Methow Valley Summer 2017 by Methow Valley News

Methow Valley SUMMER

2017

A SUPPLEMENT OF THE METHOW VALLEY NEWS

Activities FOR EVERY INTEREST & ALL AGES

Calendar

OF SUMMER EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS

Information

FOR AN ENJOYABLE METHOW VALLEY VISIT

WinthropWashington.com

Kickin’ back in the Methow

T T

HE FANCY COWBOY BOOTS ON THE COVER OF “METHOW VAL-

LEY SUMMER 2017” PUT US IN MIND of relaxing with our feet up (and asking

where we could get some boots like those). In the background, the Early Winter Spires

at Washington Pass suggest that we should be outdoors doing something active.

Cassidy Butler readies for a ride, just one of a multitude of Methow experiences. PHOTO BY

DONNIE REDDINGTON

The Methow Valley accommodates stillness and movement in equal measure. If there’s a muscle group you want to use, we’ve got biking (road and mountain), hiking, backpacking, swimming, fıshing, boating, kayaking, camping, golf, rock climbing, horseback riding and more. We’ll even count strolling down Riverside Avenue in Winthrop or Glover Street in Twisp as action.

The relaxing part may also involved stargazing during the pristine Methow Valley nights, enjoying dinner or libations at one of our eating establishments, browsing the shops or farmers markets, enjoying a massage or yoga session, or taking in one of the many arts-andentertainment events offered throughout the summer. Check out the calendar starting on page 46 to learn what’s happening and how to be there. There is also an article highlighting a few of the major attractions. “Methow Valley Summer 2017” is intended to help you engage in whatever suits your fancy. Also this year, we’ve included a roundup of things that are new or changed since last summer, plus a brief overview of the valley’s intriguing history. Our basic information guide for visitors may save you some valuable time. We hope you will support our advertisers, who make this publication possible — and are the people you will encounter often throughout your Methow Valley stay.

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Methow Valley SUMMER

2017

A SUPPLEMENT OF THE METHOW VALLEY NEWS

On the cover:

PHOTO BY DONNI REDDINGTON

3 6 7 8  4

KICKIN’ BACK IN THE METHOW SINCE YOU WERE HERE LAST ... Notable changes in the Methow Valley mix

THE STARS ARE ALIGNED

THE EXPORTABLE EXPERIENCE ‘Made in the Methow’ products abound

RIVER RUNS 10 ATHROUGH IT

More than one, actually … and then there are the lakes

It will be a great summer for stargazing and planet viewing in the Methow

GET HOOKED

AN EVENTFUL SUMMER

FROM ROUGHING IT TO RVING

You don’t have to look hard to fınd activities for everyone, of any age

Fish the Valley

Methow Valley campgrounds offer scenery, activities and access

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE METHOW VALLEY

WONDERFUL IN THE WINTER

Travel and survival were challenges for early pioneers

The Methow Valley’s other season offers an enticing range of activities in a gorgeous setting

STILL LOOKING FOR 20 THINGS TO DO?

Contributors

Don Nelson

Ashley Lodato

is publisher and editor of the Methow Valley News.

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

Marcy Stamper

Bob Spiwak

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 contributor.

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

LEARNING NOWHERE TO GO 22 ACTIVE FOR KIDS AT METHOW 28 BUT EVERYWHERE SUMMER CAMPS

Arts, sports, music and outdoor experiences are part of the mix

24 TAKE A ROCKIN’ HIKE Understanding the geology of the valley will enhance your trail experience

A guide to backpacking in the North Cascades

YOU HAVE 39 WHEN TO PAY TO PLAY

A guide to recreational passes, fees, permits and licenses

BASIC INFO FOR 33 WHAT’S NOT TO BIKE? 44 VISITORS 46 CALENDAR OF 37 GREEN ACRES 50 DIRECTORY ADVERTISERS Trail or road, steep or flat — the Methow offers the right biking experience for everyone

Golfıng in the Methow Valley and beyond is always a scenic experience

Don Nelson | publisher/editor Darla Hussey | design

Rebecca Walker| office manager

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

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E E

Since you were here last ... NOTABLE CHANGES IN THE METHOW VALLEY MIX

VEN REGULAR METHOW VALLEY ENTHUSIASTS

WILL TYPICALLY NOTE THAT

some businesses have departed,

others have popped up and a few have moved since their last visit.

And other things may have gone

through transitions. If you haven’t

visited the valley in a few years, the changes may seem a bit more dra-

matic. Here are a few items to take note of if you haven’t been in the Methow for a summer or two:

• TRAIL’S E ND BOOKSTORE, a cherished Winthrop institution, has moved to a new, much more spacious site just a few doors down from its former location on Riverside Avenue. The bookstore is now in the White Buck Trading Co. building, with more than double the space and an expanded inventory. Inside you’ll fınd the usual excellent selection of books, cards and gifts, along with espresso, comfortable seating for browsing and a large play area for kids. Picture windows offer a view of the Chewuch River at its confluence with the Methow River. The bookstore hosts author readings and other events: check the Methow Valley News “What’s Happening” calendar. • SIXKNOT CIDER (SINCLAIR ORCHARDS) plans to establish a taproom in the former bookstore building. • METHOW VALLEY CIDERHOUSE has moved from its East Chewuch Road site to a new location on Highway 20 at the west edge of town. After extensive renovation, the ciderhouse moved into a former real estate offıce right next door to Lost River Winery’s tasting room. All the original ciders are available, plus a menu featuring locally produced food. The ciderhouse offers live music on most weekends, with no cover charge — check the Methow Valley News “What’s Happening” calendar. • OLIVER’S A RTISAN KITCHEN, a bistro-style cafe serving food, coffee and baked goods, is open on Bridge

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Street in Winthrop, next to The Tenderfoot and steps away from the four-way stop. Oliver’s aims to suit the morning coffee crowd, casual lunchers and early dinner seekers. The remodeled space is bright and welcoming. • KIND GRINDS ESPRESSO BAR (known for many years as Java Man Espresso) is right next door to Oliver’s Artisan Kitchen and under new ownership. The remodeled, refurnished and renamed coffee shop will offer not only espresso but also freshly made sandwiches and other menu items featuring organic ingredients. • A RROWLEAF BISTRO has moved from its former location on Riverside Avenue (now a town park — read about that elsewhere in this article) to 207 White Ave., at the junction of Twin Lakes Road and Highway 20 in Winthrop — where there is ample on-site parking. Arrowleaf ’s new look is airy and modern, yet cozy and with enough rustic touches to impart a casual atmosphere. The restaurant now offers menus for both the main dining area and the bar, featuring the same high-quality, locally sourced food. • OLD SCHOOLHOUSE BREWERY is under new ownership, but remains at the same location and features awardwinning ales brewed on-site, plus a varied menu for all ages and tastes. There is usually live music on the weekends, with no cover charge. • THE BARNYARD CINEMA , on Highway 20 across from East 20 Pizza, is scheduled to open this summer, and will specialize in independent fılms. The facility will also feature a bar and catering kitchen, and will be available for events. Watch for a grand opening notice in the Methow Valley News. • At the FREESTONE INN, the cozy little library has been converted to a cozy little bar called the Moonshine Bar, which features premium whiskeys, “moonshine cocktails” and a window to the lake in front of the lodge. You can also order espresso. The dining room has been renamed the Sandy Butte Bistro. • The T WISP MOVEMENT STU DIO — a gym, physical fıtness center and yoga studio — now occupies the

Confluence Park is new in downtown Winthrop. PHOTO BY DON NELSON

Glover Street space in Twisp that was formerly inhabited by the METHOW VALLEY NEWS. We’ve moved to the TwispWorks campus. • MOUNTAIN PAWS PET EDU CATION CENTER & FHARNHAM BRONZE has relocated to the TwispWorks campus from its former site on Riverside Avenue in Winthrop. • The RiveRside GRill in Winthrop is now operating in a smaller space and offering an Asian-fusion menu. • THE T WISP R IVER PUB, heavily damaged in a February 2016 fıre, has yet to re-open, but word around town is that it may be purchased and renovated. • THE NORTH CASCADES BASECAMP has been sold to the Seattlebased Bush School, and is no longer available as a lodging destination. • We lost a few businesses as well. VALLEY VIDEO, the T WISP LIQUOR STORE and MOTION AUTO SUPPLY closed during the past year. • CONFLUENCE PARK now occupies the site of the former Arrowleaf Bistro building on Riverside Avenue in Winthrop, which was razed to make way for the new park. Jim Pigott and his wife, Gaye, privately fınanced construction of the park. The Pigotts,

owners of Moccasin Lake Ranch, then donated the park to the Town of Winthrop. • THE WINTHROP R INK is now available for roller skating during the summer. Check the rink’s website, www.winthropicerink.com, for information about the facility’s schedule. The rink has skates to rent. • A self-guided walking tour of Winthrop is available in pamphlet form at for $2 at the SHAFER MUSEUM, the visitors center on Riverside Avenue, and various shops around town. • A new transportation alternative is the TRANGO bus system, which operates several times a day between Twisp and Winthrop and connects to Pateros and Okanogan. For schedule information, visit okanogantransit.com. • At T WISPWORKS, the new community plaza is expected to be completed this summer. • T WISP COMMONS PARK across from the Methow Valley Community Center features a new public art piece by local metal artist Barry Stromberger, called “Beeest” — it’s a giant metal sculpture of a yellow jacket. • The METHOW MONUMENT educational park, a tribute to the area’s Native American culture, is now open at Pateros Memorial Park.

The stars are aligned

W BY DAVID WARD

E ALL LOVE THE METHOW VALLEY

FOR ITS EXPANSIVE VISTAS,

slower-paced lifestyle and a sense

of quiet solitude found here. If you are visiting from Seattle or some other metropolitan area, be sure to indulge in our many summer

activities and soak up some blissful serenity.

Also notice how dark it is at night. The sky is not overwhelmed by the intrusive glare of unnecessary lights. There is nothing like sitting around a roaring fıre at night, but take a few steps away, let your eyes adjust to the darkness and gaze up at the wonders of a truly black sky. It is going to be a great summer for planet viewing. Ancient people noticed the planets wandering among the stars in ways that sometimes appeared bewildering to them. In fact, our word “planet” comes from a Greek word meaning wanderer. The planet Jupiter, named for the king of the gods, will rule the night sky for most of the summer. It will be the brightest thing up there in the evening besides the moon. Look for it high in the south, more to the east early in the summer and more to the west later. To make sure you are seeing it, check to see if it is twinkling. Stars twinkle and planets shine with a steady light. Everybody loves to look at Jupiter through a small telescope, and you will be able to see four of its moons changing their positions night after night. SEARCH FOR SATURN Another favorite in our summer sky this year is Saturn. Look for it to the east of Jupiter and lower in the sky. It is not nearly so bright, but still equal to the brighter stars. Of course,

it is known for its famous rings and you can easily spot them in a small telescope as well. Maybe you can see Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. It will appear just to be a “star” but always nearby Saturn in a telescope. The planet Venus, named for the beautiful goddess of love, can now be found in the early morning sky. Look for it shining very brightly in the east just before dawn. In August, the annual Perseid meteor shower, the Old Faithful of meteor showers, will grace our night skies again. You will probably see the most shooting stars in the early mornings of Aug. 11, 12 and 13. After midnight is best because our side of the earth is facing the oncoming meteors. They can be seen anywhere in the sky, but will appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus high in the northeast. The meteors have nothing to do with the constellation for which they are named, whose stars are trillions and trillions of miles distant. The shooting stars we see are high in our atmosphere less than 100 miles up. This year there will be a moon on display during the shower, which is not the greatest for seeing shooting stars. Look into the sky away from the moon and, with patience, you should see quite a few. MILKY WAY REVEALED Summer is the best time of year to view the Milky Way, our home in

CALL

the vast cosmos. Look for a band of hazy light extending clear across the sky from north to south. Do not even bother to try to see it from Seattle. Only the dark skies of the Methow Valley will allow you to see this subtle but spectacular sight. Ancient people had all kinds of crazy ideas about what it could actually be, like a celestial river or breast milk from a goddess. Now we know that hazy light is billions of stars like our sun, bound by gravity in a huge pinwheel structure. On Aug. 21 we will be treated to the most spectacular astronomical event ever, a total eclipse of the sun. It has been many years since we have been able to see one from America. Here in the Methow Valley, we will have a partial eclipse and the sun will be about 90 percent covered. That will be pretty cool, but do not settle for anything less than the grand prize, a total eclipse. Seeing a partial eclipse is like going to the Grand Canyon and instead of walking out to the overlook and seeing it for yourself, going to the gift shop instead and buying a postcard. Take my advice and go to Oregon, where you can see the moon completely cover the sun, a totally life-altering experience. Check online for the details of when and where and most importantly what eye protection you will need. Enjoy your time here this summer whether you live here or are visiting, and be sure to appreciate the beautiful and unique night sky above.

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An eventful summer YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOOK HARD TO FIND ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE, OF ANY AGE

T T

HERE’S NEVER A SHORTAGE OF THINGS TO DO DURING

A METHOW VALLEY SUMMER.

Many of them are on your own time,

others are scheduled. See our annual calendar of events on page 46 for preview of what’s coming.

Here are some major events to build a day or a vacation around. METHOW VALLEY RODEO This is as Western as it gets — and twice a year. The Methow Valley Rodeo is scheduled over the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, bracketing the summer with broncs and more. Most of the competitors are from around the region, and there are activities for the kids too (mutton bustin’ has to be seen to be understood). The 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 27 – 28, and Sept. 2 – 3. 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. METHOW MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL After the annual Fourth of July parade down Glover Street in Twisp, walk a couple of blocks to Twisp Town Park for the annual Methow Music &

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The Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary this summer. PHOTO BY STEVE

MITCHELL

Art Festival, an afternoon of musical performances, participatory art, contests, aerial artists, great local food, and fun for all ages. Root for your favorite contestant in the pie-eating and hula-hoop contests, then visit the dozen-or-so hands-on art booths: tie-dye T-shirts, letterpress printing, face painting, copper arts, the ever-popular wooden boat station, and more. Headline musicians will perform on the bandshell stage throughout the afternoon. The festival takes place from 11:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Cost is $5 for kids age 5 and older, and $11 for adults. 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 fınds a home at Signal Hill Ranch between Twisp and Winthrop. Now in its 22nd season, the Chamber Music Festival offers an intimate setting, creative programming and dazzling performances. In addition to the fıve center-stage concerts at Signal Hill, performances at various other locations around the valley will be offered for free (check the weekly Methow Valley News “What’s Happening” page for details). 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 27 and runs through Aug. 5. 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 2017 Home Tour theme is “Methow Hygge: The Cozy Home Methow Valley Style,” featuring valley homes and cabins that are warm and welcoming. Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”), is a popular Danish term that describes a quality of coziness, contentment, comfort and connection. The 16th annual Methow Valley Home Tour is on Aug. 4, 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. WINTHROP RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL The Rhythm and Blues Festival celebrates its 30th year in the Methow Valley with the usual stellar lineup of world-class performers, playing day and night July 21-23, at the Blues Ranch on Highway 20 just west of

Winthrop. Tickets are $110 in advance, or $120 at the gate. On-site camping is available for $45. Friday night’s show benefıts The Cove food bank in Twisp, and entrance is $10 or free with the festival pass. Visit www.winthropbluesfestival.com for details. DRAMA AT THE MERC PLAYHOUSE Twisp’s outstanding community theater has several events scheduled this summer: • May 5-14 –“Peter Pan” will be presented by the Tom Zbyszewski Children’s Theater. Cost is $5-$18. • May 18-21 — The Liberty Bell High School Drama Company presents the musical “Cry Baby.” Cost is $5-$10. • May 26-27 — See a play written by Methow Valley playwright Cindy Williams Gutierrez, “Words that Burn: a Dramatization of WWII Experiences of William Stafford, Lawson Inada and Guy Gabaldón in Their Own Words.” Cost is $5-$18. 997-7529. 7pm • July 27-Aug. 6 — Laugh out loud at “The Real Inspector Hound,” a comedic spoof in the style of an Agatha Christie parlor mystery. Visit www.mercplayhouse.org or call 997-7529 for more information about any of the performances. WINTHROP VINTAGE WHEELS SHOW Cap off the summer by taking in a stunning array of vintage automobiles, motorcycles, tractors, travel trailers and bicycles in downtown Winthrop on Sept. 9. And it’s all free.

The exportable experience

Y Y

‘MADE IN THE METHOW’ PRODUCTS ABOUND

OU CAN TAKE IT WITH YOU.

ON TWISP BA M A

The Winthrop Market offers Methow-made goods from many different sources. PHOTO BY DON NELSON

The Merc Playhouse

presents

CINN

The Methow Valley offers a host of tangible and quite portable reminders of our incredible creative forces, extensive talents and agricultural productivity. Extend the good vibe 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. 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. Don’t miss either the Farmers Market at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp, on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–noon; or the Winthrop Market at Mack Lloyd Park (near the Winthrop Barn) from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Sundays. For lots of useful information, you may be able to fınd copies of the 2016 “Made in the Methow” publication produced by the Methow Valley News. To see a digital version, go to www. methowvalleynews.com, scroll to the bottom of the home page and click on the “Made in the Methow” cover. The 2017 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.

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A river runs through it MORE THAN ONE, ACTUALLY … AND THEN THERE ARE THE LAKES

BY ASHLEY LODATO

“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” – Norman Maclean

A A

S THE CHILL OF A NORTH CASCADES

WINTER GIVES WAY TO FRESH spring and then summer’s heat,

Methow Valley residents and visi-

tors find themselves drawn to the lakes and rivers that — thanks to

sound management and conservation efforts — run free and clear.

Whether you like your water rapid or placid, glacial or temperate, we’ve got it, and most of it is easily accessible. The headwaters of the 1,900-squaremile Methow watershed sit high above Washington Pass in the North Cascades, where snow piles up all winter and begins to trickle its way down creeks and streams during the spring thaw. Spring rafting and kayaking on the Methow and Chewuch rivers can be exciting during runoff

Twisp Valley Grange

season, but also frigid and potentially dangerous, as both rivers are prone to shifting channels and logjams as huge volumes of water surge between their banks. But summer boating and floating — well, that’s a different, and friendlier, story. The waters of the rivers warm up, at least a little. The lakes rise and by July are usually a comfortable swimming temperature. By late July and early August, when the heat tends to be most intense, these water sources provide a welcome chance to cool down, as well as to splash around a play a bit. Get yourself out on the water this summer; have fun, be safe, and appreciate the bounty of a great year of snowfall. THE SAFETY DANCE Before you throw on bathing suits and grab the inflatables, a word of caution: Water activities can be very safe, but only if you’re paying attention to potential hazards. Consider a few factors every time you head out to play in the water. • Sun protection: Statistically speaking, you’re more likely to suffer from skin cancer than from any danger faced on a lake or river, so make sure sunscreen, sunglasses and a brimmed hat accompany you on your trips to the water. • Water levels: Water levels on the rivers can vary vastly throughout the season, since flows are dependent on

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

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is infrequent, when it does come it’s often accompanied by thunder and lighting, in which case one of the worst places you can be is in or on a body of water, as water is a superb conductor of electricity. If you hear thunder or see lightning, get yourself off the water until the storm is at least 5 miles away (count “one-one thousand, two-one thousand” between the flash and the thunder, then divide the total by fıve to determine how many miles away the storm is). TAKE ME TO THE RIVER The smoothest float trips in the Methow Valley are on the section of the Methow River between Winthrop and Twisp, and the August heat sends residents and visitors alike to this stretch in canoes, kayaks, inflatables,

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snowmelt and rainfall. Higher flows often mean small or non-existent eddies, bigger rapids (although they may be washed out), and debris floating in the river, as rising waters pick up logs, branches and trash from the banks and pull them into the current. Watch water levels and if the river seems to be moving too fast for your taste, or if it’s muddy (indicating recent rainfall), choose a different activity or head to a lake. • Skill levels: Consider the skill level and experience of every member of your group. Choose an activity that is within the range for the least-experienced person. If no one is comfortable being a group leader for a moving water activity, it might be a sign that you’re getting in over your heads. Your group might be better off at a lake today. • PFDs (personal flotation devices): For most people, wearing PFDs on moving water is a great idea. Washington state law requires children 12 and younger to wear PFDs in canoes, kayaks, rafts, and other small craft. Visit www.boat.wa.gov for more boater safety tips and regulations. • Helmets: They don’t call them “brain buckets” for nothing! Protect your noggin from rocks by wearing a helmet when kayaking or SUPing (stand-up paddleboarding) in whitewater. • Weather: Although rain in the Methow Valley in July and August

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tubes and SUPs. Upstream of Winthrop, both the Methow and the Chewuch rivers are home to numerous challenging rapids suitable for experienced boaters. If your experience, skill level, and/ or equipment aren’t suited for selfsupported river adventures, you’ll be in good hands with any of the commercial outfıts that run day trips on the river. Methow River Raft & Kayaks offers rafting, tubing, kayaking and SUPing on mellow or more-exciting stretches of river (509-341-4661, www.methowrafting.com). Blue Sky Outfıtters (800228-7238, www.blueskyoutfıtters.com) will take you straight into the heart of Black Canyon, where the Methow River’s biggest rapids await. For mellow river floats, you can also

Rafting the Methow River is a sublime experience. PHOTO BY MARY KIESAU

rent or buy tubes at several locations in the valley, including Hank’s Harvest Foods in Twisp. Don’t assume, however, that just because you’re tubing you can let down your guard. Rocks, submerged logs, strainers and small hydraulics can all be the cause of accidents, as can neglecting to wear PFDs as well as simply being immersed in cold water for a long time.

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hosts a state park and campground, and thus is both better-developed in terms of facilities (lawns, picnic tables, bathrooms, roped-off swimming beach) and busier than Patterson Lake. Pearrygin is warmer than Patterson earlier in the summer, as well. Patterson Lake has no real developed facilities or beaches, other than the vast lawn and docks near the Sun Mountain Lodge cabins. Those who are not guests at the cabins may use the docks and lakeside facilities while renting paddleboats, SUPs, canoes or kayaks from the lodge. Otherwise, there is one drive-up access point to the lake near the trailhead for Patterson Mountain, and various small brushy trails all lead down to rough and rocky beach areas. Other local options for swimming, boating, and floating are: Davis Lake, located off Upper Bear Creek Road; Big and Little Twin lakes, on Twin Lakes Road in Winthrop; and Black Pine Lake, accessed from either Libby Creek Road or Twisp River Road. Few things say summer as viscerally as floating on one of these lakes in bright sun or dappled shade, your own smiling reflection shimmering back up at you from the green depths.

Access to some of these lakes requires a parking or use permit; see article page 39 for more information. CASCADE MOUNTAIN HIGH If you want to really embrace the Methow swimming experience, there’s nothing like a refreshing dip in an alpine lake to give you the Cascade version of John Denver’s classic “Rocky Mountain High” feeling. Blue Lake, Lake Ann, Tiffany Lake and Cutthroat Lake are all roughly within 2 miles of trailheads, and offer some of the best alpine swimming around. Countless other longer hikes (including pretty much every hike from Twisp River Road trailheads) lead to lake destinations as well; all feature options for swimming in invigorating waters. If you have the stamina, haul your SUP and paddle up for the opportunity to explore the lakeshores from the water. BRIDGE(S) OVER TROUBLED WATERS Want to watch the water flow past without dipping a toe in? We suggest the vantage point of one of the Methow Valley’s gorgeous pedestrian bridges:

the Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge, the Sa Teekh Wa Bridge and the Spring Creek Bridge. The Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge (a suspension bridge is one whose main load-bearing capacity comes from cables hanging between two towers and anchored on the far ends of the bridge) is accessed from the Suspension Bridge parking area on Goat Creek Road in Mazama and involves a 1.5-kilometer walk down the Community Trail. Loiter on the bridge itself, or watch the Methow River stream by from the shade of the covered picnic tables on river right. Right in Winthrop one block up Riverside Avenue past the four-way stop, the Sa Teekh Wa Bridge is a classic cable-stay bridge (in which the load is born by towers or columns, over which the cables run and support the bridge deck) that spans 222 feet across the Chewuch River. A troll has been spotted numerous times on river right, watching those who trip-trap over the very sturdy bridge. After you’ve current-watched for a while, follow the bridge to a trail that features interpretive signs detailing the area’s rich human and environmental history, from indigenous people to lumbering times

TWISPWORKS.ORG

to salmon habitat. The Spring Creek Bridge — a cablestay bridge with an impressive 385foot span — is the best place to watch other boaters and tubers head downriver, as many people launch from the Winthrop Barn or just downstream of the confluence of the Methow and Chewuch rivers. ROLL ON, COLUMBIA If you’re headed out of the Methow Valley to the east, budget time for a stop at Alta Lake just before Pateros or at Lake Pateros itself, which is an estuary where the Methow River flows into the Columbia (or rather, where the Columbia backs up into the Methow, depending on how much water is being released downriver at Wells Dam). This short stretch of relatively tranquil water is easily accessed from the road and often gives canoeists or kayakers glimpses of beavers, muskrats and bald eagles. One could, with the right skill level, equipment options and shuttles, navigate the entire Methow River from above Mazama to the confluence with the Columbia, exploring the entire Methow Valley via the river that runs through it.

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 12

Get hooked

Methow Valley

regulations and information METHOW NATURAL HISTORY

CHEWUCK RIVER

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

8 mi. to mouth

May 27 - Aug 15

W AT E

Boulder Creek

METHOW RIVER

Weeman B. to Foghorn D.

WEEMAN BRIDGE

May 27 - Aug 15

CONSERVE METHOW VALLEY TROUT THROUGH SAFE CATCH & RELEASE

Wolf Creek

• 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.

PEARRYGIN COUGAR

•WINTHROP

FOGHORN DAM

near Winthrop

Winthrop National Fish Hatchery Tours: Call 509-996-2424 for information.

CAMPBELL DAVIS

PATTERSON BIG TWIN LITTLE TWIN

METHOW RIVER

COLOR KEY: CLOSED WATERS

May 27 - Sept 30

Foghorn D. to Lower Burma B.

May 27 - Aug 15 W AT E

Beaver Creek

WAR CREEK

•TWISP

TWISP RIVER

War Creek to mouth

May 27 - Aug 15 k

Lakes: Rainbow Trout, West Slope Cutthroat, Kokanee, Eastern Brook Trout (higher lakes). Some private lakes hold Brown Trout and Tiger Trout. Rivers: Rainbow Trout, West Slope Cutthroat, Bull Trout, Eastern Brook Trout, Whitefish, Steelhead, Chinook, Coho & Sockeye Salmon.

LAKES

HWY 20 to OKANOGAN/OMAK

m or

FISH OF THE METHOW VALLEY

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 nymphs and adults, grasshoppers, ants, beetles and other terrestrials.

ilk

WHAT METHOW VALLEY FISH EAT

May 27 - Sept 15

FISHING UPDATES AND INFORMATION • The Outdoorsman, 170 Riverside Ave., Winthrop, 996-2649, www.theoutdoorsmanstore.net, lance@theoutdoorsmanstore.net • Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, http://wdfw.wa.gov/fıshing; http:// wdfw.wa.gov/fıshing/washington/County/ Okanogan; http://wdfw.wa.gov/weekender/region_two.html

Lake & Stream

TO THIRTY MILE

EIGHT MILE

BUCK LAKE

•MAZAMA

LOCAL FLY FISHING GUIDES • North Cascades Fly Fishing: Kevin VanBueren, 996-3731, www.fıshandfloat.com • Methow Fishing Adventures: Leaf Seaburg and Sarah Lane, www.flyfısherproshop.com/blog, methowfıshingadventures@gmail.com, (509) 429-7298 • Griff ’s Fly Fishing Adventures, Rodney and Clint Griffıth, (509) 929-3813, (509) 3414994, www.griffsflyfıshing.com

TO HARTS PASS

FISHING LICENSE VENDORS • Pardners Mini Market, Winthrop • Valley Do it Center, Twisp • Ace Hardware, Winthrop

TO WASHINGTON PASS

Summer fıshing opportunities are abundant and varied in the Methow Valley. 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 remote a high mountain lake where the trout are so hungry they almost jump on your hook, once you land your fırst “big one” it’s easy to get hooked. Before you head out it’s important to check local regulations and restrictions and make sure your fıshing license is current. Licenses expire every year on March 31 and new ones can be purchased online (fıshhunt.dfw.wa.gov) or at registered vendors (listed below). Temporary licenses for one to three days are also available. Children under 15 fısh for free in Washington. Upon purchase of your license, you receive a Vehicle Access Pass to display at required fıshing access sites managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The annual Kids Fishing Day (Saturday, June 10) is hosted by the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery. This event is co-sponsored by government, tribal, nonprofıt and community groups. The accompanying map includes basic information you need to get started. Here are some other local resources:

CLO SED WA TER S

FISH THE VALLEY

BLACK PINE

FISHING WITH BAIT

When fishing with bait, trout are counted as part of the daily limit, whether kept or released. Statewide rules apply for lakes no minimum size, five fish limit. Season: Libby Alta, Pearrygin Lakes: Apr 22 - Sept 30 Creek Patterson Lake: Open year around Black Pine Lake: Open year around Winter Lakes: Bait limit 5 fish. Cougar, Campbell, Davis: Sept 1 - Mar 31

CATCH & RELEASE, SELECTIVE GEAR RULES, APPLY ON ALL METHOW RIVERS & STREAMS •CARLTON

HWY 153

Winter Lakes Summer Regulations:

CATCH & RELEASE ONLY

Cougar, Campbell, Davis: Apr 22 - Aug 31 Selective gear rules apply.

SELECTIVE GEAR RULES

Gold Creek

METHOW STEELHEAD REGULATIONS: Opening and closure determined by WDFW During open season: 2 adipose fin clipped Steelhead can be taken per day. ALL WILD MUST BE RELEASED. Gold Creek to Lower Burma Bridge: May 27 - Sept 15 (unless opened by WSFW special regulations)

Gold Creek

Only unscented, artificial flies/lures with single barbless hooks are allowed. METHOW • No motorized boats, except under special rules for individual waters LOWER Electric motors allowed. BURMA BRIDGE Big Twin and Little Twin: Selective gear rules, trout limit, 1. Open Apr 22 - Oct 31 Black: Upper Chewuck, year round selective gear rules. H W Y See WDFW Fishing regs. for definition of terms, 15 additional closures, and whitefish seasons 3

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 Questions contact Methow Fishing Adventures 509-429-7298 Content reviewed by WDFW.

CLOSED WATERS

(unless opened by WDFW special regulations)

•PATEROS HWY 97

ALTA LAKE

 13

From roughing it to RVing

F F

METHOW VALLEY CAMPGROUNDS OFFER SCENERY, ACTIVITIES AND ACCESS

OR MANY METHOW VAL-

LEY VISITORS, THE ULTI-

MATE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE includes camping, whether you

pitch a tent, tow a trailer or drive

an RV. Between the public and pri-

vate facilities from one end of the

valley to the other, there are plenty of popular options.

Camping is popular at two state parks in the Methow Valley: Pearrygin Lake State Park near Winthrop, and Alta Lake State Park near Pateros. The state Discover Pass is required for day use, but not required for visitors who are staying overnight and pay the cost of a campground. For fıshing, 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, fılls up well in advance, so don’t delay. Pearrygin Lake offers swimming, fıshing, 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 fıshing and water skiing. The park has a full range of overnight accommodations, including

standard tent sites, full RV hook-up sites, furnished cabins with kitchenettes, and a vacation house. There is a dump station, restrooms and showers. Campfıre programs are offered in the amphitheater. There are hiking and biking opportunities around the park as well. Alta Lake State Park was at the heart of the Carlton Complex fıres during the summer of 2014. Although the 174-acre 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 fıshing during summer months, along with windsurfıng 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. There are also hiking trails nearby. 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 fıshing. 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 offıce 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

Camping options are cause for smiling. PHOTO BY STEVE MITCHELL locations and descriptions, visit the Methow Valley Ranger district page

at www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/ recarea/?recid=59073.

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 14

Fresh Fruit & Veggies, local arts, crafts & more! Saturdays 9am - noon at the Methow Valley Community Center 201 Hwy 20 S., Twisp

The Methow Valley Ranger station is located in Winthrop on West Chewuch Road, above the softball fıeld. The phone number is 996-4000. A Northwest Forest Pass is required for some trailheads. The Methow Valley is also home to a number of privately operated RV parks and campgrounds. Located on the shoreline of Pearrygin Lake not far from the state park, 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 http://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 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 fıshing, 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 http://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 park along the Methow River. Full hook-up RV sites have 30-amp electric, septic and

water and room for tents. Riverfront tent campsites have picnic tables and fıre 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, with excellent steelhead fıshing 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 different levels of “roughing it.” The tent sites have picnic tables and fıre pits. The deluxe cabins have running water, electricity, showers and kitchenettes. Rustic cabins with no running water or electricity are another alternative for 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 Outfıtters 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.

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 15

A short history of the Methow Valley

TRAVEL AND SURVIVAL WERE CHALLENGES FOR EARLY PIONEERS BY MARCY STAMPER

“A veritable garden of Eden — without the serpent.”

T T

HAT’S HOW METHOW

VALLEY NEWS FOUNDING

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER HARRY

Marble described this cleft between the mountains a century ago, when there were only a few hundred

inhabitants — mostly homesteaders, trappers and miners trying to eke out a living from the land.

While the Methow has always attracted resourceful characters with energy and ambition, fırst they had to get to Eden. Transportation to and within the valley has never been that effıcient. Today’s inhabitants have the relative luxury of paved, well-graded roads, but for at least half the year there is essentially only one way in and out. Transportation options radically changed life for the Methow Indians, the fırst inhabitants of the valley. While for thousands of years the Methows lived in the valley yearround, once they acquired horses they adopted a nomadic lifestyle, heading to warmer regions in the winter as they followed fısh, deer and bear, and roots and berries. When the area was opened to non-Indian settlement in 1886 and the Methow people were expelled, homesteaders and prospectors began fıltering into the area. These settlers needed considerable drive just to get to the Methow, even

 16

though they had more transportation options than there are today — that is, other than a private automobile. Before the road from Pateros to Winthrop was constructed, travel to the area was by steamboat and then horse, stagecoach or on foot. Construction on the main valley road began in 1897 and a rough track reached Harts Pass 12 years later, built in part by convict labor. The steamboat City of Ellensburg plied the Columbia River from Wenatchee to Brewster starting in the late 1880s. Once in Brewster, the enterprising traveler had to follow a rutted wagon road or one of several steep trails across the mountains to emerge near Benson or Gold creeks. In 1906, the Methow Valley Stage Line left Pateros daily for Methow, Libby, Silver, Twisp and Winthrop, carrying mail, passengers and baggage. The round trip between the valley and Wenatchee took at least three days. For the fırst time in decades, Methow residents and visitors can now avail themselves of public transportation. It’s not a stagecoach, but TranGO buses run hourly between Twisp and Winthrop, and other routes go south through Carlton to Pateros and over the Loup to Okanogan and Omak. THE NORTH CASCADES ROUTE Getting across the mountains is another matter entirely. At the turn of the last century, the northerly route across the Cascades was to go to Sedro-Woolley by railroad before winding along 80 to 90 miles on pony and foot trails. While these days the closing of the North Cascades Highway is, depending on your perspective, a blessing or an inconvenience, valley residents and visitors enjoy enough mobility that the opening date has been the subject of an annual betting pool.

Twisp was a busy town for commerce even decades ago. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SHAFER MUSEUM

After being sketched out, rerouted, argued over and ultimately funded — to the tune of $33 million in 1970s dollars — the dramatic route across the North Cascades fınally opened on Sept. 2, 1972. The fırst automobiles did not necessarily streamline transportation in the Methow. A mechanic who set up shop near Winthrop in the early 20th century advertised his familiarity with “the innards of these sputtering gas hogs.” Still, the gas hogs — and the new experiences they made possible (fender benders in addition to flexibility) — were suffıciently novel that one writer documented the valley’s fırst auto accident involving a young Methodist minister and the “small, red, self-propelling carriage that he called a car.” Apparently the pastor spiced up his work with “the pleasant task of providing recreation and entertainment for some of the younger feminine members of his charge.” On one of these outings in 1910, the little red car’s engine sputtered going uphill and,

when the brakes gave out, the vehicle picked up momentum and plunged backwards, ultimately landing in the underbrush 75 feet below. Remarkably, the car and the people in it suffered only minor injuries. On the other hand, early inhabitants were hardy and willing to travel in all seasons, despite rudimentary equipment. Some people scraped together a living by supplying mining camps in the North Cascades during the winter, making the 5,000-foot climb on snowshoes with up to 100 pounds on their back (in fact, sometimes they carried two packs and shuttled them along the trail). One man delivered the mail several times a month by snowshoeing 9 miles from Winthrop to Mazama and then climbing 24 miles to reach the mines the next day. Traversing the valley’s rivers was typically done by fording or, during spring high water, by canoe. A bridge constructed near Winthrop in the early 1890s only survived for three weeks

before being carried downstream by raging currents. HOME-GROWN NOURISHMENT Early homesteaders often had little variety in food over the winters, although meat was plentiful, whether from hunting or butchering a cow. They grew everything from cabbages to melons, and concocted sauces from the limited ingredients on hand, such as vinegar, sugar, water and flour. So many people relied on deer for food that local historian Vernon LaMotte said he never saw a deer until 1924, when he was in his teens. After that, several reserves were established and hunting began to be regulated by the state, with the herds growing to the numbers familiar today. Homesteaders were able to purchase coffee — green beans for home roasting — but apparently tobacco was in short supply and, as one diarist put it, “certainly we heard more about it than about other food shortages.” Now the valley has coffee selected and roasted by two local artisan producers, Blue Star Coffee Roasters in Twisp and Lariat Coffee Roasters in Winthrop. In 1903, the valley got its own creamery. The creamery supplied the valley and Seattle with butter twice a week, earning a respectable $20,000 the fırst year and $25,000 the next. Dairying is thriving again in the Methow Valley — Doubletree Farm produces fresh milk from jersey cows on its farm just south of Twisp. Early Methow residents harvested not only food but, in the winter, also harvested ice, slicing 18-inch chunks from the river and dragging them home by horse-drawn sled to be packed with sawdust for insulation in the ice house. Other amenities arrived gradually in the valley. Winthrop and Twisp got rudimentary electricity in the 1920s, powered by turbines on the Methow River, but there were frequent outages caused by weather and by animals and fısh that strayed into the generators. In the late 1930s the Rural Electrifıcation Administration brought more reliable power to most of the valley. Although telephone service fırst came to Twisp in 1928, a person could not dial directly between Winthrop and Twisp until 1969. There were almost no radios until the 1930s, and no TV at all until the late 1950s, when three channels were broadcast from Spokane. Yet you could watch silent

movies in the 1920s and see twiceweekly fılms after that, at least until the movie houses in Twisp and Winthrop burned. Again, things are coming full circle, but with technological advances that would have been unimaginable to the operators who routed early phone calls. And Winthrop will soon have a new movie theater. The Barnyard Cinema is scheduled to open this summer in Winthrop, specializing in independent fılms. Serious medical needs required a trip to Chelan or Conconully until a doctor settled in Twisp. He made visits by horse and buggy and by car but, in a real emergency, you wanted him to take the horse, not a vehicle, according to one early chronicler. On the other hand, you could buy corsets and farm machinery in Twisp in the 1910s. Other early businesses included three barbershops in Winthrop, a butcher shop, two newspapers and a dance hall in every town, including Carlton and Methow. The Methow Valley Lanes opened for bowling in Twisp in 1959 and remained popular until it closed in 1995 for lack of a buyer. One-room schoolhouses proliferated in the early 20th century wherever there was a need, including Balky Hill, Bear Creek, Campbell Lake, Eightmile, Libby Creek and Canyon Creek. Teachers, mainly young women in their late teens, boarded with the families of their students. In addition to their standard instructional duties, they built fıres, cooked lunch and supplied books from their own personal libraries. The students themselves usually fetched the water.

Ulrich’s Pharmacy Your local store for gifts, apparel, housewares, cards, and more! Prescriptions • Over-the-counter Medications Store Hours: 9-6 M-Sat. • Pharmacy Hours: 9-6 M-F • 9-1 Sat. 423 E. Methow Hwy. • Twisp 509-997-2191

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LIVING HISTORY Open Every Day 11am - 6pm People can still see much of this history at several places throughout the valley. The Shafer Museum in Winthrop has a dozen old buildings fılled with thousands of artifacts from the late19th and early-20th centuries. Exhibits include a one-room schoolhouse with lesson books and school supplies from the early-20th century, a printing shop, a dress shop complete with fashions of the time, and hulking grinders and crushers used to extract and process gold found in the nearby mountains. The museum has added two new exhibits this year — one on logging and Apples, Peaches, Cherries & Berries, Cider, Jams, the old Wagner lumber mill that was Apples,Honey Peaches, Cherries & Berries, Cider, Jams, & Spices, Antiques, Northwest Wines, once a central part of Twisp’s econPicked at the Peak Honey & Spices, Antiques, Northwest Wines, MicroBrews, Local Gifts, Espresso, Ice Cream, omy; and one on small hand-tools, of Perfection MicroBrews, Local Gifts, Espresso, Ice Cream, Deli Menu, Baked Goods & Homemade Pie many featuring beautiful craftsmanDeli Menu, Baked Goods & Homemade Pie Open 7am-7pm 7 days a week We5 are 5 miles North of Desert Canyon ship. The museum opens Memorial Open 7am-7pm 7 days a week We are miles North ofWA Desert Canyon 23041 Hwy 97, Orondo, 98843 • mile post 230/231 www.lonepinefruit.com Day weekend. 23041 Hwy 97, Orondo, WA 98843 • mile post 230/231 www.lonepinefruit.com

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Farmer owned & grown

 17

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING GOOD.

The Methow’s lakes have always been popular destinations. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SHAFER MUSEUM

There’s also a new walking tour of Winthrop that takes people to see sites associated with the town’s founding by Guy Waring in 1891. It continues through Winthrop’s reincarnation as a Western town with wooden sidewalks. The illustrated $2 tour guide is available at the visitors’ information center, the museum and various shops in town. Highlights of the tour include the history of Three Fingered Jack’s, the former pool hall in town that was once off-limits to women and children; and the Duck Brand Saloon, started by Waring himself in 1897. The booklet includes archival photos that let you visualize the devastating effects of the 1948 flood and the traditional summer camp of the Methow Indians, among other historic events. A more-detailed history of the Methow Indians, the Methow’s fırst inhabitants, is on view at the Methow Valley Interpretive Center on the TwispWorks campus in Twisp. The interpretive center features artifacts and historic and contemporary family stories of the Methow band. It also has a replica of a pit house on the grounds.

Other exhibits at the interpretive center focus on the natural history and geology of the Methow, and on weather and its effects on life in the Methow over the years. Outside the center, check out the native-plant garden, which has areas devoted to numerous Methow habitats, from shrub-steppe to alpine. The center also has presentations on the last Sunday of each month, as well as special events throughout the summer.

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 18

Experience mountain lodge comfort on the Methow River. Just a short walk over the Spring Creek Suspension bridge to downtown Winthrop.

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84th Annual

Wonderful in the winter THE METHOW VALLEY’S OTHER SEASON OFFERS AN ENTICING RANGE OF ACTIVITIES IN A GORGEOUS SETTING

SUBMITTED BY METHOW TRAILS

PRCA RODEO

HE METHOW VALLEY IS ACCLAIMED FOR DRY

SNOW AND SUNNY WINTER

days, hosting nearly every type of

winter recreation opportunity you

World Famous Suicide Race Indian Encampment Thursday Wrangler Kid’s Night Sunday Grand Parade Sunday Veteran’s Day Davis Shows Carnival Order Your Tickets Online or by Phone Today! www.omakstampede.org 509-826-1002 800-933-6625 Rent the arena for your own event!

could ever ask for. Enjoy some of the nation’s most unique winter

wonderland experiences November through March.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Ski North America’s largest crosscountry ski area. With over 120 miles of perfectly groomed trails, the Methow Valley is home to the nation’s largest Nordic ski area. The ski trails wind through much of the scenic terrain between Mazama and Winthrop, extending along the valley floor and up into the mountains. Unique experiences on the cross-country ski trail system include: • Kids 17 and under ski free every day in the Methow. In addition, kid-friendly ski trails offer young skiers interactive play stops along the way. • Ski over a magnificent suspension bridge, view wildlife from the trails, or even ski from bakery to bakery. Gear rentals and instruction are available at several places in the valley. FAT BIKING This activity is rapidly growing in popularity and involves riding an extremely wide-tired bicycle on top of the snow. Selected ski trails are open to both Nordic skiers and fat bikers. Floating over the snow by bicycle is a unique feeling that will have you grinning from ear to ear. Rentals are available at several places in the valley. SNOWSHOEING Try a free guided snowshoe tour with a local natural history expert.

Tours run Saturdays in January and February. Ski trails are groomed daily. More information on the cross-country, snowshoe, and fat bike trail system can be found at methowtrails.org. WINTHROP RINK Winthrop is home to a gorgeous, uncovered, refrigerated, NHL regulation-sized, outdoor ice rink that allows skaters to experience the thrill of ice skating under the stars and in the shadow of Mt. Gardner. Enjoy open skate sessions, pickup hockey, and Friday theme nights — there’s something for everyone. More information on the awardwinning Winthrop Ice Rink, including special events like the annual “Apple Puck” hockey game between the University of Washington and Washington State University hockey teams, can be found at winthropicerink.com. ALPINE SKIING Ski Washington state’s best-kept alpine ski area secret. There are a dozen ski resorts in Washington state, but we challenge you to fınd one as cool as Loup Loup Ski Bowl. The Loup’s best assets might be what it doesn’t have. The Loup doesn’t have lift lines, an attitude or exorbitant pass prices. What is does have is big mountain views, close proximity to Winthrop and Twisp, and days where all the powder may not even get skied. The Loup even has a tubing hill and 15 miles of crosscountry ski trails! Learn more about this gem at skitheloup.com HELICOPTER AND BACKCOUNTRY SKIING The Methow Valley lies at the base of the “American Alps” of the North Cascades. North Cascades Heli-ski can provide the experience of a lifetime as they fly skiers up the mountains for the best turns. Also popular in the Methow is ski-touring and backcountry skiing, accessing run after run by

your own initiative. Find out more at heli-ski.com SLEDDING Families with kids young and old will take delight in the thrill of sledding down a fresh snow slope, coming up for air, laughing and doing it all over again. Sledding might be one of the most popular winter activities in the Methow. Just try and get the kids to come back inside! SNOWMOBILING If you like exploring the scenery near and far, then snowmobiling might be the best way to cover large patches of the Methow Valley’s expansive snow-covered terrain. Over 300 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and endless backcountry opportunities exist. View information on snowmobile locations and rentals at winthropwashington.com. RIVER AND LAKE ICE FISHING Avid anglers, rejoice! Ice fıshing in winter on Methow Valley frozen lakes is one of those experiences you can’t fınd everywhere. In addition to the lakes, the Methow Valley rivers provide a steelhead fıshing challenge to those not afraid of a little cold weather. Whether you cross-country ski, fat bike, alpine ski, snowboard, sled, snowshoe, ice skate or snowmobile, gliding in a Methow Valley winter will be an experience that you will not forget. OTHER WINTER ACTIVITIES Winter events start in November and last through March. They include a world-class fıreworks show, costumed ski racing with dogs, Nordic skiing competitions, snowshoe softball, hockey tournaments, fat bike rides, snowmobile tours and a hot air balloon festival. Check the calendar in the weekly Methow Valley News, pick up a copy of “Methow Winter,” or peruse the winthropwashington.com website for information about what’s happening.

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Still looking for things to do? HIGH ASPIRATIONS Some of the best views in the Methow Valley can only be enjoyed by heading straight up the area’s challenging rock faces. Rock climbing continues to be a growing sport in the valley, with more climbing areas gaining popularity and even new routes being put up on familiar faces. From bouldering to routes rated in the very high 5s, the Methow offers a unique variety of possibilities for novices and experienced climbers alike. 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. Growing in popularity is The Matrix, easily accessed by way of a relatively new trail from the Goat Creek SnoPark. According to information on the Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies website, The Matrix features 60 bolted and traditional routes rated from 5.7 to 5.11. The Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies site identifıes two other climbing areas developed 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. Burdo is still at it: This spring, he put up a new 17-pitch, 5.9 route on the Goat Wall. Need instruction, a guide, a refresher course or rental gear? The valley

PIC

boutique apparel gifts • handcrafted jewelry baby • home decor vintage Mon-Sat 10:00am-5:30pm 509.421.4627 Hwy 20, Twisp across from Chevron

 20

offers many options: • North Cascades Mountain Guides at 48 Lost River Road, Mazama: 996-3194, 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. • Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies, behind the Mazama Store at 50 Lost River Road, offers an array of climbing gear: 996-2515, www.goatsbeardmountainsupplies.com. Goat’s Beard also carries copies of the Methow’s authoritative, incredibly detailed climbing guide: “Mazama Rock, a Vertical Paradise,” by Burdo. Also recommended: “Washington Pass Climbing” by Ian Nicholson, and “Cascade Rock” by Blake Herrington. • 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. IN THE SWIM Sometimes you just want to get in the water. Happily, 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 required for use at the parking areas. Here are a few places where you can take a refreshing dip: Alta Lake State Park has a large sandy beach with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The lake is open to trout fıshing, water skiing and wind surfıng. A roped-off area is safe for swimmers of all abilities. 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. 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. 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

Hire the local Methow Guides for your mountain adventures 509-996-3194 www.ncmountainguides.com

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 down river and then swimming back along the calm shoreline. A Discover Pass is required for parking at the Carlton Hole. Blackpine Lake is accessible via Libby Creek, just south of Carlton, or 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 fıshing and boating. Patterson Lake below Sun Mountain Lodge 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. Blue Lake is 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. For a great family-friendly 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

PACKERS, OUTFITTERS AND TRAIL RIDES 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 Highland Stage Company Donald and Lorah Super (509) 923-1944 pack trips, drop camps, horsedrawn stagecoach camping trips JD Outfitters (Sun Mountain Lodge) John and Debbie “Red” Schrock day rides, dinner rides 996-4735 www.sunmountainlodge.com

swim times, call 997-5441, or visit www.townoftwisp.com/index.php/ recreation/wagner-memorial-pool. BACKCOUNTRY BY HORSEBACK The Methow Valley’s packers and outfıtters take people into the mountains where it may too far or too diffıcult for many people to reach on foot. 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 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 outfıtters have permits for specifıc places and there are limits on the number of people and livestock they can take on the trail. Because outfıtters have seasoned horses that know the terrain and are used to different riders, people don’t need experience to join a pack trip. The trips also appeal to people with a lot of experience in the saddle. 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.

North Cascade Outfitters Steve and Jess Darwood (509) 322-3809 pack trips, drop camps, hunting trips North Cascades Safari Aaron and Judy Burkhart 996-2659 pack trips, drop camps, hunting trips Sawtooth Outfitters Brian Varrelman (509) 923-2548 www.altalake.com/sawtoothoutfitters.html pack trips, drop camps, hunting trips, day rides

Saturday August 26, 2017

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

METHOW VALLEY

Chewack River Guest Ranch Don and Chris Lundgren 588 E. Chewuch Road, Winthrop 996-2497 chewackranch.com Trail rides, cattle drives, public stables

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 fıshing, guests relax with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while the camp cook makes dinner. In addition to deluxe trips where the outfıtters handle everything, most companies also offer a drop camp, where clients ride or hike into the mountains and the outfıtters leave all your gear and food at a prearranged spot — and then come and get it at the end of the trip. 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 JD Outfıtters at Mountain Lodge on their trail system. Early Winters Outfıtting and Sawtooth Outfıtters also offer day rides, both on valley trails and even into the mountains. Trail rides are also available at Chewack River Guest Ranch north of Winthrop. More information about opportunities to get into the country by horseback is available from the Methow Valley Backcountry Horsemen at www. mvbch.com. Washington Outfıtters and Guides Association has information about local outfıtters at 997-1080, (877) ASK-WOGA or www.woga.org.

Kevin Krentz, Artistic Director

July 27 – August 5 Highlights: July 27 Haydn "Gypsy" Piano Trio July 29 Smetana Piano Trio in G minor Aug. 1 Smetana String Quartet, "From My Life" Aug. 3 Brahms Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major Aug. 5 Chausson Concerto for piano, violin, and string quartet, op. 21

$30.00 Tickets

www.methowmusicfestival.org

 21

Active learning for kids at Methow summer camps ARTS, SPORTS, MUSIC AND OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES ARE PART OF THE MIX

BY SARAH SCHROCK

CHOOL MAY BE OUT FOR THE SUMMER, BUT THE

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES don’t stop in the Methow for youngsters.

Youth summer programs and camps offer a wide range of enrichment in the arts, sports and outdoors. Camps are increasingly popular as working families need a positive and safe environment for children during the summer. Additionally, the skills, confıdence, self-awareness and social bonds forged during at camps build character and strengths that last a lifetime. There’s a camp or program for almost every age and interest. Though kids relish in the respite from formal classroom learning during summer, they run the risk of falling into the “summer slide.” This term refers to the regression in formal learning in subjects like math and reading that can occur during the summer, especially in kids with few options to keep their mind active. The North Central Regional Library’s summer reading program is specifıcally aimed at creating a fun and competitive program to keep kids reading through the summer to avoid the “summer slide.”. Based on the number of hours they read, kids accumulate points to be redeemed and spent on an assortment of prizes ranging from slime balls, Lego sets, and even mini iPods. In addition to logging reading time, as part of the summer reading program both Twisp and Winthrop libraries host guest performers such as puppet shows, animal trainers and oral storytellers along with hands-on activities such as robotics to make

 22

sure the learning doesn’t stop while year. Camps start when school gets kids are away from the classroom. out, June 12 – 16. The half-day camps Stop in at either library to pick up a are for ages 6 – 18, and new this year is summer schedule of library events a mini soccer camp for ages 3 – 5. and check the weekly events calendar Visiting coaches from Great Britain in the Methow Valley News. and Brazil stay with local host families Little Star Montessori School in as part of a cultural exchange and Winthrop offers a range of multi-aged bring their love of “football” to the camps beginning July 5 and through Methow. Camps are held at Liberty Aug. 17. Toddlers can be cared for Bell High School and Methow Valley 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, WednesElementary School fıelds. British day, and Thursday at one of toddler soccer for ages 6 – 8, 9 a.m.-noon; ages camps for little ones ages 2 – 3 years; 9 – 12, 2 – 5 p.m. Mini camp ages 3 – 5, 18-month-olds who are enrolled for the noon-1p.m., TetraBrazil ages 11 – 13, 9 2017 – 18 school year can also para.m.-noon; ages 13 – 18, 1 – 4 p.m. For ticipate. Toddler parents can choose more information or registration visit whole sessions, or select weekly days www.challengersports.com or email as needed, providing some flexibility. local coordinator Sarah Schrock at Little Star also offers day camps for sjschrock@yahoo.com. pre-school and elementary aged chil• Swim lessons. Swim lessons are dren, plus an overnight archery camp offered at Wagner Memorial Pool in for 8 – 11 year olds. All camps include Twisp throughout the summer. Halfa mix of outdoor hour lessons run activities with daily in the late amps are opportunities to mornings for get wet or escape two-week sessions increasingly popular the sun. To view and are targeted as working families all the camp listto beginning and ings visit www. developing swimneed a positive and safe littlestarschool. mers. Register in environment for children org/summer. Regperson at the pool istration forms or at Twisp Town during the summer. can be picked Hall. Mom-and-tot up in person swim sessions or downloaded can be arranged from the website. as private, small Call Geva at 997 – 2801 for information. group lessons by inquiring with pool To get you started on what the whole staff once the pool is open on June 10. Fivalley has to offer, here’s a synopsis of nancial assistance and scholarships for what’s out there. For more details and lessons and season passes are available registration information, please see through the town. each organization’s contact informa• Basketball. Back again this year, tion and websites. Hoop5 basketball camp will focus on fıve key areas of basketball: shooting, dribbling, defense, passing and teamSPORTS CAMPS work. The camp will maintain an • Soccer. Challenger Sports is an up-tempo pace with kids constantly international organization that brings moving and changing from drill to the British and TetraBrazil Soccer game to competition. The camp will Camps to the Methow Valley each

include a morning session for second- through fourth graders and an afternoon session for fıfth- through eighth-graders. Dates have not been set, so contact Connor Walsh or Reagan Putman for information at (509) 429 – 1095. • Golf. Bear Creek Golf Course has a junior golf program. In its sixth year, 35 young golfers took to the fairways in 2016. Ages 7 – 17 tee off during the regular program that runs weekly through July. A junior golf clinic will be offered July 26 – 30 from 1-4 p.m. The program emphasizes etiquette, respect, and rules of play. Golfers of any experience level can join the program or the clinic. Registration forms are available online at www. bearcreekgolfcourse.com/juniors/#. WO3GqdLyvIV or call Jill Sheely at (425) 830 – 7200. • Horse Camp. For children ages 5 – 7 and 6 – 8, Methow Valley Riding Unlimited (MVRU) partners with Little Star Montessori to offer a three-day Horse Camp June 20 – 22 and July 11 – 14, respectively. Contact Little Star Montessori, www.littlestarschool.org/summer, for registration. Camp for riders aged 9 – 12 years will also be available but dates were not available at the time of this publication. Additionally, MVRU offers on-going weekly individual and group lessons through the summer. MVRU is a certifıed therapeutic riding center and provides riding programs for people with physical and developmental disabilities. For more information regarding weekly lessons or therapy programs, see www.mvriding.org, email annieb@ mvriding.org, or call or 996 – 9881. Scholarships are available. • Little Star Montessori offers water, sports and yoga camps. Water Camp for ages 4 – 6 runs July 5 – 7; Sports Camp runs July 11 – 13th; and Yoga Camp runs July 25 – 27, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

ARTS AND CULTURE Confluence Gallery & Art Center in Twisp is offering three, three-day camps for ages 6 – 11. Experimentations in Art Making with Margaret Kingston is offered for ages 6 – 8 on July 11 – 13, and for ages 9 – 11 on July 18 – 20. “Twisp River Poems” with Subhaga Crystal Bacon is offered for ages 8 – 11 on July 25 – 27. “Patterns in Nature” with Cindy Ruprecht, for ages 8 – 11, will be Aug. 1 – 3. Pipestone Orchestra Summer Camp is July 31– Aug. 4. In tandem with the Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival, Pipestone Youth Orchestra will host two camps for intermediate and experienced young musicians to take advantage of festival musicians, rehearsals and coaching. Campers should have at least one year of experience with their instrument and competence in reading music. Call 997 – 0222 for registration or email tamarackquartet@hotmail.com. Little Star Montessori offers Music, Builders Workshop, and NexTop Chef Camps. Music Camp, for ages 4 – 6, explores percussion, rhythm, and song on Aug. 1 – 3. Builders Workshop combines nature and design with imaginative play on Aug. 8 – 10. Kids dream

up concoctions in the kitchen, bake, mix and even grind their own flour all while learning healthy and adventurous eating in NexTop Chef Camp on Aug. 15 – 17. The Merc Playhouse in Twisp offers two camps for children and adults of any skill and experience. Learn the art of theater performance with acting, singing and dancing at Musical Theater Camp for ages 8 and up with returning coaches Megan Hicks and Kathryn Stahl, Aug. 7 – 11, 10 a.m.4 p.m. Summer Performance Intensive with Ki Gottberg will is for ages 8th grade and above, including adults, to focus on acting, stage craft, improv, voice and movement. The session will develop speaking skills and stage presence for leaders on and off stage. Weekends, 10 a.m. –1:30 p.m., June 17, 18, 24 and 25. Vacation Bible School Camp, for ages 5 – 12, is June 19 – 23 from 6:30 – 9p.m. The free camp is at Cascade Bible Church, 1119 Highway 20 in Twisp. The evening camp sessions include hands-on creative crafts, singing, dancing, stories, games and food. Find registration forms at Cascade Bible Church, Community Covenant Church and Calvary

Chapel. Contact Holly Wilmot for more information at (509) 845 – 5626 NATURE, OUTDOOR AND SKILLS CAMPS Methow River Camp is July 17 – 2. The popular camp is an ecologybased adventure camp hosted by local Methow naturalists Dana Visali, Rob Crandall, Anaka Mines and Wilderbabe Katie Russell. The weeklong adventure includes tent camping, an alpine mountain lake hike, canoeing on the Chewuch River, and exploration of natural world, for ages 10 – 14. Currently full for 2017, but contact Visalli to get on next year’s waiting list: 997 – 9011 or dana@methownet.com. Archery Camp offered by Little Star Montessori helps develop sportsmanship, focus and precision in the beautiful surroundings of Big Valley Ranch. Day camp for ages 6 – 7, July 18 – 20, 9a.m.- 2 p.m. Overnight camp for ages 8 – 11, July 8 – 11. Contact Little Star Montessori. Methow Valley Interpretative Center offers Crafting Nature Camp, new this year, on June 26 – 30, 9 a.m.-noon, for ages 5 – 8. Natural and cultural history come to life at a new camp for kids at the TwispWorks campus. Primitive

THE

skills, nature walks and talks, geology and plants are part of the program. Free, but registration is required via email at mvinterpretivecenter@gmail. com or call (206) 331 – 0557. Northwest Outward Bound School, Mazama, nestled among the pines along Lost River Road, is one of the world’s most-accomplished outdoor education programs for youths. The base camp in Mazama offers life-changing wilderness expeditions for ages 12 and older, including backpacking, canoeing, mountaineering, sea kayaking, sailing and rock climbing. Thanks to their proximity, local tweens and teens looking for a shorter course can participate in a three-day “mini” Outward Bound course offered Aug. 6 – 8. Overseen by experienced instructors, the mini course is the fınal project for instructor trainees who complete a 50day Instructor Development Course in Mazama. For more information about this mini-course, please email Erika Halm at ehalm@nwoutwardbound.org. For more information about full-length course dates, tuition and scholarships, visit www.nwobs.org. See the summer events calendar on page 46 for more events that might appeal to kids.

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

Antiques and collectibles.

Vintage home and garden décor.

A variety of recycled, repurposed and locally made items.

501 Hwy 20 Winthrop, WA

996-8297

 23

PHOTO BY MARY KIESAU

Take a rockin’ hike

UNDERSTANDING THE GEOLOGY OF THE VALLEY WILL ENHANCE YOUR TRAIL EXPERIENCE

BY SARAH SCHROCK

HEN HIKING THROUGH THE

MANY VALLEYS, HILLS AND

peaks of the Methow Valley, it’s hard not to be enamored and

intrigued by the vast array of rocks along the trail.

Stopping for lunch to cool your feet along the smooth, tumbled river cobble with its shades of greens, purples, pinks, blues and grays, it might make you wonder what’s underfoot. Hiking in the Methow is not just an endurance challenge, it can be learning lab that takes you back in time. Rock hounds along the trails and rivers in the Methow collect more than a pretty collection of stones. Stories teeming with the lives of exotic sea animals, extinct plants and possibly dinosaurs are hidden among the layers. Along the trail, hikers can fınd evidence of islands penetrating above ancient seas; of volcanoes spewing ash and plugging cracks with molten magma from the depths of the earth’s belly; and of layers being twisted and folded and combined with disparate sediments, creating curious colors and textures. Dramatic tectonics have transposed earthen deposits from distant areas as far away as Baja, and the more-recent forces of glaciers have carved the river valleys, exposing grand walls leading us to the peaks where the origin of ground on which we tread touches the sky. Hiking in the Methow offers a diversity of rock types for the novice or expert rock lover. The Methow’s geology

 24

is complex, with differing deposits atop others or intruding in faults and cracks. The North Cascades region is considered a micro-continent in and of itself, and its proximity to the oceanic plate of the Pacifıc and the North American continental plate have interacted through time creating a wild mixture of rocks. Glacial and erosional forces have further shaped the landscape that we see, peeling off, scouring and re-depositing rocks and forming soils from different base materials. Unlike the volcanoes of southern Cascades that are purely volcanic in origin, hikers in the North Cascades may stumble upon a complex assortment of all rock types. Igneous (volcanic), metamorphic (heat and pressure) and sedimentary (layered deposits) are all found here. ROCKS 101: ALONG THE TRAIL To understand what rocks you might stumble over, here’s a brief tutorial on rocks and a listing of hikes in the region to get you started on your exploration of the area’s geology. Igneous rocks come in two general types depending on if they formed above or below the earth’s crust. Intrusive igneous rocks (formed below the earth’s crust) in our area are mostly granites or granite-like and are quite common through the North Cascades. These comprise many of the high peaks and spires that form the crest of the Cascades along Washington Pass. Liberty Bell, Silver Star and Cutthroat peaks are part of a massive chunk of granite called the Golden Horn formation. This speckled granite is characteristically pinkish and grey with white quartz, feldspar and black mineral

flecks. Popular hikes like Blue Lake and Cutthroat Peak traverse the Golden Horn granites. Black Peak, which is accessed from the Maple Pass Loop from Heather Pass, represents another, older type of granite at Rainy Pass. Another common intrusive rock type is diorite, which, like granite, is speckled. Diorite is often very white and black, like salt and pepper. Large slabs and boulders of black-and-white diorite are impressive features along the Libby Lake trail west of Carlton, and form the summit of Oval and Hoodoo Peaks along the Sawtooth Ridge west of the Twisp River. • Libby Lake: 11 miles round-trip. Moderate to diffıcult. From Highway 153 south of Carlton head up the Libby Creek Road toward Black Pine Lake and veer left onto FS Road 43. Then take Road 24 (4340) toward North Fork Gold Creek, right onto Road 4340 (700) and left on Road 750. The trail climbs steadily through pines and eventually larch forests, where all around are large slabs of black-and-white diorite. This is great fall hike for viewing larches, and there is an old log hunting cabin of interest along the way. The cirque lake at the terminus is surrounded by towering cliffs and turquoise blue icy water. A scramble to Hoodoo Peak is possible from Libby Lake. Extrusive volcanic rocks (formed above the surface) around the Methow are commonly found as dark grey rocks known as andesites. Many andesites can be found up the Chewuch River and are part of geologic unit known as the Buck Mountain formation that forms Isabella Ridge, a prominent ridge dividing Eightmile Creek and Lost River. Andesites also compose Goat Wall and Mount Robinson.

But don’t be fooled, the Buck Mount Formation also contains sedimentary rocks with marine fossils. • Goat Wall/Spokane Gulch: 3-5 miles. Easy to moderate. Park at Fun Rock Climbing Rock west of Mazama. Climb up the steps past the climbers and notice the andesite. Follow the trail as it meanders through the pines and outcrops with sweeping views of the valley floor. The trail terminates at the Mazama Store, so hitch a ride back to your car or walk the extra distance along the road. • Copper Glance Lake: 6 miles. Moderate to diffıcult. From West Chewuch Road continue left on FS Road 51, then left on Road 5130 to “Billy Goat 17.” Continue 12.5 miles until the gate on the left where the road turns to dirt. The hike follows an old mining road that is washed out in areas. It traverses and switchbacks through the mixed forest where remnants of an old miner’s cabin and mineshaft mark the way. After the mineshaft, the trail curves around the ridge and opens into a large meadow where it climbs to a ridge, where you then descend into the cirque lake that is surrounded by towering cliffs of andesite. Other volcanic rocks are basalts, volcanic tuffs and even obsidian, known as nature’s glass. Exposed basalts are infrequent in the Methow Valley, though they are said to peak themselves out near road cuts along Balky Hill and there are glacial erratics near the mouth of the Methow that were carried over from the Okanogan by an ice sheet that was so deep it over-topped peaks like Goat Peak and Lookout Mountain. Across the Columbia Basin, lava flows in the form of basalts are notable as the Columbia Basin columnar basalts, which are

very obvious along stretches of the Columbia River Gorge, Banks Lake and Dry Falls. The Native Plant Society’s expert naturalist, George Wooten, will lead adventurous hikers on an overnight hike to Dollar Watch Mountain July 15-16 to see volcanic obsidian and other wonders in the Pasayten Wilderness. Call George at (509) 997-6010 to reserve as spot. Aside from volcanic rocks, sedimentary rocks — created by layering of minerals or organic matter — are quite commonly dispersed throughout the valley. Here, many sedimentary rocks are the result of an ancient seabed where sands, silts and sea creatures accumulated into layers. These typically take the form of sandstones, mudstones, shales and conglomerates. Abernathy Peak, Mount Gardner and Driveway Butte are examples of large ancient marine sedimentary deposits known as the Virginia Ridge formation that can also be seen in the Harts Pass area. Fossils of ammonites and chert pebbles, which are accumulations of sea plankton, give evidence of the marine environment that once surrounded the tallest peaks. • Scatter Lake: 9 miles. Difficult. Drive up Twisp River Road 22 miles. The trailhead is located on the right and joins the Twisp River Trail. The hike climbs steadily and doesn’t let up, switchbacking through heavy timber along Scatter Creek and through small meadows until it reaches the lake’s basin. Abernathy Peak stands overhead, and the oxidized reds, yellows and oranges in the sedimentary sandstone of the Virginia Ridge Formation along the lakeshore stand in contrast to the bright green water of the lake. Laying under the Virginia Ridge Formation, another sedimentary band of rocks hides some ancient treasures. The Winthrop Formation composes the whitish talus cliffs just east of

Big Valley Ranch known as Boesel Canyon, and the walls of Luck Jim Bluff, Fawn Peak and middle slopes of Sandy Butte. It is made of sandstones, siltstones and shales, and contains fossils of flowering plants including leaf patterns. Many of these fossils are well preserved and if you find a fossil, consider taking a picture instead of extracting the rocks themselves, so that others can stumble upon some too. • Big Valley Ranch: 3- or 5-mile loop. Easy. This dog-friendly, horse-friendly, family-friendly loop meanders through cottonwoods and thickets along the Methow River. Views north showcase the U-shaped trough of the valley that give evidence of past glaciation. This shaded, flat hike or bike ride is great for kids, with a rocky beach to cool off at on hot summer days. Boesel Canyon to the east across the highway contains fossils of the Winthrop Formation, but if you go searching … watch for rattlesnakes and respect private property! A peculiar sedimentary deposit unique to the area and characterized by a distinct reddish/purple color is the Ventura volcanic sandstones. A hike up Goat Peak might feel like a walk on Mars as you pass through the deep layer of red-bed rocks of the Ventura sandstones. • Goat Peak: 5 miles. Moderate to difficult, From Winthrop, take Goat Creek Road right just before crossing the Methow River; then 3 miles ahead take FS Road 52, then left onto Road 5225 and bear right until the trailhead. The trail climbs steeply in and out of forest and open meadows and eventually tops out on a ridge where the lookout can be seen in the distance. There is little shade and no water, but the views are worth it. Rocks that look like concrete with big pebbles and cobbles cemented into them are called conglomerates. There

are lots of conglomerates hiding in the hills around the valley, but by far the best example is Pipestone Canyon. The Pipestone sandstones conglomerate is believed to have been a shallow inland sea or lake at one time, with fossils of terrestrial plants amidst the layers. • Pipestone Canyon: Varying lengths up to 8 miles. Easy-moderate. There are two ways to access Pipestone Canyon — via Lester Road from Bear Creek Road, or via Balky Hill Road from the Twisp-Winthrop Eastside Road. From the Balky Hill entrance, the trail gradually ascends the canyon floor through old farm fields until it becomes confined by the steep canyon walls. The spires of the walls take on the appearance of pipe organs, hence the name. The Carlton Complex Fire raged through the firs and pines of the canyon, revealing many large boulders under the canopy of the trees. Watch for rattlesnakes if you venture off trail to explore the boulder fields. Cliff swallows burrow in the soft sandstone cliffs overhead. The trail leads you to Campbell Lake and the upper access area, where you can take the trail to the ridge that overlooks the canyon. To make a loop, follow the ridgeline on the south/east and back to the valley floor. Sedimentary shales are also common rocks in the valley. Hikes to Lewis Butte, Twisp Lookout and Patterson Mountain all contain shales that fracture into long, rectangular rocks. A walk across the bridge over the Chewuch River in Winthrop to the North Village Neighborhood gives great views of the river channel walls composed of shales. Lewis Butte: 2-3 miles. Easy to moderate. Park at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) parking area on Gun Ranch Road immediately opposite Lewis Butte. Hikers have the option of an endurance hike straight up the face,

or a gentler traverse. It can be looped as well. Lewis Butte is known for its spectacular balsamroot and lupine fields in May and June. For a longer hike, loop around Riser Lake from the parking area and pass through a glacial coulee and kettle lake that are evidence of past glaciation. Through time, rocks can become covered, warped or twisted, and with pressure and heat a new type of rock emerges called metamorphic. The most common type of metamorphic rock in our region is gneiss, though marbles and schists are present too. Metamorphic rocks often have seams of minerals or striated appearance. Trails along Chelan Ridge such as Reynolds Peak, Foggy Dew Creek or Louise Lake will pass through bands of metamorphic gneiss that were first described by John Adams, a retired geologist who currently lives in Winthrop. Anglers along the shore of the Methow River near McFarland Creek who stumble upon rocks with “leopard-like” markings are probably finding Winthrop gneiss. Whatever you stumble or trod upon, before you head out to the trail make sure you have current maps for the area you are hiking. Recent wildfires and subsequent washouts have resulted in road closures throughout the region. Make sure to check with the Methow Valley Ranger Station for road closures or online at www.fs.usda.gov/ detail/okawen/alerts-notices, especially if traveling through burned areas. Northwest Forest Passes are required at most trailheads on the National Forest and in the National Recreation Area. Day permits can usually be purchased at trailheads. Hikes through Washington state lands including state parks, Department of Natural Resources or WDFW properties require a Discover Pass or WDFW recreation parking pass.

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Methow Conservancy

 25

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Visitor Center

North Suspension Footbridge

MILEAGES

Methow Valley Sport Trails Association 509-996-3287

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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

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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

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.

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Methow V 509-996-328 Methow Valley

ď&#x192;&#x2022; 27

Nowhere to go but everywhere A GUIDE TO BACKPACKING IN THE NORTH CASCADES

BY ASHLEY LODATO

“Going to the mountains,” 19th-century naturalist John Muir told us, “is

going home.”

HETHER YOU CRAVE SOLITUDE OR AD-

VENTURE, CONTEMPLATION

or conquest, the mountains can be the backdrop for reflection or the source of inspiration. Until you’ve spent time in the mountains their

distant peaks and valleys can seem

mysterious or foreboding, but once you’ve learned to live in harmony

with the rhythms of the mountains they really do begin to feel like a second home.

Surrounding the Methow Valley, the jagged peaks of the North Cascades stand sentinel, calling out to those of us who crave the wildness of deep gorges, thick forests, rocky promontories and alpine lakes. Ensconcing oneself in such terrain requires a certain amount of fortitude and discomfort — for even the most-comfortable of backpacks eventually becomes a burden — but the effort is always well worth the reward.

 28

THE THINGS YOU’LL CARRY Backpacking is a minimalist experience, but paradoxically, there is a certain amount of equipment you need to own (or borrow) in order to do it. Since the fırst great waves of people began to backpack for pleasure (as opposed to exploration or relocation), backpacking equipment has been getting lighter and more effective. The canvas wall tents of the 19th century have become the ultralight freestanding nylon tents of the 21st century; early backpackers like John Muir used woolen bedrolls while modern adventurers snuggle into goose down mummy bags; the headlamps we used in the 1980s and 1990s now look like coal miners’ lanterns compared to the tiny LED lamps that now illuminate our nighttime activities in the backcountry. The four biggest and heaviest things you’ll need are your pack, your tent (or tarp, if bugs aren’t an issue), your sleeping bag, and your sleeping pad. Coincidentally or not, these are also likely to be your four most-expensive purchases, so shop around, test things out, and make sure you’re investing in equipment that fıts you well and functions effıciently. Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies in Mazama, and Winthrop Mountain Sports and Cascades Outdoor Store in Winthrop, all carry a variety of backpacking gear to meet your needs. Echoing the sentiment of many a backpacker, Amy Sweet of Cascades

Outdoor Store says “The less you carry the better off you are,” noting that she aims for a 15- to 20-pound backpack before food and water; so that’s tent, pack, sleeping bag, clothing, book, headlamp, stove, fuel, toiletries, rain gear, fırst aid kit and pillow. (Yes, a pillow. It’s a 2-ounce inflatable, and worth every ounce, says Sweet.) Sweet points out that not only has backpacking equipment become lighter and lighter over the decades, but it also has also become more affordable. “Water fılters used to be heavy $100 items,” she says. “Now you can get one that weighs 2 ounces for $25.” Rita Kenny of Winthrop Mountain Sports agrees. “Water fılters are lighter, smaller and better than they have ever been before. With something like the MSR Trail Shot you can fıll a water bottle in 60 seconds or drink right out of a water source. And you can carry it in your pocket.” Kenny adds that the new water fılters have taken the guessing game out of fıltration because they are so effective. “You don’t have to debate whether or not to drink out of a particular water source,” she says. It’s not just the small stuff that has been downsized, however. As Kenny points out, you can have many of the comforts of home but still keep your pack down to 25 pounds. Says Kenny, who was an Outward Bound instructor for decades, “My fırst pack was an internal frame pack that weighed 9 pounds. Adding all the gear we took in those days turned it into the backpacking

equivalent of a shopping cart.” Now, Sweet tells us, Gregory’s new adjustable women’s backpack weighs just under 3 pounds, compared to the 6-pound behemoth that many of us purchased in the 1990s (and which, ahem, several of us are still using). Osprey makes 2-pound packs that can carry 40 pounds. There are lighter packs available, some as light as 1 pound, but some of the comfort is sacrifıced. Still, the ultra-lightweight packs are popular with distance backpackers such as Pacifıc Coast Trail through-hikers. Kenny addresses the demographic of people in their 40s and older who spent their 20s and 30s backpacking and are still keeping at it. “We’re still going out,” she says, “but we’re able to be more comfortable now with better, lighter gear.” Kenny uses her sleeping pad as an example. “My 1-inch Thermarest was just not cutting it anymore.” Now, Kenny says, she can sleep on a 3-inch inflatable pad for the same price and less weight than her old pad. Once revolutionary, air-fılled sleeping pads are now the norm; with the new baffled models backpackers can have luxury beds for less than 16 ounces. Other advances in the “big four” (pack, tent, bag, pad) include Marmot making a 1-pound summer sleeping bag. Marmot also shaved 1.5 pounds off its most popular two-person tent, which Sweet calls “the best advancement in ultralight backpacking.”

Cascadia Music

THE TEN ESSENTIALS

Developed in the 1930s by The Mountaineers as a checklist for backcountry emergency preparedness, the Ten Essentials were originally 10 individual items that few experienced wilderness travelers would consider leaving out of their backpacks. In 2003, The Mountaineers updated the list, combining specific items into broader “systems” (e.g, map and compass, originally items No. 1 and No. 2 on the list, are now united in the “navigation” system). The premise remains the same: You probably won’t use most of this stuff, but as soon as you need it, you’ll be glad you brought it. • Navigation (map and compass): These are only useful if you know how to use them. • Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen): It only takes one walk across a snowfield without sun protection to make you never

Kenny agrees. “It’s just incredible that you can get a super-lightweight tent with a rain fly for under 3 pounds,” she says. “Things are a great balance of weight and price right now,” adds Sweet. Stove manufacturers, as well, have tinkered with designs that resulted in tiny stoves that screw onto small fuel canisters weighing just ounces. Titanium pot sets are lighter (and more expensive) than any other versions, but anodized aluminum pots are light and distribute heat well, if titanium isn’t in your budget. “Hard goods is certainly where gear manufacturers have made leaps and bounds,” says Kenny. Boots, too, used to be heavy and clunky ankle-high, full-leather items. (Each one of the gorgeously-constructed Limmer boots I instructed Outward Bound courses in during the 1980s weighed more than a pound.) Now, says Kenny, “you can get the support you want without a heavy boot.” She cautions boot buyers to fınd the boot that fıts their feet and complements their use: on-trail, off-trail, day hike, multi-day, etc. “Just because your friend hikes in sneakers or sandals doesn’t mean that’s going to work for

The best scenery is on the trail.

PHOTO BY DONNI REDDINGTON

forget it again. • Insulation (extra clothing): Synthetic fibers are best. Raingear is essential — the weather changes quickly in the mountains. • Illumination (headlamp/flashlight): Check your batteries before you leave. • First-aid supplies: REI.com has a good list of items that are available at drugstores. • Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/ candles): Check your lighter’s fluid levels. Put matches in a plastic bag. • Repair kit and tools: For repairing your stove, a backpack, or a headlamp. • Nutrition (extra food): A few granola bars or other non-perishables. • Hydration (extra water): A water filter or other treatment system. • Emergency shelter: Your tent will suffice, if you’re backpacking. If you’re day hiking, this would be a space blanket or tarp.

you,” she adds. Kenny notes that for new backpackers — especially those who may be daunted by the sheer amount of equipment they need in order to head out into the woods — the footwear choice is the most critical one, because you’re not going to enjoy backpacking if your feet are miserable. “You can be out there with a heavy Coleman stove or bulky sleeping bag and still have a great time,” she says, “as long as your feet are comfortable.” Kenny ranks the top four equipment priorities as boots, pack, adequate clothing, and tent. Regarding essential gear that has been improved over the past two decades Kenny says wryly, “Rain jackets are so light and packable now that I’m almost tempted to carry one.” Still, not everything has improved since the good old days. “Paper maps,” Kenny says, “are much more reliable than GPS systems. They’re lighter and their batteries will never die.” THE PLACES YOU’LL GO All packed up and nowhere to go? North Cascades hiker Jack Kerouac reminds us that there’s “nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.” (Except you’re probably going to do most of your hiking

would sincerely like to thank the generous sponsors & supporters of our 2016-2017 season! Carolyn Sullivan Mark & Carol Rhinehart Bear Creek Lumber The Law Office Bill & Diana Hottell Rhinehart Construction of Michael T. Brady Mike Real J. Bart Bradshaw Lynette Westendorf Kelly & Teri Donoghue Methow Suites Josephine Bristol Ann Henry Hank’s Harvest Foods NEA Jim Kalberer Twisp River Suites David Weidig & Rasa Tautvydas WSAC Tall Timber Construction MV Chamber Music Fest Carolanne Cascades Outdoor Store Methow Valley Fund & Egon Steinebach Bill & Sandy Moody Icicle Fund Lyn & John Roth Chris Clark & Katherine Bill A special thanks to all of the musicians, singers and volunteers.

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 29

during daylight hours. You’ll still be rolling under the stars, you just won’t be able to see them.) The North Cascades are vast; you can indeed go nowhere but everywhere — the options are seemingly limitless, which can be daunting to those who don’t know their way around this giant backcountry playground. To get advice on a route, stop at the North Cascades National Park offıces in Newhalem or the Methow Valley Ranger District in Winthrop on your way to your Methow Valley backpacking trip and ask for recommendations and, if necessary, acquire proper parking and overnight permits (see permits information on page 39). If you’re new to backpacking — and you probably are, if you’re reading this article — make your fırst few trips ones of moderate mileage and elevation loss/gain. Ease yourself into the practice of carrying your backcountry home on your back; before you know it you’ll be an expert. THE JOY OF COOKING Some diehards looking to save the

weight of a stove and fuel are content to scarf down a few energy bars and call it a meal, but I am fırmly in the camp of those who believe that a hot dinner when backpacking is non-negotiable. You simply feel better crawling into your sleeping bag with something warm in your stomach. Besides, the time spent sitting on a log, a bowl of hot soup cradled in your hands, watching the sky color and the light fade, is often one of the most enjoyable memories of any backpacking trip. Somehow, watching the sun set in a purple sky as you gnaw on a power bar is just not quite the same. The guiding principle with backpacking food is about 2 pounds per person per day, with a mixture of food that is intrinsically heavy (cheese, nuts) and food that gets heavy only with the addition of water in camp (pasta, rice). If you’re headed out on a three-day trip, your food bag should weigh about 6 pounds. If it’s much lighter than this, you may not have packed enough calories. If it’s much heavier, you’re either over-packing or going gourmet. Fresh veggies and fruits weigh considerably

Backpacking gear continues to get lighter. PHOTO BY MARY KIESAU more than their dehydrated counterparts, but they sure do taste great in the backcountry if you don’t mind the extra weight. To go light and quick on dinner,

put some MSG-free ramen packets in your food bag. Throw in dehydrated or fresh vegetables if you want to go a little more gourmet. Weighing not too much more than ramen is my favorite

H ORSEBACK R IDING

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 30

backpacking dinner: couscous with chicken sausage and vegetables. Pesto pasta is a favorite for many, as is macaroni and cheese, or rice and beans (use instant rice and dehydrated black beans to keep weight down). For breakfast, oatmeal or one of Bluebird Grain Farms’ hot cereal mixes will give you energy to start your day. Granola is a good option if you don’t want to have to cook in the morning, although if you’re making coffee or tea you’re already going to have the stove on anyway. For lunches, think like a squirrel and pack a bunch of snacks to nibble on throughout the day. Bread doesn’t keep very well out on the trail, and it’s more effıcient energy-wise to bring calories on board frequently than to take a big meal in the middle of the day. Cheese sticks, nut mixes, jerky, dried fruit and granola bars all make great high-energy snacks, and few hikers will refuse a nibble of a good chocolate bar. Back in the olden days as recently as the early 2000s, if you wanted to bring anything like peanut butter or tuna

METHOW VALLEY

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DUATHLON

out on the trail, you had to haul tin cans or plastic containers; these days, everything from nut butters to chicken and tuna to hazelnut chocolate spread comes available in small pouches, making consuming these types of proteins very easy on a backpacking trip. Bring sturdy crackers (Stoned Wheat Thins and Rye-Vita are my favorite) if you want to have a vehicle for these handy high-protein toppings. While you’re packing food for your trip, don’t forget drinks. Oh sure, you can go a day or two without coffee, but there’s really no need to make such a sacrifıce. A steaming mug of coffee, tea or cocoa in the morning gives you the incentive you need to leave the warm cocoon of your tent, and a hot herbal tea before bed makes the perfect nightcap. Finally, make sure you bring your backpacking food in a sturdy stuff sack or lightweight duffel bag as well as a light nylon rope or long piece of parachute cord, so that you can hang your food out of reach of critters. You went to all that trouble to pack and carry your food — no sense in letting the marmots eat it.

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TO BUILD A FIRE (OR NOT) For many, going camping without a fıre is like drinking coffee without cream: simply inconceivable. There is a stark beauty, however, in enjoying a summer campsite without a fıre. A fıre draws people inward with its mesmerizing flickers of color. But when you’re gazing into the flames, you’re not noticing the grandeur of the mountains and meadows around you as the curtain of night falls. You’re likely to miss that last purple tinge in the west, the fırst stars becoming visible, and the crescent moon rising in the east. Also, there are open fıre restrictions that govern backcountry and wilderness areas and it’s important to know which of these are in effect at the campsites you plan to visit. When you stop to get your permit, ask about fıre restrictions, including protocol for dousing a fıre before departing a campsite. In no-fıre zones, one of the new inflatable solar lanterns is a reasonable substitute. They don’t provide any heat, but they weigh only ounces and cast a soft or bright light over a wide

circle of terrain. Your group can gather ’round the lantern to enjoy nightfall together and then, unlike a campfıre, the lantern can be brought into your tent for reading or playing cards. THE CALL OF THE WILD In spite of proper planning, clear skies, good company, and lightweight gear, don’t be surprised if your fırst backpacking trip is tough. No matter how you slice it, walking all day with a bunch of stuff on your back is hard. But if easy things were the most fun, we’d all lie around watching TV all day. Backpacking is physically tiring but personally rewarding. Soaking sore feet in an icy stream heightens the senses. Exploring a boulder fıeld or an alpine meadow nourishes the soul. Watching the fırst rays of sun stream over the mountains can be transcendent. Falling into the rhythm of the mountains quenches an elemental desire for connection with nature. Once you’ve really spent time in the mountains, you’ll fınd yourself — in Kerouac’s words — aching to “lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.”

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 32

You can make your Methow Valley biking experience as rugged or as you like. PHOTO BY DONNI REDDINGTON

What’s not to bike?

TRAIL OR ROAD, STEEP OR FLAT — THE METHOW OFFERS THE RIGHT BIKING EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE BY ANN MCCREARY

P P

EDAL OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES ON PAVEMENT

OR DIRT, CRUISE ALONG CAN-

yon rims or through shady forests, enjoy easy family-friendly rides on wide flat trails, or challenge

yourself on high elevation single-

track — it’s all biking Methow-style.

Cycling in and around the Methow Valley offers rides for every ability

A CALENDAR FOR CYCLISTS

The Methow Valley will host several fun events for cyclists to join or observe. Coming up this season: May 13-14: Trek Dirt Series mountain bike camp, a weekend-long instructional mountain bike skills camp for men and women, hosted by Methow Cycle & Sport in Winthrop. For information visit www.dirtseries.com. May 20 and June 10: Kids Bike Rodeos at TwispWorks (May 20) and Pearrygin Lake State Park (June 10), 10 a.m.–noon. Kids ages 5–10 learn

skills to ride safely, and volunteers will conduct helmet bike fittings and bike safety inspections. Bike helmets will be available for a $5 donation. Sponsored by Methow Cycle & Sport, Pearrygin Lake State Park, TwispWorks, Aero Methow Rescue Service, Winthrop Kiwanis, Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Twisp Police. June 24-25: Singletrack Celebration. A mountain bike skills camp for women, sponsored by Methow Evergreen MTB. More details available at

methowevergreenmtb.org. Sept. 23: Sixth Annual Methow Valley Off-Road Duathlon at Sun Mountain. A 40-kilometer mountain bike/10 kilometer trail run, or a 20-kilometer mountain bike/ five-kilometer trail run, for teams or individuals. The course meanders through aspen and pine forests above Patterson Lake, starting and ending at Chickadee trailhead. Sponsored by the North Cascades Mountain Hostel. For information: methowduathlon.blogspot.com.

 33

and inclination. Mountain bikers enjoy solitude on high alpine trails, and road riders have hundreds of miles of empty pavement, surrounded by spectacular scenery. Many riders choose their routes based on the season. Late spring and early summer offer rides through meadows bursting with brilliant wildflowers. Riders can escape summer heat by heading to higher elevations after winter snows melt off the trails. As summer moves into fall, cyclists enjoy brilliant foliage and crisp, clear days. Biking enthusiasts in the Methow Valley are continually working to expand the valley’s already extensive system of mountain bike trails. The Methow Chapter of the Evergreen Mountain Alliance (Methow Evergreen MTB) is a driving force behind creating new riding opportunities and maintaining existing trails in and around the valley. NEW CHALLENGE Chapter president Dave Acheson said the group will

have an exciting new trail to offer advanced riders during the summer of 2017. The chapter has been working hard on creating a trail at Sun Mountain that promises to be one of the most challenging in the Methow Valley. “It will be the most diffıcult trail at Sun Mountain,” Acheson said. “Our overall goal has been to get the Sun Mountain trail system so that it has something to offer for every range of ability.” The Sun Mountain trails are popular because they are easily accessible and offer an array trails that can be linked together to provide rides of different lengths and diffıculty. Rides range from wide U.S. Forest Service roads and doubletrack to twisty singletrack. In particular, Methow Evergreen MTB has been working to create more singletrack trails at Sun Mountain, Acheson said. The new trail will defınitely add to “the diffıcult end of the scale” of riding, he said. “People tend to think Black Bear [at Sun Mountain] is diffıcult, but in the wider world of riding it’s

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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.

intermediate,” he said. The new trail, called “Wild Turkey,” will travel from the top of Thompson Ridge, roughly paralleling the Inside Passage trail to where it joins Meadowlark trail, a distance of about 2 miles, Acheson said. The trail includes features such as “bigger jumps” and large boulders that riders can go around or drop over, Acheson said. Cyclists should stay tuned for future new trail development in coming years at Sun Mountain. The Methow Evergreen MTB is working with the Forest Service to secure permits and funding to add about 15 more miles of singletrack riding there.

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.

SINGLETRACK FAVORITES In the meantime, there is plenty of great riding available, including some favorite mountain bike rides that Acheson recommends. “Buck Mountain is one of my favorites for an intermediate ride,” he said. His preferred time to ride Buck Mountain is late spring and early

summer. “In May the flowers are absolutely spectacular. But it’s a great loop any time. It’s got some really fun ridge riding, singletrack, and spectacular views of the valley any time of year,” Acheson said. Often described as one of the Methow Valley’s “signature rides,” Buck Mountain loop is also easy to get to — only about 12 miles from Winthrop, and the 13-mile loop takes about two hours, Acheson said. Looking for a bit more challenge? “As far as a longer ride, I really love Cutthroat Pass,” Acheson said. Located off Highway 20 about 4.5 miles east of Washington Pass, Cutthroat Pass is “a unique high-alpine setting, which is spectacular,” Acheson said. The ride is singletrack all the way, and is “a pretty moderate climb” from the trailhead to Cutthroat Lake, Acheson said. “Above the lake it’s a steady, steep switchback climb to the pass, where riders are rewarded with ‘to die for views,’” as described in a

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 35

ride report. The ride is 12 miles round trip and gains 2,300 feet. Because the trail is popular with hikers, it’s advised to ride it during midweek or late in the day. If Cutthroat Pass is not tough enough, serious bikers have another great option. “A big epic day is Angel’s Staircase. It’s a signature ride,” Acheson said. This advanced ride is a loop that gains 5,000 feet and reaches altitudes of 8,000 feet on a 25-mile singletrack route that takes all day and good technical riding skills. The ride is best in late July through September, and may not be snow-free until August, Acheson said. The ride is in the southern part of the valley, west of Carlton.

Curtis Edwards

ROAD RAVES For road bike riders, the Chewuch Loop is a popular ride, and offers options for extending a relatively short, easy ride into longer and more challenging excursions, Acheson said. The basic loop can be ridden from

Winthrop out the East Chewuch Road to where it crosses the Methow River and heads back toward town on the West Chewuch Road — or the reverse. It’s about 14 easy miles that can be done in an hour or less. For more distance, riders can continue out the West Chewuch Road with gradual climbing all the way to Andrews Creek, about 45 miles round trip. And to increase the exertion, “a stronger rider can peel off and go up Falls Creek Road,” which is very steep in the fırst mile or two, and a continual climb for about 8 miles. The Twisp River drainage is also a nice option for riding, said Acheson. The lightly traveled Twisp River Road follows the river past farms and open fields and through forests, with spectacular views of surrounding mountains. The ride is 14 miles from Twisp to the end of the pavement. More rides are described in the maps accompanying this article, courtesy of Winthrop Mountain Sports.

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GOLFING IN THE METHOW VALLEY AND BEYOND IS ALWAYS A SCENIC EXPERIENCE

M BY BOB SPIWAK

ANY GOLFING OPTIONS ARE AVAIL-

ABLE FROM WINTHROP SOUTHward in the surrounding region, with courses ranging from modest in fees to high-end.

There are some nine-hole, twicearound-for-18 tracks, and some full 18s, offering a wide variety of ease and diffıculty. What is common in each are interesting views, which range from wooded to virtually barren. For the most part, mountain vistas will dominate. Information about all of the courses can be found on their web sites. In most cases, fees will be described along with amenities. Three of the tracks have on-site lodging, with discounted greens fees. You may be more partial to a human voice when seeking information, but we’d recommend getting the basics (and illustrations) from the web. If need be, use the phone after that. We’ll include phone numbers and websites with each course we cover. Bear Creek Golf Course outside of Winthrop (509-996-2584, www. bearcreekgolfcourse.com), a nine-hole, 18-tee course, is a moderately priced, well-maintained venue. There’s a cafe, outdoor tables with a good vista of the course, and wonderful views of the Sawtooth mountain range and lofty Mt. Gardner, especially from the sixth tee. There is also a driving range. The facility offers other activities such as Footgolf, DiscGolf and Fling Golf. Moving south, just before Pateros is Alta Lake Golf Resort (509-923 2359, altalakegolf.com). Adjacent to the state park of that name, it has recovered from the fırestorms of a few years ago. The brushy areas some remember

from the old days that separated fairways are gone, notably on the back nine. Fees are about the same as at Bear Creek. The buildings are new since the fıres, including the hotel and pro shop, and the cart fleet was upgraded to new Yamahas. Customers staying at the hotel can get a Stay & Play rate that extends to the three other courses — Bear Mountain, Desert Canyon and Rock Island — all owned by the Barth family. At Pateros, take Highway 97 north through the town of Brewster for about 15 miles to fınd the newest and most costly of the area courses. This is the already renowned Gamble Sands (509-436-8323, www.gamblesands.com), only in its fourth year and already voted “Best New Course in the Nation for 2016” by both Golf and Golf Digest magazines. It has won an award for Resort of the Year from the Pacifıc Northwest Section of the PGA. There is only one tree on the course and it is not in play. What grasses exist on the sandy margins of the carpetlike playing surfaces will not hide an errant shot, and lost balls are not an issue. Since last year, 37 rooms are available in a continuing expansion of the course’s buildings. However, the rooftops cannot be seen from the course. A new clubhouse and a retail facility have been added. It is a friendly walking course. Carts with and without caddies are available at added cost. Locals can walk and play the course for $99. Gift cards are available. Turning south on Highway 97 at Pateros takes you to two premiere courses, each on a different side of the Columbia River: Bear Mountain Ranch (509-682-8200, bearmtgolf. com) and Desert Canyon Resort (800258-4173, desertcanyonresort.com). Reaching Bear Mountain requires driving through Chelan, and at Lake Chelan getting on highway 97A to

Bear Creek Golf Course in Winthrop is scenic and convenient, with all you need for a great experience. PHOTO BY DON NELSON Wenatchee. Along the lake, then up a hill through the wine country, is the entrance to Bear Mountain. A stunningly beautiful course awaits at the top of the rise: Lake Chelan glimmering below, and the Cascade range across the lake. It’s an 18-holer. Carts are a necessity. A trip through a variety of elevations to mostly elevated greens gives you a choice of fıve tees on each hole. There is a driving range, a putting surface, and in conjunction with the other Barch family collection of courses, special rates for locals, including discount tickets for multiple rounds.

The restaurant is on the lower level, the veranda overlooking the 18th hole. To get to Desert Canyon, stay on highway 97 and bypass Chelan as you cross the Beebe Bridge enroute to Wenatchee. Less than half an hour from the bridge, the turn-off to the course will be indicated by signage. Another of the Barth domain, this course has a hotel, condos and a golf course that lives up to its name. There is a base layer of sand that, coupled with native brush, can offer some fun if your ball comes to rest there. Again, there are rates for local full-time dwellers, and special rates for stay-and-play

 37

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golfers. A wonderful putting course is a great place for non-golfers to play, and two large putting greens with contours will accommodate the hackers before and after their rounds. Right in the town of Chelan is the municipal Lake Chelan Golf Course (509-682-0285, cityofchelan.us/golfcourse). The course is sited above Lake Chelan, which comes in and out of view as you traverse the holes. If offers

some very tricky greens, especially number 12, and the course is a lot of fun, It can be walked or carted. There is an excellent driving range next to the clubhouse, and adjoining the pro shop is a small restaurant that also hangs over the 18th green. The rates are moderate, and carts are available. This may be the most venerable of all the courses discussed here, and it shows its age in fıne style.

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WHERE’S WALDO IN WINTHROP!

Children’s Book Week 2017 “One World, Many Stories”

May 1 - 5 @ 3:45pm & May 6 @ 2pm

Beloved Books • Matching Snacks! Monday The Three Little Pigs • Pigs in a Blanket! Tuesday How It Works: The Little Red Hen • Baked Bread! • Get a “Where’s Waldo” local passport from any Wednesday of our 25 participating businesses Cloudy with a Chance of Meat Balls • Meatballs! • Spot Waldo in each business and get a stamp Thursday • Collect a prize at the Bookstore for ﬁnding 10 Waldos Very Hungry Caterpillar • Fruit! • Find over 20 Waldos to enter a prize-winning drawing Friday The Ginger Bread Man • Ginger Cookies! Saturday, July 29 Saturday Trail’s End Party with fun activities! Erik Brooks reads his book • Cake & Party!

July 2017, we’ll be hosting an exciting month-long scavenger hunt to ﬁnd Waldo in Winthrop – you might even see Waldo wandering through town!

Visit Us At Our New Location! 241 Riverside Avenue, Winthrop • 509-996-2345 Check our website for upcoming events: trailsendbookstore.com

 38

Open 7 Days a Week! local & regional authors • children’s & teen reads games • puzzles • hot & iced espresso drinks arts & crafts • custom orders • occasion cards

When you have to pay to play A GUIDE TO RECREATIONAL PASSES, FEES, PERMITS AND LICENSES

W BY MARCY STAMPER

HEN WE THINK ABOUT HIKING OR

FISHING, MOST OF US RE-

strict 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 recre-

ational 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 can be bought at the Methow Valley Ranger District or a trailhead. There are also two versions that can be purchased online. After buying the Day ePass online, you print it when needed and validate it for the day you are going to use it. You can also have the day pass mailed to you, but that takes more time and includes a shipping and handling fee. 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. There are also no fees for hiking, picnicking and sightseeing in the entire Harts Pass area. (Only the campgrounds there still charge a fee.) The pass also covers national forests in Oregon. Washington state also charges fees for most of its recreation lands — state parks, wildlife areas and forests — four years ago. The Discover Pass is now required at lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — but not necessarily in all

situations. The state 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 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 — are managed by DNR and also require the pass. 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

WHERE TO BUY REC PASSES

FEDERAL

Northwest Forest Pass (annual, $30) In person: Methow Valley Ranger District, 24 W. Chewuch Road, Winthrop, 996-4003 Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 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 Discover Your Northwest, www.discovernw.org/store or (877) 874-6775 U.S. Geological Survey at store.usgs. gov, (888) 275-8747 (They advise people to allow one month for the processing of a senior or access pass.) Interagency 4th Grade Pass www.everykidinapark.gov

National Forest Recreation Day Pass ($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: www.discovernw.org, (877) 874-6775

STATE

Discover Pass (annual, $30; day, $5) In person: 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 Yancey’s Pateros Hardware, Pateros, (509) 923-2622 (includes transaction fees: $5, annual; $1.50, day) Online or by phone: 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/passesand-permit-info Discover Pass: www.discoverpass. wa.gov; frequently asked questions, exemptions, etc. Outdoor Recreation Information Center, (800) 270-7504 Discover Your Northwest, www. discovernw.org (under “Store,” and then “Recreation Passes”)

 39

variety of other passes are 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 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. But be aware that the price on the senior pass is expected to go up at the start of the new fıscal year in October 2017. The increase hasn’t been set yet, but at least two options are reportedly under consideration: an $80 lifetime pass or a $20 annual pass. 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. People can get the access and military passes free at a ranger station, or

the senior pass for $10. The senior, access and military passes can now also be obtained online, but that includes an additional $10 processing fee. All require 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 afıcionados of the outdoors — and their families and friends — a handy option is the Interagency 4th-Grade Pass. The pass is free to all fourth-graders and homeschooled 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

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TRAILS AND 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 Reynolds Creek, free

WINTHROP, WEST CHEWUCH, RENDEZVOUS

Pearrygin Lake State Park, DP, NIP Lewis Butte, DP Twin Lakes, free Patterson Mountain, DP to park at boat launch on Patterson Lake.

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(There is a small free public-parking area along Patterson Lake Road.) Patterson Lake, boat launch: DP, VA Sun Mountain trails, free Methow Wildlife Area (Bear Creek), DP Falls Creek Falls, NW, IA Copper Glance, free

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

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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.

his or her family (or three adults or an entire carload, depending on the site). It 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. 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 two years ago, 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 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

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Methow River

Raft + Kayak

would still need one to visit or launch a boat at a WDFW or DNR area. There is also a $7 permit available if you want to launch a boat for just a single day. If you have a hunting or fıshing license, you won’t need the Discover Pass to visit WDFW lands — you just need 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 offıcial 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 question-andanswer 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”). It also has a detailed list of trails and whether they require a pass. • 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 has a comprehensive list of 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 without a service fee). The are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Ciderhouse

REFRESHING YOUR

Methow Adventures SINCE 2010

OPEN: SUN, MON, WED & THURS 12 PM-8 PM FRI & SAT 12 PM-10 PM HAPPY HOUR: MON, WED, THURS, FRI

Artisan brats, salads, sandwiches, & snacks Vegan and gluten-free options Cider, beer & wine

Live music ~ Family friendly ~ Outdoor games ~ Pet friendly ~ Lots of parking

28 HWY 20, WINTHROP METHOWCIDER.COM

( 509 ) 341-4354

Know what passes you need before you head out to the Methow Valley’s parks and trails. PHOTO BY MARCY STAMPER

Shafer Historical Museum & Village A Window into the Past... “THE CASTLE”, a log home standing on its original site, was built in 1896 for Winthrop Founder Guy Waring.

Full service restaurant & bar OPEN DAILY (509) 996-3906 31 Early Winters Drive Mazama, WA (15 miles west of Winthrop)

• Open air museum with 17 buildings, including authentic homestead structures furnished with period pieces. • 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

Beginning Mid-May, open Saturday & Sunday – 10am to 5pm June through September, open 7 days a week – 10am to 5pm 285 Castle Avenue • Winthrop WA

www.shafermuseum.com

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Basic info for visitors

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

POLICE/EMERGENCY

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.

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

NEED A TOW?

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

OPEN LATE

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

AIRPORTS

Hank’s Mini Market: 410 E. Methow

Twisp Municipal Airport: 40 Wagner Road, Twisp; 997-2311. Methow Valley State Airport:

Handmade Chocolates Homemade Ice Cream Homemade Waffle Cones 40+ flavors of ice cream & 30+ flavors of yogurt

ESPRESSO

Plus 18-Hole Mini Golf!

BREAKFAST SANDWICHES CINNAMON ROLLS HOT DOGS FRESH-MADE SANDWICHES ON ARTISAN BREAD & 100+ VARIETIES OF BULK CANDY

Fun for the Whole Family! Main Corner in Winthrop

509-996-3834

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Twisp-Winthrop Eastside Road; (360) 618-2477

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 Sun Mountain Lodge, Winthrop: 996-2211; www.sunmountainlodge.com

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

Winthrop: 996-2125; www. winthropwashington.com Omak: (509) 826-1880 or (800) 225-6625; www.omakchamber.com Okanogan: (509) 422-4034; www. okanogachamber.com Brewster: (509) 689-3464; www. brewsterchamber.org Pateros: (509) 923-9636; www.pateros.com

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

POST OFFICES

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

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

NEED TO CLEAN UP?

LIBRARIES

HIGHWAY INFORMATION

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

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE Twisp: 997-2020; www.twispinfo.com

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

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

RECYCLING

Methow Recycles: 997-0520; 12 Twisp Airport Road; www.methowrecycles.org

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

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 Rink: 996-4199, www. winthropicerink.com 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

•

HEALTH CARE

Three Rivers Hospital, Brewster: (509) 689-2086; www. threerivershospital.net Mid-Valley Hospital, Omak: (509) 826-1760; www.mvhealth.org Confluence Health Methow Valley 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

INFORMATION & MEDIA

Methow Valley News: 997-7011; 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.

Twisted Knitters Local Yarns, Hand Spun Yarns From Cotton to Cashmere TUES-SAT 10am-4pm mvtwistedknitters.com 109 Glover Street, across from the Cinnamon Twisp Bakery!

Denise Heatley, LMP

Mount Gardner

MASSAGE (509)341-4228

202 White Avenue Winthrop Fitness Building License # MA00011919

W eddings R eunions M eetings B irthdays •

•

2 Spacious Dining Areas • Large Kitchen • Plenty of Parking • Private Dressing Rooms • Large Doors to Exterior • All Inclusive with Tables, Chairs & Place Settings

M ETHOW V ALLEY ’ S P IPESTONE C ANYON R ANCH

(509) 997-9394 pipestonecanyonranch.com • pipestonecanyonranch@gmail.com

 45

Calendar Summer is an active time of year in the Methow Valley. Our May-throughSeptember calendar of events is meant to be comprehensive, but inevitably there will be some omissions because information was not available, or we did not receive it in time for the publication. Check the “What’s Happening” page in the weekly Methow Valley News for the most up-to-date information. All phone numbers are in the 509 area code unless otherwise indicated.

All Summer MUSIC: Check the weekly Methow Valley News “What’s Happening” calendar for live music events at: • The Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop, 996-3183 • Twisp River Suites, Twisp, 997-0100 • Methow Valley Ciderhouse, Winthrop, 3421-4354 METHOW SKILLS WORKSHOPS: Visit TwispWorks for creative workshops with expert Methow Valley instructors leading a variety of unique and practical classes for individuals, job seekers and small business owners. Full class schedule and registration information is available at www.TwispWorks.org

SATURDAYS THROUGH OCTOBER METHOW VALLEY FARMERS MARKET: Local produce, arts and crafts, food and music at MV Community Center, Twisp. Free. www. methowvalleyfarmersmarket.com. 9am-noon

SATURDAYS ART AT TWISPWORKS: Open studios and classes at the TwispWorks campus. Free. 9973300. 10am-2pm SUNDAYS, MAY 28 – SEPT. 3 WINTHROP MARKET: Local arts and crafts, food, vintage items and more at Mack Lloyd Park, Winthrop. Free. 4299475. 10am-2pm

FIRST THURSDAYS

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

 46

11 FLOWER WALK: Led by Methow Conservancy’s Mary Kiesau. Free. Registration required at 996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy.org. 4-6pm 11

May THROUGH MAY 29

EXHIBIT: “Small Works” at Winthrop Gallery. Free. 996-3925

THROUGH MAY 20 ART

EXHIBITS: “Otherworlds, a Fantasy Exhibit,” plus still-life paintings by fourth-graders, at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. Free. 997-2787

1 FLOWER WALK: Led by Mary Kiesau of the Methow Conservancy. Free. Registration required at 996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy.org. 4-6pm 2

OCEAN TIDES: Methow Conservancy’s “First Tuesday” program is “Tides: The Science & Spirit of the Oceans,” with author Jonathan White at the Winthrop Barn. Free. 996-2870. 7pm

5–14 THEATER: “Peter Pan” presented by the Tom Zbyszewski Children’s Theater at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. $5-$18. Visit www.mercplayhouse.org or call 997-7529 for more information. 5 OPEN MIC: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with open mic hosted by Danbert Nobacon at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop. Free. 996-3183. 7pm 6

SUNFLOWER MARATHON, HALFMARATHON AND RELAY: Pick a running event, starting at Mazama. $85. 996-3287; www.methowtrails.org. 8am

6 BIRD WALK: Led by Methow Conservancy’s Mary Kiesau. Free. Registration at 996-2870 or mary@ methowconservancy.org. 8:30-10:30am 6

PHOTO WALK FOR MOMS: “Moms with cameras photo walk” (kids also welcome) at Sun Mountain Lodge. Free. (206) 618-7301. 10am

QUILT PRESENTATION: “If Quilts Could Talk” will be presented by author Nancy J. Martin at Methow Valley Inn, Twisp. $10. amaling@comcast.net or (360) 633-6390. 6:30-8pm

12–14

WINTHROP ’49ER DAYS: Horses, cowboys, pack trails and wagon trains all converge for three days of western events including a parade. Free. www.winthropwashington.com

12–13 TRUNK SALE: Treasures of the World Trunk Sale, a fundraiser for MV Community School, at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. Free. 997-2787. 10am-5pm Friday, 10am-3pm Saturday 12 PIPESTONE MUSIC DAYS: Pipestone Orchestra and Cascadia Chorale concert featuring Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Lark Ascending, with violin soloist Vanessa Moss, at MV Community Center, Twisp. $5-$15. 9970222. 7pm 13 PIPESTONE MUSIC DAYS: Small ensembles of local musicians on the streets of Winthrop throughout the day. Free. 997-0222. All day

9–12 QUILT RETREAT: Quilting and more at Methow Valley Inn, Twisp. $275-$425. amaling@comcast.net or (360) 633-6390 11

FIELD SKETCHING AND JOURNALING: With Perri Howard at Tree Cooler building, TwispWorks. $150. 5572299. 9:30am-5:30pm

17 BIRD WALK: Led by the Methow Valley Conservancy’s Mary Kiesau. Free. Registration required at 996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy.org. 8-10am 18–21

MUSICAL: Liberty Bell High School Drama Company presents “Cry Baby” at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. $5$10. 997-7529. 7pm Thursday-Saturday, 2pm Sunday

18 MASTERING MIXED MEDIA: Adventures in acrylics with Perri Howard at Tree Cooler building, TwispWorks. $70. 557-2299. 2-6pm 19 FLAMENCO MUSIC AND DANCE: World music and dance performance with Eric & Encarnación of Seattle Flamenco, at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $15. 997-2787. 6:30pm 20

BOOK LAUNCH: Book launch party for Corinna Luyken’s “The Book of Mistakes” at Trail’s End Bookstore, Winthrop. Free. 996-2345. 10am

MAGICAL METHOW FAIRYTALE BALL: Fundraiser for Little Star Montessori School at the Winthrop Barn. $40. dani@ littlestarschool.com. 5pm

13 SAUSAGE MAKING: Learn sausage making with Jim Salter at the catering kitchen on TwispWorks campus. $60. 9973300 to register. noon-4pm 13

ART WITH MOM: Moms and kids make art with Perri Howard at Tree Cooler building, TwispWorks. $90. 557-2299. 2-6pm

COMMUNITY ART ACTIVISM WORKSHOP: Join art therapist and family therapist Michele Koger in creating a series of prayer flags. Free. 997-2787. 3-6pm

Back on the field

Another ‘first day’

Mountain Lions drop home opener to Brewster

MV Community School classes start this week

Methow Valley News

SPORTS Page B1

STORY Page B4

PUBLISHED WEEKLY SINCE 1903

TWISP, WASHINGTON

VOL. 114 NO. 18

WWW.METHOWVALLEYNEWS.COM

SEPTEMBER 7, 2016

MV Citizens Council celebrates 40 years of activism Fight against ski resort launched broader agenda By Ann McCreary

For many Methow Valley residents, the battle fought over a downhill ski resort in Mazama is a distant memory, or was over before they moved here.

But lessons learned during that conﬂict still guide the Methow Valley Citizens Council (MVCC), created four decades ago to lead the ﬁght against the proposed Early Winters ski area. “Forty years is a long time,” said Maggie Coon, who helped found MVCC in 1976, and has been involved in the organization for 15 of its 40 years, including her current position as chairman of the MVCC board of directors. “MVCC has had significant influ-

ence on the way the Methow Valley has grown and developed over the last 40 years. We’ve helped … instill a culture of advocacy, which is very much alive and well in the Methow Valley today,” Coon said. One of those early environmental advocates was Isabelle Spohn, who learned about plans for a destination ski hill at Sandy Butte soon after moving to Mazama in 1978. Spohn became involved in the new grassroots

group ﬁghting the resort, and remained actively involved for 35 years. “It seemed to me that many people [in the valley] hadn’t seen that kind of [development] happen before, and didn’t understand how quickly something like that could happen,” Spohn said. “It had the possibility of having an enormous impact on the valley. It was so out of scale for the valley,” she said. Even before MVCC was officially incorporated in 1976, some local citi-

zens were raising alarms about rumors that Aspen Ski Corp. was making plans for a destination ski resort called Early Winters that could accommodate as many as 10,000 skiers a day — at a time when the entire population of the valley was only about 3,500 year-round residents. Bev and Jeff Zwar had recently moved to McFarland Creek when they

Tell our advertisers you saw them here!

See MVCC, MVCC A1

THESE BIG PIGS WENT TO M ARKET Bear Fight scientist discovers evidence of water on Ceres Vital information transmitted by Dawn mission spacecraft By Ann McCreary

TRASHION SHOW: Outfits from recycled materials hit the runway at MV Community Center, Twisp, presented by Confluence Gallery. $20. 997-2787. 6-10pm

14 MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH: At Sun Mountain Lodge. $14-$31. 996-4707 for reservations. 8am-2pm

Photo by Marcy Stamper Emily Paul put her pig, Darwin, on a diet to be sure it qualifies for the market auction. A high school junior, Paul said raising pigs for the fair has made a big difference in her college fund. In addition to the pig, she plans to exhibit homemade caramels.

Come have fun with us this winter! Daily Rentals, Retail, Season Rentals louploupskishop.com 509-846-5076 Hank’s Market Complex Twisp, WA

Local 4-H swine raisers look forward to county fair, auction By Marcy Stamper

Cody Wottlin wrapped his shoelaces in duct tape because his pig Schnizel ﬁnds them so irresistible. But nibbling on the shoelaces is just for entertainment, said Wottlin, since Schnizel (formally known as Frederick Esquire III) is hardly lacking for nourishment. In fact, this year several of the pigs being raised by the Methow Valley Cascaders 4-H Club are on diets because they’re already nearing the maximum weight to be auctioned at the Okanogan County Fair. (Pigs need to be between 230 and 290 pounds to qualify for the market auction at the fair.) McKenna Ott is dealing with the opposite problem — she’s raising a pig from a late litter and it may not weigh enough for the auction. “You never know till you show up — as soon as you cross the scales,

there’s no turning back,” said Erin White, the 4-H swine leader. Every year there are a few pigs that don’t qualify for the weight class. “Kids are devastated, but the parents are a lot more devastated,” said White. “It’s hard to watch the kid put in all that work.” If a pig is over or underweight, the child can still compete in ﬁtting and showing, but will have to sell the animal privately, which rarely brings as much money as the auction at the fair. “It was a cake-walk with these pigs — you could go right up to them from two months,” said Wottlin, an eighth-grader who speculated that the pigs he and his brother raised this year were so calm because they’d been handled from birth. “They’re pretty goodlooking, too,” he said.

Learning experience

Methow Valley kids expect to bring some 6,000 pounds of pork to the county fair this year — 22 kids have spent the past six months raising pigs. “Kids tell their friends how fun it was, so lots join,” said White. It is not uncommon for kids to sell a

Friday night light

pig at auction for $4 or $5 per pound, and some have scored as much as $7 per pound, earning more than $1,000 to put toward a college fund or a car. The fair guarantees a price of 60 cents per pound, but that doesn’t come close to covering the typical $500 investment in the pig, food and supplies. Emily and Bodie Paul like pigs for their generally equable disposition and the ability to earn money for college. Their older brother raised steers, but steers demand a longer commitment and a bigger investment. They also tend to have less predictable personalities, said Emily, a junior in high school. She remembered one steer that was so gentle that her brother could read a book while lying on its back, but other steers would attack everything in sight, including the fence. 4-H exposes kids to a lot more than raising an animal. “It’s part of life — they learn that even if they feed the animals every day and do everything they’re supposed to do,” sometimes it just doesn’t work out, said See FAIR, FAIR A3

ADDRESS LABEL

A surprise

Finding the water ice on the surface was surprising, Combe said. The water ice was detected using a Visible and InfraRed Mapping Spectrometer (VIR) carried aboard the Dawn spacecraft, which began orbiting Ceres in March 2015. The VIR measures the sunlight scattered on the surface of Ceres in a range of wavelengths from the near ultraviolet to the near infrared. Data obtained through VIR reveals mineral and molecular composition, and in this case revealed the presence of water. The water ice was observed in a 10-kilometer-wide crater named Oxo. See CERES, CERES A3

Photo courtesy of Bear Fight Institute Jean-Philippe Combe of the Bear Fight Institute near Winthrop has identified the presence of water ice on the dwarf planet, Ceres.

At 100, Enid Shaw reflects on a Methow Valley life well-lived By Marcy Stamper

Photo by Don Nelson A brilliant sunset provided a colorful backdrop at Friday’s Liberty Bell football game.

A scientist at the Bear Fight Institute near Winthrop has described the first and only confirmed detection of water-rich material at the surface of Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Jean-Philippe Combe authored a research article published Friday (Sept. 2) in the journal Science, detailing the discovery of water ice on Ceres. Information leading to Combe’s discovery was transmitted by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, which is orbiting Ceres. The detection of water ice on Ceres is inherently intriguing, Combe said in an interview last week. “Anything that involves water is very interesting and exciting. Water is an essential substance in the general evolution of any planet, and also for the creation of life, the type of life that we know anyway,” Combe said. “Water in our solar system is potentially related to creation of life. You have to start with detection of H20 to go further,” he said.

That’s not to imply that Ceres provides any indication of supporting life, Combe said. Of interest, though, is the presence of the water ice on the surface of Ceres, Combe said. Planetary scientists have long suspected that the interior of Ceres is composed of large amounts of water or ice, Combe said. “We knew that from the measurements of density of Ceres there has to be some ice in the bulk of Ceres. It is not dense enough to be made entirely of rocks. The obvious component was ice,” he said.

“I don’t know if people are making a fuss, although I have seen more people than in a long time,” said Enid Shaw, just over a week shy of her 100th birthday. “It’s a lot of attention — that’s all I can tell you.” Enid Pauline Gobat was born in Pateros on Sept. 16, 1916, and grew up there, literally among horses and buggies. This week, she was visiting with her granddaughter Amber at her home in Carlton, sharing memories about a century of change. Shaw moved to the Methow Valley

THURS. Sept. 8

75° 46° A Few Clouds

FRI.

SAT.

when she was in her early 20s, after studying typing and commercial subjects in Spokane. She married Roy Richard Shaw (known as “Dick”) in 1937. They raised their five children in a rudimentary two-room cottage that had once served as a teacher’s residence at the old Beaver Creek schoolhouse. They used to carry water up from the creek in 10-gallon cream cans. “It was a hill to climb, but not bad,” said Shaw. Dick also hauled water from town when he went to work. When she was growing up, Enid’s See SHAW, A3

SUN.

MON.

TUES.

Sept. 9

Sept. 10

Sept. 11

Sept. 12

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Partly Sunny

Mostly Sunny

Somewhat Sunny

Sunny for the Most Part

Showers Possible

76° 52°

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73° 46°

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WE ATHER DATA BASED ON ACCUWE ATHER .COM FOREC AST FOR T WISP

82° 42°

Enid Shaw

INSIDE ...

Photo by Marcy Stamper

OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 WHAT’S HAPPENING . . . . A6 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 CL ASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . B2 HARTS PASS . . . . . . . . . . . B4 COMMUNIT Y . . . . . . . . . . . B5 VALLEY LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . B6

21 LETTERPRESS PRINTING: Introduction to letterpress printing at Door No. 3 Print Studio, TwispWorks campus. info@doorno3.com. 10am-12:30pm 24

TAPAS MUSIC BY THE RIVER: At Twisp River Suites. 997-0100.

27 A DAY IN TWISP: Farmer’s Market, shopping and sidewalk sales, artist studios, wine tasting, music and more. Free. twispinfo@gmail.com. All day 27

SIDEWALK ART SALE: Sidewalk art sale at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. 9972787. 10am-3pm

26–27 THEATER: “Words that Burn: a Dramatization of WWII Experiences of William Stafford, Lawson Inada and Guy Gabaldón in Their Own Words,” at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. $5-$18. 997-7529. 7pm

EXPLORING ABSTRACTION: Drawing workshop with Perri Howard at Tree Cooler building, TwispWorks. $125. 10am-6pm

28 FIRE ECOLOGY: Learn about the nature of fire with Susan Prichard at MV Interpretive Center, Twisp. By donation. 997-0620. 5pm

26 FLOWER WALK: Led by the Methow Conservancy’s Mary Kiesau. Free. Registration required at 996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy.org. 3-6pm MAY 27–JUNE 24 ART EXHIBITS: “Elemental Sculpture” plus Caryl Campbell’s “Extinction” exhibits, at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. Free. 997-2787.

27–28 METHOW VALLEY RODEO: At rodeo grounds on Twin Lakes Road between Twisp and Winthrop. $10. www. methowvalleyrodeo.com. 1pm

TWISPWORKS PLAZA GRAND OPENING: With live music, carnival games, food, theater, aerial and circus performances and more. Free. 997-3300. 11am-3pm

BIRD WALK: Led the Methow Conservancy’s Mary Kiesau. Free. Registration required at 996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy.org. 7-9am

June 1–4

NATURALISTS’ RETREAT: Methow Conservancy’s annual field class on spring flowers and birds with instructors Dana Visalli, Libby Mills and Mary Kiesau. $200. Registration required at 996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy.org.

FIELD SKETCHING AND JOURNALING: With Perri Howard at Tree Cooler building, TwispWorks. $150. 5572299. 9:30am-5:30pm

KLEZMER MUSIC: Kosher Red Hots at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $15. 997-2787. 6:30pm 12–15 YOUNG SONGWRITERS’ SUMMER CAMP: For kids ages 7-13, with Havilah Rand at MV Community School, Twisp. $225. (512) 554-6452; havilahrand@ gmail.com. 10am-3pm

17–18, 24–25 THEATER FOR STUDENTS: Summer “Performance Intensive” with Ki Gottberg at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp, 8th grade and older, adults welcome. $150. 997-7529.

MAY 31–JULY 24

RIVER RESTORATIONS: Methow Conservancy presents “The Elwha and other River Restorations” with engineer Jennifer Bounty at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. Free. 996-2870. 7pm. EXHIBIT: Featured works of local artists at Winthrop Gallery. Free. 996-3925

$33 per year in Okano gan County $44 per year outsi de Okanogan County $55 per year outsi de WA state Dr. J. Doe

Dr. J. Doe

WEED WALK: Led by Methow Conservancy’s Mary Kiesau. Free. Registration required at 996-2870 or mary@methowconservancy.org. 8am

25 WHY WETLANDS MATTER: Presentation by restoration ecologist Crystal Elliot-Perez at MV Interpretive Center, Twisp. By donation. 997-0620. 5pm

Be Amazed

Discover this Wonderland as You Wander the Maze of Trails

www.winthropchalets.com info@winthropchalets.com

Methow Valley News Read weekly for the latest on what’s going on in the valley Reﬁlls: annually

RECYCALYPSO WORKSHOP: Make your own instrument using recycled materials at Winthrop library. Free. 996-2685. 2pm

ART WITH DAD: Dads and kids make art with Perri Howard at Tree Cooler building, TwispWorks. $90. 557-2299. 2-6pm

509-996-3113 • 1-800-527-3113

Mr./Mrs. Newspaper Reader Anytown, USA now

(509) 662-5785 ohmegardens.com

3327 Ohme Rd., Wenatchee, WA season: April 15 - Oct 15

SERVING BLUE STAR COFFEE AND ESPRESSO HIGH POINT BAKING CO. PASTRIES ORGANIC CAFE WITH DELICIOUS FOOD AND SMOOTHIES

Methow Valley News

SUMMER HOURS: EVERY DAY 7AM-5PM LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN WINTHROP

www.methowvalleynews.com

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26–29

YOGA AND WRITING FOR TEENS: “Yogoetry” uses yoga to release self-expression, offered by Subhaga Crystal Bacon at MV Community Center, Twisp. $140. subhaga.crystal.bacon.@ gmail.com. Noon-4pm

PUPPET SHOW: At Winthrop library. Free. 996-2685. 2pm

PUPPET SHOW: At Twisp library. Free. 997-4681. 3pm

July 1–2 FIELD JOURNALING: “The Art and Craft of Field Journaling,” with Perri Howard and Mary Kiesau. $135 plus materials. Register at 996-2870 or mary@ methowconservancy.org. 10am-4pm JULY 1–AUG. 5 EXHIBITS: “Through the Lens” features Methow Valley photographers’ works, Janet Fagan presents “Companions, Forest and Sky,” and works by artist-in-residence Anna Dooley, all at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. Free. 997-2787 4

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE: On Glover Street in downtown Twisp. Free. 11am

METHOW MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL: Music, performances, aerialists, artmaking, food, pie-eating and hula hoop contests for kids and more at Twisp Town Park. $5-$11. 997-4004. 11:30am-3:30pm

CHILDREN’S BOOKS AUTHOR: Illustrator and writer Erik Brooks at Winthrop library. Free. 996-2685. 2pm

25–27

ART CAMP FOR KIDS: Twisp River Poems for ages 8-11 at Education Station, TwispWorks campus. $150. 997-2787. 10am-2pm

\JULY 31–AUG. 4 PIPESTONE MUSIC CAMP: Day camp for musicians ages 8 and up, for guitar, violin, viola, cello and piano. $250. 997-0222. 9:30am-5pm

ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTS: Electrical Experiments with Bob the PUD scientist, at Winthrop library. Free. 996-2685. 2pm

August

11–13

ART CAMP FOR KIDS: Experimentations in Art Making for ages 6-8 at Education Station, TwispWorks campus. $150. 997-2787. 10am-2pm

EXHIBIT: Works of Linda Harvey, Carol McMillan and Kathy Meyers at Winthrop Gallery. Free. 996-3925

1–3

18–20

ART CAMP FOR KIDS: Experimentations in Art Making for ages 9-11 at Education Station, TwispWorks campus. $150. 997-2787. 10am-2pm

JULY 27–AUG. 6

JULY 27–AUG. 5 CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL: Concert series at Signal Hill Ranch and other venues. $30 for center stage concerts on July 27 and 29 and Aug. 1, 3, and 5; other performances free. 997-5000; www. methowmusicfestival.org. 7:30pm for concerts

CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR: Author and illustrator Elisa Kleven at Twisp library. Free. 997-4681. 11am

STEM SCIENCE SHOW: At Winthrop library. Free. 996-2685. 2pm

21–23

WINTHROP RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL: A three-day blues concert at the Blues Ranch on Highway 20 west of Winthrop, celebrating its 30th anniversary. $110-$120. www. winthropbluesfestival.com for details.

The Methow Valley is a Beautiful Place, But Don’t Take It Home on Your Car!

CAR WASH

JULY 26–SEPT. 11

PUPPET SHOW: At Winthrop library. Free. 996-2685. 4pm

THEATER: “The Real Inspector Hound” at The Merc Playhouse, Twisp. Visit www. mercplayhouse.org for more information.

PROTECTING ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES: Presentation by Archaeologist Aaron Naumann, Colville Confederated Tribes, on ethical, legal and practical aspects, at MV Interpretive Center, Twisp. By donation. 997-0620. 5pm

ART CAMP: Patterns in Nature for ages 8-11 at Education Station, TwispWorks campus. $150. 997-2787. 10am-2pm

SASQUATCH: Methow Conservancy’s “First Tuesday” Program is “Sasquatch: Man Ape or Myth?” with author David George Gordon. Location TBA. Free. 996-2870. 7pm

METHOW VALLEY HOME TOUR: Self-guided tour of “cozy” Methow Valley Homes, sponsored by Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $25. 997-2787. 10am-4pm

STEM SCIENCE PROJECT: At Twisp library. Free. 997-4681. 2pm

AUG. 12–SEPT. 23

EXHIBITS: “Walking the Wild Edge,” and Stephanie Hargrave solo exhibit, at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. Free. 997-2787

Local. Very local. Since 1903, the independent and locally owned Methow Valley News has focused solely on two things: 1) Reporting the news and events of the Methow Valley.

• Touchless Automatic with Undercarriage Wash • Dryers on Top Two Washes • Self-Service Bay (RV Friendly) • Two Vacuums with Carpet Cleaners

2) Providing an effective and reliable source of advertising for local and regional businesses.

More than 100 years serving the Methow Valley.

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

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509-997-7011 • www.methowvalleynews.com

13 ART CLASS: “Encaustics: The Basics and Beyond,” with Stephanie Hargrave at Confluence Gallery, Twisp. $185. 997-2787. 10am-3pm 14–19 MUSICAL THEATER CAMP: At The Merc Playhouse, Twisp, for kids age 8 and older. $250. 997-7529. 10am-4pm

16 PUPPET SHOW: At Twisp library. Free. 997-4681. 11am

26 CUTTHROAT CLASSIC TRAIL

RUN: 11-mile trail run through the North Cascades. $75. 996-3287. 8am

26 TELLURIDE MOUNTAIN FILM

ON TOUR: An evening of select films from Telluride Mountain Film, at Mack Lloyd Park, Winthrop. $10-$15. northcascadesmountainhostel.com

27 LAST SUNDAY PRESENTATION: Topic and speaker to be announced, at MV Interpretive Center, Twisp. By donation. 997-0620. 5pm

September 2–3 METHOW VALLEY RODEO:

At rodeo grounds on Twin Lakes Road between Twisp and Winthrop. $10. www. methowvalleyrodeo.com. 1pm

3 DINNER AT TWISPWORKS: Annual

fundraiser benefiting the TwispWorks Foundation features a menu pairing local chefs with Methow Valley producers. 997-3300

9 WINTHROP VINTAGE WHEELS SHOW: Showcasing vintage automobiles, motorcycles, tractors, travel trailers and bicycles in downtown Winthrop. Free. www.winthropwashington.com. 10am Sept. 13–Oct. 16 EXHIBIT: “Land and Sky” at Winthrop Gallery. Free. 996-3925. 15–17 PLEIN AIRE PAINTING

WORKSHOP: With Rod Weagant at locations around the Methow Valley. $225. Register at Confluence Gallery, Twisp, 997-2787.

23 METHOW VALLEY OFF-ROAD

DUATHLON: 40K mountain bike race and 10K trail run at Chickadee Trailhead, Sun Mountain; 20K and 5K options also available. $40 individual, $75 team. methowduathlon.blogspot.com

24 LANDSCAPING WITH FIRE: Dale

Swedberg of the Washington Prescribed Fire Council, talks about fire as a Native American Tool, at MV Interpretive Center, Twisp. By donation. 997-0620. 5pm

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

Jack’s Hut Pizza & Brews Family friendly dining featuring gourmet pizza and craft brews on tap. Big screen TV’s & pool table. Right on the bike trail.

OPEN DAILY

Located 15 miles west of Winthrop 31 Early Winters Drive Mazama (509)996-3906

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Directory of Advertisers Antiques/Collectibles

PIC Boutique ................................................... 20 Poppie Jo Galleria ......................................34 Robins Egg Bleu ...........................................23

Automotive/Gasoline

King’s Pacifıc Pride & Car Wash ................................................. 48 Mazama Store ..................................................18

Banquet Halls/Event Facilities

Bear Creek Golf Course ..................... 29 Merc Playhouse Theater ........................9 Pipestone Canyon Ranch ..................45 Twisp Valley Grange ................................10 Winthrop Barn Auditorium ............25

Bicycle Dealers/Repair

Methow Cycle & Sport ..............................9

Cafés/Dining/Espresso

Blue Star Coffee Roasters ..................... 7 Cascadian Home Farm .........................35 Cinnamon Twisp Bakery ......................9 Fork ............................................................................14 Freestone Inn ..................................................43 Hometown Pizza ......................................... 38 Jack’s Hut at Freestone Inn ............. 49 Kind Grinds Espresso Bar & Cafe .................................................................. 47 LaFonda Lopez Restaurant ............. 38 Lariat Coffee Roasters .............................11 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso ............... 17 Mazama Country Inn .............................45 Mazama Store ..................................................18 Methow Valley Ciderhouse ..............43 Old Schoolhouse Brewery ................15 Rocking Horse Bakery ..........................42 Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe ..............................44 Smallwood Farms .....................................42 Sun Mountain Lodge ...............................15 Trail’s End Bookstore ............................ 38

Campgrounds/RV Parks

Pine Near RV Park ............................ 23, 49 Riverbend RV Park ....................................32 Silverline Resort ...........................................41 Winthrop KOA ...............................................31

Car Wash

King’s Pacifıc Pride & Car Wash ................................................. 48

Emergency Services

Aero Methow Rescue Service .......... 7

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Events/Festivals

Merc Playhouse Theater ........................9 Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival ...........................................21 NC Mountain Hostel/ Mountain Film Tour ...........................21 NC Mountain Hostel/ Off-Road Duathlon ..............................31 Omak Stampede ...........................................19 Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival ..........................................3

Galleries

Confluence Gallery ...................................12

Groceries/Hardware

Mazama Store ..................................................18 Valley Hardware Do-it Center ........18

Health/Medical

Confluence Health .....................................51 Jason Rumohr, Hellerwork ...............41 Ulrich’s Valley Pharmacy ................... 17

Internet Service Providers

Methownet.com .......................................... 30

Local Goods & Produce

Blue Star Coffee Roasters ..................... 7 Cascadian Home Farm .........................35 Lariat Coffee Roasters .............................11 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso ............... 17 Mazama Store ..................................................18 Methow Valley Ciderhouse ..............43 Methow Valley Farmers Market .....14 Old Schoolhouse Brewery ................15 Robins Egg Bleu ...........................................23 Smallwood Farms .....................................42 Thomson’s Custom Meats ..................31 Twisted Knitters ...........................................45 Winthrop Market ..........................................11

Lodging

Central Reservations ..............................52 Chewack River Guest Ranch ......... 30 Freestone Inn ..................................................43 Mazama Country Inn .............................45 Mazama Ranch House .......................... 29 Methow River Lodge & Cabins ......18 Mount Gardner Inn ................................. 40 North Cascades Mountain Hostel .... 36 River Run Inn ..................................................34 Rolling Huts & Methow Tents ........44

Lodging, cont.

Silverline Resort ...........................................41 Sun Mountain Lodge ...............................15 Twisp River Suites ......................................51 The Virginian Resort ..............................23 The Winthrop Inn ..................................... 40 Winthrop KOA ...............................................31 Winthrop Mountain View Chalets .............................................. 47

Massage Practitioners, Spa Services

Mount Gardner Massage ....................45 Nectar Skin Bar & Boutique ..............18 Sun Mountain Lodge ...............................15

Museums

Shafer Historical Museum ................43

Organizations

Cascade Farmlands ..................................31 Cascadia Music ............................................ 29 City of Pateros .................................................51 Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance .............................................45 Merc Playhouse Theater ........................9 Methow Conservancy ...........................25 Methow Recycles .........................................15 Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation .......................32 Methow Trails ................................................32 Methow Valley Chamber Music Assoc. ................................................21 Shafer Historical Museum ................43 TwispWorks .......................................................12 Winthrop Marketing ..................................2

Pharmacies

Ulrich’s Pharmacy ...................................... 17

Radio

KTRT 97.5 FM ................................................. 36

Real Estate

Blue Sky Real Estate ..................................11 Coldwell Banker Winthrop Realty .....................................51

Recreation/Activities

Bear Creek Golf Course ..................... 29 Chewack River Guest Ranch ......... 30 Freestone Inn ........................................ 43, 49 Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies............................... 49 Lazy River Tubing .......................................41 Loup Loup Ski Rental Shop ............ 46 Methow Cycle & Sport ..............................9

Recreation/Activities

Methow River Raft & Kayak ............42 Methow Trails ................................................32 Methow Valley Ciderhouse ..............43 Morning Glory Balloon Tours ..... 40 North Cascades Fly Fishing .............10 North Cascades Mountain Guides ................................. 20 Ohme Gardens .............................................. 47 Paula Christen’s Watercolors .........43 Shafer Historical Museum ................43 Slidewaters ....................................................... 40 Sun Mountain Lodge ...............................15 TwispWorks .......................................................12

Recycling

Methow Recycles .........................................15

Retail

Aspen Grove ....................................................35 Confluence Gallery ...................................12 Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies............................... 49 Jack’s Hut at Freestone Inn ............. 49 Lariat Coffee Roasters .............................11 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso ............... 17 Loup Loup Ski Rental Shop ............ 46 Mazama Store ..................................................18 Methow Cycle & Sport ..............................9 Nectar Skin Bar & Boutique ..............18 Outdoorsman .................................................34 PIC Boutique ................................................... 20 Poppie Jo Galleria ......................................34 Red Hen Consignment Shop ...........41 Robins Egg Bleu ...........................................23 Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe ..............................44 Sun Mountain Lodge ...............................15 Trail’s End Bookstore ............................ 38 Twisted Knitters ...........................................45 Ulrich’s Valley Pharmacy ................... 17 Valley Hardware Do-it Center ........18 The Wine Shed ............................................... 17 Winthrop Mountain Sports ............ 36

Sporting Goods

Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies............................... 49 Methow Cycle & Sport ..............................9 Outdoorsman .................................................34 Sun Mountain Lodge ...............................15 Valley Hardware Do-It Center .......18 Winthrop Mountain Sports ............ 36

Theaters

Merc Playhouse Theater ........................9

Pateros

Methow Valley Clinic 1116 WA-20 | Winthrop, WA

At the confluence of the Methow & Columbia Rivers

Accepting New Patients 509.996.8180

City Of Pateros www.pateros.com Pediatrician

Phoebe Hershenow ARNP

509.923.2571

Leesa Linck MD

June 24-25, 2017 Spring City Wide Yard Sales Motorcycle Rally & Concert in the Park July 14-16, 2017 70th Annual Apple Pie Jamboree August 11-13, 2017 Pateros Hydroplane Races

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

Danielle Micheletti PA-C

Michael Tuggy MD

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

December 2017 Christmas in the City (Check website for dates)