respect the fact that this is private property.) At 10.7 miles, turn right.

Campbell Lake is on your left at 11.6 miles. In another 0.4 mile, reach a small parking area at the end of the road. Look up to your left to see the beginning of Pipestone Canyon. A trail just ahead takes you for about 1.5 miles along the base of the canyon.

(For a more strenuous, much longer walk to the top of Pipestone Canyon, go left at the intersection at mile 10.7, before you reach Campbell Lake. You can park just past the intersection and look for an unmarked trail on the right side of the road that leads to the canyon’s rim.)

Retrace your route to the intersection of Lester Road and Bear Creek Road. Go left on Bear Creek Road

and take another left in 0.2 mile on Davis Lake Road, just after the surface changes to pavement. Davis Lake is on your right in about 0.2 mile; there is a parking area 0.8 mile from the turn.

Return to Bear Creek Road and turn left. Soon the road passes the vivid greens of the Bear Creek Golf Course on your right. Turn left on the TwispWinthrop East County Road, 2.5 miles from the left turn off of Davis Lake Road. Turn right onto Highway 20 in 7.2 miles and drive another half-mile into Twisp. Winthrop is nine miles further on Highway 20.

Harts Pass/Slate Peak

From the Mazama Store, head west toward Lost River. The pavement ends at about 7 miles. Turn right on Harts Pass Road at 8.8 miles. Travel for about 12 miles to Harts Pass. Bear right to go to Slate Peak, about 2 miles further.

You will need the federal annual Northwest Forest Pass or National Forest Recreation Day Pass to park at Falls Creek and a state Discover Pass for the Pipestone Canyon and Davis Lake. The Harts Pass trailheads and Slate Peak do not require a pass. ❂

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Off-trail activities

The Methow offers a variety of attractions that don’t involve working up a sweat

By Joanna Bastian

S

UMMER is full of events in the valley. But if you are looking for something spontaneous to do, or need a less-than-strenuous couple of hours, the Methow has plenty of options.

Art galleries

The Shafer Museum will take you back in time.

PHOTO BY DON NELSON

Confluence Gallery in Twisp and the Winthrop Gallery feature a wide variety of art such as sculptures, glassworks, photography, woven textiles and paintings created by regional and local artists. The gift shops offer unique handcrafted items that support local artisans. TwispWorks is a vibrant addition to the valley that is home to several artist studios. Visitors can meet with artists and observe the creative processes such as botanical alchemy, metal works, silversmithing, ceramics and textile production.

Other valley retailers may also carry local arts and handcrafted items. www.confl uencegallery.com www.winthropgallery.com www.twispworks.org

Museums

TwispWorks is also home to the Methow Valley Interpretive Center.

Working with descendants of the Methow Tribe, the museum displays the stories and history of the original Native American residents of the Methow Valley. Other exhibits show the geology and natural history of the valley. A walking path leads through an outdoor garden of native plant species.

Walking through the gates of the Shafer Museum in Winthrop is like stepping back in time. The grounds are set up as a small town, with two historic homes, a general store, a ladies dress shop, a newspaper building with an antique printing press and other equipment once used by the Methow Valley News, a school house and the best mining machinery display in the West.

The Methow Valley is the birthplace of smoke jumping. Visit the North Cascades Smokejumper Base to view exhibits on the history of smoke jumping and learn how firefighters attack wildfires in rugged terrain. www.twispworks.org/partnersandprograms/ partners/methow-valley-interpretive-center www.shafermuseum.com www.northcascadessmokejumperbase.com

Walking trails

Twisp Ponds located just outside of Twisp on Twisp River Road is an ongoing community outreach project by Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation.

A trail system displays educational signs and public art.

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is a 2-mile interpretive trail along the Chewuch River. At the northwest end of Winthrop’s boardwalk, cross a suspension bridge and enter a strolling path through pines along the river.

Interpretive signs explain the river’s ecosystem, which is also a salmon spawning area.

The Methow Community trail along the Methow River connects Mazama to Winthrop. This flat walk through beautiful forest features the impressive Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge and a whimsical retaining wall called “Windows into the Wild”. The wall was decorated by sixth graders in 2002 during a Methow Arts project.

spawning operations. The surrounding grounds are a scenic place to have a picnic, watch wildlife, and learn about the salmon life cycle. Employees at the hatchery raise spring Chinook, steelhead, and coho salmon on site.

The Crown S Ranch in Winthrop is a sustainable family farm that offers educational and entertaining farm tours and ranch activities. Self-propelled chicken trains, solar-powered hen houses, happy pigs, cute sheep, certified organic gardens and a farm store are all nestled below the scenic backdrop of the North Cascades.

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Educational tours

The Winthrop National Fish Hatchery, located along the Methow River on Twin Lakes Road in Winthrop, is located on 42 scenic acres. Enjoy a guided or self-guided tour through the facility that includes a viewing room below water level to observe salmon

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Hiking with the kids The Methow is teeming with beautiful hikes suitable for tots, teens — and their parents

Kids on the Patterson Mountain Trail. PHOTO BY ASHLEY LODATO

By Ashley Lodato

“T

mountains are calling and I must go,” said John Muir, echoing the sentiments of many a Methow Valley visitor.

John Muir, however, was not saddled with children. Muir could simply go, but because you have kids, your trips to the mountains may require a little more planning.

Training tots to be avid hikers means making their early experiences fun. Stick to the shorter hikes when they’re young, bring plenty of snacks and drinks, and be prepared to play games, tell stories, and endure endless dawdling as they get familiar with the concept of hiking and the many marvels it will introduce them to.

Put in your time on the poky hikes, surreptitiously build up to harder walks, and before you know it your kids will be leading the charge into the back country.

The good news is that even the pokiest of hikes around the Methow Valley are stunners. What some hikes lack in distance or elevation gain they generally make up for in sheer aesthetic HE

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magnificence. The back country of the North Cascades is a place of wonder and the sooner your children discover the magic of the mountains, the farther from the parking lot you’ll be able to travel.

A walk on the mild side

Beginning at Rainy Pass on the North Cascades Highway, the 1-mile walk to Rainy Lake on a paved, level path is the perfect introduction to walking in the forest, and the view of the alpine cirque lake at the end is well worth the minimal effort the walk entails. Interpretive signs and resting spots along the way provide convenient places to pause.

Continuing on Highway 20, the 2-mile loop around Early Winters Creek at Lone Fir Campground is a perennial adventure for youngsters, with its shady glades and fun bridges.

The terrain changes constantly, holding kids’ interest and making the already short miles fairly fly by.

Due north and well into the wilderness, the quarter-mile jaunt up Slate Peak brings hikers to an elevation of 7,400 feet, with all but 300 feet of

the way to Sun Mountain, leads hikers from bluffs high above the lake down to the lakeshore in several places.

Just outside of Twisp, the Twisp Ponds area offers a magical exploration around a short loop, with a carefully restored riparian area, native vegetation, interpretive signage, and several significant public art pieces.

A heron dips for smolt in the river, a beaver totem surprises you around a bend — the Twisp Ponds area is a delightful way to begin discovering nature’s secrets.

this hike gets hot and dry in midsummer so get an early start and cool off with a jump in the lake afterwards.

Lookout Mountain near Twisp loses its snow early, too, and the 4-mile round trip walk brings hikers to panoramic views

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These youths were made for walkin’ Having put in their time as toddlers on the easier rambles, your school-age children will be primed to tackle more ambitious hikes. Early in the season, the 3-mile Patterson Mountain loop is one of the first snow-free hikes available and affords views overlooking Patterson Lake and the Winthrop area. Carpeted with arrowleaf balsamroot in the mid-spring,

Some hikes offer opportunities for coolingoff breaks. PHOTO BY ASHLEY LODATO

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that being accomplished in a vehicle.

The (sometimes rough) drive to Harts Pass brings you above treeline and into the Pasayten Wilderness, while the hike itself provides a glimpse into the rich mining history of the area around the turn of the 20th century.

Those who would rather remain on the valley floor can walk about a mile on the Methow Community Trail from the Suspension Bridge parking area on Goat Creek Road in Mazama to the Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge over the Methow River. A picnic shelter and some interpretive signs across the bridge create a shady spot to reflect or regroup before making the return trip.

A couple of walks just outside of Winthrop offer shady, tranquil experiences, from the cedar groves of Falls Creek Falls to the varied terrain of the Patterson Lake Trail. From the Falls Creek Campground on the Chewuch River, an easy quarter-mile walk to Falls Creek Falls provides views of two magnificent waterfalls of nearly 40 and 60 feet respectively.

For those who want to incorporate a dip into their walk, the trail along the west shore of Patterson Lake, on

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and a historic wildfire lookout.

Once the snow starts melting higher up, take the kids to some of the more moderate hikes off Highway 20 in the Washington Pass area, such as Lake Ann, Blue Lake and Cutthroat Lake.

At just over 3 miles round-trip, the Lake Ann hike is relatively flat and brings you to a lovely alpine lake with a gorgeous granite backdrop. Nearby

Blue Lake is farther in (4.4 miles round trip) and has more elevation gain, but offers the reward of a sparkling turquoise gem of a lake into whose icy waters a surprising number of youngsters are tempted to jump. Views of popular rock climbing routes on Liberty Bell and the Early Winters Spires contribute to the alpine feel of this hike. Cutthroat Lake has a gentle

ascent to a quiet lake in a dramatic setting, with views of the soaring cliffs of Cutthroat Peak.

Closer to Mazama on Highway 20, an easy 4-mile round-trip hike brings you to roaring Cedar Creek Falls, a spectacularly raging twin waterfall.

Turn around here or continue on the trail for as long as the kids’ energy lasts.

Although the access road is a bit rough, the 2-mile round trip hike to Tiffany Lake can result in an afternoon of swimming and exploration, with wildflower-strewn Tiffany Mountain looming above. The walk in descends gently; children can scamper to the lake in minutes. Leave some of the group playing at the lake while others ascend to the saddle overlooking the lake en route to Tiffany Mountain.

I can hike for miles and miles

Starting down the trail. PHOTO BY ASHLEY LODATO

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At last, all of your coaxing, cajoling, and compelling have paid off and the kids are finally ready to tackle one of the routes you might consider a real day hike. Whether you start with this North Cascades classic or save the best for last, you won’t want to miss Maple Pass.

Beginning from the same trailhead as the Rainy Lake and Lake Ann hikes, this 7.5-mile loop is hands-down pretty much everyone’s favorite, so get an early start. Traveling clockwise takes you up steeply and down gradually; reverse your direction for a more gradual ascent and a knee-slammer on the descent.

After passing through old growth forests and subalpine hillsides you’ll emerge into the alpine meadows at the top of the loop with a 360-degree view of the Pasayten Wilderness and nearby Corteo and Black Peaks, as well as the distant summits of the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

Another local favorite is Goat Peak, mostly for its panoramic view of the North Cascades but also for the novelty of the staffed fire tower — one of two remaining staffed lookouts in the Methow Valley Ranger District — on the summit. The 5-mile round trip hike is strenuous but provides enough variety to keep things interesting for the kids, particularly if they get to visit with fire tower resident “Lightning Bill.”

If the kids are into the rigorous

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uphill thing, you won’t want to miss Copper Glance Lake. The 6.6-mile round trip hike takes you steeply up past an abandoned mine entrance and then continues to ascend a total of 2,500 feet with a final steep drop into a gorgeous cirque nestled into the towering Isabella Ridge. A plunge into the icy clear waters of the lake will refresh you for the descent.

Don’t be fooled by the name — Easy Pass is anything but a walk in the woods.

The 3.5-mile (one way) rugged trail takes you up nearly 3,000 feet on a fairly relentless climb, but it is worth every hard-won step. Once you emerge into the talus above the treeline the views are breathtaking, as the trail criss-crosses an avalanche fan under the soaring peaks of Ragged Ridge. Enter the larch-covered lushness of the Easy Pass saddle, you can peer over into Fisher Creek Basin and gaze at the glaciers dotting Mt. Logan and Fisher Peak.

Give your knees a rest day and head to Windy Pass. Located on the Pacific Crest Trail near Harts Pass, the 7-mile round trip hike is virtually flat and winds through meadows and larch stands and to a couple of spur ridges.

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Sharing the scenery with kids is easy to do in the Methow. PHOTO BY ASHLEY LODATO

Despite the lack of elevation gain you won’t get bored; the peeks at the peaks of the Pasayten and even as far west as Mt. Baker are captivating.

Load up the food, sunscreen, water, your Northwest Forest Pass (see page 44 for permit information) and get those kids out where they belong. The mountains are calling — now go. ❂

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15.

What is the origin of the Town of Twisp’s name?

Where do the best crooners in the land gather to sing karaoke?

Where can you find a 1951 Spartan travel trailer, converted into an art gallery?

What year was Twisp founded?

Where’s the best place to walk in Twisp?

How long has the Methow Valley Farmers Market been a Saturday morning fixture?

Which local business recently won the “America’s Best Espresso” contest?

Where in Twisp can you see dozens of exotic animals?

In what kind of structure did members of the Methow Band of Native Americans live in the winter?

How many days of sunshine does Twisp get each year?

Where can you visit The Loovre, a special “gallery within a gallery” showcasing local art?

Who “drives” through Twisp at dawn on the first Sunday in May? What was the name of the original Twisp lumber mill?

Where can you see photos of every Twisp High graduating class?

Who is known as the official Twisp greeter?

FISHING LICENSES Lures, Tackle & Live Bait Sporting Goods & Camping Gear

Valley Hardware IN TWISP

(509) 997-3355

Many hidden treasures await the Twisp visitor. Stop into the Twisp Visitor Information Center (201 Hwy 20 S.) to learn more about what there is to see and do.

Answers: 1) The Native American word for yellowjacket 2) The Branding Iron, 123 N. Glover St. Check the Methow Valley News for times & days.

3) TwispWorks, 502 S. Glover St. 4) It was originally platted in 1897 as Gloversville, but incorporated as Twisp in 1909. 5) Twisp Ponds salmon recovery area, Second Avenue just west of town 6) No one’s exactly sure, but somewhere around 35 years 7) Blue Star Coffee Roasters, Highway 20 & Airport Road south of Twisp 8) Hank’s Harvest Foods, 412 E. Methow Valley Hwy 9) Pit houses. Visit a replica at the Methow Valley Interpretive Center at TwispWorks. 10) Around 188 days (Seattle’s average is 58 days/year) 11) The Confluence Gallery, 104 N. Glover St. 12) Ranchers driving their cattle to grazing range outside of Twisp 13) The Wagner Mill 14) The Methow Valley Community Center (and Visitor Information Center), 201 Hwy 20. S. 15) Everyone in town

Methow Valley Farmers Market Fresh Fruit & Veggies, local arts, crafts & more!

Saturdays 9am - noon at the Methow Valley Community Center 201 Hwy 20 S., Twisp

Your Saturday in Twisp 9:00 a.m. Saturday is the day to be in Twisp. Start it off with a snack or a hearty breakfast on Glover Street, from the signature Cinnamon Twisp at the bakery by that name to a steak at Logan’s, or a beautiful plate of poached eggs at Glover Street Market.

Real Food • Fresh Brews • Live Music

10:00 a.m. Proceed to the Methow Valley Farmers Market, one of the longest-running markets in the state, for tasty fresh foods and beautiful arts and crafts. (Open 9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays at the Methow Valley Community Center on Highway 20 at 3rd Avenue.)

Noon It’s time for lunch at one of our local joints. (May we suggest a beer on the deck of the Twisp River Pub, spicy fajitas at La Fonda Lopez, or a handmade pizza pie at Hometown Pizza?)

2:00 p.m. Stretch your legs by strolling up the hill on Second Avenue to the Twisp Ponds Salmon Recovery Area, where walking trails meander through dappled shadows.

Visit Confluence Gallery for special shows by regional and local artists plus a well-stocked gift shop, or shop the unique mix of consignment and clothing stores along Highway 20.

3:30 p.m. Feeling tuckered out? Stretch out for a nap at the confluence of the Twisp and Methow rivers at the Twisp Park, while the kids hit the Wagner Pool (the Valley’s only public pool) or the playground.

6:00 p.m. What, it’s time for dinner already? Tappi offers fine Italian fare, or there’s the famous burger across the street at Mick & Miki’s Red Cedar Bar, or try any number of other great dining options.

7:00 p.m. End your glorious day with top notch drama or music at The Merc Playhouse, the Twisp River Pub, Twisp River Suites or TwispWorks—check out MethowArts.org or methowvalleynews.com for up-to-date listings.

Illustration by Corinna Luyken

11:00 a.m. Head over to TwispWorks, site of the historic Twisp Ranger Station, to visit a slew of art studios, galleries and sculpture, plus the Methow Valley Interpretive Center—home to the fascinating story of the land and original people of the Methow. (see www.TwispWorks. org for open hours and tour schedules.)

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[ 15 ]

Fly away Proven fly patterns lure local trophy trout

By Mike Maltais

“S

AY, old timer, buy you a drink?” I asked the grizzled senior who was slowly climbing from the cab of a rusted-out pickup parked on the main street.

“Whatcha want?” he said, eyeing me suspiciously.

I glanced at the beat-up tackle box resting in the truck bed and the battered fishing rod hanging from the rear window gun rack.

“Oh, just thought you might know where the big trout are around here and what works to catch ’em,” I replied, trying my best to feign only passing interest.

“Sure do and sure do,” he growled, “But I ain’t tellin’ you.”

A jug of Old Yellowstone, steak lunch and oath of secrecy later we were bumping along a dusty backroad toward what I anticipated would be trophy trout heaven.

Eventually we arrived at a remote stretch of deserted river that wound through tree-lined banks.

“Isn’t the sun a little high for good fishing?” I inquired innocently.

“Time of day don’t never matter,” my guide shot back.

My anticipation of big trout spiked several watts.

“Hand me that there bucket,” he said,

Red Carey fly. PHOTO BY MIKE MALTAIS

[ 16 ]

Methow Valley Summer

Carlton General fly. PHOTO BY MIKE MALTAIS

grabbing the tackle box and pointing to a threegallon container in one corner of the bed.

I noticed he didn’t take the rod, which, upon closer inspection, was lacking line, and the attached reel appeared to be missing a few parts.

I followed my host through a brushy trail to the edge of the water. There he knelt down, opened the tackle box, gently extracted something he deliberately tried to conceal, lit the fuse extending from the device, and tossed it into a deep pool nearby.

“Best duck yer head,” he smiled with a wink.

There followed a muffled concussion and a copious shower of water droplets.

“What was that?” I sputtered.

“That, pilgrim, was a DuPont Spinner,” he whispered. “The No. 1 trout lure in all waters and all weathers.

Never fails. You might of heared it called ‘Nobel’s Fly’, after its inventor.”

I looked baffled.

“Alfred … Alfred Nobel [who invented dynamite], you lunkhead.”

He couldn’t miss the expression of disapproval on my face.

“Anyhow,” he said somewhat contritely “Thanks for lunch and the Who-Hit-John. Now take that bucket downstream to the gravel shallows there and pick up the slimy critters as they float by.”

Almost as an afterthought he added, “Since you’re the trophy fisherman and all, you can keep the biggest one.”

Alternative methods

For those with an aversion to explosives — and incarceration — what follows is a clip-and-save (not to be confused with scratch-and-sniff) compendium of the top 20 trout flies (no kidding now) compiled in consultation with the experts who comprise the Methow Valley Fly Fishers Club (MVFFC), which counts among its members some of

the most accomplished fly fishermen and guides in the Methow Valley.

MVFFC has maintained records over the years that include which wet or dry fly patterns are credited with catching large trout in lakes and rivers around Okanogan County.

Since these flies are listed in no particular order of effectiveness, we’ll lead off with the “Carlton General,” a wet fly in two color variations — black and yellow — developed by a local resident, angler and businessman named Bill McAdow.

The late Mr. McAdow, who once owned the Carlton General Store, created the Carlton General, which fishermen who are familiar with it describe as a “Woolly Bugger with the body tied in reverse.”

This local wet fly in several additional colors is available exclusively at The Outdoorsman sporting goods store in Winthrop.

The five varieties of trout listed here all measured over 20 inches.

• Carlton General Black (wet) — 23inch rainbow, Chopaka Lake (133 acres, 6 miles north of Loomis).

• Carlton General Yellow (wet) — 24inch rainbow, Smith Lake (10.5-acres, 6 miles southwest of Okanogan).

• Dolly Llama (wet) — 23-inch cutbow (rainbow-cutthroat hybrid),

Methow River.

• Carey Bugger, aka Green Don Pease, (wet) — 21inch rainbow, Big Twin Lake near Winthrop.

• Woolly Bugger, aka Al’s Fly, (wet) — 26-inch rainbow, Walker Lake (40-acre “pay-to-play” fishery 15 miles from Republic near the town of Wauconda).

• Muddler Minnow (wet) — 21-inch rainbow, upper Methow River.

• Damsel Nymph (wet) — 26-inch rainbow, Moccasin Lake (33-acre, “pay-to-play” lake 4 miles south of Winthrop).

• Green Drake (dry) — 23-inch cutbow, Methow River.

• Olive Bunny (wet) — 26-inch rainbow, Rufus Woods Reservoir (upstream of Chief Joseph Dam).

• Blue Winged Olive (dry) — 23-inch cutthroat, Methow River.

• Black Woolly Bugger (wet) — 25inch rainbow, Rufus Woods Reservoir.

• Adams Parachute (dry) — 20-inch rainbow, Methow River.

• Adult Damsel (dry) — 23-inch brown, Blue Lake (205 acres in Sinlahekin Wildlife Area).

• Chernobyl Ant (dry) — 20-inch cutbow, Methow River.

• Madam X (dry) — 23-inch cutbow, Methow River.

METHOW NATURAL HISTORY The beautiful Methow Valley in Okanogan “Country” North Central Washington State, is a place rich in geologic history and natural fish habitat. Surrounded by magnificent 7,000 – 8,000 foot glaciated peaks, frigid waters tumble 4,000 feet to the upper Valley floor, racing toward the Columbia River, passing the hamlet of Mazama at 2,150 feet, slowing through Winthrop at 1,765 feet, then Twisp at 1,619 feet, twisting its way in frothing rapids to Pateros at 775 feet, at the Columbia River.

Chernoybl Ant Fly. PHOTO BY MIKE MALTAIS

• Pat’s Stonefly (wet) — 21-inch rainbow, Roosevelt Lake (upwards of Grand Coulee Dam).

• White Bunny (wet) — 24-inch Lahontan cutthroat (largest subspecies of cutthroat trout), Omak Lake (3,244 acres, 7 miles southeast of Omak on the Colville Reservation).

• Red Carey Special (wet) — 21-inch rainbow, Buzzard Lake (11 acres, 5 miles northwest of Okanogan).

• Hare’s Ear Nymph (wet) — 26-inch brown, Rat Lake (62 acres, 5 miles north of Brewster).

• Red-Eyed Damsel (wet) — 26-inch rainbow, Buzzard Lake.

As an encore, Lance Rider, owner of The Outdoorsman in Winthrop, recommends the Ninja, a black-andsilver-colored wet fly designed and tied

by Chloe Temple, a local 13-year-old seventh grader from Winthrop.

Though not yet on MVFFC’s list of top 20 trout flies, Miss Temple’s creation may soon show up there.

“One of the local fly fishermen came into my shop, pointed to the Ninja in Chloe’s fly display and said it was a real hot one on the Methow River,” Rider said. ❂

Parachute Adams fly. PHOTO BY MIKE MALTAIS

CONSERVE METHOW VALLEY TROUT THROUGH SAFE CATCH & RELEASE • Use only artificial lure/fly with single barbless hook.

• DO NOT play fish to exhaustion.

• Use rubberized or knot-less landing net.

• Grasp fish by its back and head, gently but firmly, turn fish belly up while removing hook.

• If fish swallows hook, cut leader.

WHAT METHOW VALLEY FISH EAT Lakes: damsel and dragonfly nymphs and mature adults; chironomid and mayfly nymphs and adults; leaches, scuds, shrimp, snails, small fish and other microorganisms.

Rivers: caddis, stone fly and small mayfly FISHING WITH BAIT nymphs and adults, grasshoppers, ants, When fishing with bait, trout are counted as beetles and other terrestrials. part of the daily limit, whether kept or released.

FISH OF THE METHOW VALLEY Statewide rules apply for lakes — no minimum Lakes: Rainbow Trout, West Slope size, five fish limit.

Cutthroat, Kokanee, Eastern Brook Trout Season: (higher lakes). Some private lakes hold Alta, Pearrygin Lakes: Apr 26 – Sept 30 Brown Trout and Tiger Trout.

Patterson Lake: Open year around Rivers: Rainbow Trout, West Slope Black Pine Lake: Open year around Cutthroat, Bull Trout, Eastern Brook Trout, Winter Lakes: Bait limit 5 fish.

Whitefish, Steelhead, Chinook, Coho & Cougar, Campbell, Davis: Sept 1 – Mar 31 Sockeye Salmon.

Winter Lakes Summer Regulations: CATCH & RELEASE ONLY Cougar, Campbell, Davis: Apr 26 – Aug 31 Selective gear rules apply.

SELECTIVE GEAR RULES Only unscented, artificial flies/lures with single barbless hooks are allowed. No motorized boats, except under special rules for individual waters — Electric motors allowed.

Big Twin and Little Twin: Selective gear rules, trout limit: 1. Open Apr 26 – Oct 31 Black: Upper Chewuck, year round selective gear rules.

See WDFW Fishing regs. for definition of terms, additional closures, and whitefish seasons

CATCH & RELEASE, SELECTIVE GEAR RULES, APPLY ON ALL METHOW RIVERS & STREAMS METHOW STEELHEAD REGULATIONS: Opening and closure determined by WDFW During open season: 2 adipose fin clipped Steelhead can be taken per day.

ALL WILD MUST BE RELEASED. Gold Creek to Lower Burma Bridge: May 25 – Sept 15 (unless opened by WDFW special regulations)

All threatened or endangered species — Summer Steelhead, Spring Chinook Salmon, Bull Trout — must be released unharmed year-round, unless retention is allowed under special state rules.

Report violations to WDFW Enforcement 509-322-4356 This map was created by Ben Dennis and maintained by the Flyfishers Pro Shop Questions — contact Greg Knab at 509-996-2832 or info@flyfishersproshop.com All rights reserved ©2013 For permission to copy, contact Greg Knab. Content reviewed by WDFW.

Methow Valley Summer

[ 17 ]

Outdoor options From relaxing to roughing it, the Methow offers lots of camping possibilities

By Bob Spiwak

C

amping out is a marvelous way to enjoy nature, relive the days of our ancestors, or just kick back from the routine of ordinary days and breathe the fresh air. Mountain air is especially sweet and the Methow Valley is a prime place to find it.

Whether amidst the towering pines and firs in the forest or among like-minded camper, trailer or motor home aficionados, you can enjoy the respite from horns, traffic, smog and congestion.

It doesn’t matter what kind of shelter you use. In the state parks there will be all of the above, from huge RVs to solo backpacking tents. The parks are a great base from which to enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, bird watching and

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Methow Valley Summer

wildlife viewing.

The two state parks in the valley are Pearrygin Lake, just north of Winthrop, and Alta Lake to the south, just before state Highway 153 merges with U.S. Highway 97 at Pateros. Both parks require a daily fee or the state’s seasonal Discover Pass (see story on page 44 for more information). This pass also allows use of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife access points on the lakes or along the rivers.

Both parks are on the lakes for which they are named and have ample parking for vehicles and tents, boat launches and showers. Both are within a mile or two of grocery stores if the grub runs out.

Pearrygin has the larger lake of the two by a wide margin. Motorized craft are allowed, so water skiing is popular.

Camp cuisine is part of the outdoor experience. Photo by Bob Spiwak

It can get crowded, so motor about with care. Also, Pearrygin tends to be booked up well in advance, so check to make sure they have a spot for you.

For fishing you’ll need a license apart from the Discover Pass, even though you can park at the access for sunbathing or swimming on or off the lakes if you have either.

Also on Pearrygin Lake is Silverline Resort, a private lakeside facility which

offers RV and tent camping, boat rentals, a boat launch and a convenience store.

U.S. Forest Service campgrounds are scattered all over the valley — eight on Forest Service roads north of West Chewuch Road alone, another half-dozen up Twisp River, a few more along Highway 20 and, for the really adventurous, a couple on the hairraising road to Harts Pass. A daily fee

is required for camping.

For travel trailers and RVs, there are a couple of options: Pine Near RV Park on Castle Avenue in Winthrop, and Riverbend RV park on Highway 20 just north of Twisp. Additionally, the Winthrop KOA campground is on Highway 20 at the east end of town.

Big Twin Lake Campground, on Twin Lakes Road south of Winthrop, is another private facility that offers tent and RV camping.

Camping gear and supplies are available at any number of retail outlets throughout the valley.

There is a useful recreation map available at many local retailers and at visitors’ centers in Winthrop and Twisp, as well as at Forest Service headquarters in Winthrop (just up West Chewuch Road from the ball field). Distributed by the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association, the map is also reprinted on pages 26 and 27 of Methow Summer. It is a great help in deciding where to go, which road to

take and which facilities to choose, Wherever you camp, be campfireconscious. Always use the fire pit in a campground. When you are ready to leave, for even a short time, drown your fire pit or box, stir it well, drown and stir again. Forest fires are not uncommon here, whether brought on by humans or weather. Just be careful in any endeavor and enjoy the Methow. ❂

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Take a bit of the valley home with you

D

you just wish you could take the Methow Valley home with you?

Well, the whole thing won’t fit in your vehicle of choice, but you can take away the essence of the Methow with a collection of stuff that is grown, made, created or crafted here — including beer, wine, coffee, cider, spring water, grains, meats, fruits and vegetables, jams and jellies, hot sauce, honey, baked goods, cheese, soaps, lotions, arts, crafts, plants, jewelry, knives and more. All of it has the distinct stamp of Methow Valley innovation.

Look for the Methow Made display stands at the Mazama Store, Winthrop Motors, Evergreen IGA in Winthrop, Sun Mountain Lodge gift shop, Glover Street Market in Twisp, Hank’s Harvest Foods in Twisp, Local 98856 in Twisp, and the Carlton General ON’T

Store.

Don’t miss either the Farmers Market at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp, on Saturdays from 9 a.m. – noon; or the Winthrop Market at Mack Lloyd Park (near the Winthrop Barn) from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sundays.

For lots of useful information, you may be able to find copies of the 2013 Made in the Methow publication produced by the Methow Valley News. It includes a pull-out map of places to find Methow made products. To see a digital version, go to www.methowvalleynews.com, scroll to the bottom of the home page and click on the Made in the Methow cover.

The 2014 version of Made in the Methow will be available June 25 at locations throughout the valley.

For more information, call TwispWorks at 997-3300. ❂

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or Call (509) 996-4442 Methow Valley Summer

[ 19 ]

By David Ward

The sky’s the limit

S

Summer stargazing is superb in the Methow

The moon with the planet Venus to the right and Mars to the left. PHOTO BY SEAN ROZEKRANS/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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[ 20 ]

Methow Valley Summer

riverfront seating & live music 155 riverside, winthrop, wA 996-3183 Open daily from May - October

UMMER is a wonderful time of year to enjoy all your favorite outdoor activities under the sun. Don’t forget to spend some time outdoors at night, especially under Methow Valley skies that are free of light pollution.

Taking a walk in the moonlight or standing out under a clear starry dome does not require a lot of warm clothes, maybe just a little mosquito repellant. You do have to stay up late to look at the stars from these northern latitudes, especially during the month of June when the days are so long and the nights are short. Here are a few things to look for when you are out at night.

The planet Jupiter will be the brightest object in the evening sky besides the moon. Named for the Roman king of the gods because of its slow stately procession across the sky and its brilliance, Jupiter will be visible for the rest of the spring in the western sky just after it gets dark. As spring changes to summer, Jupiter will slip into the sunset glow and reappear in our morning skies just before dawn.

Mars, named for the Roman god of war because of its reddish blood-like color, can be seen all spring and summer. In early April, Earth came very close to the red planet and Mars was as bright in the sky as it has been for years. Now we are hurtling away from it and Mars will become dimmer as we move into summer. Look for it in the south this summer, shining with a reddish-orange steady light, not twinkling like the stars.

The planet Saturn is named after the ancient god of time. Being very far from the sun, it moves slowly

across the sky, and takes 29 years to make one circuit around the heavens.

It has graced our summer skies for several years now. Look for its yellowish glow low in the south to the east of Mars.

The morning star

Beautiful Venus, named for the goddess of love because of its dazzling brightness, will shine as the morning star low in the east just before dawn this spring and summer. In August, watch Jupiter — then visible in the morning sky — and Venus come closer and closer together. On the morning of Aug. 18, the two of them will be a very spectacular sight, the brightest planets in the heavens so close together that they will both fit into view in a telescope. That will be worth getting up early to see!

If you are wondering about the names of some of the brighter stars, here are a few hints. On a mid-summer’s evening high in the east, three bright stars in a large triangle are known as the Summer Triangle. Each of these stars is in their own constellation and a grouping like this is known as an asterism. The star Vega is on top, Altair is lower and to the south and Deneb to the north. Vega and Altair are close neighbors of our sun, but Deneb is quite distant from us, a bright beacon shinning 100,000 times or more brighter than our sun from the far depths of space.

The bright reddish star to the left of Saturn is Antares, the heart of Scorpius, the scorpion. Antares is a red giant star, an ancient star that has swelled up in its old age, millions of times larger than our sun. It is one of the biggest stars visible to the naked eye. To the right of Saturn you can see

i nter n et ser v i ce

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l oc a l n ew s

methow grist

Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo.

The two fairly bright stars near Jupiter are Castor and Pollux, the Gemini twins. These two famous mythological characters accompanied Jason and the Argonauts on their voyage in search of the Golden Fleece.

Meteor shower

One celestial event that summer is famous for is the annual Perseid meteor shower. Sometimes known as the “Old Faithful” of meteor showers, it is

a great time to lie out on a blanket and watch a fireworks show from above. A full moon will drown out some of the shooting stars this year, but the Perseids are known for bright fireballs with flaming tails and you just might catch a glimpse of a few of those. The peak of the shower will be on the nights of Aug. 10, 11 and 12.

Summer is also a great time to take a look at the big picture in the sky, our home in the cosmos, the Milky Way galaxy. Our little sun shares this home with hundreds of billions of other

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stars in a vast structure that resembles a pinwheel with spiral arms of stars streaming out of it.

On a mid-summer night with no moon, look for a dim glow of light stretching from north to south across the entire sky. That is one of those vast spiral arms containing billions of other suns. Scan it with binoculars and many of those stars will pop into view like diamonds sprinkled on black velvet.

How big is the big picture? It takes our sun, pulling Earth and the other

planets along with it, 250 million years to make one journey around the pinwheel and we are traveling at over 500,000 miles per hour!

I will be up at Sun Mountain Lodge several nights this summer with a telescope or two, looking at the stars.

Come on up to see the rings of Saturn, craters on the moon and other celestial wonders. Check with the lodge for dates.

See anything strange up there? Be sure to let me know about it at sagecanyondave@gmail.com. ❂

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[ 21 ]

Away from it all

“He who would travel happily must travel light.”

– Antoine de Saint Exupery

Backpacking is about solitude and discovery, but make sure you’re prepared “Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.”

–Stephen Wright At Maple Pass, looking north: vistas abound in the Methow. PHOTO BY L AURELLE WALSH

By Joanna Bastian

T

beauty of the Methow Valley is the proximity of nature’s solitude. Trails for every level

HE

of hiker include spectacular views of North Cascades ridges, mountain wildflowers, scenic lakes and pristine wilderness.

With a backpack of essentials and

proper footwear, hikers can enjoy sleeping under the stars and waking with the dawn. Backpacking clears the mind and puts life into perspective from a simpler view.

The key to backpacking is to keep it simple and light. My first backpacking trip over 20 years ago was with a few high school friends. We packed iron skillets and bags of potatoes for dinner.

My pack was so heavy that I had to first find a waist-high log or boulder to prop up the pack before slipping my arms through the straps.

After that trip, I realized that just because an item fits into the pack does not mean it will be easy to carry.

All the essentials for a weekend backpacking trek should weigh 20 pounds or less. A high-quality pack, sleeping bag and tent each weigh 2 pounds or less. Miscellaneous items such as sleeping pad, first aid kit, cooking gear and extra clothing should add up to about 4 pounds, putting the base weight of the pack at 10 pounds. Food and water should be the heaviest items in the pack. It may cost a little more for the lightweight gear, but do not skimp on these essentials.

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[ 22 ]

Methow Valley Summer

Climb the mountains, bike the valleys, swim the rivers and at the end of the day, relax in utter bliss at our pool, spa, and lakeside dining room.

Offering inspired Northwest gourmet cuisine, a generous wine selection and a full service bar

“A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.”

– Moslih Eddin Saadi The trail is worth savoring. After all, the activity is called “backpacking,” not “reaching the end of the trail.”

People who boast of miles covered that day, instead of what they have observed, make boring conversationalists.

Do not be a boring backpacker.

Pack along a small, lightweight set of binoculars and a pocket naturalist guide. Finding wildlife in their native habitat is an incredible and rewarding experience. The rocky canyons, wild rivers, forests, meadows and ponds along the North Cascades are home to a diverse collection of animal life.

The full-color Methow Valley Pocket Naturalist Guide features 124 plant and animal species along with a map of easy access trails. The guide can be found at many local businesses in the Methow Valley and at the Methow Conservancy in Winthrop. Proceeds support the Conservancy’s ongoing work.

Mountain goats can be spotted on Harts Pass, Monument Creek, Lost River, and other high-altitude rocky reaches. In early summer you may be lucky enough to spot a mama bear with her cubs crossing a distant meadow.

Black bears are primarily vegetarians and enjoy eating herbs, grasses, sedges and flowering plants. Young bears like to snooze in trees, so look up; you may find a napping bear in a tree.

“Eating well on the trail is the key to hiking with vigor.”

–Backpacker magazine Camping stoves do have the risk of starting wildfires, so be extremely careful. Place them in an area free of vegetation, preferably on a flat rock. A piece of heavy-duty foil makes a good windscreen, fold it around the base to protect the flame from blowing out or blowing sparks.

Alcohol stoves made from a soda can are extremely lightweight, but require a bit of practice, so always test the stove at home to get used to cooking with it on the trail. There is always the option

RoasteRs of fine, oRganic, faiR tRade coffees.

The Ten Essentials: Don’t leave home without them A LWAYS PACK THE TEN E SSENTIALS. This list was first compiled in the 1930s

by The Mountaineers, a hiking and climbing club. These survival items are recommended for safe travel in the backcountry: • M AP. Detailed topographical maps can be purchased at several local stores and at the U.S. Forest Service ranger station in Winthrop.

• C OMPASS. GPS units are not necessarily reliable. Batteries may die, weather and mountains can block satellite signals. A map and a compass are dependable tools for survival.

• WATER AND A WAY TO PURIFY IT. Water purification tablets are lightweight and do not have any aftertaste.

• RAIN GEAR AND EXTRA CLOTHING. Weather can change quickly in the mountains. Even if the forecast calls for dry skies, pack rain gear and bring along a warm layer of clothing.

• E XTRA FOOD. Just in case someone

is injured or gets lost, take an extra day’s worth of food that requires no preparation and is high energy, such as nuts and protein bars.

• FIRE STARTER AND MATCHES. Pack waterproof matches in a sealed container. Cotton balls rubbed with Vaseline make excellent fire starter.

• FIRST AID KIT. This should include a small roll of duct tape, large safety pin, tape for wrapping strains, antiseptic ointment, alcohol wipes, aspirin and Band Aids.

• K NIFE. Better yet, bring a multipurpose tool that also has a set of tweezers and scissors.

• FLASHLIGHT. LED headlamps are indispensable to shine a light where you need it while keeping your hands free. Strapped to a bottle filled with water, the headlamp turns the water bottle into a lantern.

• SUNSCREEN AND SUNGLASSES. Sun exposure can cause headaches, nausea and cancer. Protect yourself from harmful UV rays.

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Methow Valley Summer

[ 23 ]

of packing food that does not require cooking. Such planning eliminates the need for a stove, reducing pack weight and fire danger.

Breakfast could be as simple as some fruit and a granola bar. For lunches, a foil packet of albacore tuna with chopped-up veggies such as

Knowing your limits is important.

PHOTO BY ASHLEY LODATO

carrots, broccoli and onions tossed with a bit of olive oil and served on crackers or bagels is very filling and tasty. To prepare, chop veggies at home and place in quart-sized plastic bag. When ready to eat on the trail, add tuna and oil to bag, squeeze gently to mix.

For dinner, curried vegetables and rice make a satisfying meal under the stars. At home, finely chop one small sweet potato, small onion and a handful of green beans. Place in a plastic bag. In another small bag, mix two tablespoons of tomato paste and two teaspoons of Indian Spice Mix. At camp, in measured boiling water for instant brown rice, cook the raw veggies for just two minutes before adding the rice, tomato paste, spices, olive oil, one small can sweet corn, and one small can garbanzo beans, both drained. Cover and wait for rice to absorb water. Serve with pita bread toasted in a dry pan.

“One should go to the woods for safety, if for nothing else.”

– John Muir

Descent: not necessarily the easy part. PHOTO BY ASHLEY LODATO

Backpacking may provide peace of mind and a restful walk, but there are a few precautions that everyone should take: • Know your limits.

• Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to get back.

• Dress in layers; prepare for rain.

• Wear proper shoes.

• Always bring water and a small first aid kit.

• Wear sunscreen and a hat to prevent heat stroke.

“Two roads diverged in a woods, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

– Robert Frost Aside from choosing the road less traveled by — packing light, savoring the trail, eating well and being prepared make all the difference. Happy hiking! ❂

Largest Selection of Fine Cheese

in Eastern Washington With over 2,000 Wines In Stock

Saturday Fish Market The Freshest Seafood Anywhere!

Your source for Dry-Aged Beef

The 19th Season www.methowmusicfestival.org Kevin Krentz, Artistic Director

July 24 - August 2, 2014

Hwy 20, Twisp • 997-7711 Open Mon - Sat, 7am - 9pm & Sunday, 8am - 8pm

[ 24 ]

Methow Valley Summer

Steep learning curve Methow Valley rock climbing offers an array of challenges

I

you’re craning your neck to look at the sheer slopes near Mazama and wondering if anyone rock climbs up there, take a closer look — you may well see someone scaling one of many vertical challenges the Methow Valley offers.

Well-known climbing spots, all approachable from Lost River Road west of Mazama, include the Mazama Fun Rocks, the Goat Wall, and Prospector Crags — together they offer dozens of defined routes ranging up to 5.11 difficulty and beyond. Other alpine climbing experiences beckon at the Liberty Bell Mountain and Early Winters Spires area near Washington Pass on the North Cascades Highway.

For information about rock climbing lessons and guided climbs in the valley and beyond, contact North Cascades Mountain Guides at 48 Lost River Road, Mazama: 996-3194, www. ncmountainguides.com. The Outward Bound base camp at 226 Lost River Road also offers f

climbing programs: 996-3170, www.outwardbound.org.

Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies, behind the Mazama Store at 50 Lost River Road, offers an array of climbing gear: 996-2515, www.goatsbeardmountainsupplies.com.

Goat’s Beard also carries copies of the Methow’s authoritative, incredibly detailed climbing guide: Mazama Rock, a Vertical Paradise, by Bryan Burdo. What’s more, the store provides excerpts from Burdo’s book on its website at goatsbeardmountainsupplies.com/ climbingbeta.html.

For outdoor wear and gear, try Winthrop Mountain Sports, 257 Riverside Ave. in Winthrop, 996-2886, www.winthropmountainsports.com; the Outdoorsman on Riverside Avenue in Winthrop, 996-2649, www.theoutdoorsmanstore.net; and Jack’s Hut at the Freestone Inn, 31 Early Winters Drive, Mazama, 996-3906, www.freestoneinn.com. The Cascades Outdoor Store in Winthrop, next to Town Hall on Riverside Avenue, was under construction as we went to press but was scheduled to be open for the summer season.

Always practice accepted climbing etiquette and take fundamental safety precautions. ❂

The Fun Rocks at Mazama offer a good place to get started.

Photo by Paul Butler

The reviews are in:

Got Shade?

Riparian areas include the banks and floodplains that border rivers and creeks. Plants and trees that grow in the riparian zone are crucial to a healthy stream and are used by a variety of wildlife.

“Great Service, Great Variety, Great Food!”

Healthy riparian areas benefit streams in many ways: • Trees provide shade, keeping water temperatures cool • Plants bind the soil together with their roots, reducing erosion • Trees fall into the stream, providing food and shelter for aquatic life

Respect The River Sponsored by

Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation Funding provided by

Washington State Department of Ecology and

NEW! Electric Car Charging Stations!

Hiking ¯ Biking Swimming Pool ¯ Hot Tub Restaurant ¯ Free Wi-Fi

Bonneville Environmental Foundation

www.mazamacountryinn.com

800-843-7951 Methow Valley Summer

[ 25 ]

FS 1 00

[ 26 ]

Methow Valley Summer

Visitor Center

North Suspension Footbridge

MILEAGES

Methow Valley Sport Trails Association 509-996-3287

zzly Gri

l Hil

Twisp to Winthrop 9 Twisp Information Center 509-997-2926 Winthrop to: Sun Mountain Trails 10 U.S. Forest Service Pearrygin Lake State Park 509-996-40004 Mazama 14 Commerce Washington Pass Winthrop Chamber of 34 509-996-2125 Rainy Pass 40 WinthropWashington.com Hart's Pass 33 Goat Peak Trail 18 Sweetgrass Butte 19 Copper Glance Lake Trail 22 Tiffany Lake Trail 28

Spring Creek Footbridge

Ice Rink

Fish Hatchery

Twisp to: End of Twisp River Road 26 N G T O N South Creek Horse Camp W A S H I 23 Loup Loup Pass 13 The Winthrop Chamber of Commerce is honored to have you visit our Blackpine 20 boardwalks, Winthrop, old Lake western town. In addition to our wooden Foggy Dew Campground 20 Washington is best know for its highly acclaimed year-round Winthrop via Elbow Coulee 15 ties and its vibrant arts recreational pursuits, its strong agricultural community. will have the opportunity to Columbia River While visiting we hope you32 stay and enjoy the Methow Valley's many Okanogan 30coffee roasters, brew pubs, To Smokejumper Base, Golf Course & Twisp

Gro ce ry

art galleries, specialty shops, eateries and accommodations.

Winthrop Washington 1-888-4Methow | WinthropWashington.com Winthrop Washington on Facebook

Saturday Farmers Market

The Methow Valley Sport Trails Association (MVSTA) is the nation's largest cross-country ski resort with over 120 miles of perfectly groomed trails. In partnership with the US Forest Service, other government agencies and private landowners, MVSTA is dedicated to developing and promoting non-motorized, trail-based recreation in the Methow Valley. The Methow Valley Sport Trails system is recognized as one of the finest trail systems in North America for hiking, biking, trail running and cross-country skiing.

Come ski with us this winter!

Methow Valley Sport Trails Association 509-996-3287 | mvsta.com | SkiTheMethow.com Methow Valley Sport Trails Association on Facebook

Visitor Center

North Suspension Footbridge

Methow Va

Twis

U

Winthro

Spring Creek Footbridge

Ice Rink

This map is not intended for backcountry navigation. Detailed Okanogan National Forest and Methow Valley area maps are available for purchase at ranger stations, visitor centers and many local businesses.

Wint

Fish Hatchery

To Smokejumper Base, Golf Course & Twisp

er oc

Gr

The Winthrop Chamber o old western town. In addi Washington is best know recreational pursuits, its s community. While visiting stay and enjoy the Metho art galleries, specialty sho

y

Wi 1-888-4Met Winthro

Ski Area

Saturday Farmers Market

The Methow Valley Spor largest cross-country ski groomed trails. In partne government agencies an developing and promotin the Methow Valley. The M recognized as one of the hiking, biking, trail runn

Com

Methow Va 509-996-328 Methow Valley

Methow Valley Summer

[ 27 ]

Swing time Golfers can choose from a variety of scenic courses in and around the Methow

The Winthrop track plays as 18 holes, with different tees on each nine. It has wide fairways, small greens and a couple of hills — upward shots off the tee that might dismay all but the big hitters. But they are fun.

There is only one sand bunker that is quite out of the line Bear Creek offers fabulous of fire on the No. 8/17 views. PHOTO COURTESY OF holes. The views are BOB SPIWAK

By Bob Spiwak outstanding. On the downhill sixth tee you HERE are a handful of golf courses are virtually face-to-face with 8,000 in and around the Methow Valfoot Mount Gardner. ley. Golf devotees will find great As with all the courses, reserving tee scenery and course types ranging from times is advised. park land to sand hills.

Alta Lake is a small resort with big The two courses in the valley are allowances for groups that stay in the nine-hole Bear Creek near Winthrop, greenside motel, which also boasts a and 18-hole Alta Lake resort at Pateros swimming pool. Adjacent is Alta Lake just off U.S. Highway 97.

State Park.

T

A refreshing approach to real estate services

The two nines are very distinctive, course, designed by David Kidd. It was like playing two separate courses. The conceived, says the course architect, first nine has very large greens, as it “ ... Just for the love of the game. No was once played twice around. It is homes, no hotel, no other development an easy walking course. On the back, in sight, just golf on sand as golf was you slowly climb to the highest point, truly meant to be.” overlooking the Columbia River to the The fescue fairways are wide, and northeast. The biggest challenge may the greens range from 6,000 to 16,000 be a short par 3 that square feet. There is perched on top of a are man-made and steep hill with fall-off natural bunkers on on three sides and a layout designed for brushy desert rough walking. Carts and on the other. caddies are available.

From there it is Going east another about a 14-mile drive dozen miles to Lake to Gamble Sands, the Woods State Park, area’s newest course, you will find the Lake east of Brewster. It is Woods golf course. probably the only sand A nine-holer playing hill venue in central 18 different tees, this Washington, if not is the most park-like the state, and will of all the courses in be open for play on the area. Trees line Aug. 2. Located high almost every fairway.

In the swing at Bear Creek. above the Columbia Rufus Woods Lake PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB SPIWAK runs along the 8th and River, it is a true links

The Merc Playhouse

Children’s Musical Theater production of

rlie & the e book Cha Based on th ald Dahl ctory by Ro Chocolate Fa

Missi

Words and M usic

by Leslie Bric usse & Anthony N ewley Smith Adapted fo r th e Stage by Leslie Bricus se & Timothy A. McDonald

MAY 9 - 18 Fri, Sat 7pm Sun 2 pm

Adults $12, Youth 18 & Under $5 Tickets online or at the door 1/2 hour before showtime www.mercplayhouse.org

Directed by

blue sky real estate

the Valley’s #1 real estate company

www.MethowBlueSky.com Sherry Malotte, Owner Designated Broker Anne Eckmann, Owner Managing Broker Karen Reneau, Managing Broker Heather Marrone, Linda Van Valkenburgh, Rob Thorlakson, Brokers (509) 996-8084 ~ 141 Riverside ~ Winthrop, WA

[ 28 ]

Methow Valley Summer

101 S. Glover St., Twisp, 509-997-7529 Presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International

Ample sunshine is the norm at all courses in the region. PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB SPIWAK

Bear Creek is the Methow’s own golf course. PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB SPIWAK

9th holes. It is an easy walking course, has a do-it-yourself driving range and offers several truly challenging holes, especially if you are not a straight hitter.

Farther south

Going south from the Methow Valley are three more noteworthy gems.

Lake Chelan municipal course offers 18 holes, some with trees, others barren.

It overlooks Lake Chelan on several holes, notably on the back. Also notable is something different — the 18th is a par 3, up a steep hill to a smallish green

next to the clubhouse and alongside the excellent driving range. I consider the greens the slickest around.

Driving through Chelan on Highway 97A, you pass several wineries and drive up a long hill to Bear Mountain Golf Course. For those who have been bedeviled by the opening hole, be advised that the big pine tree at the base of the green is gone and now it is a straight shot, rather than the requisite quirky dogleg from the elevated tee.

There are four tees on each hole, many elevated greens and greenside

bunkers. Carts are required and included in the fee. The putting areas are very large and there are challenging side hill lies on the fairway. A pond guards the par 3 7th hole.

The view is extraordinary. On the 16th tee, glacial fjord-like Lake Chelan glitters against a backdrop of the central Cascade Mountains. Bring your camera, but don’t hold up play.

Across the Columbia on Highway 97, about a one-and-a-half hour drive south to Orondo, is Desert Canyon.

There are condos, a hotel and another 18-hole challenge that requires carts.

The green-to-tee journey can be quite a hike, hence the included cart.

Greens are contoured and average 10,000 square feet. There’s a great view of the Columbia River from the course’s signature 6th hole, sharing with Bear Mountain what was, and maybe still is, the longest par 5 in the state. But in both cases, that is from the tips, and there five tees to ameliorate any fears and accommodate shorter hitters.

Whatever venues you decide to play, rest assured each will be a different experience — and a memorable one. ❂

We are dedicated to providing high quality, safe, efficient and cost effective care for our patients.

Paul Lacey, MD

Doug Wilson, MD

Call one of our clinics today to schedule an appointment.

Family Medicine

Family Medicine

Tucker Balam, DO Family Medicine

Omak Clinic

Tonasket Clinic

Oroville Clinic

Brewster Clinic

916 Koala Dr., Omak, WA 98841

17 S. Western Ave., Tonasket, WA 98855

1617 Main St., Oroville, WA 98844

418 W. Main St., Brewster, WA 98812

509.826.1800

509.486.2174

509.476.3631

509.689.8900

Open

Open

Open

Open

Mon. - Fri. 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sat. 8:30 a.m. - Noon

Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m. - Noon

Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed Weekends

Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Closed Weekends

Methow Valley Summer

[ 29 ]

Gamble Sands opening in August

By Bob Spiwak

509.689.2517 24 Hour Trauma Care & Emergency Services

W

HAT do Wenatchee and North

Platte, Nebr., have in common? Both are the nearest cities to a genuine, links-style, sand hills golf course. Both are less than 80 miles from the links with the nearest towns being Brewster, population 2,500, and Mullen, Nebr., population, 250.

You might wonder, as others have: “Who is going to drive to Brewster to play golf?”

The same question was asked when the Nebraska Sand Hills course was opened in 1995. It was created on pure sand, with a links style like the famed Scottish and Irish venues. There are now at least three new courses open around Mullen.

Sand Hills was rated the top new course in the United States, and among the top 50 in the world. Gamble Sands, the new course near Brewster, is hoping to join that exclusive group with the

Gamble Sands: a new gem near Brewster. PHOTO BY BOB SPIWAK

only natural terrain sand hills course in central Washington — maybe the state.

The Gebbers family has vast land holdings in Okanogan County in central Washington. Owners of the largest apple packing company in the world, they own property akin to the Nebraska sites. When golf course architect David McClay Kidd came to look at its potential, he almost swooned. The site has pure sand going down at least 30 feet. That means perfect drainage, the key to an almostperfect golfing environment.

As with the fabled courses across the Atlantic Ocean, there are no trees.

There are no water hazards. The sand bunkers are either natural or designed into the course. There are views of a big

bend in the Columbia River, hundreds of feet below. The grasses thrive on long and short fairways.

Kidd, who also designed Bandon Dunes in Oregon and the Castle Course at Saint Andrews in Scotland, had certain parameters for Gamble Sands. It was to be a walking-friendly course, as are the classics, with short distances from greens to the next tee.

There are no major hills to climb — the natural landscape is flat and rolling ground. Golf carts will be discouraged, to help maintain the pristine base of the course.

Opening on Aug. 2, the par 72 venue offers greens that range from 6,200 to 16,200 square feet. Five teeing areas offer something for everyone. ❂

Winthrop Barn Auditorium

threerivershospital.net

The Barn, perfect for gatherings big or small Weddings • Parties • Fundraisers • Reunions Performances • Meetings WIFI, Music System & Fully Equipped Professional Kitchen

In town by park & river • 509-996-2117 www.winthropbarn.com • info@winthropbarn.com

the outDoorsman 507 Hospital Way Brewster, WA 98812

Camping, Fishing, Lake & RiveR Toys Lowest prices FLy shop around! aCTive WeaR RaFTeRs FooTWeaR Downtown winthrop

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[ 30 ]

Methow Valley Summer

Visitor’s tool kit: Help is just a phone call away NEED A PLACE TO STAY?

Central Reservations: 996-2148 or (800) 422-3048; www.centralreservations.net; info@centralreservations.net

NEED TO CLEAN UP?

Laundromat, showers and free wi-fi at Washworks: 325 E. Highway 20, Twisp; 997-0336; www.hwy20washworks.com

NEED A TOW?

Classic Towing, Twisp: 997-2333 Winthrop Motors: 996-2277

NEED TO CHARGE YOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE?

Pine Near RV Park: 316 Castle Ave., Winthrop; (509) 341-4062, www.pinenearpark.com Mazama Country Inn: 15 Country Road, Mazama; 996-2681; www.mazamacountryinn.com Twisp River Pub: 201 N. Highway 20, Twisp; 997-6822; www.twispriverpub.com Sun Mountain Lodge, Winthrop (scheduled for this summer): 996-2211; www.sunmountainlodge.com

HIGHWAY INFORMATION

Washington State Department of Transportation: Dial 511 for pass and road information; www.wsdot.wa.gov

POLICE/EMERGENCY

Emergency: 911 Twisp Police Department: 997-6112; 118 S. Glover St.; townoftwisp.com/index.php/ departments/police-department/ Winthrop Marshal’s Office: 996-2160; 206 Riverside Ave.; www.winthropmarshals.com Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office: (509) 422-7232; www.okanogansheriff.org Washington State Patrol: (509) 422-3800 Okanogan County Fire District 6: 997-2981 Aero Methow Rescue Service: 997-4013; www.aeromethow.org

CAB AND SHUTTLE

The Gabby Cabby: 996-2894; thegabbycabby.com/shuttle.html; gcpassenger@gmail.com

RECREATION INFORMATION

U.S. Forest Service: 996-4000; 24 West Chewuch Rd., Winthrop Methow Valley Sport Trails Association: 996-2387; 309 Riverside Ave., Winthrop; www.mvsta.com; info@mvsta.com Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: (360) 902-2200; www.wdfw.wa.gov Wagner Memorial Pool, Twisp: 997-5441 Cascade Loop Scenic Highway: www.cascadeloop.com

Pearrygin Lake State Park, Winthrop: 996-2370; www.parks.wa.gov/563/Pearrygin-Lake North Cascades National Park: Newhalem visitor center, (206) 386-4495 ext.11; www.nps.gov/noca

OPEN LATE

Hank’s Mini Market: 410 E. Methow Valley Highway, Twisp; 997-4332; until 10 p.m. every day; 24-hour fueling Mazama Store: 50 Lost River Road, Mazama; 996-2855; 24-hour fueling Pardners Mini Market: 900 Highway 20, Winthrop; 996-2005; until midnight every day; 24-hour fueling Twisp Chevron: 126 N. Methow Valley Highway; 997-3181; until 10 p.m. weekdays and Sunday, 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; 24-hour fueling

HEALTH CARE

Three Rivers Hospital, Brewster: 689-2086; www. threerivershospital.net Mid-Valley Hospital, Omak: 826-1760; www.mvhealth.org Methow Valley Family Practice, Twisp: 997-2011 The Country Clinic, Winthrop: 996-8180 Brewster Clinic: (509) 689-8900

Open Memorial Day through Labor Day

Omak Clinic: (509) 826-1800 Steven C. Harrop DDS, Winthrop: 996-2164 Sawtooth Dental Care, Twisp: 997-7533 Ulrich’s Pharmacy, Twisp: 997-2191

PET PROBLEMS?

Methow Valley Veterinary Hospital: 910 Highway 20, Winthrop: 996-3231 Valley Veterinary Clinic: 20335 Highway 20, Twisp; 997-8452 Winthrop Veterinary Services: 19100 Highway 20; 996-2793

INFORMATION CENTERS

Twisp: 997-2926; 201 Methow Valley Highway (Methow Valley Community Center) Winthrop: 996-2125 or (888) 463-8469; 202 Riverside Ave.

POST OFFICES

Carlton: 997-6091; 2274 Highway 153 Methow: (509) 923-2759; 34 Main St. Twisp: 997-3777; 205 Glover St. Winthrop: 996-2282; 1110 Highway 20

GOVERNMENT

City of Pateros: (509) 923-2571; www.pateros.com Town of Twisp: 997-4081; 118 S. Glover St.; www.townoftwisp.com Town of Winthrop: 996-2320, 206 Riverside Ave., www.townofwinthrop.com

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Twisp: 997-2020; www.twispinfo.com Winthrop: 996-2125; www.winthropwashington.com Omak: (509) 826-1880 or (800) 225-6625; www.omakchamber.com Okanogan: (509) 422-4034; www.okanoganchamber.com Brewster: (509) 689-3464; www.brewsterchamber.org

LIBRARIES

Twisp: 997-4681; 201 Methow Valley Highway (Methow Valley Community Center); wireless hot spot Winthrop: 996-2685; 49 Highway 20; wireless hot spot

60 Person Hot Tub NEW! Lazy River

INFORMATION & MEDIA

• • • •

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Swimming • Good Food Sun Bathing • Picnic Area Sand Volleyball • Gift Shop & Arcade 2 Innertube River Rides

102 Waterslide Drive, Chelan

Slidewaters.com ● (509) 682-5751

Methow Valley News: 997-7701; 101 N. Glover St., Twisp; www.methowvalleynews. com; frontdesk@methowvalleynews.com www.methownet.com www.methow.com KTRT, 97.5 FM KCSY, 106.3 FM KOZI, 93.5 FM KTWP (public radio), 91.1 FM All 996 and 997 prefixes are in the 509 area code. ❂ Methow Valley Summer

[ 31 ]

Experience the Methow’s magical winter Visitors can enjoy every snow-related activity imaginable

S

PRING, summer and fall are

fantastic seasons in the Methow, with no shortage of things to do, but one might be surprised to learn that our Methow Valley winters also provide magical experiences that are unique to Washington state and really to anywhere else in the world.

A visit to the Methow Valley during the winter offers a totally new perspective. The valley receives a lot of snow — 60 to 120 inches of snowfall each season. The snow comes in the form of light dry powder, and the days are often sunny with brilliant blue sky.

Following are a few iconic wintertime experiences in the Methow.

Explore the nation’s largest Nordic ski area

The Methow Valley is home to the nation’s largest cross country ski area,

The Methow winter: snow, sun, lots of activities. PHOTO BY JOANNA BASTIAN

with over 120 miles of trails. The ski trails wind through much of the scenic land between Mazama and Winthrop, extending along the valley floor and up into the mountains. The Methow Valley Sport Trails Association (MVSTA) maintains the trails with expert ski grooming. Unique experiences on the cross country trail system include: • Kids age 17 and under ski free everyday in the Methow.

• The Methow Valley is home to three 2014 Winter Olympians. Brian Gregg and the brother-and-sister duo of Sadie and Erik Bjornsen all grew up in Winthrop and were raised on cross country skis.

You might be lucky enough to ski alongside one of these athletes, some future Olympians, or even former Olympians who now call the Methow Valley home.

• Ski over a magnificent suspension bridge, view wildlife from the trails or even ski from bakery to bakery.

Learn more at skithemethow.com.

Rolling in the snow

Give fat biking a try. This new,

rapidly growing activity involves riding an extremely wide-tired bicycle on top of the snow. A variety of the MVSTA ski trails are open to shared use between Nordic skiers and fat bikers. Floating over the snow by bicycle is a unique feeling that will have you grinning from ear to ear.

Outdoor ice skating and hockey

The Winthrop Ice & Sports Rink was recognized by Sunset magazine as one of the top 10 outdoor ice rinks in North America. This gorgeous, uncovered, full-size outdoor ice rink allows skaters to experience the thrill of ice skating under the stars and in the shadow of Mt. Gardner. Open skate sessions, pick-up hockey and Friday theme nights provide everyone the opportunity to enjoy this winter pastime. More information on the award-winning Winthrop Ice Rink can be found at winthropicerink.com.

Helicopter and backcountry skiing

Hovering over the Methow Valley

LaFonda Lopez Restaurant

Authentic Mexican Menu

pastas, curries, hamburgers, steaks, salads & desserts

Open for Lunch & Dinner Beer & Wine

11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day • Specials Every Day Dine In or Take Out • Across from Twisp Chevron

997-0247 • Hwy 20

open daily 7 am - 6 pm Saturday August 23, 2014

Under the starry night sky @ Winthrop Town Park !

Info & Tix: www.northcascadesmountainhostel.com 509.699.0568

[ 32 ]

Methow Valley Summer

50 lost river road mazama, WA

996-2855

are the “American Alps” of the North Cascades. North Cascades Heli-ski can provide the experience of a lifetime as they fly skiers in for the best turns.

Also popular are ski-touring and backcountry skiing, accessing run after run by your own initiative. Find out more at heli-ski.com.

Alpine skiing at its coolest

There are a dozen ski resorts in Washington state but we challenge you to find one as cool as Loup Loup Ski Bowl.

The Loup’s best assets might be what it doesn’t have. The Loup doesn’t have lift lines, heavy, wet snow, an attitude and exorbitant pass prices. What it does have is big mountain views, close proximity to Winthrop and Twisp and days where all the powder may not even get skied out.

They even have a tubing hill and more cross country ski trails! Learn more about this gem at skitheloup.com.

Exploring on foot

Snowshoe-friendly trails also abound at several areas in the valley.

Check in with one of our helpful outdoor gear stores to learn about rentals and routes.

Snowmobile in the backcountry

Pizza • Calzone

If you like exploring a lot of area scenery, then snowmobiling might be the best way to take in lots of snow-covered terrain. The Methow Valley has over 300 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and endless ungroomed opportunities.

Information on snowmobile locations and rentals at winthropwashington.com.

Salads Beer & Wine Newly Remodeled Best Draft Beer Selection in the Valley Happy Hour from 3-5pm

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River and lake ice fishing

Avid anglers, rejoice — ice fishing on the Methow Valley’s frozen lakes is one of those experiences you can’t find everywhere. Surprisingly, it’s not just hearty lake fisherman — winter steelhead fishing in the Methow Valley’s rivers also provides a unique challenge to those not afraid of a little cold weather.

Winthrop Hop Rendezvous June 21st • 1- 6 pm

Whether you cross country ski, fat bike, alpine ski, snowboard, sled, snowshoe, ice skate or snowmobile, gliding in a Methow Valley winter will be an experience that you will not forget.

Information provided by Methow Valley Sport Trails Association. ❂

at the Winthrop Ice & Sports Rink – Tickets $20 –

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Point to point mountain bike rides Self-guided rides Games and activities for kids and adults Raffles and more!

$40 for the weekend / $70 including transportation All proceeds benefit Methow trails Both events held at the Winthrop Ice & Sports Rink – See www.pintandpedalfest.com for details – Methow Valley Summer

[ 33 ]

Pedaling paradise Miles of Methow trails and roads beckon every type of bicyclist

By Laurelle Walsh

“C

YCLING in all its forms continues to grow in popularity in the Methow,” observed Dave Acheson from his vantage point at Methow Cycle and Sport.

Of course, you might suspect that being a road racer as well as secretary of the local mountain bike alliance would give Acheson a lofty perspective, but he takes an ecumenical approach.

“Whether its mountain bikes, road bikes, cross bikes or whatever, I just think its cool to see so many folks out enjoying riding their bikes in whatever form that may take,” Acheson said.

The Methow Valley has certainly been discovered by bicyclists — locals and visitors — and the riding fun doesn’t end at autumn any more. During the first snow-scarce months of last winter, many folks got out and enjoyed the frozen lakes and trails on fat bikes, making them the gear of choice until conditions in the valley became ski-able.

But it’s in summer, after you’ve coasted past green fields on East County Road, and pedaled through the golden balsamroot on Virginia Ridge, that you’ll truly understand why seeing the Methow by bicycle is best.

Trail advocates

The Methow Chapter of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance is the most visible and active cycling organization in the valley. A branch of the statewide group, the Methow Chapter works “to protect and create sustainable mountain biking opportunities in the Methow Valley.”

Chapter members gather throughout the summer for the Second Sunday Singletrack Session, a day-long monthly work party aimed at improving conditions on area trails that are popular with mountain bikers.

Volunteers will spruce up the Lightning Creek trail on May 11. On June 8 the work crew will continue brushing out the Cedar Creek trail, picking up where they left off last summer. Singletrack Session locations in the following months will be posted on the chapter’s website www.methowevergreenmtb.org.

Last summer the chapter made “significant improvements” to Sun Mountain’s Black Bear trail and the junction of the Patterson Lake and Cabin trails, according to Acheson.

Other Methow Evergreen efforts have included hosting Trail College — onthe-ground instruction in how to build a great trail — and the annual Take-a-Kid-Mountain-Biking-Day.

Bike events and races

Throughout the summer, bicycle events and races provide fun opportunities to residents, while bringing visiting cyclists into the valley.

The Winthrop Traverse on June 14 is a 35-mile multi-sport race that includes legs for runners, mountain bikers, paddlers, and road bikers,

Road or mountain, there’s a biking option for everyone. PHOTO BY L AURELLE WALSH

starting at Pearrygin Lake State Park and finishing in Winthrop. Register at www.recreationnorthwest.org/ winthrop-traverse/.

The Methow Singletrack Solstice mountain bike festival on June 20-22 includes self-guided and shuttle-supported group rides at various locations.

Check www.methowevergreenmtb.org for more information.

Gran Fondo Winthrop on June 22 is an 80-mile loop for advanced riders on paved and gravel roads from Winthrop to Conconully and back.

Register at rideviciouscycle.com/events/ gran-fondo-winthrop/.

The Trek Dirt Series Women’s Mountain Bike Camp on June 28–29 teaches skills to riders from beginners to advanced, in a woman-friendly atmosphere. Register at www.dirtseries. com/mountain_bike_camp_details. php?id=winthrop2014.

The Methow Valley Off-road Duathlon on Sept. 27 is a 40-kilometer mountain bike ride and 10K trail

run on Sun Mountain trails. Check methowduathlon.blogspot.com for more information.

For the kids

Two Bike Rodeos — the first at TwispWorks on May 17, the second at Pearrygin Lake State Park on June 14 — are designed to teach bicycle safety to kids 5- to 12-years-old. Young riders may test their maneuvering skills through the cone course, learn about riding in traffic, get fitted for a helmet and have their bikes inspected.

Bicycle owners of any age may bring their steeds to the Bike Rodeos to register them in a countywide database.

The Bike Rodeos are free and run from 10 a.m.–noon. Contact Julie Muyllaert at 996-3645 for more information.

Popular routes and rentals

Whether your ideal ride is a cruise along a country road or a single-track mountain grind, the trails, tracks and

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[ 34 ]

Methow Valley Summer

road routes around the Methow Valley provide riders with variety and scenic rewards.

Click on “Summer Trails” at the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association website, www.mvsta.com, and you’ll find detailed descriptions of road rides such as the ever-popular Chewuch Loop (from 14 to 80 miles depending on side trips), or the 105-mile road loop of the Tour de Okanogan.

MVSTA’s suggested mountain bike rides range from the kid-friendly Community Trail, to the “spectacular” Pipestone Canyon, to “the Methow Valley’s signature mountain bike ride”: the Buck Mountain loop.

Detailed hiking/biking maps that divide the valley into West, East and Golden Lakes areas, are published by Amazing Maps and available for purchase at Winthrop Mountain Sports and Methow Cycle and Sport.

Bike rentals and gear are available at five valley locations: Sun Mountain Lodge, Winthrop Mountain Sports, Methow Cycle and Sport, Jack’s Hut at Freestone Inn and Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies in Mazama.

Accommodations

Cyclists from around the world who pass through the valley on longdistance bike tours know about Barn Bicycle Camping at the home of Jim and Jan Gregg between Winthrop and Mazama. Photos and stories from their touring guests can be found at their blog barnbicyclecamping.blogspot.com, or call 996-3163.

North Cascades Mountain Hostel in Winthrop provides “inexpensive communal lodging for travelers and adventure seekers,” according to www. northcascadesmountainhostel.com.

With a communal kitchen, laundry facilities, and $25 bunks, a sojourn at the hostel may be just what the weary cyclist ordered.

Finally, for mountain bikers, Outside magazine listed the Rendezvous Huts as one of the “Top 10 Hut-to-Hut Mountain Bike Trips.” Staying overnight at one of the five huts provides a rustic home base from which to explore the double- and single-track trail networks high above the valley, including the 11-mile Rendezvous Basin Loop.

Details may be found at www.rendezvoushuts.com. ❂

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Swimming with possibilities For a refreshing adventure, wade or dive into the Methow’s lakes, streams and rivers

By Ann McCreary

H Wagner Memorial Pool in Twisp. PHOTO BY L AURELLE WALSH

Summer Programs at the

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August 5-7 August 12-14 August 19-21

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Methow Valley Summer

OT summer days and cool, clear water. It’s an irresistible combination that abounds in and around the Methow Valley.

Who can resist the temptation to dip into a sparkling pool of water on a warm summer day? Whether splashing with the kids at the public pool, floating the lazy current of a swimming hole, or plunging into a shriek-inducing alpine lake, water and summer provide endless diversion for valley visitors and locals.

The Methow Valley offers swimming

options suitable to all abilities and ambitions. Some are obvious and very public, like the Wagner Memorial Pool in Twisp. Others are secret spots on local rivers and streams, where part of the fun is in the discovery.

The swimming pool at the Twisp town park, the only public pool in the Methow Valley, has a wading pool with fountains and a pint-sized slide for young children. The pool hosts lap swim, aerobics, open swim and swim lessons throughout the summer at a reasonable entrance fee.

Plentiful lakes around the valley provide great escapes from the summer heat. Perhaps the best known is Pearrygin Lake State Park, north of Winthrop.

One of the state’s most popular parks, Pearrygin has expansive green lawns leading to a large sandy beach and a roped-off swimming area that is busy during peak summer months. The park’s large campgrounds are often booked to capacity during summer and the lake buzzes with water skiers and jet skis, so serenity is not its strong suit.

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At the southern end of the valley, Alta Lake is a hidden gem. The two-mile long alpine lake has cool, turquoise water and spectacular views from a large sandy beach. A state park, Alta Lake has grassy picnic areas and a campground shaded by pine trees, as well as a snack stand. At both Alta and Pearrygin state parks, Discover Passes are required.

Black Pine Lake, nestled in the mountains on U.S. Forest Service land southwest of Twisp, is a lovely spot with majestic views. At an elevation of 4,200 feet and surrounded by conifer forest, the deep blue waters of the lake are clear and refreshing. Two floating docks offer a great way to plunge into the lake, which is popular with local families and generally more serene than the state parks.

Running water

The valley’s rivers and streams are popular among locals and visitors, and some well-known swimming holes are big attractions on hot summer days.

The Carlton swimming hole, just below the Carlton bridge on Highway 153, has a big sandy beach and a large eddy near shore that is safe for kids — with supervision, of course. The clear waters of the Methow River form a broad, deep pool that accommodates the crowds that gather there on hot summer afternoons.

There is a parking lot (Discover Pass required) and an outhouse at the site, and it’s a short walk to the friendly Carlton Store for snacks.

Another easily accessible and popular swimming hole, with lots of sandy beach and a sandy bottom, is located further upriver next to the Twisp town park. Some people like to swim across the wide swimming hole, climb up rocks on the other side and leap off into the deep water.

Wilder and more remote, Boulder Creek Falls is about a mile above the mouth of Boulder Creek on the Chewuch River. The pool below the falls is a popular swimming hole, and a segment of the falls serves as a waterslide in late summer.

The falls are about two miles up Forest Service Road No. 37, off the East Chewuch Road outside Winthrop.

Stay right at the fork after the Boulder Creek bridge, and park. A short but steep trail leads to the falls.

There are hundreds of other possibilities for taking a dip on a hot summer day in addition to these popular spots. Explore, be safe, have fun. ❂

S TAYING SAFE The Methow Valley’s lakes, rivers and streams are fun and refreshing, but swimming in them requires using common sense and caution.

In late summer, when local rivers and streams have warmed up enough to be tolerable for swimming, the water is also likely to be running fairly low. At higher water, streams and rivers can be treacherous and swimming in them should not be attempted.

The Washington State Department of Health offers these safety tips for swimming in lakes, rivers and streams: • WATER THAT IS WARM ON THE SURFACE MAY BE MUCH COLDER BELOW. Use caution when swim-

ming and always supervise young children playing in or near the water.

• SWIMMING IN OPEN WATER IS HARDER THAN IN A POOL. People tire faster and get into trouble more quickly. A person can go under water in a murky lake, making them very hard to find, or be swept away in currents. Avoid swimming where two rivers come together — many good swimmers have gotten into trouble or drowned in currents that didn’t seem to be moving that fast.

• BE CAUTIOUS OF SUDDEN DROP - OFFS IN LAKES AND RIVERS. People who can’t swim or aren’t strong swimmers have slipped into deeper water and drowned.

• STAY SOBER WHEN ON OR IN THE WATER. Alcohol and other drugs increase the effects of weather, temperature, and wave action.

• E VEN THE BEST WATER ENTHUSIASTS CAN MISJUDGE CHANGING CONDITIONS IN OPEN WATER . Be prepared at all times

by wearing a life jacket.

• HAVE CHILDREN WEAR A LIFE JACKET THAT FITS THEM. Watch them closely around water–they can go under water quickly and quietly.

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[ 37 ]

School’s out! Time for camp Learning looks a lot like fun at the Methow’s many programs

at Russell’s Buckskin Sewing Camp from July 7-10. Cost is $165.

Register by email — fightswithmilk@ gmail.com — or call (509) 449-1290.

Little Star Montessori

By Laurelle Walsh

J

ust because school is out doesn’t mean the learning, fun and friendships have to stop.

The number and variety of summer camps in the Methow just keeps growing, so kids can continue to explore and pursue their passions during the “off” months: from sports skills to environmental learning to music, theater and visual arts.

Some of the camps, like Pipestone’s music camp and Little Star Montessori’s day camps, are extensions of the programs that local educators offer year-round, with a summertime twist.

Others are summer-only experiences, like the week-long Methow River Camp — now in its 22nd year — and Katie Russell’s primitive skills day camps.

Almost all are home-grown, and draw on the considerable talents of local adults who want to share their talents and passions with the younger generation.

“Every year we try to offer a variety of day camps representing the arts, music, movement, science, etc. This year we made a concerted effort to reach out to community members who might be interested in leading a camp,” said Dani Reynaud, director at Little

[ 38 ]

Methow Valley Summer

Campers built a “spider web” at an outdoor art camp last summer. Photo by L aurelle Walsh

Star Montessori School in Winthrop.

“We have so many talented folks in the Methow and the kids benefit greatly from connecting with other adults in the community who wish to share their skills and talents with them,” said Reynaud.

Following is an overview of what our local camps have to offer this summer, in roughly chronological order.

Methow Valley Youth Soccer

Methow Valley Youth Soccer brings Challenger Sports’ British Soccer Camps and TetraBrazil Soccer Camps to the Methow Valley School District fields from June 16–20.

British Soccer Camps are held at MV Elementary, with 6- to 9-year-olds in the morning session, 9 a.m. – noon, and 9- to 12-year-olds from 1 – 4 p.m.

TetraBrazil Soccer Camps are held at Liberty Bell Junior/Senior High School, with 10- to 13-year olds in the morning and 13- to 18-year-olds in the afternoon.

Cost is $149. Register at www.challengersports.com.

Primitive Skills

Katie Russell offers wilderness and primitive skills day camps at her home camp near Twisp.

Kids’ Skills Camp from June 23–26 is for 7- to 9-year-olds and includes fire making, wild food, rawhide craft and weaving. Cost is $125.

Cub Camp is on June 28, and is designed for younger children, ages 5–6, who want to try out primitive living.

Cost is $25.

Ten- to 13-year-olds will make their own brain-tanned buckskin moccasins

Little Star offers a variety of camps at its campus in Winthrop and in partnership with two other valley camp hosts.

Day camp sessions for toddlers and 4- to 6-year olds start July 8 and run through Aug. 14. Toddler camp features crafts, healthy eating, music and games.

Cost is $35 per day. Camp themes for 4to 6-year olds include “Survivor,” “Art,” “Naturalists,” “Around the World,” “Music,” and “Yoga.” Cost is $130 per three-day session.

Archery camps are held on campus and at an outdoor camp on the Methow River. Day camp for ages 6–7 is July 8–10 and costs $130–$165. Overnight camp for ages 8–11 is July 15–17 and costs $220–$255.

Little Star partners with Methow Valley Riding Unlimited at Moccasin Lake Ranch for two horse camps: June 24–26 for 5- to 7-year-olds, and July 15–17 for 6- to 8-year-olds. Cost is $200.

Three-day fitness and gymnastics camps for ages 7–11 are offered by instructor Jeff Monahan at the new Twisp Gym in four sessions from June 24 to Aug. 7. Cost is $150.

Read the entire Little Star camp brochure at www.littlestarschool.org/ summer/.

Methow Valley Clay Art Center

Potter Matt Armbrust offers Kids’ Summer Art Camp where ages 6-13 learn art fundamentals, drawing and clay techniques at the Methow

Valley Clay Art Center on the TwispWorks campus. The camp runs from June 24–26 with morning and afternoon sessions: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Cost is $90 for one daily session; $135 all day.

Armbrust and print maker Laura Gunnip team up to lead a week-long Young Adult Art Intensive based at the Clay Art Center and Door No. 3 from Aug. 17–24. This overnight camp, which culminates in a public art show, is geared toward “serious art students” ages 16–20. Cost is $550, with scholarships available.

Contact Armbrust at 997-1022 or mattpotter@holdenvillage.org to register.

Drama Camp

The Merc Playhouse offers two sessions of Youth Drama Camps for ages 8–14 on July 7–11 and Aug. 4–8.

The camps are led by middle school teacher/actor/choreographer/singer Megan Fox Hicks, assisted by Seattle University theater interns. Campers this summer will perform scenes from the Broadway musical Seussical, with a public performance on the final Friday

of each session.

Camp runs from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. each day and costs $200 per session. More information may be found at www. mercplayhouse.org or call 997-7529.

Confluence Gallery

Confluence offers four three-day art camps for ages 6–10, with camp themes changing weekly.

Kids will make sun prints on T-shirts, flags and paper with Laura Gunnip July 8–10. Gunnip takes campers to the park and the river to create environmental art installations July 15 – 17. Themes for two more sessions, July 22–24 and 29–31, are to be determined.

Art camps run from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. daily and cost $110 per session. Call 997-2787 for more information.

Methow River Camp

Methow River Camp — now in its 22nd year — offers an overnight ecology camp experience for 10- to 14-year-olds from July 14–18.

Based out of a campsite on the Chewuch River with its own private beach, river camp activities include canoeing, hiking, camp cooking, natural

history and nightly music and stories around the campfire. Space is limited to 24 campers, with a 1:5 ratio of adults to kids.

Register with leader Dana Visalli at dana@methownet.com.

Pipestone Music Camp

Pipestone, the educational arm of Cascadia, the Methow Music Association, offers a music camp from July 28 to Aug. 1 for musicians ages 8 and up who play strings, brass and wind instruments.

Camp is divided into two sections: String Orchestra, for kids who have played at least one year and read music; and Chamber Music, for students who have played a minimum of three years and read music fluently.

Tuition is $200 for partial day; $300 for full day camp. Register at www. cascadiamusic.org.

North Cascades Basecamp

Kidz Art and Nature Camps are new this summer at North Cascades Basecamp, which has been offering educational programs for all ages through its Ecology Center for the last

three years.

Three nature-based art camps will introduce kids ages 7–12 to sketching in nature, papier-mâché sculptures, native plant habitat restoration, mosaics, and gardening. “Habitat!

Habitat!” runs from Aug. 5–7; “Native Flowers, Plants, Leaves & Trees” is from Aug. 12–14; “In the Garden” is Aug. 19–21. Each session runs from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. daily. Cost is $90 per session. Go to www.northcascadesbasecamp.com for more information.

Kids’ Summer Pottery Workshop with Jim Neupert

Well acquainted with teaching pottery skills to children, professional teaching artist Jim Neupert works with school kids all over Okanogan County.

He offers two clay-intensive camps this summer for kids ages 7-12 at his pottery studio south of Twisp.

Session 1 is Aug. 12–14; session 2 is Aug. 19–21.

The camps run from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. daily. Cost is $125 per session.

To register, email jimneupert@gmail. com or call (509) 429-9475. ❂

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[ 39 ]

Trail etiquette

Back in the saddle Take a trail ride or go horse packing from the valley floor to the backwoods

By Marcy Stamper

“T

HIS place is a fabulous place to ride—it’s over-the-top good,” said Cathy Upper. In 35 years of riding horses in the Methow, she is still discovering new places.

Upper—now president of the Methow Valley Backcountry Horsemen—and

other local riders praise the Methow Valley for the vast and diverse terrain and scenery. They also like the seasonal variety, as the melting snow frees up more mountain trails.

Upper came to horseback riding as an adult—she learned by herding cows—but many Methow riders have spent a lifetime on horseback.

Carolyn Bronson has been riding since she was 5 years old—and she still goes out almost every day in season. “I love trail riding—you’re communing with nature, and you see all kinds of wildlife,” she said, ticking off encounters with great horned owls, deer, bear and mountain goats.

Betty Wagoner has also been riding

PHOTO BY L AURELLE WALSH

all her life. Growing up outside of Twisp, she rode for fun and to help on the farm. She described her training as a brief directive: “Just get on and don’t fall off, and go bring in that milk cow.”

While some riders were just plunked down on a horse, it is advisable to take lessons if you’re new to the sport.

Methow Valley Riding Unlimited teaches English and Western riding as well as dressage, jumping and trail work.

Just as you need experience as a rider, you need an experienced horse.

“A good trail horse is calm and will go where you want him to go, no matter what,” said Wagoner. An inexperienced horse will be reluctant to ford water or will balk at brush or a log. You can help

Trail users should understand what to do when they meet someone on horseback. If you are walking or riding a bicycle, stop and talk to the horse and rider so the horse knows you’re a human being. Wait on the downhill side of a trail to allow the horse to pass.

your horse build confidence by letting it follow another horse on less-challenging rides, said Wagoner.

Like people getting into shape, a horse that has been relatively inactive should start gradually. Bronson starts in the spring with short rides of an hour or two on fairly level terrain, so that she and the horse are ready for more strenuous rides by the time the high-country trails melt out.

“People think you’re not getting exercise, but it’s not true,” said Bronson.

Horseback riding is quite physical for the rider, requiring leg and abdominal muscles as well as upper-body strength if you saddle your own horse, she said.

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Methow Valley Summer

of a horse is an experience people can practice for their entire life. The sport appeals to people who have difficulty walking, and it can help anyone cover more ground in a day.

It’s also fun for the horses. “They get bored standing around the pasture all the time,” said Upper. “In the high country, the young horses will eat their way across a meadow, and then come running back to camp—they’re like big dogs.”

It’s important to check conditions before you head out. The Backcountry Horsemen blog gives trail status and phone numbers for people familiar with current conditions. The Methow Valley Ranger District can also provide information through its website and the ranger office.

Popular low-elevation rides are at the Methow Wildlife areas outside Twisp and Carlton and at Big Valley between Winthrop and Mazama. Some groups stay at a horse camp—the Forest Service has several in the area—as a base for day rides.

For many riders, the ultimate thrill is spending a week in the high country.

Outfitters offer trips where they do all the cooking and tend to the horses, or

drop you and your gear off and pick you up several days later.

Wagoner has packed into the mountains, with friends and as a cook for outfitters. But taking a deluxe pack trip into the Pasayten Wilderness, where they tend to all your needs, is on her bucket list, she said. Then, after a moment’s thought, she said, “Being with the horse and taking care of it is why I like to go.”

Resources

METHOW VALLEY BACKCOUNTRY HORSEMEN, www.mvbch.com. They also have a blog with up-to-date information about trails and rides at mvbch. blogspot.com.

THE METHOW VALLEY HORSE TRAIL GUIDE, a compendium of a dozen lowelevation rides, is available from the Methow Valley Backcountry Horsemen and at Winthrop Mountain Sports.

THE METHOW VALLEY RANGER DISTRICT has information about horseback riding and camping in the National Forest, as well as current trail information at 996-4003 or online. Trail conditions can be accessed from the home page of Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Outfitters, lessons, trail rides

CASCADE WILDERNESS OUTFITTERS, 997-0155 or (509) 322-3809, www. cascadewildernessoutfitters.com CHEWACK RIVER GUEST R ANCH, 9962497, www.chewackranch.com E ARLY WINTERS OUTFITTING, 9962659 or (800) 737-8750, www.earlywintersoutfitting.com MAZAMA R ANCH HOUSE (lodging with corrals and trails), 996-2040, www.mazamaranchhouse.com METHOW VALLEY RIDING UNLIMITED (lessons), 996-9881, www.mvriding.org NORTH CASCADE OUTFITTERS , 997-0330, www.methow.com/ncoutfitters/outfitter.htm NORTH CASCADE SAFARIS, 997-0215 SAWTOOTH OUTFITTERS, (509) 923-2548, www.altalake.com/sawtoothoutfitters. html SUN MOUNTAIN LODGE, 996-2211 or (800) 572-0493, www.sunmountainlodge.com WALKING D R ANCH ADVENTURES, 997-1015 or (888) 291-4097, www.cowboypoet.com/walking_d.htm WASHINGTON OUTFITTERS & GUIDES ASSOCIATION (WOGA), 997-1080, www. woga.org ❂

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[ 41 ]

By Bob Spiwak

Whatever floats your boat

Drift lazily or dig in a paddle on the Methow’s lakes and rivers

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water? For anyone who does, the Methow has a broad spectrum of available wet stuff in which to float, paddle, row or even putter around in motorboats.

This entertainment is provided by two rivers and several lakes. The rivers are the Methow and the Chewuch, which empties into the Methow to become one larger stream in Winthrop.

While the Methow River has become a mature stream long before it hits the town limits, the Chewuch remains more of a tough kid; noisy, volatile, sedate at times and boisterous at others as it wends down from the high mountains.

Pearrygin Lake is pretty much surrounded by a state park, with access on the north shore from the park or Silverline Resort. Just about anything floatable will be seen on Pearrygin’s broad surface, including canoes, kayaks, rowboats and motorboats towing water skiers. It is incumbent upon me to urge those with motorized craft not to speed, drink or cut too close to the smaller craft. Their profiles are hard to see, and

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Sponsored by Methow Restoration Council Funding provided by Washington State Department of Ecology & Bonneville Environmental Foundation

[ 42 ]

Methow Valley Summer

at times some will be anchored in their favorite fishing spot that happens also to be used as an aquatic drag strip.

On the road to Sun Mountain Lodge is Patterson Lake, a lovely, quiet spot that is popular for fishing. Motorized craft are limited to 8 miles per hour.

A state Discover Pass or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) pass is needed to use the parking area/launch ramp.

There are a few sailboats at times, but mostly you will see small fishing boats, kayaks and canoes on Patterson.

I have been canoeing for 70 years, and for a quick paddle or a few hours of unbothered fishing, Patterson is where I go. We have measured the depth ranging from 8 to 93 feet.

Around and beyond the Bear Creek Golf Course is Davis Lake. There is a gravel launch there, and either a Discover or WDFW pass is required. It is a good lake upon which to kick back and maybe even float while reading a book.

But not when it is open for fishing.

This is a good time to remind all boaters, regardless of size, that life jackets or personal flotation devices should be worn at all times. Even a strong swimmer

Ø Wear a properly fitted life jacket Ø Be a competent swimmer Ø Know how to handle your watercraft Ø Never boat beyond your skill level Ø Stay alert for unexpected hazards Ø Never use alcohol or drugs while boating or floating on the river Ø Children should never boat or float a river without close adult supervision Ø Know and practice river rescue techniques

can, at the right time and place, be overcome by hypothermia, whose deadly effects begin at 50 degrees. Children especially should wear the gear, and have it fastened at all times.

The Methow wanders its way to its meeting with the Columbia River about 40 miles from Winthrop. It’s a fun river to float a tube, a raft, a kayak or a canoe. There are some wild stretches. The highest water comes around the end of May, and there have been several fatalities over the years on a river one can throw a rock across.

For river-runners, the Methow presents a split personality of mill-pond smooth to Class 3 rapids and sometimes

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higher. It may be too shallow to swim in most places, but the current will be dragging you along over rocks and boulders while soaking you in 40-degree water. Buckle up the personal flotation device, and if you are going to do the white water stretches in a kayak or canoe consider a helmet. Tubing is also popular, but it can be hazardous to rely on the whim of the river.

For guided trips via raft, kayak or tube, contact Methow River Raft & Kayak at (509) 341-4661.

There are a few other good lakes to paddle or raft. South of Twisp is Black Pine Lake. The lake has fish, but it is an idyllic, short float from end to end and an excellent training place for small children in the arts of paddling or fishing from boat or shore. Don’t be put off by the gravel roads that take you there — it is well worth getting dust on your Lexus.

The water here is clean and cold.

As crystalline as it may be on any watercourse, don’t drink it. Giardia is a constant risk, as are other pathogens provided by our many species of wildlife, from cougars and bears to packrats and muskrats. It is a good idea to have a water purification kit with you. ❂

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[ 43 ]

Buy a pass before you park Most of the valley’s public lands require a recreation pass, but it can get complicated

By Marcy Stamper

M

aps of the Methow show land

ownership as a jigsaw puzzle of irregular shapes coded in shades of pastel. So it is no wonder that figuring out which recreation pass you need to enjoy those lands can be such a mystery.

Nevertheless, solving that puzzle has become increasingly important for people who use those areas to hike, watch wildlife or float their boat, with government land managers trying to fill budget gaps with recreation passes and day fees.

The U.S. Forest Service has been requiring passes (Northwest Forest Pass, $30, annual; National Forest Recreation Day Pass, $5, day) for most trails since 2005, based on certain amenities at the trailhead.

The Forest Service does maintain several free local trailheads — including the popular trail to Goat Peak in Mazama, the West Fork Methow trail in Lost River, and Copper Glance up the Chewuch — and two years ago the agency eliminated fees for the entire Harts Pass area (except for camping).

Washington state began imposing its own fees for most of its recreation lands — state parks, wildlife areas and forests — three years ago, after the Legislature drastically cut funds that once supported public lands. The Discover Pass ($30, annual; $10, day; plus transaction fees — $5 for an annual pass and $1.50 for a day pass if not bought from a state park ranger) is now required at lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), but not necessarily in all situations — and therein lies another conundrum for the outdoor enthusiast.

“It’s hard to just make a general statement because people have to know where they are,” said Rob Wottlin, a staff member for the state’s Methow Wildlife Area. “You’ve got to know where you’re parking, and whether it’s state, federal or private.”

In the Methow, anyone parking on state land needs a Discover Pass, but if you can park safely on a state or county road, you do not need a pass, according to a spokesperson for

Where to buy rec passes FEDERAL Northwest Forest Pass (annual, $30) In person: Methow Valley Ranger District in Winthrop (24 West Chewuch Road, 996-4003) Local vendors: Valley Hardware Do it Center, Twisp has annual and day passes.

Winthrop Mountain Sports has annual and day passes.

Online: U.S. Forest Service: www.fs.usda.gov/ detail/okawen/passespermits; follow the link to “Recreational Passes & Permits.”

National Forest Recreation Pass (day, $5) In person: at trailheads; requires exact change or check.

Local vendors: Mazama Country Inn has day passes only.

Online: National Forest Recreation ePass available at www.discovernw.org Northwest Forest Pass ($30), Federal Interagency Pass ($80), Interagency Senior Pass, $10 (all annual passes) Online or by phone: U.S. Geological Survey store at store.usgs.gov, (888) 275-8747 STATE Discover Pass (annual, $30; day, $5) In person: State Park ranger (no transaction fees) Local vendors: The Outdoorsman, Winthrop Pardners Mini Market,

WDFW. Also, if you arrive on foot, bicycle, horse or boat, you do not need a Discover Pass. There may be other fees associated with boating.

The campsite fee at a state park covers your daytime activities there, but camping on other state lands generally requires a Discover Pass.

In Okanogan County, DNR is requiring the Discover Pass only at only certain campgrounds and lakes in the Loup Loup State Forest and Loomis State Forest. Most of the shrub-steppe areas in the Lower Methow Valley and those east of the Loup Loup summit — good for walking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing — are managed by DNR and

Winthrop Valley Hardware Do it Center, Twisp Winthrop Ace Hardware (local vendors include transaction fees: $5, annual; $1.50, day) Online or by phone: www.discoverpass. wa.gov or (866) 320-9933 (includes transaction fees: $5, annual; $1.50, day) General information: U.S. Forest Service: www.fs.usda.gov/ detail/okawen/passespermits; follow the link to “Recreational Passes & Permits.”

Washington Trails Association: www.wta. org/hiking-info/passes/ passes-and-permit-info Discover Pass: www. discoverpass.wa.gov; frequently asked questions, exemptions, etc.

do not presently require a pass.

In fact, the key thing to know about both federal and state passes is that they apply to vehicles — primarily for parking — and are therefore not required for anyone arriving on foot, bicycle or horse. The federal Northwest Forest Pass can be transferred between an unlimited number of vehicles and the state’s Discover Pass can be used on two vehicles, which you need to specify on the pass.

In addition to the main passes — day or annual versions of the Northwest Forest Pass and the Discover Pass — a variety of other passes is available, depending on your interests, age and the extent of your use of

Trails and recreation sites (a selection of popular places) L ower Valley (Pateros to Carlton) Alta Lake State Park, DP, NIP Foggy Dew Trail, NW, IA Eagle Lakes, NW, IA Carlton Swimming Hole, DP, VA Golden Doe Wildlife Area, DP T wisp and T wisp River Lookout Mountain, NW, IA Blackpine Lake, day use free Deadhorse Lake, DP Twisp River Trail, NW, IA War Creek, NW, IA Twisp Pass, NW, IA Winthrop, West Chewuch, Rendezvous Pearrygin Lake State Park, DP, NIP Lewis Butte, DP

[ 44 ]

Methow Valley Summer

Twin Lakes, free Patterson Mountain, DP to park at boat launch on Patterson Lake. (There is a small free public-parking area along Patterson Lake Road.)

Patterson Lake, boat launch: DP, VA Sun Mountain trails, free Methow Wildlife Area (Bear Creek), DP Falls Creek Falls, NW, IA Copper Glance, free M azama , H arts Pass Big Valley, DP Goat Peak, free West Fork Methow, free Pacific Crest Trail (north & south), NW, IA

Harts Pass–area trails (including Grasshopper Pass and Windy Pass), free North Cascades Highway (east of the crest ) Cedar Creek, NW, IA Cutthroat Lake/Pass, NW, IA Washington Pass overlook, free Blue Lake, NW, IA Rainy Lake, NW, IA Lake Ann/Maple Pass, NW, IA Boulder Creek Tiffany Mountain/Freezeout Ridge, NW, IA Bear Creek , E ast Valley, L oup L oup Cougar Lake, DP

Campbell Lake, DP Pipestone Canyon, DP Loup Loup State Forest, free; DP required for some campgrounds K ey: DP: Discover Pass IA: Federal Interagency Passes NIP: Natural Investment Permit NW: Northwest Forest Pass VA: vehicle-access permit for those with hunting and fishing licenses All areas requiring a Northwest Forest Pass or Federal Interagency Pass can also be accessed with the National

Forest Recreation Day Pass.

Free days at S tate Parks (but not at WDFW or DNR sites) May 11 June 7 & 8 (National Trails Day) June 14 (National Get Outdoors Day) Aug. 25 (in honor of National Park Service’s birthday) Sept. 27 (National Public Lands Day) Free days at Forest Service sites June 7 (National Trails Day) June 14 (National Get Outdoors Day) Sept. 27 (National Public Lands Day)

public lands.

If you’re over 62, you can get a good deal on a lifetime pass (the Interagency Senior Pass) that will provide access to virtually all federal lands — national parks, Forest Service properties, Bureau of Land Management sites and more — for just $10. A pass providing entry to all federal lands (the Interagency Access Pass) is available for free to those with a disability.

The Interagency Annual Pass ($80, annual) provides access to all those lands for people under 62 and could be a good option if you plan to visit a lot of national parks. Note that our closest park — North Cascades National Park — still has no entrance fee.

The state doesn’t provide a break for older recreationists (except those who qualify for a low-income exemption), but there are a few package deals if you have specialized interests. If you’re a boater and have the annual watercraft-launch permit (Natural Investment Permit, $80), you don’t need a Discover Pass — for state parks. But you would still need

one to visit a WDFW area or DNR lands.

If you have a hunting or fishing license, you won’t need the Discover Pass to visit WDFW lands (but you do need the WDFW vehicle-use pass, free to those with these licenses).

Still, this pass won’t get you entree to state parks or DNR lands.

People with disabilities (and official license plates) can visit state parks without a Discover Pass, but will need the pass for WDFW or DNR lands.

Because there are so many options, several agencies and organizations have created handy question-andanswer guides and fact sheets to help you determine which pass will be most appropriate and economical for you. Try the Forest Service’s guide at www.fs.usda.gov/okawen/ (follow the link to the “Passes & Permits” and then “Recreation Passes & Permits”) or the “Which Pass Do I Need Q&A” link on the Washington Trails Association website at www.wta.org/hiking-info/passes/ passes-and-permit-info. ❂

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[ 45 ]

Summer Calendar

Ma y

SATURDAYS: Farmers Market at

MV Community Center, Twisp. 9962747. 9am-noon

1-4: Women’s Trail Running and Yoga Retreat at River Run Inn in Winthrop. $295. www.methowendurance.com

1: “Wildflower Walk and Talk” with

Methow Conservancy. Location varies.

Free. 996-2870. 5-7pm

2: The Ballroom Thieves play folk rock

at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. No cover. 996-3183. 7pm

3: Calico plays California country

music at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. No cover. 996-3183. 7pm

4: Amphibian Education Field Class

with Methow Conservancy. $30. 9962780. 9am-2pm

7: Lewis Butte 2-mile hill climb every

Wednesday in May, leaving from the Riser Lake parking area. Free. 996-7675.

4:30-5:30pm

8-11: Spring Naturalists Retreat with

Methow Conservancy. $165. 996-2780.

9-11: Willy Wonka Jr., Children’s Musical Theater at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. $5-$12. 997-7529. Fri/Sat at 7pm; Sun at 2pm

9-11: Winthrop ’49er Days with parade, games, outfitter camps, music, Mother’s Day breakfast and packers’ competition. www.winthropwashington.com

9: Open Mic hosted by Hootin’ Anne at

Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop.

No cover. 996-3183. 7pm

10: Sunflower Trail Marathon and

Relay, 26.7-mile solo or team run from Mazama to Twisp. $45-$85. www. mvsta.com. 996-3287. 8:30am

14: “Wildflower Walk and Talk” with

Methow Conservancy. Location varies.

Free. 996-2780. 5-7pm.

14: Lewis Butte 2-mile hill climb every

Wednesday in May, leaving from the Riser Lake parking area. Free. 996-7675.

4:30-5:30pm

16-18: Willy Wonka Jr., Children’s

Musical Theater at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. $5-$12. 997-7529. Fri/Sat at 7pm; Sun at 2pm

16: Sammy Witness and the Reas-

signment play rock and pop at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. No cover. 996-3183. 7pm

17-18: Pipestone Music Days with

21: Lewis Butte 2-mile hill climb every

Wednesday in May, leaving from the Riser Lake parking area. Free. 996-7675.

4:30-5:30pm

23: Rivertown Ramblers play vintage rock at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. No cover. 996-3183. 7pm

24-25: Memorial Day Rodeo with

Jackpot and Junior Rodeo, and events for kids at Methow Valley Rodeo Grounds between Twisp and Winthrop. $5-10. 996-2439. 1pm

24: World Famous Mazama Pancake

Breakfast at the Mazama Community Club. $6; ages 4 and under or 90+ eat free. www.mazamacommunityclub.com.

8am-noon

performances by the Pipestone Orchestra, jazz ensemble and youth orchestra on Saturday; student recitals on Sunday. At the MV Community Center. $5-$15 concert, free recitals. 997-0222.

7pm Saturday; 1-4pm Sunday

24: Mazama 5K/10K trail runs plus

at Confluence Gallery. Ages 8 and up. $30. 997-2787. 10am-2pm

24: Open Studio Saturday with class-

17: Mask making with Bruce Morrison 17: Moccasin Lake Ranch Wildflowers

hike with George Wooten and Greata Beatty, author of Wildflowers of Moccasin Lake Ranch. $40, includes lunch and raffle ticket to win book. 997-6010. 10am-2:30pm

17: Wil Kinky Duo play soul and blues at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. No cover. 996-3183. 7pm

18: “Updates from the Front Lines of the Climate Fight” talk by 350.org founder Bill McKibben at Winthrop Barn hosted by Methow Conservancy. Free.

996-2780. 7pm

free 1K kids’ fun run at the Mazama Community Club. $20-$30, includes pancake breakfast. www.methowendurance.com. 9am race start

For updates on calendar events, see each week’s edition of the Methow Valley News or visit methowvalleynews.com.

28: Lewis Butte 2-mile hill climb every Wednesday in May, leaving from the Riser Lake parking area. Free. 996-7675.

4:30-5:30pm 29: “Wildflower Walk and Talk” with

Methow Conservancy. Location varies.

Free. 996-2780. 5-7pm.

30: Peter Benjamin Band plays Americana music at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm 31: Open Studio Saturday with classes and demonstrations at TwispWorks.

Free. 997-3300. 9am-1pm 31: Artists reception for the show “Tactile, Tangible, Tonal” running through July 7 at Winthrop Gallery.

996-3925. 5-7pm 31: Local Strangers Duo play soul and folk at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

es and demonstrations at TwispWorks.

Free. 997-3300. 9am-1pm

24: Conservation Party with Methow

Conservancy, dinner and dancing at the Winthrop Barn. $5-$35. 996-2780. 6pm

24: Dakota Poorman Band plays country music at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

25: Live birds of prey and other

rescued animals with Lisa Lindsey of Okanogan Wildlife League at MV Interpretive Center. Free. 997-4904. 3pm

P HOTO BY DON NELSON

An Eclectic Shopping Adventure...

10: Trashion Fashion Show recycled

clothing contest and runway show at MV Community Center. Ages 13 and up. $15. 997-2787. 7pm

next to the Farmer’s Market!

Women’s Fashions, Sun Hats Market Baskets, Vintage & Collectibles and More!

10: Tim Snider plays electric violin and Americana at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. No cover. 996-3183. 7pm

11: Second Sunday Singletrack

Session trail work party with Methow Chapter of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance at Lightning Creek trail. Free. www.methowevergreenmtb.org. 9am

[ 46 ]

Methow Valley Summer

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SATURDAYS: Farmers Market at MV Community Center, Twisp. 9962747. 9am-noon SATURDAYS: Open Studios with

8: Second Sunday Singletrack Session trail work party with Methow Chapter of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance at Cedar Creek trail. Free. www.methowevergreenmtb.org. 9am

10: Opening Reception for “The

SUNDAYS: Winthrop Market at the Winthrop park. (509) 341-9102. 10am-2pm

Methow Out My Window” art and book show with Methow Conservancy at Door No. 3 in MV Community Center.

Show runs through June 30. 996-2870.

5-7pm

Life in the Universe comedy performed

by Terri Weagant at The Merc Playhouse. $5-$15. 997-7529. 7pm

Methow River in conjunction with “Our River” exhibit at Confluence Gallery.

Free. 997-2787. 6-8pm

classes and demonstrations at TwispWorks. Free. 997-3300. 9am-1pm

6-7: The Search for Signs of Intelligent 13: Panel discussion about fish in the 6-8: National Trails Day weekend

walks and hikes with the Seattle Mountaineers on the Sun Mountain trails system. Registration required. Call 800573-8484 or go to www.mountaineers. org/seattle/hiking/SML_Weekend.html

6: The Vaughn Jensen Band plays the

blues at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

7-8: The 509 Barista Jam coffee

industry festival hosted by Blue Star Coffee Roasters. $25-$35. 997-2583. www.bluestarcoffeeroasters.com

7: Twisp Art Walk with art activities, participatory public art, open houses, music and more at locations around Twisp. Free. www.methowarts.org. 4-8pm

7: Opening reception for “Our River”

exhibit at Confluence Gallery. Show runs through July 26. Free. 997-2787. 4-8pm

7: Opening reception for “Releasing the Dogma of Birdsong” and “Revealed” exhibits at Peligro Jewelry in Twisp.

Free. (509) 699-0238. 4-8pm 7: RL Heyer & Andrew Vait play rock,

pop and soul at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

17: Summer Reading presents Deb

McVay with a bilingual science program for kids at the Twisp and Winthrop libraries. Free. 997-4681. 1:30pm in Twisp; 4pm in Winthrop

shuttle-supported group rides from easy to advanced. Various locations. www. methowevergreenmtb.org

20: Spartan Art Project Intimate

Performance with Christine Beckman at TwispWorks. Donation. 997-1022. 7pm

13: Wild Mountain Nations and Lady 14: National Fishing Day with fish art,

from Winthrop’s Old Schoolhouse Brewery and 10 invited breweries at the Winthrop Ice & Sports Rink. 996-3183. 1-6pm

21: Hop Rendezvous Brewfest with beer

education and fishing for big fish in the pond at the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery.

Free. www.methowarts.org. 10am-2pm

21: The Blackberry Bushes play

14: Winthrop Traverse multi-sport

22: Gran Fondo Winthrop 80-mile cycling

race with solo, tandem and relay teams competing in running, cycling and paddling heats. Starts at Pearrygin Lake State Park.

Registration required. www.recreationnorthwest.org/winthrop-traverse/. Noon

14: The Last Outlaws play country rock at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. No cover. 996-3183. 7pm

16-20: Methow Valley Youth Soccer British Soccer Camps for ages 6-9 (mornings) and 9-12 (afternoons) at MV Elementary. $149. Register at www.challengersports.com. 9am-noon and 1-4pm.

16-20: Methow Valley Youth Soccer TetraBazil Camps for ages 10-13 (mornings) and 13-18 (afternoons) at Liberty Bell Junior/Senior High School. $149.

Register at www.challengersports.com.

9am-noon and 1-4pm.

27-29: Plein Aire painting workshop at Moccasin Lake Ranch. $285. 997-2787.

20-22: Methow Singletrack Solstice 28-29: Wildlife Track and Sign Cermountain bike festival, self-guided and

20: Diet Folk play folk rock/Americana at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

Justice play pop-alternative and indiecountry at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

27-28: Chris Swenson Human Jazz at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp. $5$15. 997-7529. 7pm

bluegrass at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

loop from Winthrop to Conconully and back on gravel and pavement. $65. rideviciouscycle.com/events/gran-fondo-winthrop/. 8am

23-26: Kids’ Skills Camp, ages 7-9

28-29: Trek Dirt Series Women’s

Mountain Bike Camp for beginning to advanced women riders in Winthrop.

Registration required. www.dirtseries. com/mountain_bike_camp_details. php?id=winthrop2014

28: Cub Camp primitive skills for ages

5-6 with Katie Russell at her home camp outside Twisp. $25. (509) 449-1290.

9am-1pm

28: Daniel Kirkpatrick and the Bayonets play vintage rock at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm 29: Charley Family DVD Premier

with descendants of the last full-blood Methow native, T.B. Charley, plus pit house dedication ceremony at MV Interpretive Center. Free. 997-4904. 3pm

July

learn wilderness and primitive skills including fire making, wild food and rawhide crafts with Katie Russell at her home camp outside Twisp. $125.

(509) 449-1290. 9am-1pm

SATURDAYS: Farmers Market at MV Community Center, Twisp.

996-2747. 9am-noon

24-26: Kids’ Summer Art Camp,

ages 6-13 learn clay techniques and art fundamentals at Methow Valley Clay Art Center at TwispWorks. Morning and afternoon sessions; $90 for one, $135 for both. 997-1022. 9am-3pm

24: Summer Reading presents the

tification Class with Methow Conservancy. $185. 996-2780. 8am-4pm

NCRL Puppeteers at the Twisp and Winthrop libraries. Free. 997-4681. 1:30pm in Twisp; 4pm in Winthrop

SATURDAYS: Open Studios with classes and demonstrations at TwispWorks. Free. 997-3300. 9am-1pm SUNDAYS: Winthrop Market at the Winthrop park. (509) 341-9102.

10am-2pm 4: Independence Day parade down Glover Street in Twisp. Staging at TwispWorks 9am; parade 11am

Artist for a Day Watercolor Painting • No experience needed • Private studio session • All materials provided • 1 or groups up to 6 Walk in curious... Walk out with a painting!

w w w. p a u l a c h r i s t e n . c o m 509-996-2598

christen@methownet.com Methow Valley Summer

[ 47 ]

4: Methow ARTS Festival with

hands-on booths for kids and adults, music, food, pie-eating contest at Twisp River Park. $5-$8. 997-4004.

11:30am-4:30pm

7-10: Buckskin Sewing Camp where

kids ages 10-13 make brain-tanned buckskin moccasins with Katie Russell at her home camp outside Twisp. $165.

(509) 449-1290. 9am-1pm

7-11: Youth Drama Camp for ages

8-14 at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp. $200. 997-7529. 10am-4pm

8-10: Children’s Art Camp “Sunshine

Print-O-Rama” with Laura Gunnip at Confluence Gallery. $110. 997-2787.

10am-2pm

11: Cracker Factory plays rock at Old

Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2.

996-3183. 7pm

13: Second Sunday Singletrack

Session trail work party with Methow Chapter of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. Location TBA. Free. www. methowevergreenmtb.org. 9am

17: “Front Yard Foraging” class

with Melany Vorass, part of Methow Essentials series. Location TBA. $10.

996-2870. 6-8pm

17: The Chris Eger Band plays R&B at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

18-20: 27th annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival with 13 regional and national blues artists and bands on the stage of the Winthrop Blues Ranch. www.winthropbluesfestival.com

19: “Salish Bounty” exhibit from the

Burke Museum examining the historical trade routes used by local tribes opens at MV Interpretive Center, runs through Sept. 28. Free. 997-4904. 10am

28-AUG. 1: Pipestone Summer Music Camp at MV Community Center, Twisp. $200-$300. 997-0222. 9:30am-5pm 29-31: Children’s Art Camp at Confluence Gallery. $110. 997-2787.

10am-2pm 29: Summer Reading presents “Books on Stage” at the Twisp and Winthrop libraries. Free. 997-4681. 1:30pm in Twisp; 4pm in Winthrop

29: Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival concert at Signal Hill Ranch near Twisp. $25. 996-6000. 7:30pm

31: Methow Valley Chamber Music

Festival concert at Signal Hill Ranch near Twisp. $25. 996-6000. 7:30pm

5: Summer Reading presents the Reptile Man with live reptiles at the Twisp and Winthrop libraries. Free. 997-4681.

2pm in Twisp; 4:30pm in Winthrop

cowboy-style, at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp. Pay-what-you-can performance.

997-7529. 7pm

August

24: Methow Valley Chamber Music

SATURDAYS: Open Studios with classes and demonstrations at TwispWorks. Free. 997-3300. 9am-1pm

County PUD with electricity experiments for kids at the Twisp and Winthrop libraries. Free. 997-4681. 11am in Twisp; 3pm in Winthrop

25: Alyse Black Trio plays pop and

SUNDAYS: Winthrop Market at the

15-17: Children’s Art Camp “Art

26: The Pine Hearts play bluegrass at

1-3: Methow Valley Clay Art Fest

Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

14-18: Methow River Camp, five-day 14: Summer Reading presents Chelan

Festival concert at Signal Hill Ranch near Twisp. $25. 996-6000. 7:30pm

intensive master class in documentary filmmaking at TwispWorks. Student films screening Sunday evening. Tuition $3,000. www.wildmindfilmcamp.com.

Table & Chair Rental

jazz at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

26: Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival concert at Signal Hill Ranch near Twisp. $25. 996-6000. 7:30pm

25-27: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, cowboy-style, at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp. $5-$15. 997-7529. Fri/Sat at 7pm; Sun at 2pm

509-997-9394 pipestonecanyonranch @gmail.com

[ 48 ]

Methow Valley Summer

5: “A Roadside Guide to the North Cascades Highway” First Tuesday talk

by Jack McLeod, location TBA. Free.

996-2780. 7-8:30pm

with demos by Suzi Jennings, Brian Kooser, Jason Briggs and Tara Wilson at MV Clay Art Center. $30 suggested donation. 997-1022. 10am-4pm

1-3: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, cowboy-style, at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp. $5-$15. 997-7529. Fri/Sat at 7pm; Sun at 2pm

PHOTO BY L AURELLE WALSH

2: Opening reception for “Fall in the

20+ YEARS OF LOAFING AROUND

IN OMAK

BREADLINE AT ThE BEACh VISIT OUR NEw SUMMER BEACh ShACK AT

VERANDA BEACh RESORT,

ON ThE EASTERN ShORE OF LAKE OSOYOOS, OUTSIDE OF OROVILLE.

Luscious Lunches Yummy Dinners Regional Wine Bar Scrumptious Desserts “BUCKIN’ GOOD FOOD & GROOVY COCKTAILS”

camp for ages 7-12 at North Cascades Basecamp in Mazama. $90. 996-2334.

10am-2pm

Winthrop park. (509) 341-9102. 10am2pm

BREADLINE CAFE

for your

Summer Celebrations

4-8: Youth Drama Camp for ages 8-14 at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp. $200.

997-7529. 10am-4pm

22-24: Children’s Art Camp with Margaret Kingston at Confluence Gallery. $110. 997-2787. 10am-2pm

cana music at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

SATURDAYS: Farmers Market at MV Community Center, Twisp. 9962747. 9am-noon

16-27: Wild Mind Film Camp,

2: Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival concert at Signal Hill Ranch near Twisp. $25. 996-6000. 7:30pm

5-7: “Habitat! Habitat!” art and nature

NCRL Puppeteers at the Twisp and Winthrop libraries. Free. 997-4681. 1:30pm in Twisp; 4pm in Winthrop

Bandit Mystery Tour” with Laura Gunnip at Confluence Gallery. $110. 997-2787.

10am-2pm

Methow” exhibit at Confluence Gallery. Show runs through Sept 20. Free 997-2787. 4-8pm

19: Aaron Crawford Band plays Ameri- 31: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night,

22: Summer Reading presents the

ecology camp for kids ages 10-14. $350.

997-9011. 10am-4pm

For updates on calendar events, see each week’s edition of the Methow Valley News or visit methowvalleynews.com.

Full bar Shakes Burgers Wraps

“OGOPOGOS EAT FREE”

Lunch & Dinner Tues - Sat 11AM - 9PM Saturday Breakfast Buffet 9am - 1pm

509.826.5836 • 102 S. ASh, OMAK, wA

breadlinecafe.com

509.476.0815

PUBLIC wELCOME!

7-10: Omak Stampede featuring carnival, rodeo, art show, Indian encampment and the world famous Suicide Race. www.omakstampede.org

12-14: Kids’ Summer Pottery Workshop with Jim Neupert at his studio south of Twisp. $125. (509) 429-9475.

9:30am-2pm

cowboy-style, at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp. $5-$15. 997-7529. Thurs/Fri/Sat at 7pm; Sun at 2pm

Leaves & Trees” art and nature camp for ages 7-12 at North Cascades Basecamp in Mazama. $90. 996-2334. 10am-2pm

7-10: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night,

9: Methow Valley Home Tour hosted

by Confluence Gallery. 997-2787. All day

9: Cascadia’s Old Time Music Celebra-

tion with workshops, concerts and dance featuring The Tall Boys String Band at the Shafer Museum and TwispWorks. $20 for workshops. 997-0222. 10am-9pm

9: Vaudeville Etiquette plays Ameri-

cana music at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

10: Second Sunday Singletrack

Session trail work party with Methow Chapter of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. Location TBA. Free. www. methowevergreenmtb.org. 9am

12-14: “Native Flowers, Plants,

15-17: Heart of the Methow Pow-

wow at the Twisp park. Free. 997-4904.

16: Ian McFeron Band plays folk rock at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

17-24: Methow Valley Young Adult

Art Intensive, week-long overnight camp for serious young artists ages 16-20 at Methow Valley Clay Art Center and Door No. 3. $550; scholarships available. 9971022 or mattpotter@holdenvillage.org

18-22: Vertical World rock climbing overnight camp for ages 10-16 at North Cascades Basecamp in Mazama. $750.

Register at (206) 283-4497.

19-21: Kids’ Summer Pottery Workshop with Jim Neupert at his studio south of Twisp. $125. (509) 429-9475. 9:30am-2pm 19-21: “In the Garden” art and nature camp for ages 7-12 at North Cascades Basecamp in Mazama. $90.

996-2334. 10am-2pm 21-23: Celestial Cinema presents movies under the stars, plus food and children’s activities before the screenings at Spring Creek Ranch in Winthrop. $10. 996-2495. 6:30pm 23: Cutthroat Classic 11-mile trail run

from Rainy Pass over Cutthroat Pass to the finish line at Cutthroat Trailhead. $75. 996-3287 or www.mvsta.com. 8am

23: MountainFilm on Tour with an

evening of short films from the Telluride festival under the stars at the Winthrop park. (509) 699-0568 or www.northcascadesmountainhostel.com. Time TBA

23: Down North plays R&B at Old

Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2.

996-3183. 7pm

30-31: Labor Day Rodeo with Jackpot and Junior Rodeo competitions and events for kids at the Methow Valley Rodeo Grounds between Twisp and Winthrop. $5-10. 996-2439. 1pm 31: “Historic Tribal Connections” Last

Sunday talk by historian Richard Hart at MV Interpretive Center. Free. 997-4904. 5pm

September

SATURDAYS: Farmers Market at MV Community Center, Twisp. 9962747. 9am-noon PHOTO BY L AURELLE WALSH

2: “Rare Bird: Pursuing the Mystery of the Marbled Murrelet,” First Tuesday talk by Maria Mudd Ruth. Location TBA. Free. 996-2870. 7pm

5-6: Madcap Melodrama presents the audio play The Vampire or Bride of the Isles at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp. $5-$15. 997-7529. 7pm 5: The Wicks play roots and soul music at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm 6: Winthrop Vintage Wheels Show featuring vintage cars, motorcycles, tractors, travel trailers and bicycles at locations around Winthrop. www. winthropwashington.com 7: Mark Sexton Band plays R&B at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2.

996-3183. 7pm 13: Massy Ferguson Band plays

Americana music at Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop. $2. 996-3183. 7pm

14: Second Sunday Singletrack

Session trail work party with Methow Chapter of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. Location TBA. Free. www. methowevergreenmtb.org. 9am

20-21: Methow Valley Studio Tour.

Visit artists’ studios around the valley.

Free. 997-2787. 10am-5pm 27: Methow Valley Off-road Duathlon

40K mountain bike and 10K trail run on the trails at Sun Mountain. (509) 699-0568 or methowduathlon.blogspot.com. 9am

27: Cider Squeeze and Social with

Methow Conservancy at the Sabolds’ house. Free. 996-2780. 2-4pm

28: Community Harvest Potluck at

TwispWorks. Free. 997-3300. 4-8pm

28: “Revisit with Lampreys” Last

Sunday talk by biologist John Crandall at MV Interpretive Center. Free. 9974904. 5pm ❂

OPEN YEAR-ROUND, WED-SUN, 10 AM-5:30 PM

Art for the Antiques, vintage, The Farmprimitives, shabby chic,

Shed

521 S. 2nd Ave, Okanogan WA

509-422-9722

yard art, gifts and more!

Owners: Monte and Laurie Andrews

thefarmshed@ncidata.com

GArden

Take a stroll through the Methow Valley Inn Courtyard and discover local art for sale.

May 11-Sept. 15 * 9am-6pm daily 2nd Avenue Downtown Twisp Methow Valley Summer

[ 49 ]

Directory of Advertisers Architects

Cafés/Dining / Espresso, cont.

Local Goods & Produce, cont.

Recreation/Activities

Johnston Architects.............................. 3

Twisp Chevron Sub Shop.................... 42 Twisp River Pub ...................................15 The Winthrop Store ............................ 38

Methow Valley Ciderhouse ................ 23 Methow Valley Farmers Market ..........14 Winthrop Market .................................10

Campgrounds/ RV Parks

Lodging

Pine Near RV Park ........................ 10, 34 Silverline Resort ................................. 45 Winthrop KOA .................................... 35

The Bournhouse ................................. 45 Bunk House Inn .................................. 38 Central Reservations .......................... 52 Freestone Inn ...................................... 22 Mazama Country Inn .......................... 25 Mazama Ranch House ........................ 33 Methow River Lodge & Cabins ............13 Mount Gardner Inn ............................. 21 North Cascades Basecamp ................ 36 North Cascades Mountain Hostel....8, 11, 32 River Run Inn ...................................... 40 Rolling Huts & Methow Tents .............19 Silverline Resort ................................. 45 Sun Mountain Lodge ...........................12 Timberline Meadows .......................... 43 Twisp River Suites ...............................15 The Virginian Resort ........................... 45 Winthrop Inn....................................... 35 Winthrop KOA .................................... 35 Winthrop Mountain View Chalets ...... 46 Wolf Creek Cabins & Lodging ............. 43

Bear Creek Golf Course .......................13 Freestone Inn .................................18, 22 Globetrouters Guide Service ...............10 Methow Valley Ciderhouse ................ 23 Methow Cycle & Sport ........................10 Methow River Raft & Kayak ................41 Methow Valley Interpretive Center ...... 9 Morning Glory Balloon Tours................12 MVSTA.................................................11 North Cascades Basecamp ................ 36 Ohme Gardens......................................41 Shafer Historical Museum .................. 36 Slidewaters ........................................ 31 Sun Mountain Lodge ...........................12 TwispWorks ......................................... 9

Artists/Artisans Art for the Garden .............................. 49 Culler Studio.......................................... 9 EQPD Sports Gear................................. 9 D.O.G. Dudz............................................ 9 Glitter & Grit Silversmith....................... 9 La Fabrica.............................................. 9 Methow Valley Clay Art Center............. 9 Paula Christen Watercolors ............... 47 Peligro .................................................. 3 Rod Weagant Studio............................41 Twisted Knitters.................................... 9 Antiques/Collectables Poppie Jo Galleria ............................... 46 The Farm Shed ................................... 49 Red Hen Trading Co. ........................... 42 Trick Pony ............................................13 Automotive/Gasoline The Carlton General Store .................. 43 King’s Pacific Pride & Car Wash ......... 37 Mazama Store .................................... 32 Twisp Chevron Sub Shop ................... 42 The Winthrop Store ............................ 38 Banquet Halls/ Event Facilities North Cascades Basecamp ................ 36 Merc Playhouse Theater .................... 28 Winthrop Barn Auditorium ................. 30 Bicycle Dealers/ Repair Methow Cycle & Sport ........................10 Builders & Contractors Doug Haase Excavating ....................... 8 Valley True Construction .....................18 Cafés/Dining / Espresso Blue Star Coffee Roasters....................14 Breadline Café .................................... 48 Cascadian Home Farm ........................51 Cinnamon Twisp Bakery ..................... 20 Duck Brand ..........................................13 East 20 Pizza ..................................... 33 Freestone Inn ...................................... 22 Hometown Pizza ................................. 37 Jack’s Hut at Freestone Inn ...............18 Kelly’s ..................................................19 LaFonda Lopez .................................... 32 Lariat Coffee Roasters ........................ 23 Logan’s Steakhouse ........................... 40 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso .................. 9 Mazama Country Inn .......................... 25 Mazama Store .................................... 32 Old Schoolhouse Brewery ............ 20, 33 Rocking Horse Bakery .......................... 7 Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe ........................ 39 Sun Mountain Lodge ...........................12 Trail’s End Bookstore .......................... 37

[ 50 ]

Methow Valley Summer

Car Wash King’s Pacific Pride & Car Wash ......... 37 Classes/ Workshops North Cascades Basecamp ................ 36 Paula Christen Watercolors ............... 47 Consignment Clothing Red Hen Trading Co. ........................... 42 Twisp Treasures ................................. 39 Events/ Festivals Celestial Cinema ................................. 47 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso .................. 9 Merc Playhouse Theater .................... 28 Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival ............................... 24 Methow Valley Farmers Market ..........14 NC Mountain Hostel/Mountain Film n Tour ..................................... 32 NC Mountain Hostel/Off-Road Duathlon..........................................11 Omak Stampede ................................. 21 Pint and Pedal Fest ............................. 33 Winthrop Market .................................10 Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival...............................51 Winthrop Traverse .............................. 45 Excavating Doug Haase Excavating ....................... 8 Groceries/ Hardware The Carlton General Store .................. 43 Hank’s Harvest Foods ........................ 24 Mazama Store .................................... 32 Valley Hardware Do-it Center ..............14 Health/ Medical Confluence Health .............................. 29 Three Rivers Hospital ......................... 30 Ulrich’s Valley Pharmacy .................... 35 Internet Methownet.com ................................. 20 Local Goods & Produce Blue Star Coffee Roasters ...................14 Cascadian Home Farm ........................51 Hank’s Harvest Foods ........................ 24 Lariat Coffee Roasters ........................ 23 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso .................. 9 Mazama Store .................................... 32 Thomson’s Custom Meats ..................13

Massage Practitioners, Spa Services Jason Rumohr, LMP, CHP.................... 43 Nectar Skin Bar .................................. 34 Sun Mountain Lodge ...........................12 Museums Shafer Historical Museum .................. 36 Organizations Cascade Foothills Farmland Assoc. ....41 City of Pateros .....................................51 Merc Playhouse Theater .................... 28 Methow Conservancy .......................... 9 Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation ............................... 25, 42 Methow Valley Chamber Music Assoc.................................. 24 Methow Valley Interpretive Center ...... 9 MVSTA ................................................11 Omak Stampede ................................. 21 Shafer Historical Museum .................. 36 Twisp Chamber of Commerce .......14, 15 TwispWorks ......................................... 9 Winthrop Chamber of Commerce .......10 Photographers Ms. Kitty’s Place ................................ 45 Radio KTRT 97.5 FM ..................................... 42 Real Estate Blue Sky Real Estate........................... 28 Coldwell Banker Winthrop Realty......... 7

Retail Aspen Grove.........................................11 The Farm Shed.................................... 49 Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies......... 22 Hank’s Harvest Foods......................... 24 Jack’s Hut at Freestone Inn ................18 Lariat Coffee Roasters......................... 23 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso................... 9 Lost River Winery ............................... 30 Mazama Store..................................... 32 Methow Cycle & Sport.........................10 Nectar Skin Bar................................... 34 Outdoorsman....................................... 30 Peligro .................................................. 3 Poppie Jo Galleria................................ 46 Rawson’s............................................. 21 Red Hen Trading Co. ........................... 42 Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe......................... 39 Sun Mountain Lodge............................12 Trail’s End Bookstore........................... 37 Trick Pony.............................................13 Twisp Treasures ................................. 39 Ulrich’s Valley Pharmacy..................... 35 Valley Hardware Do-It Center..............14 Winthrop Mountain Sports ................ 35 Sporting Goods The Carlton General Store................... 43 Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies......... 22 Methow Cycle & Sport.........................10 Outdoorsman ...................................... 30 Rawson’s ............................................ 21 Sun Mountain Lodge ...........................12 Valley Hardware Do-It Center .............14 Winthrop Mountain Sports ................ 35 Table & Chair Rental Pipestone Canyon Ranch .................... 48 Theaters Merc Playhouse Theater..................... 28 Wineries Lost River Winery ............................... 30

Come visit our beautiful Home Farm bordering the North Cascades National Park in the Upper Skagit Valley! Enjoy our spacious picnic area, self-guided farm tour, organic berries & more!

harvest CALENDAR MAY flowers

JUNE strawberries JULY raspberries

Pateros

At the confluence of the Methow & Columbia Rivers June 20 -22 Spring City Wide Yard Sale July 19 -20 67th Annual Apple Pie Jamboree August 22-23 Pateros Hydroplane Races

August 27-29 Summer City Wide Yard Sale September 13 Chelan Ridge Hawk Festival October 31 Nightmare at the Museum December Christmas in the City

AUG blueberries SEPT sweet corn OCT pumpkins

• organic berries • homemade ice cream • espresso & wholesome snacks

City Of Pateros

OPEN DAILY MA MAY- OCTOBER

509.923.2571

HWY 20, 3 MILES EAST OF ROCKPORT, WASHINGTON (360) 853-8173

www.pateros.com Pateros Museum Open year-round Mon.- Fri. 8am to 4:30pm, same entrance as City Hall at 113 Lakeshore Drive, Pateros, WA