2016 Methow Valley Summer

2016

r e m m u S InformatioN for an enjoyable Methow Valley visit

CalendaR of summer events & attractions

Activitie S for every interest & all ages

FREE

A supplement of the Methow Valley News

WinthropWashington.com

Living on M ` ethow Time' - Slow Down & Enjoy It T

he Methow Valley is a timeless landscape, a worry-free retreat from the pressures and aggravations of places with a lot more people and a lot fewer attractions.

You don’t have to imagine what the Methow looked like in the pioneer days.

Winthrop will instantly put you in an Old West frame of mind, Twisp is friendly and inviting with old-fashioned hospitality, Mazama and Carlton bracket the valley

Summer Guide 2016

with vibrant rock climbing, small-town fishing, birdhenever you’re here, don’t mercantile watching, staroutposts, and gazing, driving feel like you need to hurry. the rural setting the primitive (cattle, pasroads, shopYou can come back for more and we back tures, primiping in Twisp tive roads) is and Winthrop, hope you do. genuine. or attending one The wondrous or more of our scenic attracmany artistic tions haven’t changed much, As for outdoor activities, and musical events. Check out even after the wildfires of the possibilities are a bit our summer-long calendar the past two summers. In overwhelming. Your agenda on page 46 to find out what’s fact, nature’s recovery in the may include biking (road and happening and how to be wake of fire and floods is a mountain), hiking (challengthere. fascinating process that can ing and less-so), backpacking, Dining and lodging opbe seen happening in many horseback riding, rafting, tions range from rustic to areas. swimming, golfing, kayaking, luxurious, and you can be

W

casual and comfortable in any of them. See something you like in our distinctive shops and galleries? Odds are it’s locally made and you can take it home with you to remember us by.

Don’t be a one-season visitor. The valley offers a different kind of breathtaking beauty in the winter and a challenging range of outdoor activities.

Whenever you’re here, don’t feel like you need to hurry.

You can come back for more and we hope you do.

Don Nelson

3

2016

Summer

On the cover: PHOTO BY STEPHEN MITCHELL

InformatioN for an enjoyable Methow Valley visit

CalendaR of summer events & attractions

Activitie S for every interest & all ages

FREE

3 6 9 10 4

A supplement of the Methow Valley News

Living on ‘Methow Time’ - Slow Down & Enjoy It Hot on the Trail Adventurous day hikes of all types abound in the Methow Valley

“Made in the Methow” Means Quality and Good Memories Be a Happy Camper Public and private campsites offer a wide range of options

12 14 17

A Pedaler’s Paradise Road & mountain bike enthusiasts will find challenging routes in the valley & beyond

Escape to the Wilderness With the right preparation, backpacking offers a way to meet nature at its most pristine

Summertime & the Fishin’ is Easy ...

Streams, rivers & lakes beckon anglers of all ages

20 22 24

It’s Star Time The Methow’s clear skies offer spectacular stargazing throughout the summer

Jump in the Water Find the right spot — pool, stream, lake or river — to cool off & relax

The Flip Side of Summer The Methow Valley winter offers a full range of outdoor activities in a fairy tale setting

Methow Valley News

Contributors

Don Nelson

Ashley Lodato

is publisher and editor of the Methow Valley News.

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

Marcy Stamper

Bob Spiwak

is a Methow Valley News reporter.

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

Ann McCreary

Joanna Bastian

Sarah Schrock

David Ward

is a Methow Valley News reporter.

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

A publication of the Methow Valley News P.O. Box 97, 502 S. Glover St., Twisp, WA 98856 509.997.7011 • fax 509.997.3277 www.methowvalleynews.com • editor@methowvalleynews.com

28

Take Me to the River (or the Lake)

32

As Western as it Gets

34

Looking to row, paddle, raft, skim or just float? This is the place

Riding a horse into the wilderness, or even on a day trek, is an authentic way to see the Methow backcountry

Drive Time Tee it up at a variety of scenic courses, in the valley and nearby

Don Nelson | publisher/editor Darla Hussey | design Summer Guide 2016

37 38 40

Still Going Up The Methow Valley offers more climbing opportunities for experts & novices alike

The Summer Camp Experience From arts to sports to outdoor activities, there is plenty for kids to do in the valley

Basic Info for Visitors

Rebecca Walker| office manager Tyson Kellie | advertising consultant

42 44 46

The Things to Do Cultural events help keep us entertained all summer long

Navigating the Rec-pass Landscape Calendar of Events

Sheila Ward | advertising consultant Dana Sphar | ad design/production 5

Hot on the trail Adventurous day hikes of all types abound in the Methow Valley

BY MARCY STAMPER

A

mong the many charms of hiking in and around the Methow Valley is that you can

not only visit new areas, but also do a bit of time-traveling.

“There’s always a place where it’s spring — even in August, you can go to 7,000 or 8,000 feet and get the dramatic bloom,” said botanist and avid hiker George Wooten. Wooten likes to follow wildflowers to higher elevations as the season progresses.

He also advises people to literally stop and smell the roses — and the trees. The abundant Woods’ rose is exceptionally fragrant, and Ponderosa pine is reminiscent of butterscotch or vanilla.

For dramatic wildflower displays, particularly of fuchsia fireweed and bright yellow glacier lilies, Eric Burr, a veteran Mazama hiker and all-around outdoorsman, recommends areas recovering from recent wildfires, such as the West Fork Methow trail or higher up toward Harts Pass.

The past two summers have been noteworthy for the major wildfires that blazed through the Methow Valley, but fire is a natural part of the ecology of shrub-steppe hills and the east slopes of the Cascades. It can be fascinating to see the effects of this process as areas recover.

Kelly Baraibar, the district botanist for the Methow Valley Ranger District, suggests a walk up Finley Canyon Road, starting from the point where the road is no longer drivable.

“I was just in awe of everything that had occurred in there,” she said. Yarrow, a delicate plant with small white blooms and medicinal properties, “is coming back like crazy, in huge patches” since the area burned two years ago, said Baraibar.

June is probably the best time to see yarrow, but other signs of recovery

6

Scenic Cutthroat Lake is a favorite destination and the trail is suitable for hikers of varying abilities. PHOTO BY DARLA HUSSEY will be evident throughout the summer, including stands of aspen that show healthy regrowth. Baraibar was also struck by how debris flows that occurred after heavy rains have altered the landscape.

In the first few years after a wildfire, people can see remarkable effects on vegetation, often with an explosion of new growth, said Pete Ohlson, a fire ecologist with the Methow Valley Ranger District. “Some plants that are usually just 4 inches tall can reach 2 feet,” he said, although not all plants respond as favorably. And of

course it’s not all green — many trees and shrubs died in the fires.

To see how a forest recovers 10 years or more after a fire, trails to Freezeout Ridge and Tiffany Lake today offer open views. Where charred trees are still visible after the Isabel and Tripod burns, a stunning carpet of wildflowers brighten the forest.

The area also offers spectacular views from the summit of Whistler Pass and the option of a one-way hike of about 8.5 miles, from Freezeout Ridge past Tiffany Lake, if you can work out a two-car shuttle. “It’s quite

stunning with the wildflowers — a lot are growing back,” said Ohlson. For a gentler outing, the walk to Tiffany Lake is just a 3-mile round-trip, with profuse wildflowers, generally in mid-summer.

Another shorter hike — with a shorter drive — that lets you see the effects of a recent burn is a trek to Aspen Lake in the hills west of Twisp. The 2-mile round-trip takes you through open meadows that offer views of the Methow Valley. A spur through charred forests leads to Aspen Lake, where the wetlands still

Methow Valley News

TRAILS TO EXPLORE

(ALL DISTANCES ONE-WAY UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED)

Aspen Lake, trailhead about 3 miles from Twisp. Take Twisp River Road west; make a right turn on Frost Road and drive about 1 mile to the end of the maintained road.

Continue walking up the road, going uphill through several gates (make sure to close them behind you). The spur to the lake is a gentle left in about 0.6 mile.

Beaver Pond, trailhead at Sun Mountain Chickadee parking area on Patterson Lake Road. 1.5 miles (mostly level); additional 0.5 mile from Sun Mountain Lodge parking area (more climbing).

Big Valley, trailhead at Dripping Spring parking area on Highway 20, about 7 miles west of Winthrop.

Flat 8-mile loop along Methow River and through meadows.

Blue Lake, trailhead about 30 miles from Winthrop on North Cascades Highway, 0.8 miles west of Washington Pass. 2.2 miles to lake, some climbing, forest and mountain views.

Cedar Creek Falls, trailhead 18 miles from Winthrop on North

Cascades Highway. 1.7 miles to falls, 7.5 miles further to Abernathy Pass.

Rivers and forest, mountain views.

Cutthroat Lake, trailhead 26 miles from Winthrop on North Cascades Highway. 2 miles to lake, 3.8 miles further to Cutthroat Pass. One-way 11-mile trip possible to Rainy Pass with two-car shuttle. Forest, lake and mountain views.

Falls Creek, trailhead 11 miles up the West Chewuch Road. 0.25 mile on a wheelchair-accessible path to the falls; dirt trail climbs from there for several more miles. Forest and falls.

Finley Canyon, take Highway 20 east from Highway 153 for 1.8 miles; go right on Lower Beaver Creek Road. Go left almost immediately on Finley Canyon Road and drive several miles past residential development, where the road becomes very rough. Continue exploring the road on foot.

Maple Pass, trailhead at Rainy Pass, 35 miles from Winthrop on North Cascades Highway. 7.5-mile loop; 3.1 miles to Lake Ann; 0.9 mile on wheelchair-accessible trail to

Rainy Lake.

North Cascades Basecamp, trailhead 2.2 miles west of Mazama junction on Lost River Road. Many trails available, mostly level. River, forest and birds.

Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge, trailhead at Suspension Bridge parking area on Goat Creek Road, 1 mile east of Mazama junction; about 0.5 mile to the bridge on Methow Trails' Community Trail.

River and forest.

Tiffany Lake/Freezeout Ridge, trailhead about 23 miles from Winthrop. Take East Chewuch Road. In 6.5 miles, turn right onto Forest Service Road 37. In 13 miles, turn left onto Forest Service Road 39. The trail to Freezeout Ridge is in 3 miles on the right. The Tiffany Lake trail is another 4 miles at the Tiffany Spring Campground.

West Fork Methow, trailhead at River Bend campground at the end of Lost River Road, 8 miles from Mazama junction. 8 miles to junction with Pacific Crest trail. River and forest, mountain views.

NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST CROSS-COUNTRY SKI AREA

SKI

FREE

Children 17 & Under EVERY DAY

support a thicket of trees and shrubs.

Chris Ensor, who leads trips for the Seattle Mountaineers, heads to the east slope of the Cascades to satisfy his longing for open vistas. “On the west side you’re often hiking through woodlands, which, while lush, can be enclosed and quite gloomy,” he said.

“The great thing about hiking in the North Cascades is that there are great views almost every step of the way.”

Burr also prizes the chance to see animals when he’s hiking. For

satisfying bird-watching without a long drive, Burr suggests routes along the water, such as Big Valley or the North Cascades Basecamp near Mazama, or the Beaver Pond trail at Sun Mountain — ideal for kids or anyone with limited time or fitness.

Native-plant fan Caryl Campbell combines wildflower appreciation with bird watching. “It was crowded up in the skies the other day,” she said. “There were tons of raptors — eagles, harriers, red tails, owls,

turkey vultures.”

Twisp hiker and backpacker Dwight Filer savors encounters with big mammals – or signs of them. “The notion that you have a chance to see a grizzly bear when you go to the North Cascades is thrilling,” said Filer, who appreciates the tracks and sounds of wildlife as much as the rare sighting. He has followed bear and moose tracks, often right on the trail, and one morning heard wolves calling from across a ridge. “Hearing them

DOG

FRIENDLY

Dogs are proudly allowed on selected trails

FAT

BIKE

Give it a Try!

CONFLUENCE GALLERY JEWELRY LOUNGE

The largest selection of locally handcrafted artisan-made jewelry in the Methow Valley is in our gift shop.

Grace Ashford

What’s your STYLE?

Tingol Jewelry

Summer Guide 2016

Marracci Designs

From gemstones to river rocks we have something for everyone 104 Glover St, Twisp, WA

509-997-2787

www.confluencegallery.com

MethowTrails.org winthrop, wa

7

howl was an absolute thrill,” he said.

At Cutthroat Lake and Blue Lake, being above timberline, you can see other bird species and, often, mountain goats, said Burr.

People who explore the trails with children look for “shorter hikes with big ‘wows,’” said Danica Ready, the program manager for Methow Trails, who hits the trails as often as she can. “Parents make the mistake of thinking kids will enjoy hiking the way we do, appreciating the quiet and the exercise,” she said. But kids like to play games, watch fish, or experience the thunder of waterfalls.

Ready suggests a short round-trip to the Tawlks-Foster suspension bridge near Mazama or the Falls Creek trail on the West Chewuch, where a quick path leads to impressive falls and the option of climbing above the cascades for further exploration. A more ambitious hike goes about 2 miles to the Cedar Creek falls from the North Cascades Highway, meandering through dense forest to a dramatic overlook where the falls descend through a series of pools.

Cutthroat Lake is another rewarding destination for both kids and adults, passing several streams over

about 2 miles before you reach a beautiful mountain lake ringed by snow-capped peaks. More vigorous hikers can continue another 3.5 miles to Cutthroat Pass and take in views of the high Cascade peaks.

Everyone has a favorite hike, but the Maple Pass loop from Rainy Pass is near the top of almost everyone’s list. “It’s probably the most enjoyable, spectacular loop hike I’ve ever been on,” said Ensor. Another hiker said the summer feels incomplete if she doesn’t do the 7.5-mile loop at least once. The hike affords views of Lake Ann and the Cascade range.

A level, paved path that is wheelchair-accessible heads 1 mile from the parking lot to Rainy Lake, which can be its own outing or a spur to the longer loop.

Many hikers have distinct preferences about how to approach the Maple Pass. Going clockwise takes you on the paved path to Rainy Lake and then climbs steeply to the pass.

The counter-clockwise route takes you past the spur to Lake Ann first, followed by a gentler climb to the pass — as long as your knees can take the steep downhill. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

The Maple Pass Loop is a perennial favorite. PHOTO BY DAKOTA DAVIS

blue sky real estate A refreshing approach to real estate services

www.MethowBlueSky.com (509) 996-8084 Anne Eckmann & Heather Marrone, Owners Sherry Malotte, Kathy Goldberg, Linda Van Valkenburgh

8

in the 2015

World’s Largest

Coffee Roasting Competition LariatCoffee.com | 509.996.3371 | 6 Horizon Flat Rd , Winthrop, WA

Methow Valley News

`Made in the Methow' Means Quality and Good Memories

Y

ou can extend the good vibes of your Methow Valley visit by taking home, or ordering online, something from the attractive array of locally made, manufactured, grown or created goods — 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.

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 2015 Made in the Methow publication produced by the Methow Valley News. It includes a map of places to find Methow-made products.

To see a digital version, go to www.methowvalleynews.com leynews.com, scroll to the bottom of the home page and click on the Made in the Methow cover.

The 2016 version of Made in the Methow will be available in late June at locations throughout the valley.

For more information, call TwispWorks at 997-3300.

ON TWISP BA M A

KE RY

CINN

More than 40 Methow Valley businesses are represented in the Methow Made program sponsored by TwispWorks. For a complete list, visit www. methowmade.com.

Many local retailers carry selections of Methow-made products. Look for the Methow Made display stands at the Mazama Store; at the Winthrop Store, Aspen Grove, the Wine Shed, Pardners Mini Market and Evergreen IGA in Winthrop; Sun Mountain Lodge gift shop; Glover Street Market, Hank’s Harvest Foods and YardFood in Twisp; and the Carlton General 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

Pastries & Breads

Iced Organic Espresso, Smoothies & Shakes

organic flours & grains

SUMMER AT THE LODGE!

Voted 2015 Best Northwest Escapes for Romantic Hotel. Enjoy AAA Four Diamond Award-winning fine dining featuring fresh, local, and regional ingredients, and a fabulous wine cellar, plus beautiful rooms, fabulous service, luxurious spa treatments and a multitude of summer activities.

800-572-0493 or 509-996-2211

Breakfast & Lunch Sandwiches & Bagels

Sit in or Take out!

Open Every Day 6am - 3pm

604 Patterson Lake Road, Winthrop WA 98862 | sunmountainlodge.com Summer Guide 2016

Downtown Twisp 116 N. Glover Street 509.997.5030 Free Internet Access Follow us on Facebook

9

Be a Happy Camper

Public and private campsites offer a wide range of options

W

hether you pitch a tent, tow a trailer or drive an RV, the Methow Valley is ready for you

with a variety of scenic and convenient camping spots.

Camping is popular at the two state parks in the Methow Valley: Pearrygin Lake State Park near Winthrop, and Alta Lake State Park near Pateros.

The Discover Pass is required for day use, but is not required for visitors who stay overnight and pay the cost of a campsite. For fishing, a license is required.

Camping reservations for either state park can be made online at https://washington.goingtocamp.com or by calling (888) 226-7688. Pearrygin Lake, one of Washington’s most popular state parks, fills up well in advance, so don’t delay.

Pearrygin Lake offers swimming, fishing, boating and hiking. The day use area has picnic tables, a boat launch, a bathhouse, a sandy beach, barbecue stands and a volleyball court. A 60-foot dock extends into the lake, which is open to freshwater fishing and water skiing.

The park has a full range of overnight accommodations, including standard tent sites, full RV hookup sites, furnished cabins with kitchenettes and a vacation house. There is a dump station, restrooms and showers. Campfire programs are

offered in the amphitheater.

Alta Lake State Park was at the heart of the Carlton Complex fires during the summer of 2014. Although the park sustained damage, park personnel have worked hard to restore the facilities.

Alta Lake is 2 miles long and a halfmile wide. The park offers good trout fishing during summer months, along with windsurfing and sailboarding.

Numerous picnic tables and a picnic shelters rest on the grassy lawn beneath large shade trees. A sandy beach and dock frame the swimming area of the cool lake waters.

The scenic 18-hole Alta Lake Golf Course is nearby, and the Columbia River is just 4 miles away with opportunities for waterskiing, jet skiing and more boating and fishing. Alta Lake State park has a dock, park store, tent spaces, RV utility spaces, trailer dump, restrooms and showers. Wi-fi is also available at the park.

Stop by the U.S. Forest Service office in Winthrop for maps and information about the Forest Service’s 24 campgrounds in the area. Some spots are more popular than others, so plan accordingly. For a list of campground locations and descriptions, visit the Methow Valley Ranger District page at www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/ recarea/?recid=59073.

The Methow Valley Ranger Station is located in Winthrop on West Chewuch Road, above the softball field. The phone number is 996-4000.

THE OUTDOORSMAN LOWEST PRICES AROUND!

• CAMPING • FISHING • LAKE & RIVER TOYS

FLY SHOP • CUSTOM • KNIVES RAFTERS • FOOTWEAR DOWNTOWN WINTHROP

996-2649

www.theoutdoorsmanstore.net

10

A Northwest Forest Pass is required for some trailheads.

PRIVATE CAMPGROUNDS The Methow Valley is also home to a number of privately operated RV parks and campgrounds.

Located on the shoreline of Pearrygin Lake, Silverline Resort is a full-service RV park and campground.

Weekend pancake breakfasts, ice cream socials and miniature golf round out all the lakeside activities.

Visit silverlineresort.com.

Winthrop KOA Campground is within walking distance of Winthrop and located along the banks of the Methow River. A heated pool, playground, laundry, camping cabins, game room and a store make camping enjoyable, and kids can pan for minerals and gems at the Silver Queen Mine. Showers and wi-fi make roughing it not so rough. Visit www. methownet.com/koa.

Big Twin Lake Campground between Twisp and Winthrop offers tent sites and RV hookups. The lake is open for trout fishing, and the campground provides rowboat and paddleboat rentals. Visit www.methownet.com/ bigtwin.

Pine Near RV Park in Winthrop — across from the Shafer Museum and mere footsteps from the downtown area — offers tent sites with electricity and water available in addition to RV and trailer sites. Pine Near also offers laundry, showers and

free wi-fi. Call (509) 341-4062 or visit www.pinenearpark.com.

Near Mazama, Methow Tents is a luxurious safari-style canvas retreat.

A fully enclosed canvas safari tent is furnished with two camping cots, picnic table and benches, water and electricity. Kelly’s restaurant is nearby with wi-fi, gourmet burgers and ice cream shakes. Methow Tents is near world-class rock climbing, river rafting, horseback riding and hiking trails. Visit methowtents.com.

River Bend RV Park is close to Twisp along the Methow River. A popular spot, River Bend RV park features full RV hookups, riverfront tent sites, a dump station, laundry and convenience store, propane, showers and wi-fi. Visit www.riverbendrv.com.

Lightning Pine RV Park is a beautiful grassy retreat along the Methow River. Full hookup RV sites have 30-amp electric, septic and water and room for tents. Riverfront tent campsites have picnic tables and fire pits.

The park offers bathrooms, showers and laundry. Bring the horses — Lightning Pine offers horse boarding.

This section of the Methow River is popular with rainbow, cutthroat and bull trout during summer months and excellent steelhead fishing in the fall. It is also a great spot for rafting.

Shuttle services are available. Visit www.lightningpine.com.

Whistlin’ Pine Ranch on the shore of Alta Lake offers accommodations for

Serving the Methow Valley with Advanced Life Support since 1968

CALL 911

Aero Methow RES C UE S E RV IC E

TWISP

997-4013 Methow Valley News

Winthrop Barn Auditorium

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

GATHER

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING GOOD.

Nothing beats a night under the stars. PHOTO BY JULIA HUSSEY different levels of “roughing it.” The tent sites have picnic tables and fire pits. The deluxe cabins have running water, electricity, showers and kitchenettes. Rustic cabins with no running water or electricity are another alternative for a peaceful retreat. For people who like to bring everything with them — including the kitchen

sink — there are 10 RV sites.

Whistlin’ Pine Ranch and Sawtooth Outfitters offer guided trail rides by horseback in the scenic Alta Coulee, and the Sawtooth and Pasayten Wilderness areas. For more information about Whistlin’ Pine Ranch and trail rides, call (509) 923-2548, or visit www.Altalake.com.

50 LOST RIVER ROAD • OPEN DAILY 7AM–6PM • 509.996.2855

THEMAZAMASTORE.COM

We’re All About The Beer™

Mobile Food Twisp, WA 98856

509-449-2089 509.996.3183 155 RIVERSIDE AVE.

www.oldschoolhousebrewery.com

Summer Guide 2016

TwispWorks Wed-Sat 11-8 #FORKTWISP

11

A Pedaler's Paradise Road & mountain bike enthusiasts will find challenging routes in the valley & beyond

BY ANN MCCREARY

T

ake a long, easy tour on your road bike along sparkling rivers with snowcapped mountains in the distance … or grind your way to the top of a peak on your mountain bike and enjoy spectacular views and an epic, technical descent.

The Methow Valley offers something for every cycling desire. Known for fabulous mountain biking on gnarly singletracks or smooth, flat trails, the valley also invites road

bikers to enjoy quiet roads and varied terrain.

Rides in and around the Methow Valley range from the highestelevation mountain bike trail in the state, to pedaling through bucolic farmlands along the valley bottom — all in the same day if you are ambitious enough.

If you have a cyclocross bike there are literally hundreds of miles of forest roads which can take you all the way to the Okanogan Valley without seeing pavement.

The Methow Valley supports cyclists with several sporting goods shops for rentals, gear and/or advice on rides (including Winthrop Mountain Sports and Methow Cycle & Sport in Winthrop,

D-Tours in Mazama, Sun Mountain Lodge, Jack’s Hut at Freestone Inn, Cascades Outdoor Store in Winthrop and Goats’ Beard Mountain Supplies in Mazama). To relax and replenish after or during a ride, the valley has plenty of options for food and drink.

With appreciation to Winthrop Mountain Sports for maps, here are some Methow Valley riding highlights.

ROAD RIDES CHEWUCH LOOP: EASY, 14 MILES

For a quick, convenient and easy loop ride on quiet roads, this trip around the East and West Chewuch roads is a favorite. At the end of the ride, you’ll find yourself back in Winthrop where there are lots of choices for food and drink.

Head out either road and cross the Chewuch River at Johnston Corners (about 7 miles out) for the return trip.

For riders who want to make a longer outing, simply continue riding from the West Chewuch along the river to Andrews Creek, about 24 miles from Winthrop and a steady climb. To add some exertion, head up Falls Creek, which offers about 8 miles of continual climbing. Another alternative is to head up the east side of the river on Boulder Creek, which also provides some good climbing.

WASHINGTON PASS: STRENUOUS, 60 MILES ROUND TRIP FROM WINTHROP

This map, from the Winthrop Mountain Sports website (reprinted with permission), shows many of the Methow Valley’s best road bike routes. Visit www.winthropmountainsports. com/roadbike.html to access descriptions of the referenced routes.

12

The trip to Washington Pass is a demanding climb that is worth the effort for its outstanding views and long descent on the return. From Winthrop, follow Highway 20 past Mazama (or stop into the Mazama Store for some food along the way).

The climbing starts at about mile 15 and is fairly relentless the whole way to the top. Shoulders are good and restrooms are located at the dramatic Washington Pass Overlook at the top.

Take plenty of water, food and layers of clothing. While it can be really warm in the valley, the summit of the pass can be pretty frigid — especially if the wind is blowing! To shorten the ride to about 30 miles, start at Mazama or the Freestone Inn. TOUR DE OKANOGAN: STRENUOUS, 105 MILES

This ride offers lots of variety of terrain and scenery, from valley floors to mountain passes. It’s a long day in the saddle with long stretches without food or drink options, so riders need to be prepared.

The route is traditionally ridden clockwise. From Winthrop take the Twisp-Winthrop East County Road to Twisp, then head south on Highway 153 and turn left on Highway 20. Ride east up and over Loup Loup Pass, a fairly arduous climb with a rewarding descent down to Malott. Go right on B&O Road through Malott toward Old Highway 97, then on to Highway 97 and Pateros. (The Sweet River Bakery, along with other options, offers an opportunity to replenish here.)

Cross the Methow River and head up the valley on Highway 153. You can stay on Highway 153 all the way back to Twisp or take some scenic side loops on quieter roads by taking a left at Gold Creek Loop and following it until it rejoins Highway 153. At Carlton, take the Twisp-Carlton Road on the left just before you enter Carlton and ride it into Twisp, then back on the East County Road to Winthrop.

MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES The Methow Valley has an array of fantastic mountain bike rides, which are detailed in maps and trail guides that are available at a number of locations including the Methow Trails office, Winthrop Mountain Sports and Methow Cycle & Sport, all in Winthrop, and D-Tours in Mazama. Because Methow Valley News

Buck Mountain: ModeRate, 10–16 Miles

AN EVENT-FULL SEASON FOR CYCLISTS Cyclists have a choice of great events from spring through fall to join or observe. Coming up this season:

• May 14 – 15: Trek Dirt Series mountain bike camp, a weekendlong instructional mountain bike skills camp for both men and women hosted by Methow Cycle & Sport. For more information, visit www.dirtseries.com.

• June 18: Sun Mountain Big Ring Bash mountain bike race, a cross-country mountain bike race for all skill levels on the Sun events such as fire, timber harvest, avalanches and storms can impact trails, it’s wise to check in with the knowledgeable staff at these outlets to get the latest information before heading out on the trails.

SUN MOUNTAIN: ALL ABILITIES, 40 MILES TOTAL

This network of trails can be linked together to create rides of any length

TWISPWORKS.ORG

Mountain Trails. For more information, visit rideviciouscycle.com/ events/sun-mountain.

• June 24 – 26: Third annual Methow Singletrack Solstice, a weekend-long mountain bike festival featuring rides, skills clinics, raffle drawings, a photo contest and other fun. For more information, visit www.methowevergreenmtb.org/p/2016-methowsingletrack-sols.html.

• sept. 24: Winthrop Gran Fondo, a one-day, 90-mile gravel and paved road ride from Winthrop to Conconully and back. For more and difficulty, from easy family rides on wide trails around beaver ponds to technical singletrack trails. Terrain varies from heavily wooded sections to wide-open hillsides that provide fabulous views. Riders can ride up to the Sun Mountain system from Winthrop via the Winthrop Trail, or drive 8 miles towards Sun Mountain Lodge to the Chickadee Trailhead.

information, visit rideviciouscycle. com/events/gran-fondo-winthrop.

• sept. 24: Methow Valley Off-road Duathlon, a mountain bike and trail run duathlon on the Sun Mountain trails. For more information, visit methowduathlon. blogspot.com.

• Trail work parties are held every second Sunday of each month, hosted by the Methow Chapter of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance at various locations. For more information, visit www.methowevergreenmtb. org.

WEST FORK OF THE METHOW: MODERATE, 16 MILES ROUND TRIP

This is an out-and-back trail with moderate elevation change that follows the Methow River through an old burn with avalanche slide chutes, brush and meadows to where the trail meets the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail begins at the West Fork of the Methow trailhead in Mazama.

Often cited as one of the valley’s must-do rides, the highlight is a 9-mile stretch of long, flowing singletrack along the ridgeline of Buck Mountain. A combination of singletrack and doubletrack, the Buck Mountain ride showcases wildflowers, spectacular views, and wooded and sagebrush terrain. There are two trailhead options to begin the ride, either at the end of the pavement at Cub Creek Road or from the Buck Lake parking area. angel’s staiRcase: adVanced, 30 Miles

Tough, tough, tough. The highestelevation mountain bike ride in the state, this loop reaches more than 8,000 feet at its high point, which means weather can be an important factor.

Set in mountainous, rugged terrain of the Sawtooth Mountains, Angel’s Staircase is a full day of 100-percent singletrack for serious mountain bikers. It takes riders far from civilization, so come prepared.

Get to the trailhead from Gold Creek Road, about 4 miles south of Carlton, and then to U.S. Forest Service Road #4340. Follow signs to Crater Creek Trailhead.

WHERE PEOPLE, PLACE AND IDEAS COME TOGETHER. EXPLORE • CREATE • SHOP • GATHER

SPONSOR OF

502 S. GLOVER STREET – TWISP, WA 98856 509-997-3300

Summer Guide 2016

This map, from the Winthrop Mountain Sports website (reprinted with permission), shows many of the Methow Valley’s best mountain bike routes. Visit www.winthropmountainsports. com/mountainbikeroutes.html for descriptions of the referenced routes.

13

Escape to the Wilderness With the right preparation, backpacking offers a way to meet nature at its most pristine

BY JOANNA BASTIAN

B

ackpacking clears the mind and puts life into perspective from a simpler view. There’s no certification or level of expertise. With a backpack of essentials and proper footwear, backpackers simply put one foot in front of the other and

E

verywhere is walking distance if you have the time.

— S W

enjoy sleeping under the stars and waking with the dawn.

The allure of backpacking is the simplistic nature of just being.

The entire Methow Valley is within close proximity of nature’s solitude.

Trails for every level of hiker include spectacular views of North Cascade ridges, mountain wildflowers, scenic lakes and pristine wilderness.

KEEP IT SIMPLE “He who would travel happily must travel light.”

– Antoine de Saint Exupery The key to backpacking is to keep it simple. 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.

ENJOY THE SCENERY “A traveler without observation is a 14

bird without wings.”

— Moslih Eddin Saadi 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 North Cascades are home to a diverse collection of animal life along the rocky canyons, wild rivers, forests, meadows and ponds.

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 ongoing work of the Methow Conservancy.

Mountain goats can be spotted at 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. Be sure to look up; you may find a napping bear in a tree.

BACKCOUNTRY DINING “Eating well on the trail is the key to hiking with vigor” –Backpacker Magazine There are many options for fueling up on the trail. Backpackers have a wide range of prepackaged and precooked meals to choose from that only require boiling water to prepare.

If you want to reduce your pack weight and eliminate fire danger, there is always the option of packing food that does not require cooking.

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 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 Ziploc bag. When

The Pacific Crest Trail between Highway 20 and the Canadian border is a popular backpacking destination. PHOTO BY JULIA HUSSEY ready to eat on the trail, add tuna and olive oil to bag, squeeze gently to mix.

A no-cook dinner could be a salad with precooked cold chicken and a loaf of hearty bread from a local bakery.

Warm meals and beverages are a welcome sight on cold mornings and chilly evenings in the backcountry. If you use a camping stove, always test the stove at home to get used to cooking with it. Place the stove in an area free of vegetation, preferably on a flat rock. Make a windscreen by folding a piece of heavy-duty foil around the base of the camp stove. Windscreens prevent the flame from blowing out or blowing sparks.

Oatmeal, coffee and scrambled eggs with cheese are the standard backpacker breakfast in our family.

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 Ziploc bag. In another small bag,

mix two tablespoons tomato paste and two teaspoons 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.

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

– John Muir Backpacking may provide peace of mind and a restful walk, but there are a few precautions that everyone should make.

• Know your limits.

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

• Dress in layers and prepare for rain.

• Wear proper shoes.

Methow Valley News

• 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.

• Knife. 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 translucent bottle of 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.

“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!

Wine, Spirits & Beer

Affordable Quality Wines

A large array of quality

WINES, BEERS, & SPIRITS at affordable prices.

Special orders, quantity discounts, kegs, wine tastings.

Open Every Day 11am - 6pm

Downtown Winthrop 130 Riverside Ave. Curtis Edwards

• Always bring water and a small first aid kit.

• Wear sunscreen and a hat to prevent heat stroke.

Always pack the “Ten Essentials.”

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: • Map. Detailed topo maps can be purchased at Trail’s End Bookstore and at the U.S. Forest Service ranger station in Winthrop.

• Compass. GPS units are not 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.

• Extra food. 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.

Enjoy an incomparable dining experience in our lakeside dining room, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a happy hour menu.

featuring the Moonshine Bar

(800) 639-3809 31 Early Winters Dr, Mazama (15 miles west of Winthrop) FreestoneInn.com

meeting your outdoor recreation needs since 1984 sportswear • outdoor gear • trail info • footwear open 7 days a week in downtown Winthrop 509.996.2886 www.winthropmountainsports.com meeting your outdoor recreation needs

since 1984

Summer Guide 2016

15

sportswear outdoor gear trail info footwear •

•

•

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, to meet the Columbia River.

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.

On the river. PHOTO BY MARCY STAMPER 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 Chewuch, 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

Golden trout. PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH

METHOW STEELHEAD REGULATIONS: Opening and closure determined by WDFW

SCHROCK

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.

16

Methow Valley News

Summertime & the Fishin' is Easy ...

Streams, rivers & lakes beckon anglers of all ages

BY SARAH SCHROCK

H

ere in the Methow Valley, summer fishing opportunities are abundant and varied. From floating the lower reaches of the river by drift boat and casting a fly or throwing a line in from a lake shore, to hiking into a remote, high-mountain lake where the trout are so hungry they almost jump on your hook, once you land your first “big one” it’s easy to get hooked.

Olive Frady, age 7, landed a huge rainbow trout at the 2015 Kids' Fishing Day. PHOTO

COURTESY OF CHARLES FRADY, WDFW

Methow River cutthroat. PHOTO COURTESY OF LEAF SEABURG, METHOW RIVER FISHING ADVENTURES

Finley Seaburg at Tiffany Lake, an easily accessible, kid-friendly hike in the high country. PHOTO COURTESY OF

LEAF SEABURG, METHOW RIVER FISHING ADVENTURES

Summer Guide 2016

Before you head out, it’s important to check local regulations and restrictions and make sure your fishing license is current. Licenses expire every year on March 31 and new ones can be purchased online (https://fishhunt. dfw.wa.gov) or at registered vendors (listed on page 19).

Children under 14 fish for free in Washington, but the state encourages young fisher-boys and girls to get a free license to instill the habit of legal fishing. Upon purchase of your license, you receive a Vehicle Access Pass to display as required at fishing access sites managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Even though fishing holes and access are abundant in the Methow, summertime isn’t always easy on the fish. The 2015 summer season brought recordbreaking heat and warm nights which led to the implementation of “hoot owl” restrictions on the Methow River, closing the river to recreational fishing after 2 p.m. to protect game stocks and native endangered runs. Warm water

stresses out cool-water fish.

Fish can usually tolerate catch ’n’ release under normal conditions, but when the water warms beyond 65 degrees Fahrenheit, the additional energy and oxygen expenditures endured under hook and line, combined with handling, can lead to mortality.

JOYS OF FLY FISHING Still, summertime on the river can be promising during the early morning when native cutthroat are the goal. Part sport, part art, the practice of fly fishing requires dedication and patience on the river.

Tuning into the rhythm of the water, the behavior of the fish, discerning the hatch of the day all while making sure not to slip on rocks, hook a bush, or flounder in the current — all coalesce to create the ultimate challenge or disaster.

Local guides like Rodney Griffith (“Griff”) help beginners eliminate some of the challenging elements by teaching the nuances of form, tying flies and gear management. When water levels drop, the boatmanship and local knowledge offered by guides (listed on page 19) assists novice and experienced anglers in landing success.

Sisters on the Fly, a national traveling group of fisherwomen who restore and travel in vintage trailers, will gather at the Pine Near RV Park in Winthrop as part of the Winthrop, Wine, and Western Women festival this year, June 3–5. The annual event includes fly tying and casting lessons

by Griffith along with adventures on and off the river for women. Ladies only! Call Anna Kominak at (509) 341-4062 for more information.

17

FIRE IMPACTS In addition to warm waters, the recent summertime wildfires have taken their toll — making for water quality impairments and a downturn in fishing-related tourism. According to Leaf Seaburg, owner and guide of Methow River Fishing Adventures, the adult cutthroat catches in the lower reaches of the Methow have taken a hit from sediment inputs from washouts. He’s hopeful that the bust cycle is over and the boom will be back this year.

Griffith is equally as optimistic that mountain snowpack will keep the

waters cool and clean and the fishery more stable this year.

Similarly, water quality at Pearrygin Lake was impaired by nutrient overloads following the 2014 Carlton Complex Fire. Nutrient inputs led to an overgrowth of algae, resulting in oxygen depletion in November 2014 that caused a significant die-off of fish, resulting in a dismal 2015 season.

Ryan Fortier, Methow-area fish biologist for WDFW, said Pearrygin was restocked in the spring of 2015 with fingerlings and again this year

with some catchables, so the lake will be open and ready for the 2016 season.

FISHING DERBY The lowland lake season opened on April 23. New this year is a statewide fishing derby sponsored by WDFW, which has teamed up with a number of private sponsors to entice anglers into landing a tagged “prize” fish. Once landed, tags can be redeemed through WDFW vendors for prizes such as a gear or guided trips. Fifteen tagged “prize” fish have been planted in Spectacle and Alta lakes, according to Fortier.

WDFW stocks lowland lakes

with catchable trout, jumbo trout, as well as sockeye, trout fry and other fingerlings. Here in Okanogan County, jumbos measuring more than 14 inches have been planted in Spectacle Lake, Alta Lake, Conconully Lake and Green Lake. For salmon lovers, the 2014-15 Kokanee stocks should be big enough in Patterson Lake to hook some smiles this season.

Once it gets too hot to swelter in the sun on lowland waters, it’s time to move up in elevation. High-mountain lakes like Tiffany and Copperglance offer an incredible journey, scenery

At LONE PINE FRUIT & ESPRESSO www.lonepinefruit.com/events

We are 5 miles North of Desert Canyon 23041 Hwy 97, Orondo, WA - Mile Marker 230/231 OPEN:

7 am-7 pm 7 days a week!

Farm Owned & Grown

Seasonal Apples, Peaches, Cherries & Asparagus, Jams, Honey & Spices, NW Wines, MicroBrews, Local Gifts, Espresso, Ice Cream, Deli Menu, Baked Goods & Homemade Pie!

WHEREVER THE TRAILS MAY LEAD YOU...

WE HAVE THE SUPPLIES FOR ALL YOUR ADVENTURES!

GOAT’S BEARD MOUNTAIN SUPPLIES Mazama ~ (509) 996-2515

www.goatsbeardmountainsupplies.com

YOU DESERVE AN ALPINE ADVENTURE. See what we have to offer.

Visit www.ncmountainguides.com or call 509-996-3194 In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, North Cascades Mountain Guides is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Cascades Mountain Guides is operated under a special use permit with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

18

Methow Valley News

THE DETAILS FISHING LICENSE VENDORS

• Pardners Mini Market, Winthrop • The Outdoorsman, Winthrop • Valley Do it Center, Twisp • Ace Hardware, Winthrop LOCAL FLY FISHING GUIDES

• North Cascades Fly Fishing: Kevin VanBueren, 996-3731, www.fishandfloat.com • Methow River Fishing Adventures: Leaf Seaburg and Sarah Lane, www.flyfisherproshop.com, methowfishingadventures@gmail. com • Griff’s Fly Fishing Adventures: Rodney and Clint Griffith, (509) 929-3813, (509) 341-4994, www.griffsflyfishing.com

Seaburg and the backcountry horsemen, carry 5-gallon tanks full of cutthroat, triploids, and few rare golden trout in to high country where the waters stay cool. For novice fly fishermen and kids, the alpine lakes provide an oftensheltered spot to learn to cast on still water where you can see the fish rise to your fly. Often the fish in these systems are so hungry they fight for the fly right before your eyes.

HOOKING THE KIDS Getting kids hooked on fishing is easy, especially if you attend the annual Kids Fishing Day (Saturday, June 11). Hosted by the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery, this annual event is co-sponsored by a myriad of government, tribal, nonprofit and community groups.

Volunteer anglers help kids learn to set worms on hooks, cast and reel in hatchery-raised rainbow trout.

Kids learn how to clean and fillet fish as well participate in boating safety games, arts and crafts, beaver viewing, and watershed education. Unlike catch ’n’ release on the river, families can feast that evening on their catch.

Aside from trout and salmon, there’s a lot of good eating to be

THOMSON’S

The Merc Playhouse presents

Venus in Fur

by David Ives directed by Ki Gottberg

had catching smaller warm-water fish. If you head to Patterson Lake or Leader Lake you might reel in bass, perch, bluegills and crappie.

According to Fortier, crappie and bluegill make for the best summertime fish fry.

But if you do want to eat your trout, Seaburg recommends taking brook trout from area creeks like Boulder Creek. Brook trout are an introduced species, so to make room for native fish, you can take as many as you want! Battered and fried in butter, with a squeeze of lime or lemon and a dash of hot sauce, and you’ve got the makings for a great trout taco.

Whether you head out alone or make it a family affair, fishing connects people to their landscape by growing an appreciation for the water bodies and their habitants. The art of the hunt comes alive and you begin to see the nuances in the river or lake habitats, fish behaviors and food sources they rely on. Each time you cast your line, the challenge starts anew. It’s easy to get hooked — for the fisherman that is — because once you land your first “big one,” you never look back.

June 24 - July 2, 2016 Wednesday-Saturday 7:30 PM Sunday 2:00 PM

CUSTOM MEATS 15 plus varieties of gourmet, handcrafted pork & chicken sausage Grain & grass finished beef All natural pork & lamb

STAY COOL

and easy catching. Since the 1950s, high-mountain lakes have been stocked through the assistance of the Trailblazers, a volunteer group from the west side of the Cascades.

Trailblazers, along with locals like

Hams, bacon, jerky Smoked meats & seafood USDA Certified All Natural No Antibiotics WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29TH IS PAY WHAT YOU CAN NIGHT TickeTs $16-$18, available online • see websiTe for package deals adulT conTenT & maTure Themes www.mercplayhouse.org • 509.997.7529 101 S. Glover Street Twisp

Summer Guide 2016

HANDCRAFTED COFFEE FOR COFFEE LOVERS

Always Good!

992 TWISPCARLTON ROAD OPEN TUES-SAT, 10 AM - 6 PM

997-9353

BLUESTARCOFFEEROASTERS.COM 19

It’s Star Time The Methow’s clear skies offer spectacular stargazing throughout the summer

BY DAVID WARD

W

hat better time could there be to relax under the stars than a balmy summer evening?

Most nights are not too chilly, so you do not have to put on all those winter clothes. There are mosquitoes to contend with and a twilight glow that lingers into the very late hours, but it is still worth it all. If you are out camping this summer, far from city lights, take advantage of a great opportunity for stargazing. Be sure to drag yourself away from your campfire to get a full view of the dark sky overhead.

The winter sky is dominated

by Orion, the hunter, and all the constellations associated with him.

In the summer, an assortment of mythological characters are on display. There is a scorpion, a centaur, the guy who invented the plow, and some very angry birds.

A great way to get oriented to the summer night sky is to find a large triangle of three bright stars known as the Summer Triangle. Look for it in the east in May or June and more westward later in the season.

The three stars Deneb, Vega and Altair are actually in three separate constellations. Many constellations in the sky are associated with more than one ancient story and these three are sometimes linked to the myth of the dreadful, man-eating, Stymphalian Birds. These guys were the pets of Mars, the god of war, and were equipped with bronze beaks and sharp metallic feathers. They could shoot darts at you and, if the darts did not kill you, they could even launch globs of poisonous dung in your direction. The great hero Hercules dispatched them, ridding Greece of some very nasty critters.

Look low in the south for Scorpius, the scorpion, one of the few constellations that actually looks like something. Scorpius was the creature that killed Orion, the hunter who boasted he could kill any animal that walked the earth. It was supposed to be an embarrassment for him to be done in by a tiny scorpion, but Scorpius is huge, much bigger than Orion himself. If you can see far enough into the south, you will notice he has claws, a long curving body and even a stinger.

BRIGHT PLANETS Later in the summer, Sagittarius,

Sagittarius in the Milky Way. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALPSDAKE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS the Centaur, comes into view to the left of the scorpion. His name was Chiron and he had the upper body of a man and the lower body of a horse.

Higher in the sky, west of the Summer Triangle, the bright orangecolored star Arcturus marks the constellation Bootes. Find Arcturus by extending the curve of the handle of the Big Dipper across the sky.

Bootes invented the plow way back when, which was a big deal in those days. Nowadays we would probably think that the guy who invented the smart phone should get his own constellation.

This summer will be a great time to view some of the brightest planets.

Jupiter will be high in the sky as soon as it gets dark. Look for him almost all

Isabella Ridge Spectacular View Lots Town of Twisp Water/Sewer/Utilities Build your dream home today!

20

Methow Valley Associates, LLC Vaughn Jolley 360-770-7306 jolley@methow.com Methow Valley News

summer long — the brightest thing up there. Towards the end of August, he will be drifting into the sunset glare in the western twilight.

Mars will be a dazzling sight this summer, brighter than it has been in over 10 years. Look for him hanging out with the scorpion, low in the south. The bright reddish star Antares, depicting the heart of the Scorpion, will be to the lower left of the red planet. Interestingly the name Antares means “rival of Mars” because of the star’s red hue.

Looking up into the sky it appears two-dimensional to us and we do

not get a sense of the scale of things up there. The planet Mars is only about half the size of the earth, but Antares is one of the largest stars we can see. Let’s say Antares was a giant red beach ball, as tall as a 10-story building. At that scale, Mars would not be visible without a microscope, not much bigger than a microbe.

Saturn is also spending the summer with the scorpion. Look for the ringed planet above and to the left of Antares. Even a small telescope will reveal its beautiful rings and its largest moon, Titan.

METEOR SHOW August is shooting star month with the Old Faithful of meteor showers happening all during the first part of the month. The late night of Aug. 11 and early in the following morning are predicted to be the peak of the show.

A moon will be out that night early in the evening, so the best time to watch will be after midnight. No need to worry about a telescope or even binoculars, just lay back in your favorite lounge chair and enjoy the show.

Our home in the vast cosmos, the magnificent Milky Way Galaxy, will be on display for summer stargazers.

Look for it on a moonless night stretching from north to south all the way across the sky. The center of this giant pinwheel of stars is located in the constellation Sagittarius low in the south. Every star in the sky revolves around that center, including our sun.

If you get lost up there in all that vastness and cannot find Jupiter or Mars, do not worry about it.

Just come up to Sun Mountain this summer and I will show you the universe. Call the lodge for the dates I will be there and enjoy your time under the stars this summer.

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

An Eclectic Shopping Adventure... next to the Farmer’s Market!

Saturday August 27, 2016

Open Monday - Saturday 509.997.0416 117 West 2nd Ave • Twisp

Under the starry night sky @ Winthrop Town Park Info & Tix: www.northcascadesmountainhostel.com 509.699.0568

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

William Errico, DO

Elizabeth Avena, MD

Family Medicine

Family Medicine

Call one of our clinics today to schedule an appointment.

Phylicia Hancock Lewis, ARNP Family Medicine

Brewster Clinic

Omak Clinic

Oroville Clinic

Tonasket Clinic

418 W. Main St. Brewster, WA 98812

916 Koala Dr. Omak, WA 98841

1617 Main St. Oroville, WA 98844

17 S. Western Ave. Tonasket, WA 98855

509.689.8900

509.826.1800

509.476.3631

509.486.2174

New Location Methow Valley Clinic 1116 Hwy 20 Winthrop, WA 98862

509.996.8180

confluencehealth.org

Summer Guide 2016

21

Jump in the Water Find the right spot — pool, stream, lake or river — to cool off & relax

BY JOANNA BASTIAN

L

aughing with friends, cannonballs off the dock, and sunshine glistening off the ripples in the

water. The sweet smell of trees and grass along the shoreline. A lazy summer day spent swimming is where memories happen.

The Methow Valley is home to rivers and lakes with iconic swimming holes. Some spots include overnight camping, others are day use only, and the most scenic swimming holes are a reward at the end of a hiking trail. A Discover Pass is often required for use at some of the parking areas.

Alta Lake State Park is a hidden gem near the mouth of the Methow Valley. This alpine lake is 2 miles long, half-a-mile wide and has a large sandy beach with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The lake is open to trout fishing, water skiing and wind surfing. A roped-off area is

22

Pearrygin Lake is one of the favorite local swimming holes. PHOTO BY LAURELLE WALSH safe for swimmers of all abilities. A pleasantly cool and grassy picnic area has covered tables, restrooms and showers. The snack shack serves up polish hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pizza, ice cream and cold beverages. Hiking trails traverse the surrounding mountains, and there is horseback riding and boat rentals.

Along the Methow River there are three main swimming holes: McFarland Creek, Gold Creek, and the everpopular Carlton Hole. Shallow shorelines are perfect for kids to explore and poke around in pools. Be aware of river currents in the deeper sections of the river and nearby rapids.

The McFarland parking area has a boat ramp leading down to a wide sandy beach. A gentle eddy encircles an ample swimming hole. Hop on an

inner tube and follow the flow round and round the edge of the pool, dipping over one small but exciting rapid.

The shallow shoreline is good for wading. The parking lot has grill gates, a restroom, and interpretive signs.

Nearby, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has a rotary-style fish trap used to estimate the number of Chinook and summer steelhead in the Methow River Basin.

Interpretive signs placed by Okanogan National Forest and Methow Valley Water Planning Pilot Project tell the geologic story of “The River’s Work,” explaining how glaciers carved out this valley and how to read the history in the lines of the rocks and the bends of the river. A Discover Pass is required for use of the McFarland Creek Recreational Area.

At the south end of Gold Creek Loop Road is a small parking area with a steep footpath down to a rocky beach and a sandy swimming hole. Enormous cottonwoods shade the pebbled beach. Large boulders perched above a deep pool are perfect for cannonballs. Small kids will enjoy small side streams and shallow areas perfect for floating toy boats and building rocky dams.

LOCAL FAVORITES The Carlton swimming hole at the Carlton Bridge is a local favorite for families. Small children enjoy the eddy by the sandy beach where they can wade and build sand castles and collect pebbles. Across the river from the beach is a current that attracts stronger swimmers who enjoy floating Methow Valley News

down river and then swimming back along the calm shoreline. The parking lot is equipped with an outhouse.

The Carlton General Store is a short walk away for snacks, beverages and sunscreen. A Discover Pass is required for parking at the Carlton Hole.

Blackpine Lake is accessible via Libby Creek, just south of Carlton, or via Buttermilk Creek off of Twisp River Road.

This high alpine lake with majestic mountain views has a day-use area with restrooms, campgrounds, boat launch, floating docks, and an easy walking trail along the shoreline.

Pearrygin Lake State Park is just off the East Chewuch Road along Bear Creek Road north of Winthrop.

Swimming areas are roped off at the east and west campgrounds. Grassy beaches have camping and shady picnic facilities. The lake is open to fishing, boating, and hosts the scenic Rex Derr trail, perfect for wildlife viewing around the lakeshore and surrounding shrub-steppe hills.

West of Winthrop, Patterson Lake — below Sun Mountain Lodge — is surrounded by mountain beauty. The lake has a boat launch and several beaches on all sides, so everyone can park, hike, bike or boat

to a secluded spot. A rope swing for the more adventurous is the perfect pendulum for a making a splash. A handful of scenic trails are open to both hikers and mountain bikers.

After a short hike through forests and high mountain meadows, Blue Lake sits quietly below towering granite peaks. Just 2 miles from the trailhead off of Highway 20 north of Mazama, this classic mountain lake is a gem that is not to be missed.

Not all the best swimming is in lakes and streams. For a great familyfriendly experience, swimmers of all ages can also visit the Wagner Memorial Pool in the Twisp City Park. The pool offers a lifeguard on duty, swim lessons, shaded seating, a tots’ pool, diving board, slide, bathhouse facilities and snacks. For more information and swim times, call 997-5441, or visit www.townoftwisp.com/index.php/ recreation/wagner-memorial-pool/.

Jumping into a mountain lake or floating along a pristine river is summer’s greatest pastime. And in the Methow Valley, there are plenty of scenic swimming holes to spend an entire summer exploring. Splash on!

Year-round recreation center

as of May 2011

509-996-2000 mtgardnerinn.com

NATURA L GROWN LY FRU & PROD IT UCE

STOP BY OUR FRUIT STAND IN OKANOGAN Cherries, Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, Pears and Apples ~ Open 7 days a week from 7:30am-6:00pm ~

Serving breakfast & lunch daily on the deck

Fruit & produce available at the Methow Valley Farmer’s Market every Saturday & at our Winthrop fruit stand

On-site catering available: receptions, reunions, parties.

ESPRESSO & Free Wi-Fi

ee our Come sICK (509) 422-2444 • 23090 HWY. 20, OKANOGAN U-P PATCH ON THE RIGHT 1.8 MI. BEFORE DOWNTOWN OKANOGAN IN K P PUM ! this fall www.smallwoodfarms.net

A Place to

Trail maps, bike rentals, and information on outdoor activities.

Free Wi-Fi • Trail Passes & Parking Food & Snacks • Apparel Cocktails, Beer & Wine Local Art 509.996.3906 • www.freestoneinn.com Summer Guide 2016

Highly Recommended

WINTHRO P M ARK E T EVERY SUNDAY 10AM-2PM Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend

Local produce, art, crafts and more.

In the shady Winthrop Town Park Sponsored by the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce

23

The Flip Side of Summer The Methow Valley winter offers a full range of outdoor activities in a fairy tale setting SUBMITTED BY METHOW TRAILS

T

here is a healthy fitness tip often shared in the Methow: “summer makes the skier.”

For many locals, all the hiking, biking, trail running and paddling we do in the summer is to prepare us for fun in the Methow winter.

This past winter was one of the best winters in Methow Valley history. Abundant snowfall fell early and often starting in mid-November and continuing all the way through March. Winthrop finished the year with well over 7-1/2 feet of snow, with higher elevations receiving much, much more.

North America’s largest cross country ski area is located here, with more than 120 miles of perfectly groomed snow. Current and former Nordic Olympians make the Methow their home and it is very common for locals, even the business professionals, to log over 100 days of skiing each season.

The Methow Valley prides itself in providing world-class, snow-based winter recreation for Washington state. Here are the “other” six months of experiences that should not be

missed by anyone:

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING, FAT BIKING & SNOWSHOEING Methow Trails is home to North America’s largest cross country ski area. This past winter they hosted skiers of all abilities on 120 miles of perfectly groomed snow for a recordbreaking 139-day winter season.

These incredibly scenic trails wind through forests, valleys and mountaintops between the towns of Winthrop and Mazama. Skiers can glide from town-to-town and bakery-tobakery. Kids 17 and under can ski free everyday on the trail system.

Many of the trails are also open to fat bikes, the newest winter experience in which ultra-wide-tire bikes glide on top of the snow. Snowshoe trails also exist in many areas, and Methow Trails offers free guided snowshoe tours each Saturday during the winter. More information on the ski, fat bike and snowshoe trail network can be found at methowtrails.org.

OUTDOOR ICE SKATING & HOCKEY Located right at the edge of downtown Winthrop is an awardwinning fully outdoor ice rink. The Winthrop Ice & Sports Rink has been expanded in building size and with

Driving Range Foot Golf

Golf Course

Winthrop, WA

golf?

ice refrigeration to better serve all the ice skating and hockey enthusiasts.

Hockey teams from throughout the Pacific Northwest love to travel to Winthrop to skate outdoors!

With stunning views of Mt. Gardner, this open-air facility provides memories that will last a lifetime. A full schedule of ice times and events can be found at winthropicerink.com.

Love this Valley

Fling Golf Disc Golf

Event Venue

doYOU (509) 996-2284 w o H www.BearCreekGolfCourse.com 24

Groomed trails take Nordic skiers all over the valley. PHOTO BY DON NELSON

www.methowconservancy.org ~ 996-2870 Inspiring people to care for the land of the Methow Valley

Methow Valley News

ALPINE SKIING, SNOWBOARDING & TUBING Washington state’s best-kept secret might be Loup Loup Ski Area.

Loup Loup’s assets are in what it doesn’t have: no long drive to the mountain, no crazy crowds, no liftlines, no outrageous ticket prices, and no attitude!

What it does have is big mountain views, great snow, fantastic grooming, a tubing hill and a location just minutes from Winthrop and Twisp.

Learn more about this gem of a mountain at skitheloup.com

W

The

I

inthrop nn

HELICOPTER & BACKCOUNTRY SKIING Put yourself in your own Warren Miller movie — in fact, many of those movies are filmed right here! The North Cascade mountains are known as the “American Alps,” and North Cascades Heli and North Cascades Mountain Guides are two local companies that can help you get that epic, powder, face-shot you have always dreamed about. Whether you prefer to fly in or skin up and earn your turns, there are thousands and thousands of big mountain acres to explore. Find more information at heli-ski.com and ncmountainguides.com.

SNOWMOBILING With 625 miles of snowmobile trails, Okanogan County is a Mecca for motorized snow motion. The Methow Valley Snowmobile Club is a fantastic community-minded nonprofit that can help steer riders to some great locations. More information on snowmobile rentals, grooming schedules and club rides can be found at winthropwashington.com.

UNIQUE WINTER EVENTS With all this snow you might think the Methow Valley curls up

800-444-1972

by the fire and watches nothing but Netflix (there is some of that), but we also love to gather outside for fun, unique, wintertime events such as a world-class fireworks show, costumed ski racing with dogs, Nordic ski races, snowshoe softball, hockey tournaments, huge group fat bike rides, snowmobile poker runs, and an incredible hot air balloon festival.

The winter is a very lively time in the Methow. You can find a lineup of weekly, monthly and year-round events at the methowvalleynews.com and winthropwashington.com.

Open Every Day 10 - 6 509.996.2345

on the Methow River smoke-free - pool & spa - picnic area - micros & fridges free Wi-Fi - morning coffee bar

Books, Gifts & Espresso www.winthropinn.com

PERFECT SUMMER ADVENTURE

www.trailsendbookstore.com

H ORSEBACK R IDING

Come Ride With Us at the

Chewack River Guest Ranch & Riding Stables

Bring your horse or ride one of ours.

Guided trail rides through the spectacular scenery at the Chewack River Ranch.

Drop-Ins Welcome!

Call about our Cattle Drives One mile river frontage Fly Fishing!

(509) 689-2517 689 2517 68924-Hour Trauma Care & Emergency Services Baby-Friendly Labor & Delivery 24-Hour Laboratory Radiology & Mobile MRI Imaging Columbia Medical & Surgical Services Clinic

threerivershospital.net Hike, Bike, Swim, Eat, Recharge www.mazamacountryinn.com

800-843-7951 Summer Guide 2016

507 Hospital Way Brewster, WA 98812

Don & Chris Lundgren. 588 E. Chewack Rd. Winthrop, WA 98862 (509) 996-2497 (6 miles N. of Winthrop on East Chewack Rd.)

Check out our website at www.chewackranch.com

Our family cares about yours!

25

FS 1 00

26

Methow Valley News

Visitor Center

North Suspension Footbridge

MILEAGES

Methow Valley Sport Trails Association 509-996-3287

zzly Gri

l Hil

Twisp to Winthrop Twisp Information Center 9 509-997-2926 Winthrop to: Sun Mountain Trails U.S. Forest Service 10 509-996-4000 Pearrygin Lake State Park 4 Mazama 14 Winthrop Chamber of Commerce Washington Pass 34 509-996-2125 WinthropWashington.com Rainy Pass 40 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 W A S H I N G T26O N SouthTheCreek Horse Camp 23 Winthrop Chamber of Commerce is honored to have you visit our Loup old Loup Pass western town. In addition to our wooden 13 boardwalks, Winthrop, Blackpine Lakeis best know for its highly acclaimed 20 year-round Washington pursuits, its strong agricultural ties Foggyrecreational Dew Campground 20and its vibrant arts community. visiting we hope you will have Winthrop via While Elbow Coulee 15 the opportunity to stay and enjoy the Methow Valley's many coffee roasters, brew pubs, Columbia River 32 art galleries, specialty shops, eateries and accommodations.

Okanogan 30

To Smokejumper Base, Golf Course & Twisp

Gro ce ry

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

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.

Winthro

Spring Creek Footbridge

Ice Rink

Win

Fish Hatchery

To Smokejumper Base, Golf Course & Twisp

ry

ce

Gro

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

Ski Area

W 1-888-4Met Winthr

Saturday Farmers Market

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

Co

Methow V 509-996-328 Methow Valley

Summer Guide 2016

27

Take Me to the River (Or the Lake) Looking to row, paddle, raft, skim or just float? This is the place

BY ASHLEY LODATO

Y

ou know all that snow the Methow Valley had last winter? The stuff we broke our

backs shoveling? The stuff that collapsed many an old homestead around the valley?

(You had to be here.)

Well, guess what all that snow is now, folks. That’s right — water.

Crystal clear, untainted, freezing cold pure mountain runoff. It’s filling our streams, rivers and lakes, creating waterways of fun for the summer ahead.

If you’re a swimmer, kayaker, rafter, canoeist, paddle-boarder, angler, floater, sailboarder or someone who just likes to read a book along the shore while listening to the river’s whisper, the Methow Valley is the place for you. With waterways stretching from the far reaches of Mazama down to the Methow River’s confluence with the Columbia, the Methow can get you waterlogged to your heart’s content.

Before you get started, let’s make sure you are a bona fide water rat.

First, pack your sunscreen and personal flotation device (PFD). You might think that wearing a PFD makes you look like a goofball, but you’ll be even more embarrassed (not to mention terrified) if you have to be rescued because your raft flipped and left you clinging to a rock in the middle of a rapid.

Second, determine which watercraft you will be commandeering: raft, canoe, kayak, inner tube, rowboat, SUP (stand up paddleboard).

Third, learn the difference between rowing and paddling. You think wearing a PFD makes you look like a goof?

Try referring to “rowing the canoe” and see what people think of you.

28

Catching the breeze on Patterson Lake.. PHOTO BY DON NELSON It’s easy to distinction to learn.

Are you using a paddle to propel the boat? Then you’re paddling. Are you using oars to propel the boat? Ah, now you’re rowing. In general, paddles are not attached to anything on the boat and are held in your hands to propel the boat forward. And in general, oars are attached to some sort of oarlock and are used to propel the

boat backward (the notable difference being when a raft rower faces downstream when guiding a raft through rapids).

If you’re in a kayak, a canoe, or a SUP, you’re probably paddling. If you’re in a rowboat you are — yes — most likely rowing.

Rafts can be set up for either rowing or paddling.

OK, now you’re ready to go out on the water with some self-respect. Let’s take a look at the places you might go.

RIVERS Numerous mountain streams feed into the Methow River to the northwest and the Chewuch River to the northeast of the valley, making the upper reaches of these rivers Methow Valley News

delightful spots to enjoy the river from one of the U.S. Forest Service campsites located along their shores.

Small pools, tight bends, and polished river rocks create enchanting options for exploration. Although some kayakers tackle these upper stretches of river, shifting channels and occasional logjams due to spring floods make it daunting for most moderate paddlers. These sections are not recommended for boaters unfamiliar with the river, and certainly not for family inner-tube float trips.

Take heart, however, because there are many other options for those seeking some laid-back river time.

Downstream of where the Methow and Chewuch Rivers converge in Winthrop, it’s fairly smooth floating until Carlton.

In the heat of summer, recreationalists can be seen in nearly every form of rivercraft on this section, from inner tubes to inflatables to SUPs. Sometimes you even see someone making the journey on nothing more than a pool noodle. Talk about goofballs!

Don’t let the fairly docile nature of this section of river fool you, however.

There are still small rapids and holes

that can flip you, barely submerged rocks that can pop your inflatable or crack your skull, and occasional branches or other debris in the river.

And even on a hot day, the water is pretty darn cold.

Smart boaters and floaters always wear PFDs, and those who really play it safe wear helmets as well. (Kayakers and SUP-ers should always wear helmets in whitewater.)

For those looking for more thrills (and possibly spills), the lower section of the Methow River from McFarland Creek on down to Pateros contains fast moving water interspersed with Class II-IV rapids, depending on the water levels (which rise and fall quite quickly with weather conditions).

The most formidable of these rapids, those in Black Canyon, have been known to launch even seasoned guides into the froth. To learn about guided trips on the river, contact Methow River Raft & Kayak at (509) 341-4661 or visit methowrafting.com, or Blue Sky Outfitters, (800) 228-7238 or visit blueskyoutfitters.com.

LAKES Although the Methow River presents a fun challenge for whitewater

River rafting is a good way to cool off. PHOTO BY LAURELLE WALSH canoeists, most who paddle such craft are going to be happiest on one of the lovely lakes that sit above the river.

Pearrygin Lake State Park (follow signs from the East Chewuch Road) is relatively warm and has gorgeous grassy camping on its shores, as well as a roped-in swimming area that makes it easier to keep an eye on the kids.

Every type of craft is allowed on Pearrygin Lake, so canoeists and

SUP-ers slipping silently along must share space with the not-so-silent motor boats and water skiers. There is a fee to use Pearrygin Lake (those bathrooms don’t stay clean by themselves); you can learn more about fees, camping, and fishing regulations at parks.state.wa.us/563/Pearrygin-Lake.

There is also a sweet small private resort with RV hookups and camping on Pearrygin: the Silverline Resort,

Rolling Huts & Methow Tents The Ultimate Camping Experience Whether you’re a hiker, mountain biker or cross-country skier, the Rolling Huts, located in Washington’s Methow Valley, are the perfect accommodation.

Designed as a modern alternative to camping by Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig Architects

Comfortable Safari-Style Canvas Tents

Only 300 feet from the pristine Methow River, and at the edge of the forest, a group of safari-style canvas tents are waiting for you and your friends. Explore the surrounding wilderness and enjoy the myriad of options, outdoor www.rollinghuts.com and indoor, that this unique www.methowtents.com valley has to offer.

Book Now!

or Call (509) 996-4442 Summer Guide 2016

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

AUG blueberries SEPT sweet corn OCT pumpkins

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

OPEN DAILY MA MAY- OCTOBER HWY 20, 3 MILES EAST OF ROCKPORT, WASHINGTON (360) 853-8173 29

silverlineresort.com.

If you’re looking for a quieter scene, Big and Little Twin Lakes and Patterson Lake offer fewer facilities and hence fewer people.

The Twin Lakes are accessed from — of course — Twin Lakes Road; and Patterson Lake, as you might guess, is located on Patterson Lake Road. Discover Passes or Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) passes are required at Patterson’s lone drivein access point, or you can access the lake from the Sun Mountain Lodge cabins on the north side of the lake by renting paddle boats, SUPs, or canoes from the Lodge. Patterson Lake, in particular, offers the best swimming in the valley, given its combination of

“B

elieve me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

— Kenneth Grahame, T W   W

The Methow Valley is a beautiful place, but don’t take it home on your car!

• Touchless automatic with undercarriage wash • Self-service bay (RV Friendly) • Two vacuums w/ carpet cleaners Clean the boat before you go!

KING’S PACIFIC PRIDE & CARWASH Precision Exhaust & Custom Tire South of Twisp on Hwy 20 Use cash or Pride Card

30

Methow Valley News

Winthrop KOA Campground ON THE METHOW RIVER

All it takes is an inner tube to hit the river. PHOTO BY LAURELLE WALSH reasonable temperatures and minimal boat traffic.

Another place that a Discover Pass or WDFW pass will gain you entrée to is Davis Lake, a small gem of a lake tucked up beyond the Bear Creek Golf Course.

You probably don’t want to bother with it during fishing season (unless you’re fishing), but any other time of year you’ll probably have it to yourself.

BACKCOUNTRY WATER FUN If the front country waterways are not your cup of snowmelt, it’s time to consider a trip into the backcountry.

A hike into Lake Ann, Libby Lake, Cutthroat Lake or Tiffany Lake will reward you with sparkling waters, stunning vistas, and probably very

few other people anywhere beyond the shoreline. Although even the most hardy swimmers can’t spend more than a minute in these frigid lakes, if you have a way to remain above the water’s surface you can spend a delightful and solitary afternoon exploring the shorelines. The drawback is that you must pack in your own SUP, tube, or inflatable, but it’s worth the haul; twice the effort, twice the fun.

The Methow Valley may be on the map for its winter trail system and summer hiking and climbing, but it’s its waterways that are the life force of much of the agriculture and industry in the valley. Listen to the sounds of the lakes and rivers, and you’ll be hearing the heartbeat of an ecosystem.

Tents RVs Cabins Playground & Heated Pool

• Large, grassy pull-through sites • Store • Showers • Laundromat • Free WiFi Courtesy Shuttle Service to Downtown Winthrop 509-996-2258 • 1-800-KOA-2158 www.koa.com

Twisp Valley Grange Available for Weddings & Parties Beautiful Dance Floor Full Kitchen/Dining Area Very Affordable Rates Experience mountain lodge comfort on the Methow River. Just a short walk over the Spring Creek Suspension bridge to downtown Winthrop.

Trick Pony Boutique. Vintage.

Gifts.

509-996-4348 110 White Ave (Twin Lakes Rd) Winthrop WA

www.methowriverlodge.com

nectar SKIN BAR & BOUTIQUE

FACIALS l MASSAGE l WAXING l BOUTIQUE

For info and Reservations call: Kim 509-997-8050 Susan 509-449-5900 or Billie 509-997-4841

bronwen handcrafted jewelry

Intertwined Designs Earth Friendly Handmade Clothing

STOP IN AND SEE US WHEN YOU GO TO THE FARMER’S MARKET! Open Mon - Sat 10:00am - 5:30pm

509.421.4627 Hwy 20, Twisp across from Chevron

Summer Guide 2016

509.996.2417 l 134 Riverside Ave, Winthrop, WA

www.nectarskinbarwinthrop.com

31

As Western as it Gets Riding a horse into the wilderness, or even on a day trek, is an authentic way to see the Methow backcountry

BY MARCY STAMPER

“I

like to call it ‘roughing it smoothly,’” says outfitter Aaron Burkhart, who takes people into the mountains to swim and hike, take photos, hunt and fish, or just revel in mountain scenery that is too far for many people to get to on foot.

Burkhart, who co-owns Early Winters Outfitters and North Cascades Safari with his wife, Judy, tailors trips for birdwatchers, aficionados of alpine wildflowers, and rock climbers. “We’ve even taken geology nuts,” said Burkhart.

“It’s just a wonderful way to get into

Cascade Wilderness Outfitters Steve Darwood (509) 322-3809 www.cascadewildernessoutfitters. com pack trips, drop camps, hunting trips Early Winters Outfitting Aaron and Judy Burkhart 996-2659 www.earlywintersoutfitting.com pack trips, drop camps, day rides, riding lessons

32

the backcountry, to see country it’s hard to backpack into — you have to be pretty hardy for that,” said Kay MacCready, who has been getting to the mountains via pack trips for 20 years.

MacCready started out packing in her own animals and relished handling everything herself. And while she still enjoys riding her horse and contracting with an outfitter to drop off her gear, she has come to prize the carefree experience of a deluxe pack trip. “The nice thing is going with the packers and having them take care of you. It’s a lot more fun if you don’t take your own horses,” she said.

Steve Darwood, who owns North Cascade Outfitters and Cascade Wilderness Outfitters, usually sets up a base camp in the high country and takes people on day rides from there.

Don and Ginger Reddington have enjoyed pack trips into both the Sawtooths and the Pasayten Wilderness. PHOTO COURTESY OF GINGER REDDINGTON Most of their high camps are within a day’s ride or hike of alpine lakes for swimming, fishing or watercolor painting, said Darwood.

“Staying put lets you get to know the country,” said Darwood, who takes clients to special spots he has gotten to know from decades of exploring the mountains.

Pack trips give people a chance to spend their time in midst of spectacular mountain scenery, rather than taking two or three days just to

PACKERS AND OUTFITTERS Highland Stage Company Donald and Lorah Super (509) 923-1944 pack trips, drop camps, horsedrawn stagecoach camping trips

North Cascade Outfitters Steve and Jess Darwood (509) 322-3809 pack trips, drop camps, hunting trips

JD Outfitters (Sun Mountain Lodge) John and Debbie “Red” Schrock day rides of varying durations, dinner rides 996-4735 www.sunmountainlodge.com

Sawtooth Outfitters Brian Varrelman (509) 923-2548 www.altalake.com/ sawtoothoutfitters. html pack trips, drop camps, hunting trips, day rides

North Cascades Safari Aaron and Judy Burkhart 996-2659 pack trips, drop camps, hunting trips More information about opportunities to get into the country by horseback is available from the Methow Valley Backcountry Horsemen at www.mvbch.com.

Washington Outfitters and Guides Association has information about local outfitters at 9971080, (877) ASK-WOGA or www. woga.org.

get there. Then, from the high camp, people can meander through open meadows and ridges and look for bear, moose and mountain goats, or spend the day relaxing at an alpine lake.

A group can request a certain destination, although outfitters have permits for specific places and there are limits on the number of people and livestock they can take on the trail, said Darwood.

Because outfitters have seasoned horses that know the terrain and are used to different riders, people don’t need experience to join a pack trip. “I have clients who have only been on a horse once or twice in their life,” said Darwood.

Burkhart said he takes hundreds of people each year who have little or no experience on horseback. “The horses pretty much take care of them,” he said.

Still, for comfort, experienced packers recommend taking a few lessons to become comfortable on a horse — and to get used to time in the saddle, which requires more stamina than you might imagine.

Pack trips also appeal to people with a lot of experience in the saddle.

Don and Ginger Reddington have made excursions to the Sawtooths and the Pasayten Wilderness an annual event for decades. When they

Methow Valley News

started out, the Reddingtons invested in solid pack animals and learned the ropes, riding their own horses and packing about 140 pounds on each mule. “It’s like having your own personal RV,” said Ginger.

But some years they prefer the ease of an organized trip, where Don and Ginger ride their own horses and meet up with the outfitters at the high camp. “It’s four days of just pure pleasure,” said Ginger.

Camping in the mountains might seem like roughing it, but Reddington said they bring enough gear to be comfortable. They cook on campfires and find the experience utterly peaceful.

“You become part of nature,” she said.

SHARING THE EXPERIENCE A unique appeal of pack trips is that they make it possible to share the mountains with people who would never otherwise get to see the high country.

“I love the whole camping experience,” said MacCready. “But a packer trip is a way to bring your family and friends who don’t want to work that hard.”

A few years ago MacCready took her teenage granddaughter on a guided trip.

“It was such a wonderful way to have

METHOW VALLEY

OFF-ROAD

DUATHLON

somebody in my family see the love of my life — the wilderness here,” she said.

On deluxe trips, people are treated to surprisingly gourmet meals, with hearty stews and luscious desserts cooked out in the open. After the day’s ride, hike or fishing, guests relax with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while the camp cook makes dinner.

Being in the mountains is also a culinary treat for the horses, said Reddington. “When they get to graze in the meadows, it’s like a special salad. They come out as fat as when they went in.”

“Those horses are so seasoned about the trails — you basically just need to stop to give your butt a rest,” said Reddington. People typically ride between 6 and 15 miles a day.

They can even arrange a supported all-hiking trip, where an outfitter transports their gear by mule to a new campsite each day.

In addition to deluxe trips where the outfitters handle everything, most companies also offer a drop camp, where clients ride or hike into the mountains and the outfitters leave all your gear and food at a prearranged spot — and then come and get it at the end of the trip.

While many people like to explore

The Ride to Rendezvous is a perennial favorite. PHOTO BY LAURELLE WALSH from a high camp, some prefer to move more often. “Some groups are very vibrant and ambitious and want to see as much country as possible in nine days,” said Brian Varrelman of Sawtooth Outfitters.

For groups of hunters, Varrelman’s trips range from a drop camp, where the outfitters drop off the hunters and their gear and then pick them up, along with their wild game; to deluxe

Ulrich’s Pharmacy for prescriptions and over the counter medications Housewares, Cards, Gifts AND MORE! Store Hours: 9-6 M-Sat. Pharmacy Hours: 9-6 M-F • 9-1 Sat.

423 E. Methow Hwy. • Twisp 509-997-2191

RV Park & Campground

• Family Atmosphere w/ Shade & Grass!

• Boat Launch & Fishing Docks!

• Clean & Remodeled Facilities!

• Free WiFi & Pet Friendly!

• Groups welcome & Discounts!

“On the shoreline of Pearrygin Lake”

SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

(509)996-2448 677 Bear Creek Road – Winthrop, WA

Summer Guide 2016

www.SilverlineResort.com

trips, where they provide cooks and hunting guides.

Varrelman even took a group of visitors from Australia on an epic ride from Snoqualmie Pass to Manning Park in Canada via the Pacific Crest Trail. “That’s not so much a trip — that’s a journey,” he said.

People can also join an existing trip if they don’t have a large-enough group. “Those are the trips that are really fun — people have a lot in common,” said Darwood.

“It’s our other home — it’s quiet you’ve never seen, beauty you’ve never seen,” said Reddington.

DAY RIDES People who’d prefer a day ride (or who want to get some experience before a multi-day trip to the mountains) can take a trip with Debbie “Red” Schrock of JD Outfitters, who leads rides for Sun Mountain Lodge on their trail system, for guests of the lodge and the general public.

Schrock offers group and custom rides from one to four hours They also offer a popular cowboy dinner ride, with a barbecue and music. Schrock gives basic lessons and provides tips on the fundamentals of riding and balance on the trail. She has horses suited to those with no prior experience and others for experienced riders.

Early Winters Outfitting, Sawtooth Outfitters and the Chewack River Guest Ranch also offer day rides, both on valley trails and even into the mountains.

“One of my favorite rides is to go to the top of the Magpie trail. It’s a climbing ride to one of those spots that is magical,” said Schrock.

33

Drive Time Tee it up at a variety of scenic courses, in the valley and nearby

BY BOB SPIWAK

G

olfing in the Methow Valley environs can take you from just out of town to farther reaches. The most distance we’ll cover is less than a two-hour drive south. There are eight courses in this review, and in the interest of simplifying things we’ll begin with their telephone numbers for information as to fees, carts, tee times and other queries.

All are in area code 509.

Beginning from proximity to Winthrop and expanding outward, the courses are: • Bear Creek, 996-2284 • Alta Lake, 923-2359 • Gamble Sands, 436-2359 • Lake Woods, 686-5721 • Okanogan Valley, 826- 6937 • Lake Chelan, 682-8025 • Bear Mountain, 682-8200 • Desert Canyon, 784-1111

The views from Bear Creek Golf Course are unparalleled. PHOTO BY MARCY STAMPER There are notable differences in the configurations of these courses, and all have gotten excellent reviews from players. Probably the most-expensive and the newest is Gamble Sands, east of Brewster. The reviews could not get any better, as it was voted “Best New Course in the U.S. for 2014” by both Golf Digest and Golf magazines.

It’s a true links-style course, with only one tree on the far-reaching, hilland-dale trip around the 18 holes. The greens are immense and not overly slick, and the fairways are broad.

There is no rough in terms of tall grasses, and even off the fairway the

ball is usually playable.

There’s a restaurant, caddies (extra cost) and carts. Gamble Sands was designed to be a fun and enjoyable course, and lives up to that expectation. If you are driving from the east, it’s right on your way to the marvelous Methow Valley.

In the heart of this valley is Bear Creek Golf Course, a nine-hole track that plays 18 from different tees and fairway configurations the second time around. The fees, as golf goes, are more than moderate to low. The greens are relatively small and slick, with surprising breaks to the cup.

ETHOW RED HEN VMALLEY ’S TRADING HIDDEN

Watch

COMPANY

Haiku $25 bunks, $70 private cabins

www.northcascadesmountainhostel.com 509.699.0568

on methowtv.com 34

Standing on the first tee, one might think it’s a piece of cake, but playing the second hole will change that opinion. It is a par three over a lake to a green that slopes steeply toward the water.

Bear Creek is notable for the vistas, set in the middle of the mountains with a view in every direction, especially from the middle tees, that offer Mount Gardner dominating the skyline to the west and the distinctive Sawtooth range. There are carts available, but it is also a pleasant walker, especially along the trees on a hot day.

Down Highway 153 just outside the town of Pateros is Alta Lake Golf

SECRET

YOU’LL FIND TOP QUALITY CONSIGNED CLOTHING FOR THE FAMILY, FURNITURE, SPORTING GOODS, AND MUCH MORE! Up Behind 3 Fingered Jack’s

WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY 10AM-5PM SUNDAY 11AM-3PM 996-4367 Methow Valley News

Resort. Adjacent to Alta Lake State Park, this venue has been assaulted by the huge wildfires of the past two summers. With each resurrection, it has gotten better.

Alta Lake offers a motel next to the clubhouse, and views of the Columbia River from the back tees, which lead to nine holes totally unlike the preceding stretch. The fairways are generous, the greens fair. Carts are available. This course is a favorite for group outings and it would be wise to make tee times far ahead of your planned stop. Debuting this year is a new restaurant and lounge, the Scratch Bar and Grill.

Driving east from Pateros you come to Chief Joseph Dam on the Columbia, and a turn to the left will guide you along the backwater lake to Lake Woods Golf Course. (Another quartermile and the road ends at the state park, a marvelous place to camp.)

This is a nine-hole course playing 18 from different tees. The fees are low, it’s flat and an easy walk. There are lots of trees along the fairways, and while every hole is a challenge for somebody, in the main it is an easy course for the beginner. At last visit,

carts were minimal in number.

The course offers a snack bar, and the ninth and 18th fairways are high above Rufus Woods Lake. If you are bringing a boat along, there is a concrete launch ramp at the park that will take you to some fine fishing.

A course similar in character is the Okanogan Valley Golf Course, located in the hills above the town of Okanogan. This is another nine-hole course whose first tee is a mild dogleg along some lovely trees. The course is mainly flat and there is little trickery to most of the greens. There are carts, and there’s a snack bar and pro shop.

This too is not a hard course to walk.

Now we come to the “biggies” south of the Methow. High, high above Lake Chelan on Highway 97A out of Wenatchee is the Bear Mountain Ranch course. It is an 18-hole trip where GPS carts are available. This course is probably the best in central Washington, if not the state, for views of the Cascade Mountains, punctuated below by fjord-like Lake Chelan.

As courses go, it is relatively new, and offers a challenge on almost every hole from first tee onward. The greens are large and mostly elevated, and it is a good test of your proficiency with

aspengrovehome.com | 156 Riverside Ave. | (509) 996-2009

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.

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

Bonneville Environmental Foundation

Summer Guide 2016

35

short irons. There’s a full pro shop, and a restaurant downstairs whose veranda hangs above the finishing hole.

There are trees along the way but they generally do not come into play.

Also featured are a putting green and a driving range.

Just a few miles from Bear Mountain is the Lake Chelan Golf Course, located on the west end of the city. This is older course with 18 holes, wide fairways, and slick and tricky greens, especially number 12. There is a large driving range, full pro shop and restaurant with a deck overlooking the course, and carts to rent. From the elevated portions, there is a view of the lake and if your eyes are good, you might see Bear Mountain across the water.

Desert Canyon, our last offering, is located outside the town of Orondo on Highway 97. Constructed in the early 1990s, it has grown into a resort with housing, a hotel and other amenities.

Here a cart is required — at one point it is a quarter-mile from green to the next tee. The carts have GPS. There is a pair of fine putting greens and a spacious driving range.

A restaurant adjacent to the pro shop will provide snacks and more.

The first hole is a long downhill

Extreme Adventures R

iver Tubing

Only $15 a day for great family fun!

Also..

Bear Creek Golf Course has added both foot and frisbee golf courses to its regular offerings. PHOTO BY LAURELLE WALSH shot to a large green, with a pond to the left waiting to grab an errant second shot. Off the fairway one may well encounter sand, as well as brush, cactus and other nasties. This track is a favorite of a group of Methow locals who play there almost weekly.

If you like golf, from hacker to low handicapper, you won’t be disappointed teeing it up on any of the above courses.

.

H illside C atering Mobile kitchen ready to go anywhere & cook on site!

Now open 7 days a week.

both located at

(509) 322-9747 • 306 W 4th St • Tonasket, WA

MAZAMA RANCH HOUSE

  

Experience Mazama in the summer EXPERIENCE MAZAMA Beautiful Mountain Setting

IN THE Peace and Quiet Biking, Hiking and Horseback Trails



Rooms with kitchenettes

Cabins with full kitchens SUMMER  

Bright Stars at Night

Rooms with Beautiful Mountain 509.996.2040 Setting w w w . m a z a m a r a n c kitchenettes hhouse.com 36

Peace and Quiet Biking, Hiking and Horseback Trails

Methow Valley News

Cabins with full kitchens

Bright Stars at Night

Still Going Up The Methow Valley offers more climbing opportunities for experts & novices alike

BY DON NELSON

T

he Methow Valley isn’t exactly undiscovered territory for rock climbers, but new climbing areas offer more challenges than ever for those craving good rock and routes rated 5.11 and beyond.

Long-time climbers are familiar with Mazama Fun Rocks, Goat Wall and Prospector Crags, as well as the popular Liberty Bell Mountain and Early Winters Spires areas off of

Highway 20.

The newest hot spot is The Matrix, accessed by way of a new trail from the Goat Creek Sno-Park. According to information on the Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies website, The Matrix features 60 new bolted and traditional routes rated from 5.7 to 5.11.

The new trail, a joint project of the U.S. Forest Service and National Forest Foundation, was built by dozens of volunteers from the local area, and as far away as Leavenworth and Seattle.

The trail replaces a user-built track that was in a less desirable location.

The Goat’s Beard site identifies two other climbing areas developed

s T icket e on Sal Now!

by legendary climber and author Bryan Burdo: One up West Chewuch Road at Falls Creek, and the other a 5-minute walk above the hairpin at Washington Pass. “Most of the climbs are single-pitch bolted routes with a few traditional options,” according to the Goat’s Beard site. The store sells a guide to The Matrix for $8.

Meanwhile, the local rock and alpine climbing community is hoping to team up with the Forest Service, the National Forest Foundation (NFF), The Access Fund and other organizations to restore the chaotic system of access trails to the Liberty Bell Mountain and Early Winters Spires climbing areas. Currently, a maze of trails and tracks lead up from the Blue Lake Trail to the climbing areas.

Need instruction, a guide, a refresher course or rental gear? The valley offers many options: • North Cascades Mountain Guides at 48 Lost River Road, Mazama: 9963194, www.ncmountainguides.com, offers a variety of climbing instruction options. World-class guides can take you just about anywhere you want to go in the region.

• The Outward Bound base camp at 226 Lost River Road also offers climbing programs: 996-3170, www. otwardbound.org.

THE

PHOTO

BY JULIA HUSSEY

• Goats Beard Mountain Supplies, behind the Mazama Store at 50 Lost River Road, offers an array of climbing gear: 996-2515, www.goatsbeardmountainsupplies.com. Goats Beard also carries copies of the Methow’s authoritative, incredibly detailed climbing guide: Mazama Rock, a Vertical Paradise, by Burdo.

• For outdoor wear and gear, try Winthrop Mountain Sports, 257 Riverside Ave. in Winthrop, 996-2886, www.winthropmountainsports.com; the Outdoorsman, 170 Riverside Ave. in Winthrop, 996-2649, www.theoutdoorsmanstore.net; Cascades Outdoor Store in Winthrop, 222 Riverside Ave., 996-3480, www.cascadesoutdoorstore. com; and Jack’s Hut at the Freestone Inn, 31 Early Winters Drive, Mazama, 996-3906, www.freestoneinn.com.

Always practice accepted climbing etiquette and take fundamental safety precautions.

VIRGINIAN RESORT

HOME OF THE BLUES Featuring Cabins & Rooms on the River starting at $69 per night

Free Continental • Military Discounts Group Rates • Free WiFi • Satellite TV • Pet Friendly Call to make your reservation!

toll free 866-996-2535 or 509-996-2535 808 Hwy 20 • 1/2 mile from Downtown Winthrop

Summer Guide 2016

37

Youth soccer camps are held at Methow Vallley Elementary School. PHOTO BY LAURELLE WALSH

The Summer Camp Experience From arts to sports to outdoor activities, there is plenty for kids to do in the valley

BY LAURELLE WALSH

H

ey kids — have you ever watched a grownup get all nostalgic? Just ask them about their summer camp memories from childhood.

First, they’ll get that far-away look in their eyes. Next, they’ll tell you stories, lots of stories about sleeping away from home for the first time, or taking a swim test in an icy-cold lake, singing songs around a campfire, folk dancing, or learning to make something called a “lanyard.” Ask your grandma if she still has the lanyard she made at Camp River Ranch in 1977.

Today in the Methow, some of the valley’s premier educators, artists and adult leaders have put together an impressive variety of day and overnight camps with lots of kid appeal.

According to the American Camp

38

Association (ACA), a child’s participation in structured summer experiences can reduce “summer learning loss,” making camp a natural extension of the school classroom. “Camp challenges children, keeps them engaged, develops creativity and their talents, and expands their horizons,” the ACA states.

And the benefits are not just one way, according to the founder of Methow River Camp, Dana Visalli.

“Offering young people a window into the endlessly fascinating and beautiful world of nature is a meaningful and fulfilling endeavor,” he said.

YOUTH SOCCER Methow Valley Youth Soccer brings Challenger Sports’ British Soccer and TetraBrazil Soccer camps to the Methow Valley School District fields, June 13-17. The half-day skills camps run for three hours daily in the mornings from 9 a.m.-noon or afternoons from 1-4 p.m., depending on age group.

British Soccer Camps are held at Methow Valley Elementary School, with 6- to 9-year-olds in the morning session and 9- to 12-year-olds in the afternoon. TetraBrazil Soccer Camps are held at Liberty Bell Junior/Senior High School, with 10- to 13-year olds in the morning session and 13- to 18-year-olds in the afternoon.

Register at www.challengersports. com or contact Sarah Schrock at (541) 729-1935 or sjschrock@yahoo.com.

LITTLE STAR CAMPS Day camp sessions for 2- to 3-year olds, and 4- to 6-year olds, run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., from July 5 through Aug. 11. Toddler activities include music, crafts, cooking and storytelling.

Themes for 4-to 6-year olds change weekly and include yoga, potion making, sports, art, the natural world, and the universe and beyond.

Archery and animal tracking for 6- and 7-year-olds runs July 5-7. An

overnight archery camp for 8- to 11year olds runs July 12-14.

Two horse camps are offered at Moccasin Lake Ranch in partnership with Methow Valley Riding Unlimited: June 21-23 for 5- to 7-year olds, and July 12-14 for 6- to 8-year olds.

Scholarships are available. To register for any of these programs, see Little Star’s 2016 Summer Camp brochure on its website: www.littlestarschool.org/summer/. Or call the school at (509) 996-2801.

CONFLUENCE GALLERY & ART CENTER Confluence presents four three-day art camps for kids this summer on the TwispWorks campus. Camps run Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

“Draw, Build, Paint,” with teaching artist Margaret Kingston, explores the creation of 2-D and 3-D artwork.

Session one, July 5-7, is for 8- to 11year olds. Session two, July 12-14, is for ages 5-8.

“Print Fun in the Sun,” with Methow Valley News

teaching artist Laura Gunnip, creates sun prints in the studio and at the park, July 19–21, ages 5–8. “T-shirts, Buttons & Stamps,” also with Gunnip, creates upcycled fashions for tweens, July 26–28, ages 8-11.

Call Confluence at (509) 997-2787 or email info@confluencegallery.com to register.

YOUNG ADULT ART INTENSIVE Teaching artists Laura Gunnip of Door No. 3 Print Studio, and Matt Armbrust of Methow Valley Clay Art Center, present a four-day camp designed for teens, ages 13–18, who are ready to dig deeper into the arts.

Camp culminates in an art exhibition at the Spartan Art Project on the TwispWorks campus.

Art Intensive runs July 5–8, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Scholarships are available. Email info@doorno3.com by June 1 to register.

YOUTH DRAMA CAMPS Two theater camps for kids ages 8-18 will be offered at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp this summer.

Each one-week camp runs MondayFriday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and each will present a public performance at the

end of camp.

Shakespeare Camp, with director Rod Molzahn, runs July 11–16.

Campers will perform a variety of scenes, with a focus on The Bard’s comedies.

Musical Theater Camp, with director Megan Hicks, runs Aug. 8–12.

Campers will perform songs, dances and scenes from a Disney musical.

Call (509) 997-7529 to register, or visit The Merc’s website, www.mercplayhouse.org. (Campers who missed part of the 2015 camp due to the Twisp River Fire are entitled to a tuition discount.)

METHOW RIVER CAMP Outdoor education leaders Rob Crandall and Dana Visalli are teaming up for the 26th year to offer River Camp: a five-day, four-night ecologyadventure camp for 10- to 14-yearolds. Kids will camp outdoors, canoe a stretch of the Chewuch River, hike to Copper Glance Lake, and learn about the natural world in a fun and adventure-filled context.

River Camp happens July 18–22.

To register, email Visalli at dana@ methownet.com, or call (509) 997-9011.

We contribute hundreds of hours of volunteer trailwork in the Methow each year…..

We have established strong working relationships with Methow land managers …..

We are THE organization advocating for mountain biking in the Methow …..

PIPESTONE SUMMER MUSIC CAMP Pipestone School of Music offers a five-day music camp, with sections for kids and adults. The week culminates in a public performance the last day of camp.

Camp runs from Aug. 1–5. String orchestra, 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m., is for children 8 and up who have played their instrument for at least one year and can read music. Afternoon chamber music, for more advanced players, runs from 12:15–5 p.m., and is open to strings, winds, brass and guitar.

Email cascadiamusic4u@gmail.com to register, or call (509) 997-0222.

HOMETOWN PIZZA The Valley’s Choice for Affordable Family Dining Dine in • Take OuT Take’n Bake

Stone Baked Pizzas made from scratch, Grinders, Subs, Fresh Salads, Calzones, Beer/Wine, Banquet Room NOW OFFERING GLUTEN-FREE CRUST

997-2100

202 N. Methow Valley Hwy, Twisp, WA

Morning Glory

and ensure a bright future for mountain biking in the Methow!

Summer Guide 2016

Since 1992

Ballooning... the peaceful thrill .

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY

www.methowevergreenmtb.org

HOOP 5 BASKETBALL CAMP Liberty Bell basketball alumni Connor Walsh and Regan Walsh Putnam are back with Hoop 5 camp for students in grades 2–8. Camp focuses on fun, competition, and building skills in five key areas: shooting, dribbling, defense, passing and teamwork.

Although camp dates were not set at the time of publication, two 4-day sessions will be offered, one at the end of June, and another at the beginning of August.

Scholarships and family discounts are available. For more information, email hoop5camp@yahoo.com, or call (509) 429-1095.

509-997-1700

BALLOON TOURS THE METHOW VALLEY, WASHINGTON

www.balloonwinthrop.com 39

Basic Info For Visitors NEED A PLACE TO STAY? Central Reservations: 996-2148 or (800) 422-3048; www.centralreservations.net; info@centralreservations.net INFORMATION CENTERS Twisp: 997-2926; 201 Methow Valley Highway (Methow Valley Community Center) Winthrop: 996-2125 or (888) 463-8469; 202 Riverside Ave. 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

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 CAR WASH Cascade King’s: 1421 Methow Valley Hwy S. Twisp; 997-2513; www.kingstire.biz

CAB AND SHUTTLE Classic Mountain Cabby: 996-2894; classicmountaincabby@gmail.com HIGHWAY INFORMATION Washington State Department of Transportation: Dial 511 for pass and road information; www.wsdot.wa.gov 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

NEED A TOW? Classic Towing, Twisp: 997-2333 Winthrop Motors: 996-2277

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

AIRPORTS Twisp Municipal Airport: 40 Wagner Road, Twisp; 997-2311.

Methow Valley State Airport: Twisp-Winthrop Eastside Road; (360) 618-2477

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

HEALTH CARE Three Rivers Hospital, Brewster: (509) 689-2086; www. threerivershospital.net Mid-Valley Hospital, Omak: (509) 8261760; www.mvhealth.org The Country Clinic, Winthrop: 996-8180 Family Health Centers Medical Clinic, Twisp: 997-2011 Brewster Clinic: (509) 826-1800 Steven C. Harrop DDS, Winthrop: 996-2164 Sawtooth Dental Care, Twisp: 997-7533 Family Health Centers Dental Clinic, Twisp: 997-0922 Ulrich’s Pharmacy, Twisp: 997-2191 BANKS North Cascades Bank: 101 Methow Valley Highway N., Twisp; 997-2411; www. northcascadesbank.com Farmers State Bank: 159 Riverside Ave., Winthrop; 996-2244; www.farmersstatebankwa.com CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE Twisp: 997-2020; www.twispinfo.com Winthrop: 996-2125; www.winthropwashington.com Omak: (509) 826-1880 or (800) 2256625; www.omakchamber.com Okanogan: (509) 422-4034; www.okanogachamber.com Brewster: (509) 689-3464; www.brewsterchamber.org Pateros: (509) 923-9636; www.pateros.com

We’re Moving to Winthrop!

Join us in our new location Next to the baseball field 28 Hwy 20, Winthrop, WA

Opening Spring 2016 Wednesday thru Sunday 11am - 8pm Award winning ciders Local brews and wine Lunch and dinner Climbing wall for kids big & small Scenic outdoor seating

www.methowcider.com

(509) 341-4354 40

Methow Valley News

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: 996-2211; www.sunmountainlodge.com RECREATION INFORMATION U.S. Forest Service: 996-4000; 24 West Chewuch Rd., Winthrop Methow Trails: 996-2387; 309 Riverside Ave., Winthrop; www.methowtrails.com; info@methowtrails.com Winthrop Ice & Sports Rink: 996-4199 Wagner Memorial Pool, Twisp: 997-5441 Pearrygin Lake State Park, Winthrop: 996-2370; www.parks.wa.gov/563/ Pearrygin-Lake Cascade Loop Scenic Highway: www. cascadeloop.com North Cascades National Park: Newhalem visitor center, (206) 386-4495 ext.11; www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: (360) 902-2200; www.wdfw.wa.gov

LIBRARIES Twisp: 997-4681; 201 Methow Valley Highway (Methow Valley Community Center); wireless hot spot Winthrop: 996-2685; 49 Highway 20; wireless hot spot 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 INFORMATION & MEDIA Methow Valley News: 997-7701; 502 S. Glover St., Twisp; www.methowvalleynews.com; frontdesk@ methowvalleynews.com www.methownet.com www.methow.com KTRT, 97.5 FM KCSY, 106.3FM KOZI, 93.5FM KTWP (public radio), 91.1FM KOMW, 95.1 All 996 and 997 prefixes are in the 509 area code.

Methow River

Raft + Kayak

YEAR-ROUND HOT TUB & SUMMER POOL

For the most up-to-date information, find us on Facebook: METHOW VALLEY NEWS

Come Play Together. Together.

• Ranked #7 waterpark in the US! • All Day Fun starting at $17!

• Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice Award Winner

Open Daily @ 10am Memorial Day weekend thru Labor Day www.slidewaters.com 102 Waterslide Dr. Chelan • 509-682-5751 Summer Guide 2016

41

The Things to Do Cultural events help keep us entertained all summer long

BY LAURELLE WALSH

F

or such a lightly populated area — about 6 people per square mile live here in the Methow Valley — the number and variety of cultural events happening here throughout the year is truly astounding.

Some events, like Winthrop’s ’49er Days, come around every year and have a seven-decade history; others, like TwispWorks’ Phoenix Festival, are more recent incarnations. Touring bands regularly visit the valley’s venues; renowned classical artists find their way here thanks to Cascadia and the Methow Music Festival; and the Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival attracts big names to the valley each July.

Kids build their own boats at the Methow Arts Fest. PHOTO BY DON NELSON

42

The summer of 2016 boasts too many fine events to feature them all, (take a look at the events calendar beginning on page 46), but here’s a taste of just some of the tempting entertainment offerings.

METHOW VALLEY RODEO Have you ever attended a hometown rodeo? The experience is about as far from high-stakes pro rodeo as hometown football is from the Super Bowl. Here, spectators sit on a grassy hill overlooking the arena (bring a cowboy hat for shade), and many families camp at the rodeo grounds for the weekend.

You’ll be rooting for local kids and cowgirls and cowboys from around the Pacific Northwest, while the rodeo clowns — Scotty-too-hotty and young Goofin’ Lucien — help keep the action safe, light and fun. And if you’ve never seen a kid ride a sheep, you must come to the rodeo for the mutton bustin’ event alone.

The Methow Valley’s semiannual rodeo — on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends — is a fun, exciting, community event that harkens back to the days when cowboys challenged each other to feats of daring on the ranch. Methow Valley Rodeo is a member of the Western States Ranch Rodeo Association and has hosted some of the region’s best ropers and riders for over 45 years.

The rodeo arena is located about halfway between Twisp and Winthrop on Twin Lakes Road. Events begin at 1 p.m. on May 28–29, and Sept. 3–4.

Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for kids 7 to 12; kids under 6 get in free.

For more information go to www. methowvalleyrodeo.com.

VENUS IN FUR AT THE MERC PLAYHOUSE The Merc’s summer show is Venus in Fur, by David Ives. Director Ki Gottberg describes it as a “very adult piece of theatre ... which explores a power relationship between a man and a woman, that age-old story, but with surprising twists.”

The play premiered off Broadway in 2010, and has been a hit with audiences at regional theaters such as ACT in San Francisco, and Seattle Rep. The Twisp production stars The Merc’s executive director, Missi Smith, and Chris Behrens, whom audiences will remember as Jack in last summer’s The Importance of Being Earnest.

Gottberg promises that “delicious humor, our shifting empathy with each character, and the startling conclusion all make for a great post-play conversation about how we negotiate personal power, ideals, desires and the stereotypes that plague human interaction.”

There will be seven performances of Venus in Fur: June 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 and July 1 and 2. Shows start at 7:30 p.m., with one Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Reserve tickets online at www.mercplayhouse.org, or call (509) 997-7529.

METHOW ARTS FEST If you are in the Methow Valley on July 4, you won’t want to miss the annual Methow Arts Fest, an afternoon of musical performances, participatory art, great local food, and fun for all ages.

Arts Fest takes place outdoors in the leafy Twisp River Park — at the Methow Valley News

north end of Lincoln Street — starting immediately after the town parade.

Root for your favorite contestant in the pie-eating and hula-hoop contests (not at the same time), then visit the dozen-or-so hands-on art booths: tie-dye T-shirts, letterpress printing, face painting, copper arts,

Also worth seeing is the Winthrop Vintage Wheels Show. PHOTO BY DON NELSON

the ever-popular wooden boat station, and more. Headline musicians will perform on the bandshell stage throughout the afternoon.

Go to www.methowarts.org or call (509) 997-4004 for more information.

METHOW VALLEY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL World-class chamber music comes to the valley for 10 days each summer and finds a home at Signal Hill Ranch between Twisp and Winthrop. Now in its 21st season, the Chamber Music Festival gets better every year with its intimate setting, creative programming and dazzling performances.

Community outreach is part of the festival’s mission, so, besides the five center-stage concerts at Signal Hill, performances at Sun Mountain Lodge, Confluence Gallery, the Shafer Museum and Copper Glance bar will be sprinkled throughout the week.

Rehearsals are free and open to the public on concert days. And the Fellowship Quartet — four college-age musicians selected to participate in the festival — will perform for and sit in with students at the Pipestone Summer Music Camp.

The Chamber Music Festival begins

on July 28 and runs through Aug. 6.

Tickets and schedule information are available at www.methowmusicfestival. org, or call (509) 997-5000.

METHOW VALLEY HOME TOUR Each summer, Confluence Gallery & Art Center hosts the Methow Valley Home Tour, an exclusive peek inside some of the valley’s most beautiful homes, and an opportunity to learn about design, architecture and innovative construction.

The 2016 Home Tour, “Firewise Homes, Fire-adapted Building and

Landscaping,” looks at valley homes from a more practical, rather than purely aesthetic, standpoint. It sets out to answer the question: How can smart design, layout and construction choices make our homes more resilient in fire country?

The 15th annual Methow Valley Home Tour is on Aug. 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person, or $20 per person for carpools of four, and go on sale Aug. 2 at Confluence Gallery, 104 Glover St. in Twisp, or may be purchased by phone at (509) 997-2787.

Antiques and collectibles.

Vintage home and garden décor.

A variety of recycled, repurposed and locally made items.

501 Hwy 20 Winthrop, WA

996-8297

Handmade Chocolates Homemade Ice Cream Homemade Waffle Cones 40 flavors of ice cream & 30+ flavors of yogurt Espresso • Breakfast Sandwiches Cinnamon Rolls • Hot Dogs Fresh Made Sandwiches On Artisan Bread

Over 100 varieties of bulk candy

18 Hole Mini Golf Fun for the whole family!

Summer Guide 2016

Main Corner in Winthrop

996-3834 43

Navigating the Rec-pass Landscape

BY MARCY STAMPER

W

hen we think about hiking or fishing, most of us restrict our research to identifying the most scenic trail or finding out where the fish are biting. But as state and federal agencies grapple with budget cuts to their recreational programs, they have been requiring people to buy passes to visit many natural areas.

This guide will explain the basics, give you lists of the most popular sites and whether you’ll need a pass to visit them, and provide links to other resources that help break it down even further. We also tell you where you can buy passes in the Methow Valley, by phone, or online.

Fortunately, some popular areas are still free, and most passes are for parking a vehicle, so — if you arrive on foot, bicycle or horse, you can generally do so without a pass.

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. In most cases, passes are required where they provide certain amenities at the trailhead. The day pass (Day ePass) can also be purchased online and printed in advance, and then validated for the day it is used.

The Forest Service maintains several free local trailheads — including the popular trail to Goat Peak in Mazama, the West Fork Methow trail in Lost River, and Copper Glance on the Chewuch. Four years ago the agency eliminated fees for hiking, picnicking and sightseeing in the entire Harts Pass area. (Only the campgrounds there still charge a fee.)

Washington state began imposing its own fees for most of its recreation lands — state parks, wildlife areas and forests — four years ago.

Both federal and state lands offer a few free days during the summer (different days for each).

The Discover Pass is now required at lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Most locations clearly post which passes are required by users. PHOTO BY MARCY STAMPER (WDFW), and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — but not necessarily in all situations.

The pass is $30, annual; and $10, day, if bought from a State Park ranger. To purchase a pass online, transaction fees bring it to $33, annual, and $11, day. To buy it at a licensed vendor, an additional dealer fee brings it to $35, annual, and $11.50, day.

In the Methow, anyone parking on state land needs a Discover Pass, but

TRAILS & RECREATION SITES (A SeLeCTION OF POPULAR PLACeS)

Lower 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 Twisp and Twisp River Lookout Mountain: NW, IA Blackpine Lake: day use free Deadhorse Lake: DP Twisp River Trail: NW, IA War Creek: NW, IA Slate Creek: free Twisp Pass: NW, IA Winthrop, West Chewuch, Rendezvous Lewis Butte: DP

44

Pearrygin Lk. State Park: DP, NIP Twin Lakes: free Patterson Lake boat launch/ Patterson Mountain trail: DP, VA (There is a small, free publicparking area along Patterson Lake road.)

Sun Mountain trails: free Methow Wildlife Area (Bear Creek): DP Falls Creek Falls: NW, IA Copper Glance: free Mazama, Harts Pass Big Valley: free Goat Peak: free West Fork Methow: free 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 Lake/Freezeout Ridge: NW, IA Bear Creek, East Valley, Loup Loup Cougar Lake: DP Campbell Lake: DP Pipestone Canyon: DP Loup Loup State Forest: DP

KEY: DP: Discover Pass IA: Federal Interagency Passes (including America the Beautiful, senior pass, access pass, military pass, fourth-grade pass) NIP: Natural Investment Permit (for those with boat-launch permits) 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.

if you can park safely on a state or county road, you do not need a pass.

Also, if you arrive on foot, bicycle, horse or boat, you do not need a Discover Pass (although 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 requires the Discover Pass at trails and lakes in the Loup Loup State Forest and Loomis State Forest. Many of the shrubsteppe areas in the Lower Methow Valley and those east of the Loup Loup summit — good for walking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing (and seeing how the area is recovering from wildfire) — are managed by DNR and also require the pass.

This year, the annual pass is good until the end of the month in which it is purchased, not only through a year from the date of purchase.

PICKING THE RIGHT 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 how much you use public lands.

FEDERAL PASSES If you’re over 62, you can get a good deal on a lifetime pass (the Interagency Methow Valley News

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 lifetime entry to all federal lands (the Interagency Access Pass) is available for free to those with a disability and to certain volunteers.

The Interagency Annual Military Pass is free for active-duty military, and also covers a second member of the military or a dependent.

The senior, access and military passes can only be obtained at a ranger station because the person must provide appropriate documentation.

For people under 62, the Interagency Annual Pass ($80, annual) (sometimes called the America the Beautiful pass) provides access to all federal lands, and is a good option if you plan to visit a lot of national parks. It can be signed and used by two people. Note that our closest park — North Cascades National Park — still has no entrance fee.

The federal Northwest Forest Pass can be transferred between an unlimited number of vehicles.

For young aficionados of the outdoors — and their families and friends — a handy new option is the Interagency 4th-Grade Pass. The pass is free to all fourth graders and home-schooled children who are 10 years old, and covers the school year and summer, from September through the end of August. It provides free admission to all Forest Service areas, national parks and other federal recreation areas for the fourth-grader and his or her family, and can also be used for free admission if that child is visiting a park with a friend’s family.

Fourth-graders should obtain a paper voucher from the Every Kid in a Park website at www.everykidinapark.

WHERE TO BUY REC PASSES

FEDERAL Northwest Forest Pass (annual, $30) In person: Methow Valley Ranger District, 24 West Chewuch Road, Winthrop, 996-4003 Local vendors (annual and day passes): Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies, Mazama, 996-2515 Methow Cycle & Sport, Winthrop, 996-3645 Valley Hardware Do it Center, Twisp, 997-3355 Winthrop Mountain Sports, Winthrop, 996-2886 Online or by phone: U.S. Forest Service: www.fs.usda.gov/ main/r6/passes-permits/recreation U.S. Geological Survey store at store. usgs.gov, (888) 275-8747 You can also get the Interagency Annual Pass from both of the above places.

Interagency Annual Pass ($80) In person: Methow Valley Ranger District, 24 West Chewuch Road, Winthrop, 996-4003 For the Interagency Senior Pass ($10) and the Interagency Access Pass or Interagency Annual Military Pass (both free), you must go in person. gov, and then exchange it for the pass at a ranger station (or simply use the voucher). Teachers, camp directors and leaders of religious groups can also obtain the pass for all their fourth-graders. The program, begun last year, is a federal initiative to encourage more young people and their families to become acquainted with parks and wildlife areas.

STATE PASSES The state doesn’t provide a break for older recreationists (except those

Don’t miss a single issue of the Methow Valley’s favorite news source!

Subscribe and you’ll get each issue of the Methow Valley News delivered to you weekly and receive a great savings off the newsstand price.

52 ISSUES $33 within Okanogan County $44 outside Okanogan County $55 outside Washington State

509 997-7011 ~ www.methowvalleynews.com PO Box 97 Twisp, WA 98856

Summer Guide 2016

Interagency 4th-Grade Pass www.everykidinapark.gov

National Forest Recreation Day Pass (day, $5) In person: at trailheads; requires exact amount or check Local vendors (day passes only): Mazama Country Inn, Mazama, 996-2681 The Outdoorsman, Winthrop, 996-2649 Online: National Forest Recreation Day ePass available at www.discovernw.org, (877) 874-6775 STATE Discover Pass (annual, $30; day, $5) In person: State Park ranger at: - Pearrygin Lake State Park, Winthrop - Alta Lake State Park, Pateros (no transaction fees) Local vendors (annual and day passes): The Outdoorsman, Winthrop, 996-2649 Pardners Mini Market, Winthrop, 996-2005 Valley Hardware Do it Center, Twisp, 997-3355 Winthrop Ace Hardware, Winthrop, 996-2150 who qualify for a low-income exemption), but there are a few package deals for those with special 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 or DNR area.

If you have a hunting or fishing license, you won’t need the Discover Pass to visit WDFW lands — you just have to get the WDFW vehicle-access pass, which is free when you get your license. Still, that pass won’t get you entrée to state parks or DNR lands.

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

When you get an annual Discover Pass from the state, you can use it for two vehicles, which you need to specify on the pass.

RESOURCES AND CHEAT SHEETS Because there are so many options, several agencies and organizations have created handy

Yancey’s Pateros Hardware, Pateros, (509) 923-2622 (includes transaction fees: $5, annual; $1.50, day) Online or by phone: https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wa/license/ select or (866) 320-9933 (includes transaction fees: $3, annual; $1, day) When renewing vehicle license tabs (annual): In person at the Department of Licensing By mail with tab-renewal form Online at www.dol.wa.gov (no transaction fees)

General pass and permit information: U.S. Forest Service: www.fs.usda.gov/ okawen/ (follow the link to “Passes & Permits” and then “Recreation 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.

Outdoor Recreation Information Center, (800) 270-7504 question-and-answer guides and fact sheets to help you determine which pass is most appropriate.

• Try the Forest Service guide at www.fs.usda.gov/okawen/ (follow the link to the “Passes & Permits” and then “Recreation Passes & Permits”).

• Also useful are the “Which Pass Do I Need Q&A” link on the Washington Trails Association website at www. wta.org/hiking-info/passes/passes-andpermit-info and the summary on their Recreation Pass info page.

• Discover your Northwest offers a Recreation Pass Quick Guide at www. discovernw.org (under “Store,” and then “Recreation Passes”), which explains the details of various passes to help you determine the best option. You can also follow a link to their Pass & Fee Guide, which lists different recreation sites, the federal or state agency that operates them, and the type of pass you’ll need to visit (plus links to purchase the appropriate pass).

• The Ranger Station at REI in Seattle, at (800) 270-7504, can walk you through the various options (and sell you a pass). They are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

45

Calendar See the What’s Happening page in the Methow Valley News each week for additions or changes. All phone numbers are in the 509 area code unless noted.

May

6-8 WINTHROP ‘49er DAYS: 71st annual

event features parade, food, demonstrations and much more in downtown Winthrop. Free. www.winthropwashington.com.

6 OPEN MIC: With Danbert Nobacon at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop.

Free. 996-3183. 7pm

Fridays

MUSIC: Rico Stover and Joe Marver at Twisp River Suites. Free with reservation. 997-0100. 5-7pm

Saturdays METHOW VALLEY FARMERS

MARKET: Local food, arts and crafts, and music at Methow Valley Community Center, Twisp. Free. www.methowvalleyfarmersmarket.com. 9am-noon.

7

SUNFLOWER TRAIL RELAY MARATHON AND HALF-MARATHON: From Mazama to Twisp. $75. danica@methowtrails.org.

8:30am

7 NATURALIST WALK: Mother’s Day walk

with Methow Conservancy at location to be determined. Free. 996-2870 or mary@ methowconservancy.org to register. 9-11:30am

7 8 MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH: At Sun Moun-

21

Sundays

21

1 BIRDING WALK: With Methow Conser-

21

2 FIX YOUR GEAR NIGHT: Get your out-

“DIRT WORKS” CLASS: Methow Conservancy and Classroom in Bloom sponsor “Composting Systems.” Free.

996-2368 or kate@classroominbloom.org to register. 9-10:30am THEATER: Seattle University presents Women of Troy at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. $15-$18. 997-7529. 7pm FOLK/AMERICANA/JAZZ: Larry Murante at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm LIVE MUSIC AND DINNER: At Twisp River Suites. $25. 997-0100.

NATURALIST WALK: With Methow Conservancy at location to be determined. Free. 996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy.org to register. 8-11am METHOW VALLEY RODEO: At rodeo grounds off of Twin Lakes Road between Twisp and Winthrop. $5-10; kids under 6 free. www.methowvalleyrodeo.com. 1pm PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Annual World Famous Pancake Breakfast, with rummage sale and fun run, at Mazama Community Club. $7; kids under 6 free.

341-4867. 8am-noon PAPER MAKING WORKSHOP: With Laura Karcher at Methow Gallery on TwispWorks campus. $45. 997-300. 2-5pm WORLD MUSIC: Arte Flamenco at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $15.

997-2787. 6:30pm WINTHROP MARKET: Local arts, crafts, food and vintage items at Mack Lloyd Park, Winthrop. Free. 429-9475.

10am-2pm

25 27

28-29 28

Saturdays TWISPWORKS CAMPUS:

COMIC BOOK GIVE-AWAY: At Twisp library. Free. 997-4681. 10am-2pm

CHILDREN’S THEATER: Wind in the Willows at The Merc Playhouse, Winthrop. $5-$18. 997-7529.

7pm Friday, Saturday; 2pm Sunday

April 29-May 1

tain Lodge. $12.95-$29; kids 4 and under free. 996-4707 for reservation. 9am-2pm

3 BLUEBELL CAFE: “An Evening in the En-

chanted Forest” features locally sourced food, an art auction, songs and a raffle, with benefits to support the Methow Valley Community School, at Methow Valley Community Center, Twisp. $35$60. 997-4447. 5-7pm

Inn, Mazama. $10-$20; kids 4 and under free. 996-3906 for reservation.

9am-2pm

12 LIBRARY PRESENTATION: Twisp library 29

vancy’s First Tuesday program is “The Triumph of Seeds,” presented by author and biologist Thor Hanson at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. Free. 996-2870. 7pm

13 FOLK: William Schmitt at Old

Open studios and classes at the Twisp campus. Free. 997-3300. 10am-2pm

3 ALL ABOUT SEEDS: Methow Conser-

8 MOTHER’S DAY BUFFET: At Freestone

hosts Antonio Davidson-Gómez presenting “Saffron and Honey: Muslims, Jews and Christians in Medieval Spain,” a Humanities Washington program. Free.

997-4681. 6pm

Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free.

996-3183. 7pm

17

5-8 CHILDREN’S THEATER: Wind in the

NATURALIST WALK: With Methow Conservancy, at location to be determined. Free. 996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy.org to register. 1-4pm

5 FIX YOUR GEAR NIGHT: Get your out-

CRUISE-IN: Gathering of cars, trucks, motorcycles or anything on wheels, plus barbecue and sodas, at Mike Sweeney’s, 55 Ross Road, Carlton. Free. 341-4255. 6-8pm

Willows at The Merc Playhouse, Winthrop. $5-$18. 997-7529. 7pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday; 2pm Sunday door gear fixed for free at eqpd on the TwispWorks campus. 997-2010. 4-7pm

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

18

28

28

JUNE

Fridays

MUSIC: Rico Stover and Joe Marver at Twisp River Suites. Free with reservation. 997-0100. 5-7pm METHOW VALLEY FARMERS MARKET: Local food, arts and crafts, and music at Methow Valley Community Center, Twisp. Free. www.methowvalleyfarmersmarket.com. 9am-noon.

TWISPWORKS CAMPUS: Open studios and classes at the Twisp campus. Free. 997-3300. 10am-2pm

Saturdays Saturdays

9 WINTHROP MARKET: Local arts, crafts, food and vintage items at Mack Lloyd Park, Winthrop. Free.

429-9475. 10am-2pm

vancy at location to be determined. Free.

996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy. org to register. 7-8:30am

door gear fixed for free at eqpd on the TwispWorks campus. 997-2010. 4-7pm

3 FOLK/PUNK/BLUES: Antonette Goroch at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop.

Free. 996-3183. 7pm

4

FELTING WORKSHOP: With Jae Cremin at Education Station, TwispWorks. $60.

997-3300. 1-5pm

7 METHOW’S NATIVE PLANTS: Methow

Conservancy’s First Tuesday program presents Rob Crandall discussion the valley’s native plants, at Methow Valley Interpretive Center, Twisp. Free.

996-2870. 7pm

9 BIRDING WALK: With Methow Conser-

vancy at location to be determined. Free.

996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy. org to register. 7-8:30am

9

LIBRARY PRESENTATION: Twisp library author Jack Nisbet presenting his latest book, Ancient Places: People and Landscape in the Emerging Northwest. Free.

997-4681. 6pm

10 JAZZ/FUNK: McTuff at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free.

996-3183. 7pm

11-12 DRAWING AND PAINTING

WORKSHOP: With Diana Sanford at Liberty Bell High School art room. $225.

997-2787. 9am-5pm

11

DRAWING WORKSHOP: How to draw a leaf with Perri Howard at Tree Cooler on TwispWorks campus. $60. 1-5pm

11

EXHIBIT OPENINGS: “Back to the Garden” and Sara Ashford exhibit both open with reception at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. Free. 997-2787. 4-8pm

NORTH CASCADES FLY FISHING 509-996-3731 • fishandfloat.com

Valley Hardware IN TWISP

(509) 997-3355

46

Longest Standing Guide Service in the Methow Valley Methow Valley News

14 BIRDING WALK: With Methow Conser- 22 MUSIC AND DINNER: Live music vancy at location to be determined. Free.

996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy. org to register. 7-8:30am

15 CRUISE-IN: Gathering of cars, trucks, motorcycles or anything on wheels, plus barbecue and sodas, at Riverbend RV Park, Highway 20 near Twisp. Free.

341-4255. 6-8pm

and dinner at Twisp River Suites. $25.

997-0100.

24-26

THEATER: Venus in Fur at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. $15-$18.

997-7529. 7:30pm Friday, Saturday, 2pm Sunday

24 ROCK: Matthew Sziachetka at Old

17 AMERICAN GYPSY BLUES: Hot Damn

Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free.

996-3183. 7pm

18-19 WILDLIFE TRACKING: Learn wild-

Lesa Sevin at Education Station, TwispWorks. $60. 997-3300. 1-5pm

Scandal at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm

life sign tracking with David Moskowitz and Casey McFarland. $375. 996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy.org to register.

18 “DIRT WORKS” PROGRAM: Methow

Conservancy and Classroom in Bloom present “Soil Health for Fertility and Natural Pest Control.” Free. 996-2368 or kate@ classroominbloom.org to register. 9-10:30am

18 HOMEBREWING WORKSHOP: With

Mike Scarsella at Education Station, TwispWorks campus. $60. 997-3300.

1-5pm

18 WORLD MUSIC: Sin Fronteras as Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $15. 998-2787.

6:30pm

20 NATURALIST HIKE: With Methow

Conservancy at location to be determined. 996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy.org to register. 7am-noon

Sundays

WINTHROP MARKET: Local arts, crafts, food and vintage items at Mack Lloyd Park, Winthrop. Free.

429-9475. 10am-2pm MUSIC: Generals 7 Dixieland Band and no-host social at Sun Mountain Lodge.

Free. 996-4707. 6:30-8pm MUSIC: Wild Mountain Nation at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free.

996-3183. 7pm KNIFE SHARPENING WORKSHOP: With Bob Kramer at Education Station, TwispWorks. $90. 997-3300. 1-5pm MUSIC: Hank Cramer and no-host social at Sun Mountain Lodge. Free.

996-4707. 6:30-8pm METHOW ARTS FESTIVAL: Music, food, arts demonstrations, hands-on projects and more at Twisp City Park. $5-$9. info@ methowartsalliance.org. 11:30am-3pm MUSIC AND DINNER: Rabbit Wilde performs at Sun Mountain Lodge, dinner included. $24.95-$41.95. 996-4707 for reservation. 6pm SUMMER ART CAMP FOR KIDS: For ages 8-11, “Draw, Build, Paint” with Margaret Kingston, at TwispWorks campus. $150. 997-2787. 10am-2pm YOUNG ADULT ART INTENSIVE: With teaching artists, for kids ages 13-18, at TwispWorks campus. info@doorno3.com

by June 1 to register. 10:30am-3:30pm

1 1

25 PERSONAL JOURNEY WORKSHOP: With 2 June 29-July 2 THEATER: Venus in Fur at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. $15$18. 997-7529. 7:30pm

JULY

Fridays MUSIC: Rico Stover and Joe

Marver at Twisp River Suites. Free with reservation. 997-0100. 5-7pm

Saturdays METHOW VALLEY FARMERS

MARKET: Local food, arts and crafts, and music at Methow Valley Community Center, Twisp. Free. www.methowvalleyfarmersmarket.com. 9am-noon.

Saturdays TWISPWORKS CAMPUS:

Open studios and classes at the Twisp campus. Free. 997-3300. 10am-2pm

2 4 4

5-7 5-8

7 MUSIC AND DINNER: Tribute to 1950s

music at Twisp River Suites. Price to be announced. 997-0100.

7 FIX YOUR GEAR NIGHT: Get your out-

door gear fixed for free at eqpd on the TwispWorks campus. 997-2010. 4-7pm

8

ACOUSTIC INDIE FOLK: The Alkis at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free.

996-3183. 7pm

9

ARTIST TO ARTIST: Local artist Dan Brown hosts other local and regional artists at his studio, 16 Mock Road, Okanogan. Free. 997-2787. 5-7pm

11-16 YOUTH DRAMA CAMP: Focusing

on works of Shakespeare, for kids ages 8-18 at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp.

9097-2579 or www.mercplayhouse.org.

10am-4pm

12-14 SUMMER ART CAMP FOR KIDS: For ages 5-8, “Draw, Build, Paint” with Margaret Kingston, at TwispWorks campus. $150. 997-2787. 10am-2pm

14

LIBRARY PRESENTATION: Twisp library hosts presentation by Rod Molzahn, “Bringing Local History Alive!” Free.

997-4681. 6pm

15-17

WINTHROP RHYTHM & BLUES FESTIVAL: Three days of music at the Blues Ranch on Highway 20 west of Winthrop. $90-$100; $45 for camping. www.winthropbluesfestival.com for details

Shafer Historical Museum & Village A Window into the Past...

Shafer Museum features a New Barn and Farm Exhibit Across from “THE CASTLE”, a log home standing on its original site, built in 1896 for entrepreneur Guy Waring.

• Open air museum with 17 buildings which includes authentic homestead structures • World class mining exhibit featuring equipment used in historic local mines, including a Stamp Mill replica • 1914 Model T and 1924 Rickenbacker Coupe • Interpretive signs and 4,000 historic photos

Shafer Historical Museum & Village

Open Mid May through September 7 days a week – 10am to 5pm 285 Castle Avenue • Winthrop WA

www.shafermuseum.com Summer Guide 2016

47

15 ACOUSTIC/ROCK/POP/SOUL: The

Front at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm BEES AND POLLINATORS: Methow Conservancy and Classroom in Bloom sponsor “Bees and Pollinators” with Alexa Whipple and Susie Kowalczyk. Free.

996-2368 or kate@classroominbloom.org to register. 9-10:30am WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP: With Paula Christen at Education Station, TwispWorks campus. $60. 997-3300. 1-5pm METHOW RIVER CAMP: Five-day, four-night ecology-adventure camp for 10- to 14-year-olds. dana@methownet. com, or call 997-9011 to register.

SUMMER ART CAMP FOR KIDS: For ages 5-8, “Print Fun in the Sun” with Laura Gunnip, at TwispWorks campus. $150. 997-2787. 10am-2pm CRUISE-IN: Gathering of cars, trucks, motorcycles or anything on wheels, plus barbecue and sodas, at Twisp Airport.

Free. 341-4255. 6-8pm ROCK: Stubborn Son at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free.

996-3183. 7pm MEMOIR WORKSHOP: With Susan Poulson at Education Station, TwispWorks. $60. 997-3300. 1-4pm EXHIBIT OPENINGS: “Music as Muse” and “Blood and Thunder” by the artist Vblast, both at Confluence Gallery. Free.

997-2787. 4-8pm SUMMER ART CAMP FOR KIDS: For ages 8-11, “T-shirts, Buttons & Stamps” with Laura Gunnip, at TwispWorks campus. $150. 997-2787. 10am-2pm METHOW VALLEY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTVAL: Five chamber music concerts and food at Signal Hill Ranch, between Twisp and Winthrop. $25 per event.

997-5000, www.methowmusicfestival.org.

16

16

18-22 19-21 20 22 23 23

26-28

28-Aug. 6

29 MUSIC AND ART: Fellowship String

Quartet performs and artist Cammy Davis paints at Confluence Gallery, Twisp.

Free. 997-2787. 6:30pm

29 OUTDOOR MOVIE: Zootopia at Celes-

tial Cinemas, Spring Creek Ranch, Winthrop; plus food and beer garden, kids activities. $5-$12. Springcreekwinthrop. com/celestial-cinemas. 6:30pm activities begin, 8:30pm movie

29 JAZZY FOLK: Alyse Black Trio at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free.

996-3183. 7pm

30 OUTDOOR MOVIE: Star Wars, the Force

Awakens at Celestial Cinemas, Spring Creek Ranch, Winthrop; plus food and beer garden, kids activities. $5-$12.

Springcreekwinthrop.com/celestial-cinemas.

6:30pm activities begin, 8:30pm movie

AUGUST

Fridays

MUSIC: Rico Stover and Joe Marver at Twisp River Suites. Free with reservation. 997-0100. 5-7pm

Saturdays METHOW VALLEY FARMERS

MARKET: Local food, arts and crafts, and music at Methow Valley Community Center, Twisp. Free. www.methowvalleyfarmersmarket.com. 9am-noon.

Saturdays TWISPWORKS CAMPUS:

Open studios and classes at the Twisp campus. Free. 997-3300. 10am-2pm

Sundays

WINTHROP MARKET: Local arts, crafts, food and vintage items at Mack Lloyd Park, Winthrop. Free.

429-9475. 10am-2pm

1-5 PIPESTONE SUMMER MUSIC CAMP:

Various sessions for children 8 and older and adults. cascadiamusic4u@gmail.com to register, or 997-0222. 9:30am-2pm; 12:15-5pm

4 FIX YOUR GEAR NIGHT: Get your out-

door gear fixed for free at eqpd on the TwispWorks campus. 997-2010. 4-7pm

5 LIVING WITH FIRE: Okanogan Conserva-

tion District presentation at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. Free. 997-2787. 7-9pm

5 INDIE FOLK ROCK: You Knew Me When at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop.

Free. 996-3183. 7pm

6

METHOW VALLEY HOME TOUR: Theme is “Firewise Homes: Fire-adapted Building and Landscaping,” at locations throughout the Methow Valley; buy tickets at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $25.

997-2787. 10am-5pm HERBAL NOURISHMENT WORKSHOP: With Robin Baire at Education Station, TwispWorks. $35. 997-3300. 1-3pm MUSICAL THEATER CAMP: Songs and dances from a Disney musical, for kids ages 8–18 at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. 997-2579 or www.mercplayhouse.org. 10am-4pm OMAK STAMPEDE: Rodeo, World Famous Suicide Race, Indian encampment and more. www.omakstampede.org for complete information LIBRARY PRESENTATION: Twisp library hosts Hank Cramer presenting “The Seven Tongues of Flame: Ireland’s Easter Rebellion of 1916,” a Humanities Washington program. Free. 997-4681. 6pm ACOUSTIC HILLBILLY ROCK: Whiskey Fever at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm SEED SAVING: Methow Conservancy and Classroom in Bloom sponsor “Seed Saving” with Anaka Mines. Free.

996-2368 or kate@classroominbloom.org to register. 9-10:30am CERAMICS WORKSHOP: With Matt Armbrust at Education Station, TwispWorks. $50. 997-3300. 1-4pm CRUISE-IN: Cars, trucks, motorcycles or anything on wheels, plus barbecue and sodas, at Darold Brandenburg’s, 35 Witte Road. Free. 341-4255. 6-8pm BLUEGRASS ALT/FOLK: The Blackberry Bushes Stringband at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm POWER TOOL DRAG RACERS: Turn power tools into racing machines with Trent Whatley at Education Station, TwispWorks. $80. 997-3300. 1-5pm

6

8-12

11-14

12

27

FERMENTED FOODS WORKSHOP: With Kari Brown at Education Station, TwispWorks. $60. 997-3300. 1-5pm

27 MOUNTAINFILM TOUR: A selection

of some of the best films of the Telluride Film Festival, at Mack Lloyd Park, Winthrop. $10-$15. 699-0568 or www. northcascadesmountainhostel.com. 8pm

How long has it been since your last visit?

13 17

19

20

26 EXHIBIT CLOSING AND IMPROVISATION-

AL DANCE: Closing of “Music as Muse” at Confluence Gallery, Twisp, with improvisational dance by Christina Stout. Free.

997-2787. 4-8pm

Instream and riparian habitat restoration efforts are currently underway in local rivers to help improve water quality and recover native salmon and steelhead runs. These efforts may include restoration of large wood habitat in the river. Learn more about the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Plan and about how large wood restoration is critical to recovering fish stocks at www.ucsrb.com.

Sponsored by

48

Rainy Pass to Cutthroat Lake Trailhead. $75. danica@methowtrails.org. 8am

13

Restoration Underway

www.winthropchalets.com info@winthropchalets.com

27 CUTTHROAT CLASSIC TRAIL RUN: From

11

Notice: Salmon Habitat

509-996-3113 • 1-800-527-3113

26

JAZZ FUNK: The Hoyer Brothers at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop.

Free. 996-3183. 7pm

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

Bring coupon and/or picture of coupon to receive

$2 off

for each person in your party. valid until - Oct 15, 2016 Open daily 9 am April 15- Oct 15

New for 2016 Tap or Scan Displays 3327 Ohme Rd. Wenatchee, WA ohmegardens.com (509) 662-5875

Boating Safety Guidelines

Know Before You Go! Ø Scout river conditions before putting in 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 Methow Valley News

SEPTEMBER Fridays

MUSIC: Rico Stover and Joe Marver at Twisp River Suites. Free with reservation. 997-0100. 5-7pm

Saturdays

METHOW VALLEY FARMERS MARKET: Local food, arts and crafts, and music at Methow Valley Community Center, Twisp. Free. www.methowvalleyfarmersmarket.com. 9am-noon.

Saturdays TWISPWORKS CAMPUS:

Open studios and classes at the Twisp campus. Free. 997-3300. 10am-2pm

1-4 MUSIC: Log Jam Festival at Old

Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop.

996-3183 or www.oldschoolhousebrewery. com for details. 7pm

1 FIX YOUR GEAR NIGHT: Get outdoor gear fixed free at eqpd on the TwispWorks campus. 997-2010. 4-7pm

4 WINTHROP MARKET: Local arts, crafts,

food and vintage items at Mack Lloyd Park, Winthrop. Free. 429-9475. 10am-2pm

3-4 METHOW VALLEY RODEO: At rodeo

grounds off of Twin Lakes Road between Twisp and Winthrop. $5-10; kids under 6 free. www.methowvalleyrodeo.com. 1pm

3-4 METHOW VALLEY ARTISTS’ STUDIO

Conservancy and Classroom in Bloom host “Preserving the Harvest” with Cameron Green. Free. 996-2368 or kate@classroominbloom.org to register. 9-10:30am

3

LEATHERWORKING WORKSHOP: With Mike Jolley at Education Station, TwispWorks. $70. 997-3300. 1-5pm

EXHIBIT OPENINGS: “Hearth” and works by Kim Mathews Wheaton both open at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. Free.

997-2787. 4-8pm

8 BENEFIT CONCERT: Hank Cramer and

Ken Bevis perform to benefit Methow At Home, at Twisp Valley Grange. By donation. methowathome.org. 6:30pm

9 MUSIC: Performer to be announced at

Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop.

Free. 996-3183. 7pm

10 WINTHROP VINTAGE WHEELS SHOW: METHOW VALLEY

Vintage cars, trucks, travel trailers, bicycles, tractors and more. Free. www. winthropwashington.com. 10am

10 STAINED GLASS WORKSHOP: With Sam

Carlin at Education Station, TwispWorks. $90. 997-3300. 1-5pm

16 WASHINGTON STATE POET LAUREATE:

Tod Marshall at location to be determined. $10. info@methowartsalliance.org. 6:30pm

16 FOLK AMERICANA: Jaspar Lepak Duo Mozart Brahms Schoenberg Music for your Soul

17 PRESERVING THE HARVEST: Methow

TOUR: Tour studios of local artists throughout the valley; sponsored by Confluence Gallery, Twisp. Free. 997-2787.

11am-5pm Saturday, 11am-4pm Sunday

at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop.

Free. 996-3183. 7pm

17

21

CRUISE-IN: Gathering of cars, trucks, motorcycles or anything on wheels, plus barbecue and sodas, at Lonnie McCown’s, 2725 Highway 153. Free.

341-4255. 6-8pm

24 METHOW VALLEY OFF-ROAD DUATH-

LON: Fourth annual race includes 40-kilometer mountain bike and 20-kilometer trail run segments; or 20K mountain bike/5K trail run alternative, teams or individuals; at Chickadee Trailhead. $35-$75. (206) 940-4507 or methowduathlon.blogspot.com. 9am

24 CIDER SQUEEZE: Methow Conservancy’s annual cider squeeze at Sabold farm on Twisp-Winthrop Eastside Road. Free.

996-2870. 2-4pm

24 MAKING DYES WITH COMPOSTS WORK-

SHOP: With Sara Ashford at Education Station, TwispWorks. $70. 997-3300.

1-5pm. 6pm

30

MUSIC: Herencia de Timbiquí at Methow Valley Community Center, Twisp. $5-$25. info@methowartsalliance.org. 7pm

Kevin Krentz, Artistic Director

July 28–August 6 $25.00 Tickets

www.methowmusicfestival.org

Summer Guide 2016

49

Directory of Advertisers Architects Johnston Architects . . . . . . . 51 Antiques/Collectables Poppie Jo Galleria . . . . . . . . 21 Robins Egg Bleu . . . . . . . . . 43 Trick Pony . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Automotive/Gasoline King’s Pacific Pride & Car Wash . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Mazama Store . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Winthrop Store . . . . . . . 41

Events/Festivals Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso Merc Playhouse Theater . .

Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival . . . . . . .

NC Mountain Hostel/ Mountain Film Tour . . . .

NC Mountain Hostel/ Off-Road Duathlon. . . . .

Omak Stampede . . . . . . .

Theater Under the Stars. . .

Twisp Valley Grange . . . .

Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival. . . . . . .

. . 18 . . 19 . . 49 . . 21 . . . .

. . . .

33 37 35 31

. . .3

Banquet Halls/Event Facilities Merc Playhouse Theater . . . . 19 Winthrop Barn Auditorium . . 11

Galleries Confluence Gallery. . . . . . . . . 7

Bicycle Dealers/Repair Methow Cycle & Sport . . . . . . 9

Groceries/Hardware Mazama Store . . . . . . . . . . 11 Valley Hardware Do-it Center . . 46

Cafés/Dining/Espresso Blue Star Coffee Roasters . . . .

Cascadian Home Farm . . . . .

Cinnamon Twisp Bakery . . . .

Fork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Freestone Inn . . . . . . . . . .

Hillside Catering . . . . . . . . .

Hometown Pizza . . . . . . . .

Jack’s Hut at Freestone Inn . .

Lariat Coffee Roasters . . . . .

Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso . .

Mazama Country Inn . . . . . .

Mazama Store . . . . . . . . . .

Old Schoolhouse Brewery . . .

Rocking Horse Bakery . . . . .

Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe . . . . . .

Smallwood Farms . . . . . . . .

Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . .

Trail’s End Bookstore . . . . . .

The Winthrop Store . . . . . . .

19 29 .9 11 15 36 39 23 .8 18 25 11 11 36 43 23 .9 25 41

Campgrounds/RV Parks Pine Near RV Park . . . . . . 30,47 Silverline Resort . . . . . . . . . 33 Winthrop KOA . . . . . . . . . . 31 Car Wash King’s Pacific Pride & Car Wash . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Emergency Services Aero Methow Rescue . . . . . . 10

50

Health/Medical Confluence Health . . . . . . . 21 Three Rivers Hospital . . . . . . 25 Ulrich’s Valley Pharmacy . . . . 33 Internet Service Providers Methownet.com . . . . . . . . . 49 Local Goods & Produce Blue Star Coffee Roasters . . .

Cascadian Home Farm . . . . .

Lariat Coffee Roasters . . . . .

Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso . .

Mazama Store . . . . . . . . . .

Methow Valley Ciderhouse . . .

Robins Egg Bleu . . . . . . . . .

Smallwood Farms . . . . . . . .

Thomson’s Custom Meats . . .

Lodging Central Reservations . . . .

Chewack River Guest Ranch Freestone Inn . . . . . . . .

Mazama Country Inn . . . .

Mazama Ranch House . . .

Methow River Lodge & Cabins . . . . . . . . . .

Mount Gardner Inn . . . . .

North Cascades Mountain Hostel . . . . . .

River Run Inn . . . . . . . .

Rolling Huts & Methow Tents . . . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

19 29 .8 18 11 40 43 23 19 52 25 15 25 36

. . 31 . . 23 . . 34 . . 43 . . 29

Lodging, Cont.

Silverline Resort . . . . . .

Sun Mountain Lodge . . .

Twisp River Suites . . . . .

The Virginian Resort . . .

The Winthrop Inn . . . . .

Winthrop KOA . . . . . . .

Winthrop Mountain View Chalets . . . . . . .

Wolf Creek Cabins & Lodging . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

33 .9 51 37 25 31

. . . 48 . . . 41

Massage Practitioners, Spa Services Nectar Skin Bar . . . . . . . . . 31 Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . . 9 Museums Shafer Historical Museum . . . 47 Organizations Cascade Farmland Assoc. .

City of Pateros . . . . . . .

Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance . . . . . . .

Merc Playhouse Theater .

Methow Conservancy . . .

Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation . .

Methow Trails . . . . . . .

Methow Valley Chamber Music Assoc. . . . . . . .

Shafer Historical Museum Theater Under the Stars. .

TwispWorks . . . . . . . .

Winthrop Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . .

. . . 40 . . . 51 . . . 39 . . . 19 . . . 24 . 35,48 . . . .7 . . . .

. . . .

. . . .

49 47 35 13

. . . .2

Radio KTRT 97.5 FM . . . . . . . . . . 30 Real Estate Blue Sky Real Estate . . . . . . . . 8 Coldwell Banker Winthrop Realty . . . . . . . . 51 Methow Valley Associates . . . 20 Recreation/Activities Bear Creek Golf Course . . . .

Chewack River Guest Ranch. .

Extreme Adventures. . . . . .

Freestone Inn . . . . . . . . .

Methow Cycle & Sport . . . .

Methow River Raft & Kayak .

. . . . . .

24 25 36 15 .9 41

Recreation/Activities, Cont.

Methow Trails . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Methow Valley Ciderhouse . . . 40 Morning Glory Balloon Tours . . 39 North Cascades Fly Fishing. . . 46 North Cascades Mountain Guides . . . . . . . . 18 Ohme Gardens . . . . . . . . . . 48 Slidewaters . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Shafer Historical Museum . . . 47 Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . . 9 TwispWorks . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Retail Aspen Grove . . . . . . . . .

Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies . . . . .

Jack’s Hut at Freestone Inn Lariat Coffee Roasters. . . .

Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso.

Mazama Store . . . . . . . .

Methow Cycle & Sport . . .

Nectar Skin Bar . . . . . . .

Outdoorsman . . . . . . . .

Poppie Jo Galleria . . . . . .

Red Hen Trading Co. . . . .

Robins Egg Bleu . . . . . . .

Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe . . . .

Sun Mountain Lodge . . . .

Trail’s End Bookstore . . . .

Trick Pony . . . . . . . . . .

Ulrich’s Valley Pharmacy . .

Valley Hardware Do-It Center. . . . . . . . .

The Wine Shed . . . . . . . .

Winthrop Mountain Sports Sporting Goods Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies . . . . .

Methow Cycle & Sport . . .

Outdoorsman . . . . . . . .

Sun Mountain Lodge . . . .

Valley Hardware Do-It Center . . . . . . . .

Winthrop Mountain Sports

. . 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18 23 .8 18 11 .9 31 10 21 34 43 43 .9 25 31 33

. . 46 . . 15 . . 15

. . . .

. . . .

18 .9 10 .9

. . 46 . . 15

Theaters Merc Playhouse Theater. . . . . 19 Theater Under the Stars. . . . . 35 Video Websites MethowTV . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Methow Valley News

Twisp River Suites

Your home away from home this summer Plus Paws Awhile Pet Suites

Pateros

At the confluence of the Methow & Columbia Rivers

City Of Pateros www.pateros.com

Plus Paws Awhile Pet Suites... our premier pet friendly units with private side yards

June 17-19, 2016 Spring City Wide Yard Sale

509.923.2571

July 15-17, 2016 68th Annual Apple Pie Jamboree

* Meticulously-appointed suites with full kitchens, fireplaces, screened porches, deep soaker tubs & wifi * Riverside fire pit, hammock and picnic tables * Steps away from dining and entertainment * Perfect for couples, families and groups

August 19-21, 2016 Pateros Hydroplane Races

breakfast included, smiles guaranteed!

September 17, 2016 Chelan Ridge Hawk Festival

855.784.8328 | 509.997.0100 140 W. Twisp Ave. | TwispRiverSuites.com

(Check website for dates)

December 2016 Christmas in the City

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

(Check website for dates)

Coldwell Banker Winthrop Realty #1

#1 Brokerage in Methow Valley #1 Listing Company COLDWELL BANKER WINTHROP REALTY

#1 Selling Company

$34 MILLION

#2 #3

509-996-2121 ColdwellBankerWinthropRealty.com #4

#5

#6

BROKERAGE GROSS SALES VOLUME

#7

#8

#9

(NWMLS 2015 DATA)

Your Local Lodging Source...keep your dollars in the Methow Valley!

Central Reservations, your local Methow Valley lodging source since 1982, located inside the Purple Sage Gallery at 245 Riverside Ave, Winthrop, on the old west boardwalk. We combine state of the art technology with down home hospitality. We offer secure online booking 24/7. We feature licensed, legal nightly rentals and local inns, as well as extended stay homes, and are happy to provide recommendations.

CentralReservations.net or call 509-996-2148 Lost River | Mazama | Winthrop | Twisp | Wolf Creek | Rendezvous