Summer Guide 2022 by Methow Valley News

2022

Summer Methow Valley A SUPPLEMENT OF THE METHOW VALLEY NEWS

Information for an enjoyable Methow Valley visit

Dining

and lodging guides

Activities for every interest & all ages Summer 2022

FREE 1

Wilderness

DISCOVER THE EDGE OF THE

Cascades is the first stop for adventurers of all abilities and types. Our friendly, local staff spend their other waking hours checking out our trails and testing the gear we sell, saving your Methow time for what matters: exploring our beautiful backyard.

Hiking • Backpacking • Running • Camping • Trail Advice Open Daily • www.cascadesoutdoorstore.com • (509) 996-3480 2

Methow Valley News

Why we’re all here

he things that always make the Methow Valley a vacation wonderland never change: the mountains, cliffs, forests, fields, lakes, rivers, streams, shrub steppe expanses, flora and fauna, multi-purpose trails, camping, dining, lodging and shopping (buy local!) options, entertainment events, clear skies, friendly people and laid-back Western ambience all draw thousands of visitors to our valley each year.

Photo by Ashley Lodato

Summer 2022

In Methow Valley Summer 2022, we provide information about how to take advantage of everything the Methow has to offer. The things that can make summer a bit unpredictable are also worth acknowledging, most notably the long fire-and-smoke season. We never know what’s going to happen, and annually hope for the best while preparing for any eventuality. We encourage our visitors to do the same — be aware, and be

ready to adjust and adapt. In 2022, while COVID protocols have been relaxed, that situation could change again. It pays to stay informed. As we go to press, all of the summer’s traditional annual events (and more) are back on the schedule: The Twisp Fourth of July Parade, the Methow Arts Festival, the Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival, Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival, the Methow Valley Memorial Day and Labor Day Rodeos, the all-new Cidergrass Festival, the returning Methow Arts boat-in concert, The Confluence’s Methow Valley Home Tour and the Winthrop Vintage Wheels Show. The Methow Valley Farmers Market (on Saturdays) and Winthrop Market (on Sundays) will be open as well. Of course, the great outdoors is the Methow’s main event, and Methow Valley Summer 2022 is chock full of all the basic information you need to have a fully engaged recreational experience. There is no better one-stop source for Methow Valley information. Don Nelson Publisher/Editor

2022

Summer Methow Valley A SUPPLEMENT OF THE METHOW VALLEY NEWS

Summer

Methow Valley 6

A walk in the woods

Hiking and backpacking options abound in the Methow

10 Fully accessible Finding the valley’s barrier-free trails

Information for an enjoyable Methow Valley visit

Dining

and lodging guides

Activities for every interest & all ages Summer 2022

FREE

18 Feeling bouyant

Our rivers and lakes beckon swimmers, boaters and floaters

from 20 Scenery tee to green

Enjoy the spectacular setting at Bear Creek Golf Club

local trails 11 Some feel the burn

23 Take the lure

13 Full cycle

26 Take the reins

16 Outside options

30 Pay to play

Be aware of wildfirerelated closures

Take a tough or tame two-wheel trip

Public and private camping choices abound for tent, camper and RV fans

On the cover:

Methow Valley News columnist Ashley Lodato made our cover photo on a fall hike to this alpine lake off the Pacific Crest Trail in the Cascades.

Anglers will find many temptations in and around the Methow

Horseback adventures range from day rides to the back country

Passes, fees, permits or licenses are required at many rec areas

Methow Valley News

33 Social climbing

meaning 42 Finding in the Methow

your days 35 Filling in the Methow

wide44 Our open gallery

38 Event-full

46 We’re all yours

nature 40 The of the Methow

47 Look to the skies

The valley’s rock faces offer an array of challenges

Check out the valley’s interpretive sites

Appreciating outdoor art in the Methow Valley

You won’t run out of things to do

Find our local products throughout the valley

Check out the Methow’s busy summer calendar

The Methow’s dark skies make for spectacular summer nights

Flora and fauna 101 in the valley

Contributors Ann McCreary

is a freelance writer for the Methow Valley News.

Ashley Lodato

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

Don Nelson

is publisher and editor of the Methow Valley News.

Marcy Stamper

More … 48 50 51

Visitor info Featured lodging

52 53

Featured eateries Eateries guide

Lodging guide

is a Methow Valley News reporter.

DON NELSON | publisher/editor David Ward

is a Methow Valley News columnist.

SHEILA WARD | ad sales TERA EVANS | office manager JOE NOVOTNY | design

Sandra Strieby

is a freelance writer for the Methow Valley News.

Summer 2022

Rick Lewis

is a freelance writer for the Methow Valley News.

Methow Valley Summer 2022 is 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

A walk in the woods T

he mountains call us, just as they called John Muir and other early adventurers, and we must go — not because the mountains demand it of us (they do) but because we feel like the truest and happiest versions of ourselves when we are in them. “Going to the mountains,” said Muir,

“is going home.”

h m a y t t a

f a i t a V T t

N b c y o

Methow Valley News Photo by Ann McCreary

Hiking and backpacking options abound in the Methow BY A SHL E Y LO DATO

he Methow Valley is in proximity to some of the most beautiful hikes on the planet. The mountains call, you answer, and the next thing you know your boots are pounding out that familiar tempo on a dusty trail, or across a talus slope, or along a needle-strewn path. In the Methow Valley, you can find a wide variety of outdoor gear at Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies in Mazama, and Winthrop Mountain Sports, Cascades Outdoor Store and The Outdoorsman in Winthrop. Valley Harware Do It Center in Twisp and Ace Hardware in Winthrop also stock some camping gear. The lower trails and lakes in the North Cascades are often snow-free by June, but the snow in the higher country doesn’t melt until July most years. Plan your trip accordingly, or you’ll find yourself undertaking

some pretty rugged travel on trails that may be difficult to locate. Make sure you have proper permits, passes, parking, and pandemic information for your desired destination as well (see page 30). If you crave a more solitary experience, avoid these hikes on weekends.

■ CROWD CONTROL With increased use of trails and recreation sites, getting away from it all grows increasingly difficult. Try scheduling your trip for midweek, if possible. And if you get to a trailhead and the parking lot is full, go elsewhere. ■ HUMAN WASTE Few things kill the buzz of a trip into the backcountry faster than the sight of someone else’s unburied human waste or toilet tissue. It’s irresponsible to dispose of human waste improperly, especially as recreational use of popular areas increases, as it has been steadily doing for decades. At backcountry campsites, you may find a modern, clean, regularly

maintained outhouse, a ramshackle privy, or a “wet willy,” which is basically a box-like platform with a seat over a hole. In sites equipped with facilities — no matter how rustic — you need to use the established hole. Stand up if you must. If you don’t find an established toilet, you’ll need to dig a cat hole. Follow “Leave No Trace” regulations: 6-8 inches deep and 4-6 inches in diameter (using the U-Dig-It or other sturdy trowel you had the foresight to pack, because it’s virtually impossible to get down 6-8 inches using only a sharp stick or the heel of your boot).

A FEW GOOD CHOICES ■ DAY HIKES (ONE-WAY MILES FROM SHORTEST TO LONGEST) • Slate Peak: The ¼ -mile hike to Slate Peak gets you up to 7,400 feet elevation and provides a glimpse into the rich mining history of the area around the turn of the 20th century. Drive to the end of the Harts Pass road (which can often be

quite rough) and hike from the gate. • Falls Creek: Another short hike to a stunning view is the ¼-mile walk to Falls Creek Falls, out the West Chewuch Road. Park at Falls Creek Trailhead. Very kid-friendly. Early season. • Twisp Ponds: A 1-mile loop winds through restored riparian areas, native vegetation, interpretive signage, and several significant public art pieces. Park at the Twisp Ponds site just outside Twisp on Twisp River Road. Very kid-friendly. Early season. • Rainy Lake: Hiking doesn’t get any easier than the 1-mile walk on a paved, level path with interpretive signs and resting benches, ending at a sparkling alpine lake. Park at the Rainy Pass Trailhead. Very kid-friendly. If the parking lot is full — and it often will be on weekends — go elsewhere. • Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge: The flat 1-mile trail to the Suspension Bridge brings you to a picnic shelter and some interpretive signs by the river. Park at the

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Suspension Bridge Trailhead along Goat Creek Road in Mazama. Very kid-friendly. • Lone Fir Loop: Kids love the 2-mile loop around Early Winters Creek at Lone Fir Campground. With its shady glades and fun bridges, the trail is interesting and surprising. Park at Lone Fir Campground. Very kid-friendly. Early season. • Meadowlark Natural Area: Situated on a bench overlooking Winthrop, the Meadowlark Natural Area features 2.5 miles of trail through shrub-steppe terrain and provides critical mule deer winter range as well as important habitat for songbirds, small mammals, and raptors. Dogs on leash only. Very kid-friendly. Early season. • Patterson Mountain: The 3-mile loop around Patterson Mountain is one of the first snow-free hikes in the valley and is lush with wildflowers in the late spring. Park at the state boat access on Patterson Lake Road. An artistic surprise awaits you on top. Early season. • Lake Ann: Lake Ann is just 1.9 miles from the parking area, but it gets you into what feels like the heart of the mountains — a sparkling lake in a granite cirque. Park at the Rainy Pass Trailhead. Very kid-friendly. If the parking lot is full — and it often will be on weekends — go elsewhere. • Lookout Mountain: Lookout Mountain in Twisp loses its snow early, making it a favorite spring hike. Panoramic views and a historic wildfire lookout make this 2-mile hike a worthwhile one. From Twisp River Road, turn left on Rd 1605 and take an immediate right and connect with Forest Service Rd 4400-200 to the parking area at the end. Early season. • Cutthroat Lake: Another alpine

lake worth visiting is Cutthroat Lake, although it is marshier than Blue Lake or Lake Ann. The 2-mile trail into the lake is easy; moms have even been seen pushing baby joggers along it. Park at the Cutthroat Lake Trailhead. Very kid-friendly. Early season. • Blue Lake: The 2.2-mile hike into Blue Lake has some elevation gain but rewards the hiker with the opportunity to dip in its turquoise waters. Park at the Blue Lake Trailhead. If the parking lot is full — and it often will be on weekends — go elsewhere. • Goat Peak: Goat Peak is popular for its panoramic views of the North Cascades but also for its fire tower on the summit. The 2.5-mile hike is strenuous and is dry in the late summer. From Goat Creek Road, take Forest Rd #52, then #5225, and then to the end of #5225-200 to the parking area. • Maple Pass: The 7-mile Maple Pass loop is probably the most popular day hike in the area, and for good reason. The hike passes through old growth forests and subalpine hillsides before emerging into alpine meadows and a 360-degree view of the North Cascades from the summit ridge. Park at the Rainy Pass Trailhead. The Maple Pass hike has been severely over-crowded in recent summers, and is on most summer days the antithesis of a solitary backcountry experience. If you get to the Rainy Pass Trailhead and it’s full, go elsewhere; you don’t want to be on this hike with that many people. • Easy Pass: The 3.5-mile hike up Easy Pass is anything but, as you climb up 3,000 feet fairly relentlessly. Emerge into the talus above treeline and the views are breathtaking, as the trail crisscrosses an

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■ OVERNIGHT TRIPS (ONE-WAY MILES FROM SHORTEST TO LONGEST) • Tiffany Lake: The 1-mile trail into Tiffany Lake brings you to a level campsite with swimming and exploration opportunities, with wildflower-carpeted Tiffany Mountain looming above. From the campsite you can travel more lightly on side trips to the saddle above the lake or to Tiffany’s summit. Park at the Tiffany Lake Trailhead. Directions are complicated; get a Forest Service map. Very kid-friendly. Early season. • Windy Pass: The 3.5-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail to Windy Pass lacks significant elevation gain or loss, so you can travel through meadows and larch stands at a brisk clip before reaching your camping destination at the pass. Drive the Harts Pass Road almost to the end, parking in the small area

that gives access to the Pacific Crest Trail. Very kid-friendly. • Black Lake: Hiking into Black Lake with a backpack is appealing due to its limited elevation gain and loss. In August, the 4.5-mile trail is lined with raspberries and blueberries as well. There are campsites on both ends of the lake. From the West Chewuch Road, take Rd #51, the #5160-100 to the road end and trail #500. Early season. • Stehekin: Huh? Yes, that’s right, you can hike from the Methow Valley to this tiny boat-and-planeaccess-only community at the end of Lake Chelan. The hike starts at Bridge Creek and drops you gradually into the confluence with the Stehekin River 18 miles later. From there you can take a National Park Service shuttle into Stehekin and either boat out to Chelan the next day if you’ve arranged a pickup, or turn around and hike back to your car at Bridge Creek via McAlester Pass. Two reservable campsites along the PCT provide the opportunity to break the 18-miles up into two days. Park at the Bridge Creek Trailhead.

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Developed in the 1930s by The Mountaineers as a checklist for backcountry emergency preparedness, the Ten Essentials were 10 individual items that few experienced wilderness travelers would consider leaving out of their backpacks. The jury is still out on the Ten Essentials regarding day hikes, especially those on familiar or well-marked trails in good weather. While most hikers agree that sunscreen is worth the weight, those trotting around Maple Pass in 3 hours would probably consider it overkill to carry a space blanket and a water filter (however, given the number of people populating that loop, there’s a good chance you’ll stumble upon a fellow hiker in need at some point). When packing, you’ll need to make the decision for yourself, but consider the basic premise behind the Ten Essentials: You probably won’t use most of this stuff, but as soon as you need it, you’ll be glad you brought it. • Navigation: Learn how to read a

The 10 essentials

topographic map before you hit the trail. Seriously. Ditto for your compass. Plus, a lot of compasses have mirrors in the lids, which you can use to admire your grubby face. • Sun protection: Sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat — wear them every day. • Insulation: Bring more warm clothes than you think you’ll need; it’s colder in the mountains. Even on a sunny day hike it’s often nice to have a hat and puffy jacket for lunch on the summit. • Illumination: Even in the summer with 16 hours of daylight, you never know when you might have to hike out in the dark. Pack a headlamp or flashlight and make sure your batteries are new. • First aid kit: Outdoor stores sell well-stocked commercial kits, or visit REI’s website for an inventory list that will guide you through assembling your own. • Firestarter and matches: If for some reason you are spiraling toward hypothermia, and there are

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no other options for getting warm, you’ll have to light a fire. This should only be a last resort if there are no established fire rings. Heed all fire bans! • Repair kit and tools: Sometimes the ability to fix your stove or your pack makes the difference between comfort and misery. • Water and purification system: All water pulled from streams, rivers, and lakes should be treated.

• Extra food: Bring something high calorie, non-perishable and unappealing, like stale energy bars in an unpopular flavor. You’ll have them if you need them, but you won’t be tempted to break them out for dessert one night. • Emergency shelter: If all goes well and you’re lucky, you won’t need your rain gear or space blanket, but better safe than sorry.

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Fully accessible Finding the valley’s barrier-free trails BY M A R CY S TA MPER

ake in spectacular mountain scenery, cascading waterfalls and placid lakes from a selection of barrier-free trails accessible to people who use wheelchairs – and a great choice for an outing for the whole family. From downtown Winthrop, check out the Susie Stephens Trail, which offers a spectacular view of the Chewuch and Methow rivers from the Spring Creek Bridge before winding through pastures and meadows for about a mile to the shopping district outside of town on Highway 20. A wide, mostly level packed-gravel trail leads along the Methow River from the Suspension Bridge parking area on Goat Creek Road near Mazama for about a mile to the Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge, which offers expansive views up and down the valley. Head west on Highway 20 from Winthrop (toward Mazama). In about 8 miles, go right on Goat Creek Road. The parking area is on the left in about 2 3/4 miles. Further from town, check out Blackpine Lake, a serene mountain lake with a paved lakeshore trail that leads to an overlook of Hoodoo Peak and Raven Ridge. There are

Photo by Marcy Stamper The dock at Blackpine Lake is accessible. opportunities for swimming and boating from a wheelchair-accessible dock, reached by the trail, and trout fishing. The trail has interpretive signs and benches for wildlife viewing. From Twisp, drive west on Twisp River Road for about 11 miles. Turn left onto West Buttermilk Creek Road, cross the Buttermilk Bridge over the Twisp River, and turn right to continue on Forest Road 43 for

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about 8 miles to the Blackpine Lake campground, on the left. The trail begins at the day-use area. Check out the rushing Chewuch River on a cool, forested drive to the Falls Creek Falls accessible trail. The mostly level, 1/4-mile paved trail leads through the forest to the refreshing spray of the dramatic falls. Head west on Highway 20 from Winthrop (toward Mazama) and

take the first right on West Chewuch Road. Follow that road 7 miles to a stop sign. Go straight another 5 miles to the falls, on the left. The scenic road continues another 15 miles to Thirtymile, where there is a moving memorial to firefighters who perished in the 2001 Thirtymile Fire. The road is paved, except for the last 4 to 5 miles. There are several accessible options on the North Cascades Highway, starting with an interpretive trail along a beautiful creek at the Lone Fir campground. The paved trail goes about 4/10 mile to a bridge. People with more mobility can explore the rest of the 2-mile loop. 27 miles west of Winthrop on the North Cascades Highway; campground is on the left. A short, paved trail takes you to a spectacular overlook at Washington Pass, with views of Liberty Bell Mountain, Early Winters Spires and Kangaroo Ridge, as well as interpretive information. 30 miles west of Winthrop on the North Cascades Highway, on the right. A fully accessible, paved 1-mile trail through the cool, fragrant forest leads to Rainy Lake, which is ringed by craggy peaks and fed by several waterfalls. There’s a picnic spot on the lake and fishing for cutthroat trout. Interpretive signs describe vegetation and natural features along the trail. 35 miles west of Winthrop on the North Cascades Highway to the Rainy Pass parking area, on the left.

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Methow Valley News

Some local trails feel the burn Be aware of wildfire-related closures BY S A NDR A S T RIEBY

ast summer, the Cedar Creek and Cub Creek 2 fires burned over 125,000 acres in the Methow Valley, affecting miles of trails and several popular camping areas. Repairs will get underway this summer, and trails may re-open as the season progresses. Until then, trail users can limit risk to themselves and the environment by avoiding closed trails and taking precautions when moving through burned areas. Current trail closures include Cedar Creek, Wolf Creek, Falls Creek (including Falls Creek Falls), Eightmile Ridge, First Butte, and several Sun Mountain trails. Dispersed recreation areas from Falls Creek to Camp 4 are closed, as are some roads and campgrounds. The U.S. Forest Service closure orders will expire on June 1, and Methow Valley Ranger District (MVRD) staff and their trail management partners will evaluate conditions, and make plans for repairs and re-opening, as the snow melts. Trails have been closed both to protect people and to prevent further damage to the trails themselves and the environment through which they run. Fire disrupts ecosystems in obvious and not-so-obvious ways, and using trails before they’re ready can cause more — sometimes long-lasting — harm. Hazards to forest visitors include falling trees, rolling rocks, unstable ground, flash floods, debris flows and more. Roads may be blocked by trees, water or debris, and those blockages may cut off exit routes. Stream-crossing structures may be undermined or become clogged, which can affect your ability to continue, or return, along the trail you’ve been traveling. Even trees that look stable may fall, especially when it’s windy or when wet

Summer 2022

Photo by Ashley Lodato weather has destabilized soil. Awareness and avoidance of potential hazards are your best tools for safe trail use. “That’s the primary concern … How do we keep the public safe?” said James DeSalvo, executive director of Methow Trails. On open trails, watch for trail safety signs and take proper precautions. Know that rainfall higher in the drainage can lead to increased runoff outside the area that’s getting wet, and that runoff can move soil and rocks into and across your path. MVRD District Ranger Chris Furr offers additional safety advice: Avoid areas that have been severely burned when weather threatens, and don’t loiter in any burned areas. Carry a saw or axe. Do not try to cross an active mud or debris flow. Comply with area closure restrictions. Let someone know your plans.

■ OTHER EFFECTS Harder to fathom than hazards can be the effects of trail use on burned soils and other components

of trail-side ecosystems. “The Cedar Creek fire at Sun Mountain actually burned in a pretty healthy way,” said Joe Brown, who wears multiple hats — he’s the president of the Methow Chapter of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance (EMBA) and co-owner of Methow Cycle & Sport, and, like DeSalvo, a member of the Methow Valley Trails Collaborative. The soil damage seems to be less than expected — that’s another thing that won’t be fully understood until later in the season. In spite of that relatively good prognosis, most of the area around the Chickadee parking lot exhibits increased runoff potential, as does much of the land affected by the Cub Creek 2 fire. Until the trails have been repaired, use is likely to increase erosion and contribute to greater hazards from runoff and debris movement. That can lead to more flooding, debris flows, clogged culverts, and damage to bridges and other stream-crossing

Current trail recommendations

• Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance — www.facebook.com/ methowevergreenmtb. • Methow Cycle and Sport — www.methowcyclesport.com; (509) 996-3645. • Methow Trails — www. methowtrails.org; (509) 996-3287. • Methow Valley Range District — (509) 996-4000. structures. When silt and debris reach streams, they can also endanger fish. Even streams that don’t support fish themselves drain to larger water bodies that are critical to salmon, steelhead and other important fish and wildlife species. Ongoing disturbance can inhibit the recovery of native plants, and

increase weed infestation along and beyond trails. Trail repair can redirect water, reducing erosion that could further damage trails as well as affect land, streams, and structures downstream. “We have over 40 structures; those could be impacted significantly if the wrong thing happens — a lot of water or warm temperatures that melt snow,” said DeSalvo.

■ REPAIR PLANS The EMBA will work with the MVRD to assess conditions, mitigate hazards and protect resources “as soon as snowmelt allows boots and eyes on the ground,” Brown said. Where feasible, they will make repairs. Some of the mitigation and repair work will require certified professional staff, said Brown; there will also be opportunities for volunteers to participate, which may speed re-opening. Just because trails are closed in spring and early summer, “that doesn’t mean they’re closed for the season,” he said. One place where repairs are already planned is Buck Mountain, where an area taken out for fire line

WINTHROP

Cub Creek2

Mazama 20 Winthrop

Cedar Creek

Twisp

will be restored. The trail remains ridable, said DeSalvo, and passing cyclists who want to “can jump in and help” with the restoration work. Asked about alternatives to closed trails, Brown and DeSalvo both noted, with regret, that there’s no place like Sun Mountain in terms of diversity of trails and user experiences. “The beauty about Sun Mountain and the trail network is a high concentration of a diversity of trails for different skills, abilities, and riding types. There’s nothing else like that in the valley,” said DeSalvo.

MAP DOWNLOADS URLs to download PDF maps of the affected areas. Cub Creek2: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ photos/WAOWF/2021-0716-2220-Cub-Creek-Fire/ picts/2021_12_01-16.26.23.571CST.pdf Cedar Creek: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/WAOWF/2021-07-12-1429Varden-Fire/picts/2021_12_0116.16.14.770-CST.pdf Methow Trails, EMBA and the MVRD will all be able to offer current recommendations. Buck Mountain, the Twisp River Trail, and the Tripod area are all likely to see more use this summer, said Brown — and, providentially, EMBA has already secured funding for maintenance work on trails in those areas this year. DeSalvo suggested Lewis Butte and Riser Lake as other places to check out. Furr recommended visiting trails farther up the Chewuch, such as Lake Creek and Andrews Creek.

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Photo by Steve Mitchell

Full cycle Take a tough or tame two-wheel trip BY A NN M C CRE A RY

emote, highelevation, singletrack trails reward the most-adventurous mountain bike riders with epic rides and breathtaking views of craggy mountain peaks that surround the Methow Valley. Want something a little less

spine-tingling? Choose an easy cruise on U.S. Forest Service roads, or on lightly traveled paved roads that wind through forests and farmlands and along rivers. From mountain top to valley bottom, the Methow Valley offers cyclists of all inclinations and abilities an abundance of choices. The expansive network at Sun Mountain alone has more than 50 miles of single- and double-track trails from easy to difficult. The

The Methow Valley is host to an array of events to entertain, challenge and educate cyclists. Here’s what’s in store this summer. May 19: Intro to Bikepacking clinic, hosted by Methow Cycle & Sport and Salsa Cycles, 6-8 p.m. at Methow Cycle & Sport in Winthrop. Pizza and beverages provided. June 4-5: Weekend gravel bikepacking ride, hosted by Methow Cycle & Sport, Salsa Cycles and Rendezvous Huts. Riders will have shorter and longer ride options, and will base/camp

Summer 2022

MTB Project online mountain biking guide lists 203 miles of recommended mountain bike rides throughout the valley, and there are many more not on that list. The towns of Twisp and Winthrop provide easy access to Forest Service roads, trail networks and country roads for people on mountain bikes, gravel bikes, road bikes or e-bikes. The changing seasons offer

Two-wheeler events

out of Gardner Hut Saturday evening. For more details, visit Methow Cycle & Sport’s website at methowcyclesport.com. June 17-19: Singletrack Solstice, hosted by the Methow Chapter of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. The weekend will include a two-person relay race, shuttled rides, and a women’s mountain bike skills clinic. For more information check the EMBA Methow Chapter Facebook page or website at evergreenmtb.org/chapters/ methow.

different experiences to riders as they pedal through meadows brilliant with sunflowers and lupine in spring, savor the hot sunshine of summer, and enjoy the brilliant foliage and sharp light of autumn. Cyclists can find maps, trail guides and gear at many locations in the valley, and refresh themselves after a ride with food and beverages at the valley’s selection of restaurants, pubs and bakeries.

Sept. 17: Winthrop Gran Fondo takes riders deep into the North Cascades for a 90-mile (Grande) or 38.5-mile (Medio) ride with up to 10,000 feet of climbing. Starts at The Barn in Winthrop. Cost is $75 for the Grande and $65 for the Medio. For more information go to: rideviciouscycle.com. Stay tuned: A summer kids bike camp may also be scheduled. Check the Methow Cycle & Sport website for information at methowcyclesport.com.

A ride sampler, from easy to earnest ■ MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES • Buck Mountain Loop: A 14.5-mile loop can be pedaled the traditional route from Cub Creek Road or the alternate route from Buck Lake. Both options offer long, flowy descents and spectacular views. Ride the new Buck Up Track from Cub Creek, or climb a U.S. Forest Service road from Buck Lake. Combine portions of the two loops for additional miles and a double dose of the flowy descent. No pass required for parking or riding. Electric assist bikes not allowed. • Cutthroat Pass: A great alpine out-and-back 11-mile trail with exceptional views of the North Cascades and a rippin’ descent. The ride is one of few alpine routes in the North Cascades open to bikes, and the trail is shared with hikers so keep your head up and ride courteously! The trail switchbacks steadily almost 5 miles to Cutthroat Pass from the Cutthroat Lake trailhead. Boulders and tight

Where to gear up • Winthrop Mountain Sports, 257 Riverside Ave., Winthrop, (509) 996-2886 • Methow Cycle & Sport, 29 State Route 20 in Winthrop, (509) 996-3645 • Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies, 50 Lost River Road, Mazama, (509) 996-2515 • North Cascades Cycle Werks, 2 Country Road, Mazama, (509) 996-2225 • Cascades Outdoor Store, 222 Riverside Ave., Winthrop, (509) 996-3480 switchbacks will demand your attention, but pause frequently for the views of Cutthroat Lake and the Cascade Crest. Remember, no bikes allowed on the PCT, so when you get to that intersection at the pass, turn back around. NW Forest Pass required to park at trailhead.

roll on in The Methow Valley’s one-stop bike shop for all things cycling and supping.

No pass required for riding. Electric assist bikes not allowed. • Big Valley Trail: The vast majority of this ride is a flat smooth doubletrack that is great for families with small children (on bikes or in trailers), beginner riders and canines. The trail passes close to the Methow River and a nice river rock beach to access the river on a hot day. This ride/trail is a simple “lollipop” that is easy to follow through forest, meadows and along the Methow River. Stop at the beach on the river for a peaceful break or a quick splash if the weather is warm. The trailhead is accessed by turning on Dripping Springs Road off of Highway 20 near milepost 186. Thanks to an agreement between the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Methow Trails, no pass is required for parking or riding. Electric assist bikes not allowed.

■ ROAD AND GRAVEL RIDES • Chewuch Loop (with options): This is an easy, 14-mile loop ride on quiet roads, with undulating terrain and some short moderate climbs. Ride up West Chewuch Road and then back on East Chewuch Road, or reverse the direction. For the ambitious, the mileage can be easily increased by continuing up the Chewuch Road to Andrews Creek, about 24 miles from Winthrop and a steady climb. Or for those for whom no ride is complete without some suffering, add Boulder Creek Road, a moderate climb, or Falls Creek, the local Alp D’Huez, which is very steep at the start and 8 miles or so of constant climbing. Electric assist bikes allowed.

• Washington Pass: This is a fairly strenuous climb that is well worth the effort for the outstanding views and epic descent. For a 60-mile round-trip from Winthrop, ride Highway 20 past Mazama (or stock up on some food while passing through). The climbing starts at about mile 15 and is fairly relentless the whole way to the top. Shoulders are good, and restrooms are at the lookout at the top. Take plenty of water, food and some layers of clothing. While it can be really warm in the valley, the summit of the pass can be pretty frigid — especially if the wind is blowing. To shorten the ride to 30 miles round trip, start at Mazama or the Freestone Inn. Electric assist bikes allowed. • Tour De Okanogan: This is the ultimate overachiever ride for the local area. This 105-mile loop takes riders south to Twisp and then up over Loup Loup Pass (a pretty steep and long climb), down to Malott and South to Brewster and then Pateros. The return journey is up Highway 153 from Pateros to Methow, Carlton, Twisp and then Winthrop. Food stops are in the major towns, but take plenty of food, water and some money. Repair opportunities are non-existent once you leave Winthrop, so take necessary repair gear. Watch the wind because in the afternoons it usually blows down valley and riding 40 miles into a headwind is no fun. Electric assist bikes allowed.

■ E-BIKE RIDES • Winthrop to Carlton and Beaver Creek and Balky Hill: For a mix of

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Methow Valley News

p a b b t l

r G

Some guidance on e-bikes

Over the past decade, a growing segment of the cycling population has taken to e-bikes, which use an electric motor to assist pedaling. In 2012, e-bikes accounted for about 1% of bike sales, but increased to about 15% in 2019, according to an article in the Washington Post. Sales were projected to reach more than 550,000 in 2021, the Post reported. In urban areas, e-bikes are growing in popularity as a form of travel and commuting. For recreational bikers, electric bikes are also growing in popularity, with enthusiasts saying the pedal-assist bikes enable them to go farther and ride more challenging terrain. But the growing popularity of pavement and gravel, take the east and west county side roads to Carlton but add some distance and elevation by returning via Beaver Creek Road then down Balky Hill for a more-challenging ride. • Boulder Creek Loop: A 21.6-mile ride with 3,000 feet up and down. Great local gravel loop. Beautiful

THE

e-bikes has created some tension among trail users, as an article in the Sierra Club’s online magazine points out. “While the environmental benefits of replacing emission-spewing gas-powered cars with e-bikes may be obvious in cities, the matter gets muddier as e-bikers hit federal, state, and local trails,” the article said. The Methow Valley offers a wide range of trails and roads for e-bikes. But not all trails are open to e-bikes, and riders need to plan their outings accordingly. Methow Cycle & Sport in Winthrop offers the following guidance on its website to help e-bike riders choose their rides in the Methow Valley: “In Washington state and federally,

climb on a quiet Forest Service road. Wonderful views and fun descent. • Rex Derr trails: At Pearrygin Lake State Park, beginner to intermediate rolling hills on single- and double-track trails with a beautiful lake and mountain vistas. Start at the Lake Creek trailhead or other multiple access points and create your own ride.

e-bikes are considered motorized vehicles. All classifications ARE allowed on Forest Service roads, Washington Fish & Wildlife roads, and State Park roads. Class 1 pedal-assist electric bikes (which provide assistance up to 20 mph) are allowed on the trails at Pearrygin Lake State Park. All classes of electric bikes are allowed on motorized Forest Service trails. Check the Forest Service Travel Plan for seasonal closures on some Methow Ranger District roads. E-bikes ARE NOT allowed on any trails where motorized vehicles are prohibited, including trails maintained by Methow Trails, Washington Fish & Wildlife, and the Forest Service.” Do a loop or out-and-back, add the Bear Creek Road, make it long, make it short, it’s all up to you. Information from Methow Cycle & Sport, methowcyclesport.com; Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, evergreenmtb.org; and MTB Project, mtbproject.com.

Information on riding

• Winthrop’s website, winthropwashington.com, has information on mountain and road bike riding, and offers a free “Winthrop Washington” app. • The Methow Trails office in downtown Winthrop has information on mountain bike and road rides, and on its website: methowtrails.org. • Methow Cycle & Sport’s website, methowcyclesport. com, provides trail descriptions, maps and a calendar of events. • Stop by local Methow Valley sports shops in person for current trail conditions and maps. • Trailforks.com, a mountain biking database, has up-to-date maps and trail information. • MTBproject.com, affiliated with the REI outdoor store, offers a comprehensive guide for mountain biking trail maps and information.

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Outside options Public and private camping choices abound for tent, camper and RV fans BY A SHL E Y LO DATO

One of the many great joys of the Methow Valley is the opportunity to sleep under the starry skies, the sound of wind in the pines or a burbling stream lulling you to sleep. Depending on the day and the location, camping in the Methow Valley can be a tranquil, solitary experience, or it can be a bustling social time of activity. The good news is that you have plenty of options to pitch a tent, park a camper, or string up a hammock and surrender to the simpler life that camping affords.

■ UP-VALLEY (CASCADES TO WINTHROP) These campgrounds are all located right off Highway 20 in the mountains between Winthrop and Washington Pass. Ballard, Road’s End, Meadows and Harts Pass campgrounds are situated on Lost River Road and in the Harts Pass area. For a complete listing of U.S. Forest Service campgrounds in this area, visit www.fs.usda. gov/activity/okawen/recreation/ camping-cabins. ■ MID-VALLEY (WINTHROP TO TWISP) These campgrounds are all located on or near Highway 20 between Winthrop and Twisp. There are no

Photo by Ashley Lodato U.S. Forest Service campgrounds located immediately off Highway 20 in the Winthrop-to-Twisp area; however, numerous Forest Service campgrounds like 8-Mile, Falls Creek, and Chewuch are just a few miles outside Winthrop along the Chewuch River, while others like South Creek and War Creek are easily accessible up Twisp River Road. For a complete listing of

GROCERIES, GAS & FOOD THAT’S FAST

24 HOUR FUEL Open 6 a.m. – Midnight 16

Forest Service campgrounds in the mid-valley area, visit www.fs.usda. gov/activity/okawen/recreation/ camping-cabins.

■ DOWN-VALLEY (TWISP TO PATEROS) These campgrounds are all located on or near Highway 20 and Highway 153 between Twisp and Pateros. There are no U.S. Forest

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Service campgrounds located immediately off Highway 153 in the Twisp-to-Pateros area; however, numerous Forest Service campgrounds like Blackpine Lake can be found just a few miles from the highways. For a complete listing of US Forest Service campgrounds in the down-valley area, visit www. fs.usda.gov/activity/okawen/ recreation/camping-cabins.

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Methow Valley News

Campgrounds at a glance Name

Operated By Location Reservations

Fees Amenities Restroom Up Valley (Cascades to Mazama)

Other

Contact

Lone Fir Campground

US Forest Service

27 miles NW of Winthrop on Hwy 20

First Come First Served

$12/site; $5 add’l vehicle

potable water pump, no sewer or electric hook up

wheelchair accessible vault toilet

beautiful kid-friendly 2-mile hiking loop along stream, great for cyclists

509-996-4000, www.fs.usda.gov

Klipchuck Campground

US Forest Service

19 miles NW of Winthrop on Hwy 20

First Come First Served

$12/site; $5 add’l vehicle

potable water pump, no sewer or electric hook up

wheelchair accessible vault toilet

trailhead to Driveway Butte hike located at entrance

509-996-4000, www.fs.usda.gov

Early Winters Campground

US Forest Service

15 miles NW of Winthrop on Hwy 20

First Come First Served

$8/site; $5 add’l vehicle

potable water pump, no sewer or electric hook up

wheelchair accessible vault toilet

near town of Mazama, running trails, views of Goat Wall

509-996-4000, www.fs.usda.gov

Rendezvous Huts

private

Rendezvous Basin, Cougar & Grizzly Mountain area

yes

$125/night

rustic hut accommodations with propane stove and cooking/eating dishes, bunks with mattresses, no running water

pit toilet

mountain biking, hiking & running trails, sweeping valley and mountain views, closed August

509-996-8100, www.rendezvoushuts.com

pets, walking distance to downtown Winthrop, across street from historic Shafer Museum

509-341-4062, http://www.pinenearpark.com/

Mid Valley (Mazama to Twisp) Pine Near RV Park and Campground

private

2 blocks from downtown Winthrop

yes

$25-$53; $50 tipi; $68-$175 cabins

full hookups, EV charging full restroom, station, laundry, wifi, showers showers; mining shacks, tipis, cabins

Winthrop KOA

private

1/2 mile east of Winthrop

yes

$40+/site

full hookups, laundry, TV full restroom, pets, riverside, heated pool, cabreception, wifi, snack bar, showers ins, playground, bicycle rentals, showers pavillion, camping kitchen

Pearrygin Lake State Park

WA State Parks

3 miles from Winthrop

yes

$12-$50+/ site

full hookups, showers, cabins, vacation house, group campsites

full restroom, showers

lakeside, swimming, boating, hiking trails, fishing

509-996-2370, http://parks. state.wa.us/563/ Pearrygin-Lake

Big Twin Lake Campground

private

3 miles south of Winthrop

yes

$30-$50/ site

full hookups, toilets, showers, wifi

full restroom, showers

boating, stocked lake fishing, close to trails & rodeo grounds, paddleboats, stand up paddleboards

509-996-2650, http://www. bigtwinlakeresort. com

Silverline Resort

private

1.5 miles from Winthrop

yes

$27-$250/ site

full hookups, toilets, showers, convenience store, wifi, breakfast kitchen

full restroom, showers

lakeside, swimming, boating, hiking trails, fishing, mini-golf

509-996-2448, silverlineresort.com

Riverbend RV Park

private

2 miles west of Twisp

yes

$27-$50/site

full hookups, toilets, showers, dog park, wifi, convenience store, laundry

full restroom, showers

riverside, boating, fishing, gift shop horseshoes, basketball

509-997-3500, www.riverbendrv. com

509-996-2258, https://koa.com/ campgrounds/ winthrop/

Down Valley (Twisp to Pateros) Carlton RV Park

private

Carlton

yes

Loup Loup Campground

US Forest Service

12 miles east of Twisp

Alta Lake State Park

WA State Parks

2 miles southwest of Pateros

More info

$15-$50/site tents, full hookups, showers, convenience store, laundry

bathhouse

swimming, beach, free hot breakfast on Sundays

509-997-0833, www.carltonrvpark. com

First Come First Served

$12/site; $5 add’l vehicle

potable water pump, no sewer or electric hook up

wheelchair accessible vault toilet

creekside, mountain biking, hiking, Western Larch

509-996-4000, www.fs.usda.gov

yes

$12-$35/site

full hookups, showers, wifi, group campsites

full restroom, showers

lakeside, boating, hiking, birding, golf

888-226-7688, http://parks. state.wa.us/239/ Alta-Lake

For updated information on Washington State Parks campgrounds, visit https://parks. state.wa.us/1181/Parks-opening.

Summer 2022

For updated information on U.S. Forest Service campgrounds, visit ww.fs.usda.gov/main/ okawen/home.

Many popular trailheads (such as Early Winters in Mazama and Chickadee at Sun Mountain) are day-use only and are never

open for camping or overnight parking, even for self-contained vehicles; please observe restrictions posted onsite.

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Feeling buoyant? Our rivers and lakes beckon swimmers, boaters and floaters BY M A R CY S TA MPER

n those long, sunny days of summer, there’s nothing like some time in — or on — the water to cool off. The Methow offers water activities for all interests and abilities, from shallow wading areas along the rivers to serene freshwater lakes to thrilling whitewater rapids. Because the Methow River is free-flowing, conditions change with the season. In early summer, consider a raft trip with experienced guides to safely navigate the whitewater while you take in the scenery. Later in the season, as

the river level gets lower — and the water gets warmer — people switch to tubing, where they can enjoy a relaxed float downstream in gentler conditions. Have your own boat or personal watercraft? Try sailing or jet-skiing on Pearrygin Lake or Alta Lake, where there are state park facilities. Or take a canoe to explore Blackpine Lake, a quiet, high-altitude lake with shimmering blue-green water. Swimmers and waders will want to check out Pearrygin Lake or Patterson Lake for a refreshing dip or languid float on a raft. For a truly invigorating experience, try one of the many swimming holes on the Methow’s rivers. Paddleboards are a familiar sight on lakes and rivers. Wind sailing is popular at Patterson Lake when there’s a good breeze.

■ SWIMMING • Patterson Lake: near Sun Mountain Lodge: swim in a cool freshwater lake surrounded by picturesque hills. Numerous informal beaches along the shore. Access from Patterson Lake Road. • Pearrygin Lake: swim in a large, roped-off area or explore other areas of this spring-fed lake ringed by mountain scenery. Access from East Chewuch Road and Bear Creek Road east of Winthrop. • Blackpine Lake: swim in a crystal-clear, high-mountain lake. Access from West Buttermilk Creek Road (11 miles west of Twisp on Twisp River Road) or Libby Creek Road off Highway 153, 1 mile south of Carlton. • Confluence of Methow River and Twisp River (Twisp Town Park): splash and wade through river rocks

where two of the Methow’s finest rivers converge. Lots of options for sunbathing. • Carlton swimming hole: a favorite with locals, with a deep pool, sandy beach and some shade. Access across from the Carlton Store on Highway 153. • Alta Lake State Park: clear mountain lake with day-use area with picnic tables and shade trees. Access 2 miles north of Pateros on Highway 153. • Chewuch Campground swimming hole: a generous pool for splashing and dunking. Access through Chewuch campground, 15 miles north of Winthrop on the West Chewuch Road toward Thirtymile.

■ BOATING • Pearrygin Lake State Park: Bring your own rowboat, kayak,

Methow Valley News

hell

canoe, paddleboard or motorboat and explore this lake’s many inlets. Waterskiing and personal-watercraft use also allowed. Two boat ramps, 60 feet of dock. Access from East Chewuch Road and Bear Creek Road east of Winthrop. • Alta Lake State Park: Bring your own rowboat, canoe, sailboard, paddleboard or windsurfing gear. Also popular for motorboats and personal watercraft. Waterskiing welcome, but limited because lake is fairly small. Two boat ramps, 60 feet of dock. Access 2 miles north of Pateros on Highway 153. • Patterson Lake: Launch your boat or paddleboard on this beautiful lake, ringed by eye-catching hills, from the state boat launch on Patterson Lake Road. There is an 8-mph speed limit for motorized boats. • Blackpine Lake: row or paddle on a crystal-clear high-mountain lake. Non-motorized boats only. Gravel boat ramp; two floating docks. Access from West Buttermilk Creek Road (11 miles west of Twisp on Twisp River Road) or Libby Creek Road, 1 mile south of Carlton on Highway 153.

Photo by Steve Mitchell ■ RAFT TRIPS AND BOAT RENTALS Motels and outfitters in the Methow Valley are equipped to take you on guided whitewater rafting trips. They also rent boats, paddleboards and inner tubes so you can explore on your own. • Methow Rafting: leads scenic trips on the Methow River from their Winthrop location. Choose from guided, family-friendly floats on rafts or inflatable kayaks, or guided whitewater raft or kayak trips.

They’ll also launch you on a tube trip for a languid float down the river (and pick you up when you’re done). Intermediate and advanced kayakers can book a trip on the whitewater section near Gold Creek. Enjoy swimming, wildlife watching and sightseeing on your river trip. Trips run March through September. Check out their website at www. methowrafting.com or call (509) 866-6775. • Lazy River Tubing: at the AbbyCreek Inn rents tubes and

life-jackets for a gentle, beginner-level float down the river. Rent tubes at the inn south of Winthrop, get dropped off at the Winthrop Red Barn, and float back to the inn — a trip of 25 to 45 minutes, depending on the season. Season is typically June to mid-September (depends on river flow), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check details at www.WinthropTubing. com or (509) 996-3153. • The Silverline Resort: on Pearrygin Lake rents peddle boats, paddle boards, kayaks and aqua cycles (big, wheeled tricycles). They also have a small motorized fishing boat for rental. Rental season runs from late April through Oct. 25, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Rentals are first-come, firstserved, but boats can be reserved a day in advance. Check out www. silverlineresort.com or call (509) 996-2448. • Methow Cycle & Sport: in Winthrop rents inflatable stand-up paddleboards and inner tubes for exploring local lakes and floating the rivers. Call (509) 996-3645. Check the guide to recreation passes on page 30, since many of the lakes and rivers require a pass.

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Scenery from tee to green Enjoy the spectacular setting at Bear Creek Golf Club

BY RI CK L E W I S

wo things to know about the popular quotation, “Golf is a good walk, spoiled.” First, although credited most often as the source of the musing, Mark Twain, the 19th-century American author and societal philosopher, never actually said it. Second, whoever it was that uttered the complaint never played at Bear Creek Golf Course. It is not possible to ruin a walk on the expansive, green fairways of the privately owned, open-to-thepublic, 9-hole course, nestled in a tributary valley of the Methow River watershed known locally as the Bear Creek drainage. The surrounding scenery, highlighted by glimpses of the Lake Chelan Sawtooth

Wilderness area to the west, Isabella Ridge and the mountains of the Pasayten Wilderness to the north, Blue Buck Ridge rising to the east and the immediately adjacent Studhorse Mountain, provide stunning views and an aesthetic experience that errant shots and misplayed putts just can’t ruin. Bear Creek sits in a well-traveled white tail and mule deer corridor, so seeing those two species is a regular occurrence, as well as the occasional coyote out cruising the landscape in search of a meal. The diurnal resident yellow bellied marmots are a common sight, as is evidence of the mostly nocturnal and semi-aquatic cousin, nature’s engineering lumberjack the North American beaver. Overhead, it is common to hear the screech of a soaring raptor teaching youngsters to fly, searching for food, or just riding the breeze as they circle and glide across the indigo sky. Bald eagles, red tail hawks, osprey and turkey vultures are

Other area courses

Photo by Marcy Stamper 20

• Alta Lake Golf Resort: Located in Alta Coulee west of Pateros, Alta Lake offers a challenging 18-hole course with views of rugged Columbia-basin terrain. The resort’s motel offers a range of rooms, and Golfer’s Package rates for guests. The property is owned by the Barth family, owners of three other courses in the region; a North Central Washington Player’s Card provides discounted rates at all four courses. • Gamble Sands: Overlooking the Columbia River near Brewster, Gamble Sands was dubbed the “Best New Course of 2014” by Golf Digest, and has continued to earn high rankings. In 2020 Golfweek ranked the course No. 1 among public-access courses in Washington and No. 17 among those in America. A 14-hole short course recently joined the resort’s original 18-holes; there’s also a putting course and, according to Golf Digest, “the most panoramic vistas of any ranked course.” • Okanogan Valley Golf Club: Everyone is welcome at the friendly-yet-challenging Okanogan Valley club. An upland site between Okanogan and Omak ensures sweeping vistas. The club offers a 9-hole course.

Methow Valley News

common sightings, as are a variety of songbirds. The second hole, bordering a magnificent wetland of marsh and open water, bursts with the sounds of a natural symphony featuring the high shrill of red winged blackbirds, the more raspy and easily distinguishable yellow headed blackbird, multiple species of ducks and the more nasal and baritone Canada geese. Several different species of frogs add their rhythmic offerings to the concert without regard for the etiquette of the game, requiring a courteous silence on both tee and green so as not to break the concentration of the serious golfer. Good luck with that. The signature hole designation at Bear Creek might well be assigned to No. 11, a 128-yard, par-3 hole where the tee is set back so the initial shot is through a corridor of scraggly water birch trees surrounded on three sides by the wetland marsh. For the experienced golfer, shooting over a marshy, cattail infested protrusion is not a challenge, but hitting and holding the narrow, bench-like green can be problematic, especially on days when the

Photo by Marcy Stamper prevailing, northwesterly breeze has a tendency to blow the ball off target. From there it is a downhill chip shot that would give angels nightmares, the ball oftentimes rolling across the bench and down toward the water. Birdies are attainable, pars are fairly routine, but this hole can also put some plus numbers on the card early in the round that only the aesthetic experience can mitigate. Par for both 9-hole sets is 36, 72 for

the full 18, with a course rating of 70 for men. For women, the par is 37 on the front and 36 on the back nine and a 76 rating.

■ OTHER INFO • Bear Creek offers a clubhouse that is open mostly during daylight hours, providing snacks, beverages and a lunch menu of sandwiches and hot dogs/bratwurst. There are tables in the clubhouse, and an upstairs features both indoor and outdoor, patio seating. Friday evenings

during the summer months B-S Bar-B-Que serves a weekly barbeque dinner, seating available by advanced reservations. Call the golf course to make reservations. • The clubhouse carries an inventory of golf balls, and has a line of souvenir apparel including hats, shirts and pullovers. Tees, markers, gloves and other smaller ticket items are also for sale. • Weekday green fees are $24 for nine holes, $36 for 18. On the weekends, the 9-hole rate goes to $27 and 18 holes will cost $40. The junior discount is $5 off the posted green fees. A power cart for nine holes will cost $9 per rider, $16 for a full round. • A disc golf course is also operated on the property. The fee is $14 per round. • There is a small practice range located adjacent to the workshop and cart storage building. Bring your own shag bag full of balls and be prepared to clean up after you are done. • Contact information: (509) 9962284; www.bearcreekgolfcourse. com.

• Full hook-up RV sites • Clean restrooms & showers • Laundromat • Rec hall for group events

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Working to protect, enhance, and create high-quality, sustainable mountain biking opportunities in the Methow Valley www.EvergreenMTB.org/chapters/Methow Summer 2022

Supplies RV parts Cold sodas Ice cream

(509) 997-3500 (800) 686-4498 www.riverbendrv.com reservations@riverbendrv.com

19961 Hwy 20, Twisp

24-HOUR EMERGENCY CARE

RADIOLOGY AND LABORATORY SERVICES

ORTHOPEDICS: SURGICAL AND NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS

509.689.2517 507 Hospital Way, Brewster www.threerivershospital.net www.brewsterclinic.org

Name & Location

Online tee times

Greens Fees (cart fees not included)

Lessons

Pro shop

Food

Lodging

Contact

Yes

Breakfast, lunch, beverages

Yes

(509) 923-2359; http:// altalakegolf.com/

9 holes, $24; 18 holes, $36 weekdays, $27, $40 weekends. Junior, Senior, quick golf, and flat golf rates

Call for info

Yes

Espresso & snack bar; sandwiches; beverages

(509) 996-2284; http://www.bearcreekgolfcourse.com/

Call for details.

Yes

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Yes

(509) 436-8323; https://gamblesands. com/

Yes

Snack bar; sandwiches and other lunch fare

(509) 826-6937; http://www.okanoganvalleygolf.com/

Methow Valley Alta Lake Golf Resort, 3 miles west of Pateros via Hwy. 153 Bear Creek Golf Course, 3 miles southeast of Winthrop via Twisp-Winthrop Eastside Rd.

Yes

Full season: 9 holes, $22; 18 holes, $49. Senior, Twilight 9 $22, 18 $38.

Elsewhere in Okanogan County Gamble Sands, 10 miles east of Brewster via Hwys. 97 and 17

Yes; Stayand-Play by phone

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Rolling Huts • 18381 Hwy 20 • Winthrop, WA 98862

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Methow Valley News

Photo by Marcy Stamper

Take the lure Anglers will find many temptations in and around the Methow

BY RI CK L E W I S

rom the valley floor to the high alpine lakes of the North Cascade Mountains, the opportunities to cast, dangle, troll or drop a line are many and varied around the Methow Valley. Anglers from the novice to the seasoned expert can find an experience that suits their pleasure somewhere within a reasonable distance from the Twisp-Winthrop area. For the beginner, fishing in one of three lakes open for basic bait-andlure fishing can be found at Pearrygin Lake, Patterson Lake and Buck

Summer 2022

Lake. The local favorite, and easily most popular lake is Pearrygin, about 4 miles northeast of Winthrop on Bear Creek Road. Two public accesses are available on the lake. Pearrygin Lake State Park offers a fully paved launch with floating dock for ease of loading and unloading boats, a fishing dock just south of the boat launch that is, mostly, ADA accessible. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) also manages a public access to the lake, the entrance about 500 yards west of the state park on Bear Creek Road. Parking is limited and there is an adequate boat launch, but no dock at the site. There is also

a gravel boat launch at Silverline Resort, available for the resort’s guests only. Fishing from shore is quite popular at Pearrygin Lake. The WDFW access sits on a delta that formed from debris flowing down Pearrygin Creek, mostly in a landslide and flood event from 2011. Fishing from the newly formed sandy beach near the creek’s mouth is easy and safe, and there is plenty of room to spread out. In the summer it can be a challenge to negotiate through the non-fishing public as the beach is also popular for sunbathing and other forms of water based recreation. The state park also provides beach front for fishing, but

a significant portion of the park’s shoreline is eaten up by campsites where access is limited to registered campers only. Pearrygin offers mostly hatchery-raised rainbow trout that are planted in a variety of sizes, usually in the early to mid-spring each year by the WDFW. The vast majority of fish, about 60,000 annually, are planted in mid-May as fry and allowed to grow into catchable size by the following season opening day. In the past, WDFW has planted triploid rainbow trout, ranging in size from 1 pound to 5-8-pound lunkers, usually providing a little extra excitement in time for the late April opening. A Discover Pass is required for

Methow Valley Rivers & Streams

Methow Valley Rivers & Streams 2022 Regulations and Information

• Use only artificial lure/fly with single barbless hook. • BAIT IS PROHIBITED • DO NOT play fish to exhaustion. • Minimize handling by leaving the fish in the water. • 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.

•MAZAMA CHEWUCH RIVER

Mouth to Eightmile Cr.

May 28 - Aug 15

W AT E

Boulder Creek

METHOW RIVER

Foghorn Dam to Weeman Br.

WEEMAN BRIDGE

May 28 - Aug 15

PEARRYGIN

Wolf Creek

COUGAR

•WINTHROP

FOGHORN DAM

near Winthrop

CAMPBELL DAVIS

PATTERSON BIG TWIN LITTLE TWIN

METHOW RIVER

COLOR KEY CLOSED WATERS

May 28 - Sept 30

Gold Creek to Foghorn Dam

May 28 - Aug 15

W AT E

Beaver Creek

WAR CREEK

•TWISP

TWISP RIVER

May 28 - Sept 15

LAKES

Mouth to War Creek

May 28 - Aug 15 HWY 20 to OKANOGAN/OMAK

ilk

TO THIRTY MILE

EIGHT MILE

BUCK LAKE

tte

■ STREAM FISHING For stream fishing, Boulder Creek on the 37 road between Winthrop and Conconully offers rainbow, cutthroat and eastern brook trout in the many holes and pools just below the road. It’s mostly plunking the holes using a bait or artificial fly, and there are differences in limits

TO HARTS PASS TO WASHINGTON PASS

■ PATTERSON AND BUCK LAKES Patterson Lake, on Patterson Lake Road just south of Sun Mountain Lodge, is a year-round favorite of many people. The lake’s 8 mile per hour speed limit precludes the use of high-speed motorboats as well as personal watercraft, and keeps wakes to a minimum, a favorable condition for most anglers. Patterson also has a variety of fish, including yellow perch and rainbow trout. There have been tiger trout and brown trout planted in the past, and it is possible to lay into nice-sized holdover trout from previous years. Much of the eastern lakeshore falls on private land, so legal public access is limited to the WDFW access near the Wolf Creek outlet. There are a couple of road pull-offs for trails that lead from the road to the lake, but those are fenced and traverse private property, and could be viewed by the landowner as trespassing. There are not many places to fish from shore, so best bring paddle or oar power to enjoy this unique treasure and experience. A Discover Pass or WDFW Stewardship Pass is required for parking at the WDFW access area. Buck Lake, a little more remote and less popular, offers some easy fishing for trout species and has a gravel boat launch for access. Located about a mile above Eightmile Ranch and the Chewuch River, Buck Lake is on the Okanogan National Forest and requires display of the federal Northwest Forest Pass or one of the federal recreation passes (Golden Age, Golden Eagle or Annual National Parks Pass as examples).

Catch & Release / Selective Gear Rules Apply to the Methow, Twisp & Chewuch Rivers

C LO SED WAT ER

parking at the state park. The WDFW Stewardship Pass is required at the public access, and Discover Pass is also accepted.

2022 Regulations & Information

BLACK PINE

Additional Regulations for Methow Valley Rivers and Streams NOTE: Additional Regulations May Apply Libby Creek

Consult the Washington Sport Fishing Rules 2022 - 2023 pamphlet, download the “Fish Washington” app, or check the WDFW website for more details:

•CARLTON

HWY 153

https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations METHOW STEELHEAD REGULATIONS: Opening and closure determined by WDFW. Check emergency rule changes on WDFW website for details.

Gold Creek

Lower Burma Bridge to Gold Creek: May 28 - Sept 15 (unless opened by WDFW special regulations)

Gold Creek

WINTER WHITEFISH REGULATIONS: Consult the Washington Sport Fish pamphlet for details.

METHOW • LOWER BURMA BRIDGE

All threatened or endangered species - including Summer Steelhead, Spring Chinook Salmon, and Bull Trout - must not be completely removed from the water, unless retention is allowed under special state rules. • Report violations to the WDFW Enforcement Officer 509-631-0903

CLOSED WATERS

•PATEROS

(unless opened by WDFW special regulations)

This map was created by Greg Knab and Ben Dennis and updated by Methow Valley Fly Fishers and Methow Fishing Adventures. Questions - contact methowvalleyflyfishers@gmail.com

HWY 97 ALTA LAKE

Methow Valley News

Some basics

er.

Photo by Marcy Stamper depending on the species of fish. There are many streams and small rivers that are open in some areas, closed in others, open for selective gear, catch and release, barbless hooks, and so on. Anglers are advised to know which is which, what stream, and seasonal limitations, and the type of species. The best resource is the WDFW’s Rules and Regulations brochure, available at most everywhere fishing licenses and tackle are sold. The regs can also be accessed at https:// wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations,

and WDFW also has an app for your phone. Many areas in the Methow Valley vicinity have compromised cell phone coverage, so best download and save before heading out. Fishing the Methow River can be a real challenge for the uninitiated. There are multiple seasons, gear regulations, multiple species, wild fish and hatchery fish, closed and open areas, and so on. Taking advantage of any of a number of guide services that provide most everything needed for a successful day on

• A Washington state fishing license is required for anyone 15 years of age and older. While children under the age of 15 are not required to hold a license, the supervising parent/guardian/ adult probably should have one, especially when helping a child fish. • Some specific types of fish require additional paperwork. Fishing for steelhead trout and species of salmon require additional documents that must be returned to WDFW by a specific date as identified on the punch card and/license. • Lowland lakes, rivers, streams and high or alpine lakes all have the river can be a smart move. It could save you the aggravation and pain of an illegal fishing violation, not to mention there can be hefty fines involved, and they are pretty good at finding some of the more popular big fish in the river, like steelhead and other salmonids. Most guides are also very familiar

different seasons and requirements. Some are open all year, some open for fishing on the fourth Saturday in April, others later. Closing dates are different and sometimes species specific, and some are completely closed to any sort of fishing. • WDFW provides its regulatory pamphlet at all of its licensing outlets around the state. When purchasing a license, it is up to the purchaser to obtain a pamphlet from the retailer. The pamphlet can also be downloaded from the WDFW website and easily accessed by most smart phones in most locations around Winthrop and Twisp.

with the river and can be justified as a safety precaution. Googling “Methow Valley fishing guides” will offer you a number of contacts from which to shop and choose. You’ll find the accompanying “Methow Valley Rivers & Streams” graphic very helpful.

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509-682-5751

Open Memorial Day to Labor Day

Summer 2022

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Take the reins Horseback adventures range from day rides to the backcountry BY S A NDR A S T RIEBY

rom an hour-long trail ride to a week in the backcountry, horseback riding offers a unique way to experience the Methow Valley’s summer landscape. Stunning scenery, great fishing and wildflower-filled meadows become more accessible on horseback, and the valley’s licensed outfitters and trail guides can lead you to the places that will suit you best, whether you prefer a slow-paced walk in the woods or a rugged journey followed by a few days in the high country. Blending peace and quiet with adventure, pack trips provide a

gateway to the mountainous terrain that beckons from beyond the valley floor. According to the Washington Outfitters and Guides website, “Outfitted services are those in which the outdoor professional furnishes the equipment, livestock, all necessary tackle or gear, and the expertise needed to provide an outstanding recreational experience to those who may engage his or her services in the outdoors.” Local outfitters know the lay of the land and can craft a visit to the backcountry that will suit your tastes and abilities. Methow Valley outfitters offer several types of trips, including pack trips on which the outfitter prepares meals and escorts visitors on trail rides, fishing excursions, and other day trips. During evenings in camp, guests enjoy starry skies, music

around the campfire, and maybe even some cowboy poetry. On drop trips, outfitters carry in their clients’ gear — and often the clients themselves — and drop them off for a specified period. The visitors are then on their own until the outfitter returns to haul out the gear. Hunt trips are planned especially for hunters, timed to coincide with various seasons. If a shorter trip is more to your liking, several outfitters offer trail rides and day trips. Even short rides can introduce visitors to a variety of forested and open country. Longer day trips may include a stop for fishing. For those who prefer to bring their own horses, the Methow Valley offers two horse camps, one 22 miles up the Twisp River and the other at the summit of Loup Loup

pass. You can find trail information at www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/ alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5371608. Some of the trails that are closed due to last summer’s fires may reopen during the season. The U.S. Forest Service’s interactive map at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/ alerts-notices/?aid=30418 will be updated with the latest information. The outdoors has been a refuge for many during the COVID pandemic, and distancing is built into travel on horseback, making it a great way to explore the natural world in safety. Many restrictions on travel and activity have been lifted in Washington; conditions continue to evolve, so some precautions may be necessary — your outfitter can let you know what to expect.

Methow Valley News

hell

Packers, outfitters and trail guides ■ DARWOOD OUTFITTING Jess Darwood (509) 322-5377 www.darwoodoutfitting.com Pack trips, drop camps, hunting trips

ON THE SUNNY BANKS OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER

Pack trips, drop camps, hunting trips

■ CHEWACK RIVER GUEST RANCH Don and Chris Lundgren (509) 996-2497 http://chewackranch.com/summer. html Trail rides, cattle drives

■ EARLY WINTERS OUTFITTING Aaron Lee and Judy Burkhart (509) 996-2659 www.earlywintersoutfitting.com Pack trips, drop camps, trail and day rides, riding lessons ■ JD OUTFITTERS (SUN MOUNTAIN LODGE) John and Debbie “Red” Schrock (509) 997-4735 www.sunmountainlodge.com/ sun-mountain/horseback-riding Trail rides, riding lessons ■ SAWTOOTH OUTFITTERS/ WHISTLIN’ PINE RANCH Brian Varrelman (509) 923-2548 www.altalake.com/sawtoothoutfitters.html

■ MORE INFORMATION • Methow Trails: www. methowtrails.org/ horseback-riding • Methow Valley Back Country Horsemen: https://mvbch.blogspot.com • Washington Outfitters and Guides Association: www.woga.org ■ HORSE CAMPS • Twisp River: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/ recarea/?recid=59471 • North Summit: https://mvbch. blogspot.com/p/north-summithorse-camp.html

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Summer Trails

Editor’s Note: This version of the Methow Trails map has been edited to meet production requirements of this magazine. To get the full version, scan the QR code to the right or visit www.methowtrails.org.

Methow Valley News

Summer 2022

Photo by Ashley Lodato

Pay to play Passes, fees, permits or licenses are required at many rec areas

ant to get out on the trail or launch your boat?

Although there are many free trailheads, for many hiking trails, you’ll need a pass to park. Boat launches also require a pass. And that means you’ll need a guide to the land agencies behind the scenes so that you get the right pass. If you hike a lot, it’s worth

EST.

investing in a Northwest Forest Pass for trails in the National Forest, plus a Discover Pass, which provides access to all state parks and wildlife areas. They’ll save you money and you’ll always be ready for that spontaneous outing. If you don’t expect to visit other national parks in the state, like Mt. Rainier or Olympic National Park, a Northwest Forest Pass will work

fine, since it gives you access to a vast range of hiking trails near the Methow. Most trails along the North Cascades Highway start on U.S. Forest Service land. Even though some trails take you into North Cascades National Park, there’s no separate entry fee for the park. The Northwest Forest Pass also covers trailheads in the Chewuch and near Gold Creek, for access to the Lake

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Chelan–Sawtooth Wilderness. While the pass system can be confusing, the passes support trail maintenance and recreational facilities as state and federal budgets are cut. Fortunately, some popular areas are still free (see list page 31). And, if you arrive on foot, bicycle or horse, you generally don’t need a pass.

Methow Valley Community Center 201 Hwy 20 South, Twisp Methow Valley News

dato

A basic guide to passes ■ FEDERAL For U.S. Forest Service land (Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest/Methow Valley Ranger District) Needed at: • Most trails along the North Cascades Highway, including Blue Lake, Cutthroat Lake/Pass, and Lake Ann/Maple Pass • Lookout Mountain • Twisp River trails • Falls Creek Falls, Chewuch area • Also good at national forests in Oregon Pass options: • Northwest Forest Pass, $30, annual • National Forest Recreation Day Pass, $5, day • National Forest Recreation ePass, $5, day; can be printed at home and validated for the day you’re going to use it ■ STATE Washington State Parks, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Methow Wildlife Area), Department of Natural Resources areas Needed at: • Carlton Swimming Hole • Lewis Butte • Patterson Mountain/Patterson Lake • Pearrygin Lake State Park (unless you’re camping there) • Alta Lake State Park (unless you’re camping there) • Leader Lake (Loup Loup Highway) Parking on state land requires a Discover Pass (unless you can park safely on a state or county road). The campsite fee at a state park covers your daytime activities there (including boat launch), but camping on other state lands generally requires a Discover Pass. The pass can be transferred between two vehicles. Pass options: Discover Pass, $30, annual; $5 service fee if purchased online or at a local vendor. Day Pass, $10, day; $1.50 service fee if purchased online or at a local vendor. The Vehicle Access Pass is free to people who buy hunting and fishing licenses. It provides access to WDFW lands (such as the Methow Wildlife Area), boat launches and other water access sites, but not

Summer 2022

other state lands (including state parks). The pass can be transferred between two vehicles. If you do a lot of boating at state parks, the annual Natural Investment Permit could be the way to go. For $80, you get access to watercraft launches, as well as day access to the parks, for a year. The pass can be transferred between two vehicles. The Natural Investment Permit is only good at state parks and doesn’t cover state wildlife lands or state forests, so you still need a Discover Pass to visit those areas. You can buy a single-day permit to launch a boat for $7, but you’ll also need a $10 day pass if you don’t have a Discover Pass. You can launch a boat for free if you’re camping at a state park like Pearrygin or Alta Lake. Washington provides free lifetime passes to disabled veterans for free camping, boat launches, and entry to state parks. The free Disability Pass provides free entry for disabled Washingtonians to state parks and boat launches and a discount on camping. Registered foster parents get free entry for their family at parks and other state areas.

■ PICKING THE RIGHT PASS In addition to the main passes — day or annual versions of the Northwest Forest Pass and the Discover Pass — a variety of other passes are available, depending on your interests, age, and how much you use public lands. America the Beautiful National Parks Pass (aka Interagency Annual Pass): $80 for a year. Good at national parks and other federal lands; has two signature lines and both people are considered pass holders. Interagency Senior Pass: If you’re 62 or over, you can get a lifetime pass for $80 or an annual pass for $20. Both the America the Beautiful Pass and the Senior Pass are good at national parks, U.S. Forest Service lands (most trails along the North Cascades Highway), and other natural areas run by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They also provide free

entrance for your traveling companions and a discount on camping, boat launches and guided tours. A pass providing lifetime entry to all federal lands (the Interagency Access Pass) is available for free to those with a disability and their traveling companions, and to certain volunteers. The Interagency Annual Military Pass is free for active-duty military and traveling companions. The Gold Star Family Free Access Voucher is free for Gold Star Families (next of kin to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who lost his or her life while serving). Pass honored at national forests and parks and other federal recreation sites, for the pass holder and family. The Interagency 4th Grade Pass Every Kid Outdoors program provides a free pass to all fourth-graders (or those who start fourth grade this fall) and their families from September through August. The pass must be printed and then displayed at parks and other sites.

Check out everykidoutdoors.gov.

■ MORE INFO There’s detailed information about the different types of passes, where you need them — and what the agencies use the fees for — on the Washington Trails Association website at https://www.wta.org/ go-outside/passes, plus a handy guide called “Which Pass Do I Need Q&A.” Federal (U.S. Forest Service and national park) passes are also available through the U.S. Geological Survey store at http://store.usgs.gov, on the home page. More FAQs and a quick guide to choosing a pass are at Discover Your Northwest, https://www.discovernw. org under the “Rec Passes” tab. ■ FREE TRAILS • Big Valley, between Winthrop and Mazama • Goat Peak, Mazama • West Fork Methow, Lost River • Copper Glance, Chewuch • Harts Pass area

Trail Use Guidelines Stay Safe Plan ahead. Control your dog. Be aware of others and ride in control.

Be Kind Be courteous. Yield to others. Everyone deserves a great experience.

Tread Lightly Pick up after your dog. Follow posted use guidelines. Respect private property. Stay on the trail.

Where to buy rec passes

Federal

Annual Northwest Forest Pass is $30; National Forest Recreation Day Pass or Day ePass is $5

■ LOCAL VENDORS • Cascades Outdoor Store, Winthrop, (509) 996-3480, annual and day • Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies, Mazama, (509) 996-2515, annual only • Methow Cycle & Sport, Winthrop, (509) 996-3645, annual and day • Valley Hardware Do it Center, Twisp, (509) 997-3355, annual and day • Winthrop Mountain Sports, Winthrop, (509) 996-2886, annual and day National Forest Recreation Day Pass (day) ■ IN PERSON: at trailheads; requires exact cash or check. Day ePass ■ ONLINE: Purchase online, print at home

and validate for desired date Online or by phone (annual and day passes): • U.S. Forest Service: www. fs.usda.gov/okawen. Scroll down to the “Passes” icon and then “Get Passes.” That page includes general information about passes, a list of recreation sites that do and don’t require them, and lets you purchase a pass. • Discover Your Northwest, https://www.discovernw.org (click on the “Rec Passes” tab). • U.S. Geological Survey store at http://store.usgs.gov, (888) 275-8747 (plus $5 or $10 processing fee, depending on the pass). Also has pass FAQs. Processing of interagency pass orders may be delayed because of COVID. America the Beautiful National Parks Pass (aka Interagency Annual Pass), $80 Honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging

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entrance or standard amenity fees. Waives most day-use fees (except at some concessionaire-run sites) and most entrance fees for federal agencies. Has two signature lines so any two individuals can sign the pass. Both are considered pass holders. Interagency 4th Grade Pass (annual pass, free) • See everykidoutdoors.gov

■ METHOW VALLEY RANGER DISTRICT: The ranger district in Winthrop sells the Northwest Forest Pass (annual and day), and handles all federal passes, including America the Beautiful, senior and military passes. Walk-up window open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., closed for lunch noon–12:30, (509) 996-4003.

State

Annual Discover Pass is $30; Day Pass is $10

■ IN PERSON: Discover Pass (annual and day passes) State Park ranger at: • Pearrygin Lake State Park, Winthrop • Alta Lake State Park, Pateros (no transaction fees) Local vendors (annual and day passes) • Pardners Mini Market, Winthrop, (509) 996-2005 • Valley Hardware Do it Center, Twisp, (509) 997-3355 • Winthrop Ace Hardware, Winthrop, (509) 996-2150 (transaction fees: $5, annual; $1.50, day) ■ NCW LIBRARIES: You can check out a Discover Pass for up to two weeks from the library. Check your local branch or reserve one at https://www.ncwlibraries. org. ■ ONLINE OR BY PHONE: • https://discoverpass.wa.gov or (866) 320-9933 (transaction fees: $5, annual; $1.50, day) When renewing vehicle license tabs (annual pass only):

• In person at the Washington Department of Licensing • By mail with tab-renewal form • Online at www.dol.wa.gov • Methow Valley Licensing & Services, Twisp, (509) 997-9009. Can purchase annual pass with vehicle-registration renewal; pass is sent from Olympia, so it takes about two weeks (no transaction fees).

Helpful pass information

■ GENERAL INFO: • Washington Trails Association: https://www.wta.org/go-outside/ passes. • Outdoor Recreation Information Center: https://www.discovernw. org/ranger-station-rei-seattle.html, (800) 270-7504. Full list of federal and state passes to buy online. • Discover Your Northwest, www.discovernw.org (under “Rec Passes”). ■ FEDERAL: U.S. Forest Service: www.fs.usda. gov/okawen (click on “Passes,” then “Recreation Passes & Permits”). Includes the Northwest Forest passes, the America the Beautiful Pass (covers two people who sign the pass) and special passes for seniors 62 and over ($80, lifetime; $20, annual), active military (free, annual), and the Interagency Access Pass for people who are disabled (free, lifetime). The page describes the different passes and gives pointers on choosing the right one for your interests. The free Interagency 4th Grade Pass (Every Kid Outdoors) program provides a free pass to all fourth-graders (or those who start fourth grade this fall) good for free admission to national parks, national forests, and other federal recreation areas for the child and their family. Valid September through August. Check out everykidoutdoors.gov. ■ STATE: Discover Pass: https://discoverpass.wa.gov; frequently asked questions, exemptions, etc.

Methow Valley News

Social climbing The valley’s rock faces offer an array of challenges

Bryan Burdo, is the most comprehensive guide to sport climbing in the upper Methow Valley. This book is the updated 2019 version to Burdo’s earlier publication, “Methow Rock.” “Matrix & Europa,” also by Burdo and fellow climber Gabe Grayum, covers over 60 new routes near Mazama not covered in any other guide book. Legendary late climber Fred Beckey meticulously documented his Cascade ascents in three volumes of the “Cascade Alpine Guide” series. “Stone Palaces,” by local author and climber Geof Childs, received the American Alpine Club H. Adams Carter Literary Award for providing readers with “a vision of the climbing life that is insightful, true, and beautiful.” All these books and more can be found at the Trail’s End Bookstore in Winthrop, or at Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies in Mazama.

BY A SHL E Y LO DATO

t’s easy to see why the Methow Valley has long been a sport climber destination; the easilyaccessible variety of rock faces and scenic views from ground to summit are one of the valley’s biggest lures. More routes are added each year, and trails to popular areas are improved for accessibility and to protect sensitive areas. Rock climbing is most decidedly not a sport for everyone. Acrophobia — a debilitating fear of heights — holds many back from ever attempting to climb. After all, nearly all rock climbing involves ascending to the top of something high up. Others simply can’t wrap their heads around the idea of trusting one’s life to a 10-millimeter rope and another human on the ground holding the other end of it. But those who love to climb are almost universal in how they articulate its appeal. Unlocking the series of moves that allows one to ascend a route. The laser focus required by a particularly scary sequence. Balancing delicately on tiny crystals, fingers crimping mere suggestions of hand holds. Topping out a granite slab, hands gritty, heart pumping, the world spread below and beyond you.

■ WHAT TO KNOW The Methow Valley’s climbing popularity is showing itself in impact to natural areas. Increased use is causing damage to sensitive environments, especially in the Washington Pass area. A series of improved trails and signage is an attempt to mitigate human impact in this fragile area. Always stay on the trail and leave no trace. Only park and camp in approved areas. Plan several options for outings, and if the parking lot at Plan A is full, proceed to Plan B.

Summer 2022

Photo by Ashley Lodato North Cascades Mountain Guides (NCMG) offers low-ratio climbing trips with world-class, certified guides. Want a family day at the crags? Or maybe you’re interested in experiencing multi-pitch climbing? NCMG has you covered. NCMG guides have decades of experience, trained and certified by the American Mountain Guides Association. NCMG maintains a low ratio of clients to guides to ensure a high margin of safety and a quality experience with individual attention.

They also offer an armchair preview of the Methow Valley peak experience through videos on their blog. www.ncmountainguides.com, (509) 996-3194, 48 Lost River Road, Mazama.

■ READ ALL ABOUT IT Books written by local and world-renowned climbers provide readers with climbing routes, tips, and stories of life on the eastern slopes of the North Cascades. “Mazama Sport Climbing,” by

■ MULTIDAY TRIPS Soaring summits and miles of views are the draw to the backcountry peaks surrounding the Methow Valley. The Methow Valley Ranger station, located at 24 W. Chewuch Road in Winthrop, (509) 996-4000, can provide permits and up-to-date trail conditions for destination peaks in the Sawtooth Wilderness, Pasayten Wilderness and Washington Pass areas. PeakBagger.com has information on the top peaks in the area, including the towering classics of Mt. Gardner, Black Peak and Silver Star. ■ REWARDING DAY TRIPS Short or long, there are many options in the Methow Valley for climbers of all levels of experience and skill. Color-printed mini-guides can be purchased at Goat’s Beard. • Fun Rock: Located 1.4 miles northwest of the Mazama Store, the Fun Rock crags along Lost River Road are easily accessed from the parking area. Signs point all the way to crags. Over 50 routes ranging 5.5-5.13b are noted in the Fun Rock guidebook — available at Goat’s

Beard. • Liberty Bell and Early Winters Spires: The climbs in the Liberty Bell/Early Winters Spires area are some of the best in Washington state, with solid rough granite and climbs ranging from moderate to difficult. This area is popular for good reason, but decades of popularity have resulted in considerable impact to the surrounding area, including human waste disposal issues, erosion and trail proliferation. The result of a collaborative effort with the U.S, Forest Service, the Access Fund, the National Forest

Foundation, and other organizations, the presence of a seasonal climbing ranger with outreach and education information will be a step toward mitigating human impact on the Liberty Bell/Early Winters Spires area. Please respect signs and use guidelines. • Goat Wall: The iconic Goat Wall towers 1,500 feet over the valley floor. The parking lot and trail access is located 3 miles northwest of the Mazama Store on Lost River Road. The face of Goat Wall is over a mile wide and consists of meta-pyroclastic rock. Irregular cracks

Guided fly fishing trips on the Methow River & surrounding area.

(509) 429-7298 methowfishingadventures@gmail.com flyfishersproshop.com

Weekly fish report on KROOT 97.5

and jagged holds provide texture to smooth glacier polish. Long sport multi-pitches and natural lines provide varied options to enjoy classic climbs. • Europa: Europa is Goat Wall crag with new routes ranging from 5.6-5.12. • The Matrix: Located 1.6 miles south of Mazama and accessible from the Goat Creek Sno-Park, the 60-plus routes at The Matrix are mostly sport routes with a few traditional lines as well. It gets hot and snaky there in the summer. • West Chewuch/Falls Creek: Climber and author Bryan Burdo developed this new site located along West Chewuch road, above Falls Creek. Little is written about this new site; experienced climbers just head to the crags and get on the climbs. • Washington Pass Crags: Beat the summer heat at the crags just above the hairpin turn at Washington Pass. As with The Matrix area, these are mostly single-pitch bolted routes. This newly-developed area gives you the feeling of climbing in the mountains yet is reachable by just a 5-minute walk from the road.

■ TIPS AND GEAR Climbing equipment, outdoor gear, guidebooks, maps, and local climbing advice are available at several locations throughout the Methow Valley: • Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies in Mazama has the largest selection of climbing gear found in the valley. Be sure to purchase the color print miniguides for local crags. www.goatsbeardmountainsupplies.com 44 Lost River Road, Mazama (509) 996-2515 • Winthrop Mountain Sports www.winthropmountainsports. com 257 Riverside Ave., Winthrop (509) 996-2886 • Cascades Outdoor Store www.cascadesoutdoorstore.com 222 Riverside Ave., Winthrop (509) 996-3480 Always practice accepted climbing etiquette and take fundamental safety precautions. There’s an entire book published every year (“Accidents in North American Mountaineering”) detailing accidents, near-misses, and fatalities in mountaineering and rock climbing. You should aim to stay out of it.

Lake Chelan Arts Festival

Riverwalk Park - Downtown Chelan June 25th and 26th, 2022 Art Show and Sale Silent Art Auction Demonstrations Music•Food•Fun Produced by the Lake Chelan Arts Council For more information visit our website: www.artinchelan.com or contact us at: artinchelan@gmail.com Thanks to our generous sponsors:

Methow Valley News

Filling your days in the Methow You won’t run out of things to do BY A SHL E Y LO DATO

eople who don’t know the Methow Valley often say things like “It’s beautiful. But what do you DO around here?”

And people who know the Methow Valley just smile, because although the Methow is renowned as a place of summer outdoor recreation, with numerous options for climbing, backpacking, day hiking, river rafting and tubing, paddleboarding, swimming, water skiing, mountain biking and fishing, it’s also a place where you can master a new skill, participate in the arts, compete in an athletic event, immerse yourself in the community, and learn something new. When you don’t limit your options, the options are limitless.

ARTSY STUFF ■ FEAST YOUR EYES Find topnotch art at The Confluence: Art in Twisp, on Glover Street in Twisp, and at the Winthrop Gallery on Riverside Avenue. Both feature works by Methow Valley artists. Some artists and craftspeople also have open studio hours on the TwispWorks campus, where you can watch the artists at work. At Glassworks of Winthrop on the boardwalk, you can see a glassblower in action. Some valley shops also display local art, notably Rocking Horse Bakery in Winthrop, and Cinnamon Twisp Bakery and Methow Arts, both in Twisp. Look for unique items at other boutiques and stores throughout the valley. ■ CREATORS AND MAKERS A one-stop destination for locally created products, Methow Valley Goods in the TwispWorks campus features the work of more than 70 Okanogan region artisans,

Summer 2022

craftspeople, creators and makers. https://twispworks.org/on-campus/ twispworks-partners/valley-goods.

■ ART WALK The Methow Valley boasts a range of public art, stretching from the upper reaches of the valley down into the confluence with the Columbia River at Pateros. Visit www. methowarts.org/public-art-map for a map and brief description of the art and artists. See related article on page 44. ■ SUMMER READING Browse for leisure-time reading material at Winthrop’s impressively stocked Trail’s End Bookstore on Riverside Avenue. Check out the children’s section at the back of the store, with big picture windows overlooking the river. Our two libraries, in Winthrop and Twisp, welcome visitors to browse the stacks in limited numbers, and both offer free Wi-Fi: www.ncrl.org/ locations. Free books can be found at one of the valley’s free little libraries, located in the Mazama Store courtyard and outside the Twisp Post Office. Take a book or leave a book. ■ SILVER SCREEN The Barnyard Cinema opened in 2017 and has since become a place to experience the thrill of the silver screen and connect with other moviegoers. Through screenings of blockbusters, documentaries, animated and independent films, Barnyard Cinema offers audiences the chance to be entertained, provoked, frightened, and stirred by characters and concepts. www. thebarnyardcinema.com. ■ LIVE PERFORMANCE Restaurants and bars in both Twisp and Winthrop are again beginning to feature evening entertainment like live music, open mic sessions, trivia nights and other activities. Plays, concerts, poetry

35 Photo by Steve Mitchell

slams and other literary readings, and informal jam sessions have resumed post-COVID. Check for options at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp, Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop, Old Schoolhouse Brewery Taproom at TwispWorks, Twisp River Tap House, Methow Valley Ciderhouse in Winthrop, the Branding Iron in Twisp, Copper Glance in Winthrop, The Barnyard Cinema, Methow Arts, the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp, Winthrop Barn, Sun Mountain Lodge, Freestone Inn, Inn at Mazama, TwispWorks, and Trail’s End Bookstore. http://www.methowarts. org/community-calendar.

■ MARKET IT Dedicated to connecting Methow Valley growers and producers with consumers, the Methow Valley Farmers Market runs every Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon, from mid-April through late October at the Methow Valley Community Center parking lot in Twisp. www.methowvalleyfarmersmarket.com. A Sunday market running 10 a.m.2 p.m., from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Winthrop Market in Mack Lloyd Park also features artisan

goods and other locally-made products. https://winthropwashington. com/events/farmers-markets.

SELF-CARE

■ TREAT YOURSELF Get a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure or other personal pampering. Try the Nectar Skin Bar and Boutique in Winthrop, the TwiSpa in Twisp, or head up to Sun Mountain Lodge for special treament in their hilltop spa. ■ WORK OUT Looking for indoor exercise? Get a day pass at Winthrop Physical Therapy & Fitness and take advantage of a wide range of modern workout equipment in a pleasant environment, or take one of their regular fitness classes. Most of the local yoga studios offer drop-in rates and a welcoming atmosphere. ■ GRAB A CUP Savor locally roasted coffee at Blue Star Coffee Roasters, The Little Dipper, Rocking Horse Bakery, the Mazama Store, Oliver’s Artisan Kitchen, Cinnamon Twisp Bakery, or the deli at Hank’s Harvest Foods. You’ll be served blends from

one or the other of the Methow Valley’s specialty coffee companies: Blue Star Coffee Roasters in Twisp and Lariat Coffee Roasters in Winthrop. On the move? Roll through one of our coffee kiosks: Michael’s on Highway 20 in Twisp, or Pony Espresso on Highway 20 in Winthrop.

■ FILL UP Visit our dining guide on pages 53 for information about the valley’s eateries, offering dining from casual to fine. Most restaurants offer takeout, for those who prefer to eat in more distanced social settings. ■ GET STIMULATED This valley is full of interesting people who love to share their knowledge, experiences, poetic talents, and images with others. Talks ranging from natural history to travel to poetry are offered in both live and virtual formats. Visit www. methowconservancy.org/events, www.methowarts.org/community calendar, www.winthroplibraryfriends.org/events, methowcommunity.org/calendar, and https:// methowathome.clubexpress.com. ■ CLASSES You want to learn how to do something? There’s probably someone in the Methow Valley who can teach you. Think of it as summer school. Try www.methowarts.org/category/ classes, or twispworks.org/events.

MAZAMA RANCH HOUSE

OUTDOORSY ■ STARSTRUCK The Methow Valley’s dark skies will show you the constellations like you’ve never seen them before. Check out Dave Ward’s article about

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■ CROSS THAT BRIDGE The Methow Valley’s three most prominent pedestrian-only bridges are gorgeous examples of cable bridge architecture and engineering. The Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge near Mazama is a traditional suspension bridge over the Methow River, with a nearby picnic shelter, interpretive signage, and a William Stafford poem plaque. Downvalley, the Sa Teekh Wa Bridge over the Chewuch River at the north end of downtown Winthrop and the Spring Creek Bridge over the Methow River are cable-stay bridges with easy access to the amenities of town. The Sa Teekh Wa Bridge connects to a riverside interpretive trail, while the Spring Creek Bridge delivers you to the Winthrop Rink, with roller skating and pickleball sessions. ■ GET PICKLED A few years ago the Methow Valley went crazy for pickleball and the passion hasn’t waned. Twisp and Winthrop both offer pickleball sessions, at the Methow Valley Community Center (https://methowcommunity.org/calendar/), and at the Winthrop Rink (http://winthroprink.org/pickleball).

EXPERIENCE MAZAMA IN THE SUMMER EXPERIENCE MAZAMA

Beautiful Mountain Setting

IN THE Peace and Quiet Biking, Hiking and Horseback Trails

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summer stargazing on page 47, and read his monthly Naked Eye column in the Methow Valley News for current happenings in galaxies near and far, far away. The Methow Valley Dark Sky Coalition is working to create a dark sky community for the Methow Valley and surrounding areas, which means better stargazing for all. They welcome involvement from residents and visitors. Email kyrie.jardin@methowdarksky.org for more coalition information.

Peace and Quiet Biking, Hiking and Horseback Trails

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All things local • All things home

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Methow Valley News

FAMILY FRIENDLY ■ PIONEER HISTORY The Shafer Historical Museum in Winthrop preserves and shares the history, culture and sense of place in the Methow Valley to inspire human connection and learning. With its mining and pioneer history, replicas of homesteader cabins, turn-of-the-20th-century dental office, store, school and assay office, it’s fascinating to adults and kids alike. Its location within walking distance of downtown Winthrop makes it even more appealing. www.shafermuseum.org/visit. ■ HOMESTREAM PARK Located an easy walk from downtown Winthrop via the Spring Creek Bridge, Homestream Park is dedicated to the rivers and fish of the Methow Valley, and to the Native people, past and present, who have called this place home for thousands of years. Interpretive installations, a miniature fire lookout replica, and an astounding collection of artwork by Smoker Marchand make this tiny gem of a park a magical place to visit. www. homestreampark.com.

■ INTERPRETIVE CENTER When you’re in the Methow Valley you’re on land traditionally occupied by the Methow People. The Methow Valley Interpretive Center in Twisp, part of the TwispWorks campus, offers exhibits, events, and classes that foster cultural awareness and understanding of Indigenous peoples and the natural history of the Methow Valley. A native plants garden, a fire lookout replica, and a traditional pit house provide delightful and educational exploration. www.methowvalleyinterpretivecenter.com. ■ INTERPRETIVE TRAILS See related story, page 42.

that it’s modern. Rent the Methow Valley Community Center (https:// methowcommunity.org/gym-rental) or the Winthrop Rink (http:// winthroprink.org/rollerskating) for roller skating. Or try roller hockey — it’s a thing. http://winthroprink.org/ rollerhockey.

sherissweetshoppe.com. On the eastern edge of Winthrop, the AbbyCreek Inn runs an 18-hole mini golf course. www.abbycreekinn.com. After a round or two of mini-golf at the Silverline Resort, you can take a dip in nearby Pearrygin Lake. silverlineresort.com. Bear Creek Golf Course offers a 9-hole disc golf course, with no tee times required. www.bearcreekgolfcourse.com/-disc-golf. Loup Loup Ski Bowl will also open a disc golf course this summer. https://skitheloup.com.

■ TAKE A SWING The Methow Valley offers three mini-golf options. Ice cream and miniature golf go hand-in-hand (cone in one hand, club in the other) in downtown Winthrop at Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe. www.

Methow Valley Clinic

■ CATCH A LIFT Scenic chairlift rides at Loup Loup Ski Bowl will transport you to a glorious view at the top of Little Buck Mountain at 5,260 feet. Gaze out at the magnificent forest unfolding below you, and get a sneak peek at the ski trails without their snow layer. Explore the summit and then walk or ride back down. https:// skitheloup.com.

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■ LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL Wheels on your heels is so retro

methownet.com

Meet Your Local Team

Phoebe Hershenow

ARNP

Jesse Charles, MD Sarah Zuger, MD

Danielle Micheletti

Caitlin McIntyre

PA-C

ARNP

Kathleen Tuggy Case Manager

Behavioral Health

Call our Wenatchee Scheduling Team to make an appointment today!

509.996.8180 | Mon. - Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

INTERNET SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY

• Family Medicine • Annual Check-Ups • Behavioral Health

• Sports Physicals • Common X-Rays

• Pediatrics • Newborn Screening

* This list is not exclusive, for a complete list of our services please visit our website: confluencehealth.org

Summer 2022

Event-full

Check out the Methow’s busy summer calendar

OVID put a crimp in the valley’s usual summer lineup of popular events for a couple of years, but 2022 will see the return of the Methow’s major offerings plus a few others to keep visitors (and locals) occupied. Check with individual event organizers for any COVID-related protocols.

■ METHOW VALLEY RODEO The Methow Valley Rodeo celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer with events on two big holiday weekends: May 28-29, Memorial Day weekend, and Sept. 3-4, Labor Day weekend. Competition includes bull and ranch saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, and junior events on Memorial Day weekend including the popular mutton-bustin’ and stick horse racing for the kids. The action starts at 1 p.m. each day (Saturday and Sunday). General admission is $10 for adults; or $5 for kids ages 7-12. It’s free for kids 6 and younger. There will be a food concessionaire on the site. The rodeo grounds are on Brengman Road, off of Twin Lakes Road. For more information, visit www. methowvalleyrodeo.com. ■ METHOW VALLEY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL The Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival returns at a new venue, offering the same world-class lineup of extraordinary musicians for six concerts in June. Moving down-valley from its long-time venue at Signal Hill Ranch, the festival has relocated to the Twisp Terrace Lodge, south of Twisp off of Highway 20. The concerts will be performed for two consecutive weeks on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 16, 17, 18 and June 23, 24 and 25. The Thursday and Saturday concerts will be completely different, offering four unique programs. Each

Photo by Steve Mitchell Friday concert will combine selections from the other two nights that week. Tickets are $40, available at methowmusicfestival.org. The festival also offers free open rehearsals every morning. The lodge will sell food and beverage options for concert-goers.

■ CIDERGRASS FESTIVAL New to this summer’s schedule: bluegrass meets local cider in the Methow Valley’s first Cidegrass Festival, to be staged on Saturday, June 11, at the John Doran Ranch on Highway 20 just north of Twisp, starting at noon. Featuring eight cideries including the Methow Valley Ciderhouse, the Methow Valley’s own Old Schoolhouse Brewery, six bluegrass bands, and food by local vendors. Tickets at the door are $65 including eight tastes, or $35 for music only; ages 11 and younger admitted for free. For information, visit https://winthropwashington. com/events/cidergrass-festival.

■ METHOW ARTS BOAT-IN CONCERT Methow Arts brings back its boatin concert, which debuted in 2021 at Patterson Lake. The band is yet to be determined, but the free concert will take place on Thursday, June 23, from 6-8 p.m. The performers will be on the shore at Sun Mountain Lodge’s Patterson Lake cabins, the audience will be afloat in the lake, in or on whatever bouyant devices are appropriate. Check the methowarts.org website for updates. Access at main public boat launch only (Discover Pass required for parking). ■ METHOW VALLEY HOME TOUR The Confluence: Art in Twisp presents its 19th annual Methow Valley Home Tour on Saturday, July 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s theme is “ARTful Living in Twisp.” The tour features eight homes in and around the robust art community of Twisp, and will also

showcase one of the homes designed, built and made possible by the Methow Housing Trust over the last two years. Tour tickets will be available through Brown Paper Tickets, or at The Confluence beginning June 1. Participants should be 12 years of age or older. Tickets are $30 per person; or $25 per person for carpool of four or more; or $25 per bicycle. Tickets and wristbands will also be available for purchase on July 9 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Mazama Store.

■ METHOW ARTS FESTIVAL The Methow Arts Festival returns on July 4 with a day of varied activities and entertainment for all ages at the Twisp Town Park. This year the event will have a superhero theme, and costumes are encouraged. The festival offers music, food vendors, an adult beverage garden, hands-on arts booths, a pie-eating contest and more. Before the festival starts, find

Methow Valley News

■ WINTHROP R&B FESTIVAL Also returning from a two-year hiatus is the widely renowned Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival, which will celebrate its 35th

Photo by Steve Mitchell anniversary on July 15-17 at the Blues Ranch on Highway 20 just west of Winthrop. In addition to the tunes, there will be on-site camping, food and craft vendors, portable showers, and a beer garden. As for the lineup — you’ll have to check the festival’s website to appreciate the full array of legendary talent that will be on hand, including JJ Grey & Mofrom, Charlie Musselwhite, Dumpstaphunk, Eric Gales, Too Slim & The Taildraggers, Vanessa Collier and GA-20. A weekend pass is $140. For complete information about tickets, parking and camping, visit https://

winthropbluesfestival.com.

■ WINTHROP VINTAGE WHEELS SHOW The Vintage Wheels Show, presented as an online event the past two summers, returns to its original format on Saturday, Sept. 17, with entrants parked on Riverside Avenue for strolling attendees to appreciate. You’ll find, at various locations around town, antique cars, trucks, semis, buses, motorcycles, travel trailers, tractors, bicycles and more — all for free. There will be a parade on Riverside Avenue starting at 11 a.m. from the Winthrop Inn.

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yourself a good spot from which to watch the annual Fourth of July parade down Glover Street in Twisp. The parade starts at 11 a.m. from the TwispWorks campus and proceeds north on Glover to the intersection of Twisp Avenue. It’s always a colorful, intensely local event with a few surprises, and if it’s hot enough you will appreciate getting hosed down by an Okanogan County Fire District 6 fire truck. On-stage performers at the festival include the Dusty 45s, Never Come Down, and Austrian Amazon Manuela Horn, along with emcee Danbert Nobacon and a few other yet-to-be announced bands. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for kids over 12; 12 and under get in for free. Kids will be able to take part in unlimited art projects all day for free. For information, visit www.methowarts.org/methowarts-fest-returns-on-the-4th-of-july, call (509) 997-4004, or email info@ methowartsalliance.org.

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The nature of the Methow Flora and fauna 101 in the valley BY S A NDR A S T RIEBY

hanks to its size, length — from the Columbia River into the North Cascades — and diverse terrain, the Methow Valley is home to a rich variety of plants and animals. Increasingly, the valley’s landscape is being shaped by fire and climate change, which affect the types, abundance and distribution of local flora and fauna. What follows is an overview of the valley’s habitat types, and a look at some of the plant groups and animal species that occupy them. The Methow offers four major habitat types for plants and animals to colonize: forest, shrub-steppe, riparian and aquatic. Forested lands receive enough moisture to support trees, and vary from dry forests where trees may be widely spaced to denser stands in cooler and wetter areas — often at higher elevations. In the shrub-steppe, trees are few or non-existent due to lack of water; shrubs fill the ecological niche that’s occupied by trees in forests. Long considered barren wastelands, areas of shrub-steppe are now understood to be rich storehouses of plant and animal diversity. Riparian areas — those adjacent to water bodies — have access to plenty of water and support diverse trees and shrubs. Straddling the edge between water and land, they house abundant resources and are more important than their size would suggest. Aquatic systems — rivers, streams and lakes — are home to few plants but many animals.

■ THE FLORA Forests, shrub-steppe and riparian areas all support a mix of vegetation

Photo by Lincoln Loehr types: trees, shrubs and forbs (the botanical term for grasses, wildflowers and other non-woody flowering plants). Trees grow primarily in forested and riparian areas. Generally, shrub-steppe is too dry to support them, although they may appear in spots where there’s adequate moisture. Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir are two prominent tree species at lower and mid elevations. Both are adapted to fire, and forests like those in the Methow Valley thrive on periodic low-intensity burning. Other pines and true firs become more common at higher altitudes, and there’s a smattering of Western red cedars in wet places. In the mountains, larches gleam with brilliant color when their needles turn gold in the fall. Decades of fire suppression and a series of large fires in the last decade have dramatically changed the lower-elevation forests, affecting all aspects of forest ecology, including use by plant and animal species. Riparian zones, and wetter spots within forests, may support cottonwoods, aspens, alders, willows and birches. Scouler’s Willow is common in local forests — unlike most willows, it will grow on drier sites, away from lakes and streams. Shrubs are workhorses of arid-zone ecosystems, providing food — pollen, nectar, berries and leafy

browse — for numerous animal species. With their colorful flowers and fruit, shrubs are a delight to the eye as well. Wax currant is an early harbinger of spring; tradition holds that the hummingbirds return to the valley when the currants bloom, although this year they were sighted earlier. Serviceberry lights up the landscape with its white flowers in mid-spring, and some late-flowering specimens may be found at higher elevations into the summer. In the shrub-steppe, where few trees survive, shrubs such as sagebrush, bitterbrush and rabbitbrush take their place, providing perches, refuge and nesting places for birds. Like the valley’s forests, much of the shrub-steppe has been altered by recent fires. Wildflowers are charismatic representatives of the forbs, bringing a color show that advances up valley and into the high country as days

lengthen, temperatures rise, and snow melts to reveal bare soil. Bloom was well underway in March this year; it will peak in the high country in July, and last into fall where temperatures permit. Flowers range from tiny belly flowers like Whitlow-grass (best seen by lying on your belly) to big eye-catching species like balsamroot. Occasionally, following a fire, you may see swathes of a single species such as lupine, shooting star or prairie star flower. In spite of their small size, wildflowers are essential elements of the valley’s ecosystem, providing food and habitat for bees and other pollinators.

■ THE FAUNA Hundreds of kinds of animals spend at least part of their life cycles in the valley’s forest, shrubsteppe, riparian and aquatic habitats. They include more than 270 species of birds, 70 other vertebrate

Resources

• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. For places to go, wildlife viewing and other opportunities and information, visit https://wdfw. wa.gov/places-to-go/weekender, click on “North Central.” Also look for information there on visiting bear, cougar and snake habitats safely. • North Central Washington Audubon Society. https://ncwaudubon. org. • Washington Native Plant Society. www.wnps.org; for plant lists, visit www.wnps.org/plant-lists. • The Methow Naturalist. www.methownaturalist.com.

Methow Valley News

species, and more invertebrates than we’ve been able to catalog. Those animal populations include a number of keystone species that provide broad support for the ecosystems to which they belong. The concept of keystone species was introduced about 50 years ago. It is supported by our growing understanding that complex ecological relationships are often held in place by a single species or group of species — just as a single keystone is able to support an architectural arch, and all the weight above it, so can a keystone species play an outsized role in a natural system. Some of the Methow Valley’s keystone animals are: • Hummingbirds. Among the smallest birds, hummers nevertheless uphold ecosystems through their role as pollinators of multiple plant species. Until recently, the Methow Valley was the seasonal home of three migratory hummingbird species: Black-Chinned, Calliope, and Rufous. Several years ago, valley bird watchers began reporting sightings of Anna’s hummingbirds. Over the last 100 years or so, the range of Anna’s hummingbirds has expanded northward. As the climate has warmed and food sources like landscape plants and hummingbird feeders have increased, the Anna’s has made its way into Washington and east of the Cascade crest. Last winter, the North Central Washington Audubon Society instituted a Community Science Program to collect information about Anna’s hummingbirds in the region; visit https://ncwaudubon. org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ Annas-Hummer-Project-2021_v2-. pdf for more information. • Native bees. About 80% of

• Deer. The Methow Valley is home to Washington state’s largest migratory mule deer population. Deer are important both ecologically and economically. They are the wild mammals you are most likely to see here. They’re especially important to remember when you’re driving. Although they are most likely to be encountered in certain places and at certain times of day, the best rule of thumb is to expect deer anywhere at any time. Keep an eye on the margins of the road and be aware that deer often travel in groups — if one deer crosses the road in front of you, others may follow. Does are likely to be accompanied by a fawn or two, which may lag behind their flowering plants are pollinated by animals, many of them bees. Because animals ultimately depend on plants for survival, the role of bees in keeping both wild and cultivated lands healthy is immeasurable. Trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers all reproduce with the aid of bees — and then provide food for many more kinds of animals. Washington is a diversity hot-spot for native bees, with more than 600 species living in the state. In 2018 a group of conservation partners launched the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas Project; you can learn more at www.pnwbumblebeeatlas.org. • Salmon. As streams and rivers flow toward the sea, they carry a load of nutrients with them — dissolved and suspended minerals,

Be on the lookout mother. • Wasps. Yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets (which are actually wasps, not hornets, biologically) both deserve your cautious attention. Yellow jackets, in particular, are likely to show up as uninvited guests at any outdoor meal. • Ticks. Ticks can hitchhike on clothes and gear or fall into your hair as you travel through densely-vegetated areas. Since tick bites can cause disease, it’s smart to examine your clothes, gear and body — and those of any pets — after you’ve been outdoors during tick season (typically spring and summer). If you are bitten, consider following the CDC’s recommendations — you can find them at

plant and animal detritus all leave the watershed by water power. Salmon journey to the oceans, then return, bringing loads of nutrients to replenish their home streams. Those nutrients support dozens of other animals that feed on the salmon, their eggs and their carcasses, and also feed microorganisms that play a role in the food web. • Woodpeckers. Close to a dozen species of woodpeckers call the Methow home. The nest cavities that woodpeckers excavate for themselves are later used by other animals. Woodpeckers can play a key role in re-populating burned areas by creating cavities that attract small mammals and other species of birds. Those animals help disperse seeds, and attract predators,

www.cdc.gov/ticks. • Rattlesnakes. Keep your eyes and ears open for rattlers, and give them a wide berth if you do encounter them. Rattlesnakes won’t generally strike unless they feel threatened, but their bites can be dangerous. They are more common in some parts of the valley than in others — Pipestone Canyon is a notorious haven — but it’s prudent to be watchful wherever you are. Keep dogs under control, and consider vaccination and/or aversion training for your canines. • Cougars and bears. Encounters with large dangerous animals are unlikely, but both cougars and bears are present in the Methow, and it’s safe to be cautious. supporting the forest’s recovery. The phenomenon was demonstrated last summer as a surge of Lewis’s woodpeckers occupied areas that burned during the Carlton Complex fire in 2014.

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Finding meaning in the Methow Check out the valley’s interpretive sites

BY S A NDR A S T RIEBY

ites throughout the Methow Valley use words, images, art and more to enhance visitors’ understanding of natural and cultural features. The places are all worth visiting in their own rights; at the same time, the interpretations they offer can enrich your experience of the sites themselves and the local landscape as a whole. At some of the sites below, you may be asked to observe COVID-safety protocols. As of this writing, masks are not required in most places in Washington; find the latest guidance at https://doh. wa.gov/emergencies/covid-19/ masks-and-face-coverings. • Methow Monument and Pateros Museum, Pateros. The Methow Monument is located in Lakeshore Park and uses signs, sculpture and images of Methow pictographs to convey the history and culture of the Methow People. There’s a teepee and a salmon bake oven; the monument is landscaped with native plants that were significant to people of the Methow tribe. A paved trail leads to the Pateros Museum; signs along the way and exhibits within chronicle various phases of

Photo by Sandra Strieby the city’s history. For more information, visit www.pateros.com/index. php/history/pateros-museum. • Methow Valley Interpretive Center, Twisp. Natural-history and native-culture exhibits, including

Seasons of the People, Emergence of the Methow, Ribbon of Life, and Methow Artifacts. Native plant garden with signs in English and n̓səlxcin, the language of the Methow people; pit house; lookout cabin

replica. Last-Sunday presentations each month. Accessible restroom; accessible parking and entry on the north. Located on the northwest corner of the TwispWorks Campus at 210 Fifth Ave, Twisp. Admission is by donation. The garden is always open; for center hours and other information, visit www.methowvalleyinterpretivecenter.com. • Twisp Ponds Discovery Center, ½ mile west of Twisp. The focus is on fish at this site, where a series of linked ponds provides habitat for salmon, steelhead and other species. An osprey sculpture marks the entrance; signs, more sculptures, and colorful nest boxes are all part of the experience. Numbered markers are tucked among native plants along the trail. Learn more at www.methowsalmon.org/ get-involved/explore-habitat-project and www.methowarts.org/ river-twisp-ponds-discovery-center. • Cottonwood Trail, between Twisp and Winthrop on the Old Twisp Highway. The trail loops through an abandoned agricultural field and along the Methow River, showcasing land and river restoration activities. Signs and a trailhead kiosk focus on natural and cultural history and the restoration project. Watch for colorful species-specific nest boxes, as well as birds, fish and other wildlife. Beavers are active in the area, and recently fallen trees attest to

Accessible interpretive trails

The U.S. Forest Service maintains several accessible trails in and near the Methow Valley. • Black Pine Lake Campground is located about 20 miles west of Twisp off the Buttermilk Creek Road. Forest Pass required, or pay $5, to park at the day-use area. A paved trail follows the shore of Black Pine Lake; signs describe aspects of the site’s natural history. At the far end there’s a view into the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, with a peak finder that identifies the high points. Other features include benches, accessible vault toilets, and accessible fishing access. Learn more at www.fs.usda.gov/

recarea/okawen/recarea/?recid=59109. • Washington Pass Overlook, 30 miles west of Winthrop, offers stunning views of Liberty Bell Mountain, the Early Winters Spires and more. Fall visitors will see golden larches. There’s a paved, accessible trail; accessible restrooms; and signs covering the history of the North Cascades Highway and more. Two of William Stafford’s Methow River Poems are posted at the site. Learn more at www.wta.org/go-hiking/ hikes/washington-pass-overlook. • Falls Creek, 11 miles north of Winthrop — a short paved trail leads to a scenic waterfall.

The trail is currently closed due to burned trees from last year’s Cub Creek 2 fire near the trail. The Forest Service plans to assess hazards this summer and remove them as feasible; call (509) 996-4000 to check status before you go. • Rainy Pass, 35 miles west of Winthrop, features a paved forest trail to an alpine lake. A Forest Pass or $5 fee is required. Fishing is allowed with a license. Picnic tables, accessible toilets, and drinking water are available. Learn more at www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/ recreation/recarea/?recid=59385.

Methow Valley News

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their handiwork. Open year-round; parking lot is not plowed in winter. Discover Pass required. Learn more at www.methowsalmon.org/ get-involved/explore-habitat-project and www.methowarts.org/ river-cottonwood-trail. • Homestream Park, Winthrop. Enjoy art, picnic facilities, a riverside trail and signs celebrating the Methow’s rivers, fish and, especially, native people. The 2-acre park is protected as a home for the spirits of those first people with a unique spirit easement. ADA parking is on-site; other users park at the town trailhead on the far side of the Twin Lakes Road/White Avenue. A trail east of the Methow River Lodge and Cabins driveway leads under Highway 20 and into the park. Learn more, and find a link to a map, at www.homestreampark.com. • Interpretive Loop, Sun Mountain Lodge. Signs along the 1-mile loop trail explain features of plant and animal life and the Methow Valley’s glacier-sculpted terrain. Park at the lodge — the trailhead is near the tennis courts — or make your way up from the Chickadee Trailhead off Thompson Ridge Road. The loop is composed of sections of the Kraule and View Ridge trails. Visit www. sunmountainlodge.com/sun-mountain/hiking for information about the loop and other Sun Mountain trails. • Shafer Historical Museum, Winthrop. Dedicated to fostering understanding of local history, culture and sense of place. Indoor and outdoor exhibits feature the Methow Valley’s settlement and homesteading period. Open May 7-Oct. 2, circumstances permitting; explore the outdoor farming and mining collections during daylight hours year-round. Masks encouraged indoors; masks or distancing encouraged outdoors. Gravel paths; most buildings have access ramps. Portable toilet. Admission is by donation — $5-plus per adult suggested. Located at 285 Castle Ave. Free parking on Castle Avenue, or ascend the footpath from Riverside Avenue For more information: (509) 3809911; www.shafermuseum.org. • Sa Teekh Wa Trail, Winthrop. A wide, mostly level trail follows the Chewuch River; interpretive signs chronicle local history, including tribal use of the site, power and irrigation projects, and eventual

Summer 2022

... And more ■ THE METHOW RIVER POEMS Poet Laureate William Stafford gave us a poetic interpretation of this beautiful place with his seven Methow River Poems, written in 1992. The poems are posted at ADA-compliant locations from Pateros to Washington Pass. For locations and more, visit www.methowarts.org/ williamstaffordmethowriverpoems2020. ■ STORY WITHOUT WORDS Four art panels illustrating different facets of Twisp’s history and culture were installed in Twisp last year. In 2020, Twisp was designated as a Washington State Creative District — a label reflecting the importance of arts and culture in the community. Local artist Hannah Viano designed the panels as a creative district project to give residents and visitors a visual connection with Twisp’s story and encourage further exploration. The panels are located at the Methow Valley Senior Center, Twisp Feed, The Cove, and Methow Arts. Learn more at www.methowarts. org/twispcreativedistrictartpanelproject or call (509) 997-4004. restoration to support salmon recovery. Reach the site from 110 Bluff St. in Winthrop, just past the north end of Riverside Avenue — cross the footbridge between the River Pines Inn and the Chewuch Professional Building and turn right. For more information, visit www.wta.org/go-hiking/ hikes/sa-teekh-wa-trai and www.

methowsalmon.org/get-involved/ explore-habitat-project. • Winthrop Barn trails, Winthrop. Start from the Winthrop Auditorium (Red Barn) parking lot to explore the Methow River’s riparian zone and learn more about critters in the river. The site is part of the Methow River Collaborative, a project of the Department of Ecology, Methow

Salmon Recovery Foundation, Bureau of Reclamation and Methow Arts Alliance. Visit www.methowarts.org/river-collaborative-bridges-art-water-community-and-learning for more info and a brochure. • Big Valley Trail, Natural history is the theme of signs along a level trail that follows the Methow River through the woods for roughly a mile and a half. (For a longer walk, continue around a loop, without signs, then return to the parking area by the original route.) No pass required; access off Highway 20 via Dripping Springs Road near milepost 186. For more information, contact Methow Trails at (509) 9963287 or visit www.methowtrails.org/ summer-family-fun. • Early Winters Campground, 15 miles west of Winthrop. To learn about the Methow basin’s fish, explore the campground and look for signs along the trail that follows Early Winters Creek. There’s no fee for day use, but please don’t park at a designated campsite. Visit www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/recarea/?recid=59203 for more information Presented by

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BY A SHL E Y LO DATO

■ TWISP GATEWAYS Recently completed art installations can be viewed from Highway 20 at each end of Twisp. The works were created on a commission from the Town of Twisp by local artists Craig and Perri Howard. The installations, called “Mountain Home,” are intended to provide a visual welcome to people entering town. The artwork evokes the feeling of mountain ranges that provide the backdrop for Twisp and the Methow Valley.

ou’ll find striking examples of outdoor public art throughout the valley. Here are a few places to look.

■ METHOW RIVER POEMS Located in six spots overlooking the Methow River and its headwaters deep in the North Cascades, the Methow River Poems invite visitors to experience the watershed through the words of the late Poet Laureate William Stafford. Commissioned by the U.S. Forest Service in 1992, the seven poems pay tribute to the landscape and character of the Methow Valley. www.methowarts. org/williamstaffordmethowriverpoems2020. ■ SPRING CREEK RANCH TRAILHEAD The Spring Creek Ranch Trailhead at the junction of Highway 20 and Twin Lakes Road doesn’t get a lot of action in the summer, but it is well worth a visit just to see the two murals. Sponsored by Methow Valley Nordic as part of its ongoing efforts to make trailheads more appealing, the mural “Winter in the Methow” was designed and painted by high school art students guided by artist Tori Karpenko through Methow Arts’ Artist-in-Residence program. The individual scenes were inspired by historic images from the Shafer Historical Museum and contemporary pictures showing how people live, work and play during winter in the Methow Valley. ■ METHOW VALLEY WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL The memorial to Methow Valley Wildland Firefighters rests in Mack Lloyd Park near the Winthrop Barn. Built by metal artist Barry Stromberger, the sculpture honors the 17 men and women who have lost their lives protecting the Methow Valley from wildfire since 1929. Wildland firefighting is integral to the history

■ ENTRO One of the 80 sculptural metal spheres fabricated by the late Bernard Hosey as part of his “Spheres” series, “Entro” sits at TwispWorks near the Methow Valley Interpretive Center. “Entro” delights from all angles, featuring geometric shapes, a relationship between positive and negative space, steel girders, and even a human face.

Photo by Ashley Lodato and culture of the Methow Valley, and the statue stands as a tribute to all ground and aerial firefighters; past, present and future.

com/poi/the-war-of-the-frogs--thecranes-chickadee-trail; https:// okanogancountry.com/poi/ grandsons-carrying-water.

■ RICHARD BEYER SCULPTURES Richard Beyer’s cast aluminum “The War of the Frogs and the Cranes” sits at Chickadee Trailhead, en route to Sun Mountain Lodge. A collaboration with Liberty Bell High School students, the piece is at first mystifying, as your eyes sort out legs, wings, beaks. Another Beyer piece, “Grandsons Carrying Water to their Herbs,” is located in the Twisp Commons park, outside the Methow Valley Community Center. A prolific Northwest artist, Beyer’s sculptures reflect the character of the places they inhabit. https://okanogancountry.

■ BEEEST Hovering above the Twisp Commons park, “Beeest,” Barry Stromberger’s giant metal yellowjacket, was created from the bodies of three cars embedded in the banks of the Methow River. When the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation, in collaboration with the state Department of Natural Resources, launched a river cleanup and recovered about 40 old cars — “Detroit riprap” — Stromberger repurposed two black vehicles and a yellow Plymouth Cranbrook, welding them together to create the giant yellow and black predatory wasp, a nod to the insect that is allegedly the

■ TWISP CREATIVE DISTRICT ART PANELS A quartet of 3-by-6-foot art panels installed on buildings in Twisp celebrate the history of Twisp and connect residents and visitors to its priorities: agriculture, commerce, community, farming, foodways, forestry, history, recovery, recreation, relaxation, rivers and vibrancy. Designed by artist Hannah Viano, the powder-coated steel panels are installed in the downtown corridor, at Twisp Feed, The Cove, Methow Arts, and the Methow Valley Community Center. For panel location map and more information visit www.methowarts.org/ twisp-creative-district-art-panels. ■ HOMESTREAM PARK Virgil Smoker Marchand is a member of the Arrow Lakes Band of the Colville Confederated Tribes and a self-taught artist whose practice is based on bronze and steel works. He created the showpiece sculptures of spawning salmon, horses and a tribal fish camp. The installation

Methow Valley News

at Homestream Park, adjacent to the Highway 20 bridge over the Methow River in Winthrop, is called “Coming Home.” The park also features interpretive stations and a metaphoric, interactive journey of salmon spawning up the seven dams on the Columbia River. www. homestreampark.com.

■ TWISP PONDS A 1-mile loop winds you through wild-feeling riparian areas along the Twisp River riparian area just a half-mile outside Twisp on Twisp River Road. Four public art pieces are featured: Dan Brown’s rusted steel “Bringing Home the Bacon-Salmon,” Bruce Morrison’s “Father Flood” wood carving, Cordelia Bradburn’s cast aluminum “Heron and Smolt,” and Steve Love’s cast aluminum “Twisp.” www.methowarts.org/ river-twisp-ponds-discovery-center. ■ WINTHROP LIBRARY Even when the new library (scheduled to open in summer 2022) is closed, visitors will be able to peek through the windows to see “Solace,” a 17-foot-tall Western Red Cedar commissioned as an interactive

art piece for the library’s permanent art collection. As imagined by artists Tori Karpenko and Hannah Viano, Solace chronicles “the passage of time and the undeniable urge for survival” in a landscape altered by fire. www.ncwlibraries.org/ locations/winthrop-public-library.

■ WINTHROP MURALS Visitors to downtown Winthrop will delight in the two prominent murals at the four-way stop. One is a quirky billboard-style advertisement for an 1880s healing salve; the other is a map of the mountains, waterways, and byways of the North Cascades. https://winthropwashington.com. ■ GLOVER-STREET POP UP MURAL A revolving cast of local characters ranging from deer to Yetis make a surprise appearance in a large mural on the wall between Linwood Restaurant and Methow Arts on the north end of Glover Street. You never know when the mural is going to change — it just suddenly appears in its next seasonal iteration. http://www.methowarts.org/ yeti-claus-came-to-twisp.

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he Methow Valley is more than a beautiful place to visit and recreate. It’s a working community, full of imaginative, energetic people who make their livelihoods growing, creating or producing things that are entirely portable, enjoyable and durable. Make your Methow Valley memories tangible 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 60 Methow Valley businesses are represented in the Methow Made program sponsored by TwispWorks. For a complete list, visit www.methowmade.com.

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. The Methow Makers Market, a “pop-up” outdoor market for arts and crafts, is scheduled to be staged at Confluence Park on Riverside Avenue in Winthrop on May 21, June 18, July 23, Aug. 13 and Sept. 10 from 2-7 p.m. For lots of useful information, you may be able to find copies of the 2021 Methow Made publication produced by the Methow Valley News in conjunction with TwispWorks. Photo by Steve Mitchell To see a digital version, go to www. methowvalleynews.com, scroll to Many local retailers carry selections of Methow- the bottom of the home page and click on the Methow Made cover. The 2022 version of Methow made products. On the TwispWorks campus, Made will be available mid-summer at locations the Methow Valley Goods retail store offers an eclectic collection of Methow creations. It is open throughout the valley. For more information, call TwispWorks at Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Don’t miss either the Farmers Market at the 997-3300.

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Methow Valley News

Look to the stars

Photo by Steve Mitchell

The Methow’s dark skies make for spectacular summer nights

BY DAV ID WA RD

h, those long lazy days of summer with their never-ending twilight are almost here. Do not forget about the nights either, even though they are not very long. Curl up in your favorite yard recliner, and gaze upwards at the seemingly endless stars. Even if you know none of their names, they are still beautiful. Isn’t it amazing that our eyes can pick out the most delicate parts of a spring wildflower and yet also perceive the light of stars that took thousands of years to reach us? Lots of interesting things are happening over our heads this summer. Here are a few you might want to look for: • Total eclipse of the moon. On the night of May 15, the first of two lunar eclipses this year will occur in our part of the world. The event always happens at a full moon when the sun, Earth and the moon are exactly lined up. The eclipse will happen at sunset so you do not have to drag yourself out of bed in the middle of the night.

Summer 2022

The moon will rise already eclipsed, so make sure you have a clear line of sight into the low southeast. We will get to see some of totality and then the partial eclipse phase as the moon moves out of the Earth’s shadow. Lunar eclipses are called “blood moons” because of their color. How red will it be this time? We will not know for certain until it happens. The moon will pass deep into the shadow of the Earth, which tends to make it redder. The sky, however, will not be completely dark, which may wash out some of the color. • Line-up of planets. From June 19 to June 27, all five planets visible to the naked eye will be in a straight line in the sky. Unfortunately this is an early morning event, so if you want to see it you have to get up in the dark before dawn. Jupiter and Venus will be the two brightest, but look closely for Mars, Saturn and Mercury also. Most nights a thin crescent moon will join the show. Be sure to find a spot where you can look low into the east to see all the planets. • Super moon. The moon will be at its closest to the Earth on July 13, making it the largest and brightest moon of the year. We call it a “super moon,” and this particular evening will be a great one for a moonlight

walk. • Meteor shower. On the nights of Aug. 11 and 12, the old faithful of meteor showers will visit us again for an end of summer treat. Known as the Perseids from the constellation from which they appear to originate, they have dazzled sky-watchers for centuries. This year the moon has decided to push its way into the show. In fact, the August full moon falls right on the night of the peak of the meteor shower. Moonlight and meteor showers do not mix very well as the bright light drowns out a lot of the dimmer ones. All is not lost, because the Perseids are known for their bright fireballs which can sometimes be seen exploding in the sky. So if you are into meteors, look for some of those big ones. As usual, the time to spot the most meteors is after midnight until dawn.

■ THE CONSTELLATIONS There are a lot of cool constellations up there, and one of my favorites is Scorpius. If you like Orion, the hunter, in the winter then you have to check out his nemesis, the scorpion, in the summer. Orion boasted that he could kill any animal on Earth. The gods, having a low tolerance for boastful mortals, sent a lowly scorpion to

sting and kill the great hunter. You have to be able to see low in the south, but you will know it when you spot him. It is one of the few constellations that actually looks like what it is supposed to be. He has claws, a head, a bright red heart, and a long curving tail with a stinger on the end. My favorite of all things to see up there is the magnificent Milky Way. City dwellers do not even need to try. Only in a dark sky area like the Methow Valley will the depths of the cosmos reveal themselves to you. On a dark, clear, moonless night, mid- to late summer, look for a band of pale light extending from north to south across the sky. What is it? A graceful curving arm of a giant pinwheel-shaped cluster of hundreds of billions of stars. Our own sun and all the individual stars we see in the night sky are part of this vast starry structure. We are traveling through the Milky Way galaxy at the mind-numbing speed of 500,000 miles per hour. Even at that speed, it takes 250,000,000 years to take one spin around it all. If you see nothing else up there this summer, I hope you get a chance to see this humbling sight, our home in the infinite cosmos, the Milky Way galaxy.

Visitor information Help when you need it

■ INFORMATION CENTERS

TWISP: 997-2926; 201 Methow Valley Highway (Methow Valley Community Center) WINTHROP: 996-2125 or (888) 4638469; 202 Riverside Ave.

■ NEED A PLACE TO STAY?

METHOW RESERVATIONS: 996-2148 or (800) 422-3048; www.methowreservations.net; info@ methowreservations.net

■ OPEN LATE

HANK’S MINI MARKET: 410 E. Methow Valley Highway, Twisp; 9974332; 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

Photo by Steve Mitchell ■ POST OFFICES

CARLTON: 997-6091; 2274 Highway 153 METHOW: (509) 923-2759; 34 Main St. TWISP: 997-3777; 205 Glover St. WINTHROP: 996-2282; 1110 Highway 20

■ PET PROBLEMS?

■ AIRPORTS

TWISP MUNICIPAL AIRPORT: 40 Wagner Road, Twisp; 997-2311 METHOW VALLEY STATE AIRPORT: Twisp-Winthrop Eastside Road; (360) 618-2477

■ NEED A TOW?

CLASSIC TOWING, TWISP: 997-2333

METHOW VALLEY VETERINARY HOSPITAL: 910 Highway 20, Winthrop: 996-3231; www.methowvalleyvethospital.com VALLEY VETERINARY CLINIC: 20335 Highway 20, Twisp; 997-8452; www. valleyveterinaryclinictwisp.com WINTHROP VETERINARY CLINIC: 523 Highway 20, Winthrop; 996-2793; www.winthropvetclinic.com

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METHOW MOTION SHUTTLE SERVICES: 996-2894; www.methowmotion20.com; reservations@methowmotion20.com

■ POLICE/EMERGENCY/911

TWISP POLICE DEPARTMENT: 9976112; townoftwisp.com/index.php/ departments/police-department WINTHROP MARSHAL’S OFFICE: 996-2160; 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

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TWISPWORKS: 502 S. Glover St., Twisp; 997-3300; twispworks.org PINE NEAR RV PARK: 316 Castle Ave., Winthrop; (509) 341-4062; www. pinenearpark.com INN AT MAZAMA: 15 Country Road, Mazama; 996-2681; www.innmazama. com SUN MOUNTAIN LODGE, WINTHROP: 996-2211; www. sunmountainlodgecom TWISP RIVER SUITES: 140 W. Twisp Ave., Twisp; 997-0100; www.twispriversuites.com. EAST 20 PIZZA: 720 Highway 20, Winthrop; 996-3996; https://east20pizza.com

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AERO METHOW RESCUE SERVICE: 997-4013; www.aeromethow.org

■ LIBRARIES

TWISP: 997-4681; 201 Methow Valley Highway (Methow Valley Community Center); www.ncwlibraries.org/locations/twisp-public-library; wireless hot spot WINTHROP: 996-2685; 49 Highway 20 (moving to White Avenue this summer); www.ncwlibraries.org/locations/ winthrop-public-library; wireless hot spot

■ NEED TO CLEAN UP?

LAUNDROMAT, SHOWERS AND FREE WI-FI AT WASHWORKS: 325 E. Highway 20, Twisp; 997-0336; www. hwy20washworks.com

■ RECREATION INFORMATION

U.S. FOREST SERVICE: 996-4000; 24 W. Chewuch Rd., Winthrop METHOW TRAILS: 996-2387; 21 Horizon Flats Road, Winthrop; www. methowtrails.com WINTHROP RINK: 996-4199; www. winthroprink.com 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 DEPT. OF FISH & WILDLIFE: (360) 902-2200; www. wdfw.wa.gov LOUP LOUP SKI BOWL: https:// skitheloup.com; (509) 557-3401

■ CAR WASH

CASCADE KING’S: 1421 Methow Valley Hwy S., Twisp; 997-2513; www. kingstire.biz

■ BANKS

NORTH CASCADES BANK: 101 Methow Valley Highway N., Twisp; 997-2411; www.northcascadesbank. com FARMERS STATE BANK: 159 Riverside Ave., Winthrop; 996-2244; www. farmersstatebankwa.com

■ CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

TWISP: 997-2020; https://twispwa.com WINTHROP: 996-2125; www.winthropwashington.com OMAK: (509) 826-1880 or (800)

Summer 2022

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

■ 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; www. townoftwisp.com TOWN OF WINTHROP: 996-2320, 206 Riverside Ave., www.townofwinthrop.com

FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS MEDICAL CLINIC, TWISP: 997-2011 BREWSTER CLINIC: (509) 826-1800 SAWTOOTH DENTAL CARE, TWISP: 997-7533 ULRICH’S PHARMACY, TWISP: 997-2191

■ HIGHWAY INFORMATION

WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Dial 511 for pass and road information; www.wsdot.wa.gov

■ INFORMATION & MEDIA

METHOW VALLEY NEWS: 9977011; 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.

■ 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

Full Hook-Up RV Sites, Lakefront Water/ Electric Sites, and Tent Camping Family and Pet Friendly Restrooms with Showers Rentals – Rowboat, Pedal Boat, and Paddle Boards Boat Launch and Fishing Dock Close to Hiking and Bike Trails Popular Fly Fishing Lake (509) 996-2650 Book Online at bigtwinlakeresort.com 210 Twin Lakes Road Winthrop WA 98862

97.5 fm 49

Featured Lodging Our Ranch House is surrounded by fields, snow-capped mountains and large ponderosa pines. Step from your porch onto the sport trail system for hikers, bikers, horse riders, and skiers. We offer onsite horse facilities, free with room rental. We’re also a spectacular setting for weddings, family reunions, and other events.

mazamaranchhouse.com

Located directly on the shore of Pearrygin Lake, Silverline Resort RV park & campground offers great water sports and family fun galore! Fishing, swimming, boating & skiing. Or simply enjoy a quiet spot along the lakefront. Our park-like grounds offer everything from tent sites to large, level full hook-up pull-thrus.

silverlineresort.com

A stay at Spring Creek Ranch is more than just a vacation, it’s an experience. The three lodging options (Ranch House and cozy cabins) on our sixty-acre family ranch along the Methow River each come with plush beds and down duvets. Stroll into Winthrop in the summer or ski from your front door in the winter. Experience down-home, river front luxury and unparalleled hospitality in Twisp, the heart of the Methow Valley. Centrally located for outdoor adventure, Twisp River Suites is the perfect summer getaway. Play outside all day, sink into luxurious comfort at night. We offer pet-friendly options and an all-inclusive gourmet breakfast.

THE VIRGINIAN RESORT

996-2040 10 Country Rd., Mazama

996-2448 677 Bear Creek Rd, Winthrop

springcreekwinthrop.com

996-2495 22 Belsby Rd., Winthrop

twispriversuites.com

855-784-8328 140 West Twisp Ave., Twisp

Rustic, affordable lodging located along the edge of the Methow River, only half a mile from downtown Winthrop shops. Pet friendly, with a variety of room types and individual cabins. Continental breakfast included. For your enjoyment, we offer picnic tables, basketball, volleyball, horseshoe pit, complimentary bicycles, free Wi-Fi and barbecues.

thevirginianresorts.com

The Inn At Mazama is your adventure basecamp for the Methow Valley. On the trails and close by the North Cascades classic hikes. Available for weddings, yoga retreats and events. 18 rooms with kitchenettes, petfriendly units, nightly-rental cabins, pool, hot tub, yoga studio, offices, meeting room, tennis and pickle ball.

innmazama.com

866-996-2535 808 Hwy 20, Winthrop

996-2681 15 Country Rd., Mazama

Phone numbers with 996 and 997 prefixes have a 509 area code. The expanded listings above are paid for by our advertisers to give you a better idea of what they offer. Establishments featured above are also listed in the complete dining guide to the right.

Methow Valley News

Brown’s Farm | 887 Wolf Creek Road, Winthrop | 996-2571 | methownet.com/brownsfarm

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Bunkhouse Inn | 209 Bluff Street, Winthrop | 996-2148 | bunkhouseinn.squarespace.com

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Chewuch Inn & Cabins | 223 White Avenue, Winthrop | 996-3107 | chewuchinn.com

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Farm House | 709 Hwy 20, Winthrop | 996-3113 | winthropchalets.com

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Freestone Inn | 31 Early Winters Drive, Mazama | 996-3906/800-639-3809 | freestoneinn.com

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Hotel Rio Vista | 285 Riverside Avenue, Winthrop | 996-3535/800-398-0911 | hotelriovista.com

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Idle-A-While Motel | 505 North Hwy 20, Twisp | 997-3222 | idle-a-while-motel.com

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The Inn at Mazama | 15 Country Road, Mazama | 996-2681/800-843-7951 | mazamacountryinn.com

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Methow Suites B&B | 620 Moody Lane, Twisp | 997-5970 | methowsuites.com

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Methow Valley Inn | 234 East 2nd Street, Twisp | 996-2148 | methowvalleyinn.com

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Mt Gardner Inn | 611 Hwy 20, Winthrop | 996-2000 | mtgardnerinn.com

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Nordic Village Cabin | 1 Nordic Village Road, Mazama | 800-843-7951 | mazamacountryinn.com

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North Cascades Mountain Hostel | 209 Castle Avenue, Winthrop | 206-940-4507 | northcascadesmountainhostel.com

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Observatory Inn | 237 Castle Avenue, Winthrop | 996-2739 | observatoryinn.com

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Pine Near RV & Campground | 316 Castle Avenue, Winthrop | 509-341-4062 | pinenearpark.com

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Riverbend RV Park | 19961 Hwy 20, Twisp | 997-3500/800-686-4498 | riverbendrv.com

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River Run Inn | 27 Rader Road, Winthrop | 800-757-2709 | riverrun-inn.com

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River’s Edge Resort | 115 Riverside Avenue, Winthrop | 996-8000 | riversedgewinthrop.com

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River Pines inn | 114 Bluff Street, Winthrop | 509-322-4062 | riverpinesinn.com

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Rolling Huts | 18381 Hwy 20, Winthrop | 996-4442/877-223-1137 | rollinghuts.com

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Silverline Resort | 677 Bear Creek Road, Winthrop | 996-2448 | silverlineresort.com

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Sportsman Motel | 1010 Hwy 20, Twisp | 997-2911

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Spring Creek Ranch | 22 Belsby Road, Winthrop | 996-2495 | springcreekwinthrop.com

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Sun Mountain Lodge | 604 Patterson Lake Road, Winthrop | 996-2211/800-572-0493 | sunmountainlodge.com

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Timberline Meadows | 45 Timberline Lane, Winthrop | 966-3949 | timberlinemeadows.com

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Twisp River Inn | 894 Twisp River Road, Twisp | 997-4011 | twispriverinn.com

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Twisp River Suites | 140 West Twisp Avenue, Twisp | 997-0100/855-784-8328 | twispriversuites.com

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Twisp Terrace Lodge | 20556 Hwy 20, Twisp | 888-550-5919 | twispterrace.com

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Virginian Resort | 808 Hwy 20, Winthrop | 996-2535/866-996-2535 | thevirginianresort.com

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Winthrop Inn | 960 Hwy 20, Winthrop | 996-2217/800-444-1972 | winthropinn.com

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Winthrop KOA Campground | 1114 Hwy 20, Winthrop | 996-2258/800-562-2158 | koa.com/campgrounds/winthrop

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Winthrop Mountain View Chalets | 1120 Hwy 20, Winthrop | 996-3113/800-527-3113 | winthropchalets.com

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Wolf Creek Cabins & Lodging | 1 Wolf Ridge Lane, Winthrop | 996-2148/800-422-3048 | wolfcreek-lodging.com

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Wolf Ridge Resort | 22 Wolf Ridge Lane, Winthrop | 996-2828 | wolfridge-resort.com

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Summer 2022

Restaurant on site

Pet friendly

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Pool

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Kitchen/Kitchenette

AbbyCreek Inn | 1006 Hwy 20, Winthrop | 996-3100 | abbycreekinn.com

Internet

Lodging Guide

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Featured Eateries Artfully prepared espresso drinks, drip coffee, hand-brewed coffee, and local pastries. Our knowledgeable staff can answer all your questions about coffee preparation and our full line of brewing equipment and accessories. Visit us at our new location at 1240 E Methow Valley Highway, in Twisp. We can’t wait to see you.

HOMETOWN PIZZA

Hometown Pizza is the Methow Valley’s choice for affordable family dining! Featuring stone baked pizzas made from scratch, using family recipes. Enjoy a fresh salad, or a sub on a house made roll. We offer take out and take & bake. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

LaFonda Lopez Restaurant is family-friendly and offers a variety of foods: Mexican, pasta dishes, curries, burgers, vegetarian and daily specials. We serve an array of margaritas and cocktails. Summer hours 12-8, Monday through Saturday, with patio seating.

Riverside dining for all ages featuring artistically prepared in-house smoked meats, house made sauces & dressings- offering weekly specials from paninis to steelhead; charcutier & cheese boards, salads, vegan options & more. Plus, craft beers, local cider, 30+ bourbons/ryes, artisan cocktails & live music weekends. Food served late. Dog-friendly patio.

The Winthrop Store The Downtown Winthrop Gas Station 228 Riverside Ave.

Espresso ~ Guido’s Deli ~ Gifts ~ Fuel Deli Sandwiches made to order ~ Call in orders welcome! Mix & Match Craft Beers or Ciders ~ Non-Ethanol Supreme

509-996-2175

The Winthrop Store is not just your local gas station! Stop by for a delicious made to order sandwich from our Deli. We offer espresso, gourmet chocolates, wine and cigars, craft beer and ciders. At the pumps we feature non-ethanol supreme. Be sure to check out our gifts and souvenirs!

East 20 Pizza is open daily to serve the freshest pizza & coldest beer around! Our pizza dough is made each day with locally grown wheat, and we are proud to feature ingredients that are locally grown and sourced. Enjoy a cold beer or a glass of local wine or cider on our deck!

bluestarcoffeeroasters.com

997-2583 1240 E. Methow Valley Hwy., Twisp

997-2100 202 N. Methow Valley Hwy., Twisp

997-0247 102 Methow Valley Hwy, Twisp

twisprivertaphouse.com

509-881-5751 201 N. Methow Valley Hwy., Twisp

996-2175 228 Riverside Ave., Winthrop

east20pizza.com

996-3996 720 Hwy 20, Winthrop

Methow Valley News

Bear Creek Golf Course | 19 Bear Creek Golf Course Rd., Winthrop | 996-2284 | bearcreekgolfcourse.com Coffee, Snack bar

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BJ’s Branding Iron | 123 N. Glover St., Twisp | 997-0040 | facebook.com/TwispBrandingIron

L, D

Burgers

Blue Star Coffee Roasters | 1240 E Methow Valley Hwy, Twisp | 997-2583 | bluestarcoffeeroasters.com Coffee house

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Brix Wine Bar | 229 Riverside Ave., Winthrop | 996-3229 | brixwinthrop.com

Small plates

Late

Carlos1800 | 149 Riverside Ave., Winthrop | 996-2245 | facebook.com/CARLOS1800

Mexican

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Cinnamon Twisp Bakery | 116 N. Glover St., Twisp | 997-5030 | facebook.com/CinnamonTwispBakery

Bakery, Deli

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Copper Glance | 134A Riverside Ave., Winthrop | copperglancewinthrop.com

Small plates

D, Late

East 20 Pizza | 720 Highway 20, Winthrop | 996-3996 | east20pizza.com

Pizza

El Valle | 123 N. Glover St., Twisp | 997-7829

Mexican, American

Freestone Inn | 31 Early Winters Drive, Mazama | 996-3906 | freestoneinn.com

Multi-cuisine

Glover Street Market | 124 N. Glover St., Twisp | 997-1320 | gloverstreetmarket.com

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Deli

B, L

Hank’s Harvest Foods | 412 E. Methow Valley Highway, Twisp | 997-7711 | hanksharvestfoods.com

Deli

Hometown Pizza | 202 Methow Valley Highway, Twisp | 997-2100 | Hometownpizza.com

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Pizza, Deli

L, D

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The Inn at Mazama | 15 Country Rd., Mazama | 996-2681 | innmazama.com

American

B, D

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Jack’s Hut | Freestone Inn, 31 Early Winters Drive, Mazama | 996-3212 | freestoneinn.com

Pizza

L, D

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Jupiter | 248 Riverside Ave., Winthrop |

Multi-cuisine

L, D

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LaFonda Lopez | 102 Highway 20, Twisp | 997-0247 | lafondalopez.com

Multi-cuisine

L, D

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Linwood Restaurant | 108 Glover St N., Twisp | 513 407-0514 | linwoodtwisp.com

Comfort, Asian

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The Little Dipper Café & Bakery | 94 Bridge Street, Winthro | 996-2127 | littledipperwinthrop.com

Bakery, Deli

B, L

Mazama Store | 50 Lost River Rd., Mazama | 996-2855 | themazamastore.com

Bakery, Deli

Methow Valley Ciderhouse | 28 Highway 20, Winthrop | 341-4354 | methowvalleyciderhouse.com

American

Methow Valley Thriftway | 920 Highway 20, Winthrop | 996-2525

Deli

Old Schoolhouse Brewery | 155 Riverside Ave., Winthrop | 996-3183 | oldschoolhousebrewery.com

Pub grub

| jupiterwinthrop.com

Old Schoolhouse Brewery Taproom | TwispWorks, Twisp | 997-0902 | oldschoolhousebrewery.com Snacks + drinks

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Oliver’s Artisan Kitchen | 100 Bridge St., Winthrop | 996-2020 | oliversartisankitchen.com

Bakery, Bistro

B, L, D

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Pardner’s Mini Market | 900 Highway 20, Winthrop | 996-2005

Deli

B, L, D

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Rocking Horse Bakery | 265 Riverside Ave., Winthrop | 996-4241 | rockinghorsebakery.com

Bakery, Deli

B, L

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Sun Mountain Lodge | 604 Patterson Lake Rd., Winthrop | 996-2211 | sunmountainlodge.com

Fine dining, casual

B, D

Tappi | 201 S. Glover St., Twisp | 997-3345 | tappitwisp.com

Italian, Pizza

Three Fingered Jack’s | 176 Riverside Ave., Winthrop | 996-2411 | 3fingeredjacks.com

American

Twisp Chevron | 126 Methow Valley Highway, Twisp | 997-3181

Deli

Winthrop Store | 228 Riverside Ave., Winthrop | 996-2175 | facebook.com/winthropstore

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L, D, Late

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Deli

B, L

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Wolf Creek Bar & Grill at Sun Mountain Lodge | (800) 572-0493 | sunmountainlodge.com

Fine dining, casual

L, D

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Woodstone Pizzeria at Rolling Huts | 18381 Highway 20, Mazama | 996-9804 | woodstoneatwesola.com

Pizza

B, L, D

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Summer 2022

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Beer/Wine/Cocktails

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Take-out available

Wheelchair accessible

Fine dining

Meals served

Reservations

Arrowleaf Bistro | 207 White Ave., Winthrop | 996-3919 | arrowleafbistro.com

Cuisine type

Kid friendly

Dining Guide

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Directory of advertisers ■ BICYCLE DEALERS/REPAIR Methow Cycle & Sport . . . . . . . .14 ■ CAFÉS/DINING/ESPRESSO Blue Star Coffee Roasters . . . . . 39 Cinnamon Twisp Bakery . . . . . . 46 East 20 Pizza . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Hometown Pizza . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Inn at Mazama . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 46 LaFonda Lopez Restaurant . . . . 43 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso . . . . 27 Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe . . . . . . . . 9 Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . . . . 2 Twisp River Tap House . . . . . . . . 2 Winthrop Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Woodstone Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . 22 ■ CAMPGROUNDS/RV PARKS Big Twin Lake Resort . . . . . . . . 49 Riverbend RV Park . . . . . . . . . . 21 Silverline Resort . . . . . . . . . . . .14 ■ EMERGENCY SERVICES Aero Methow Rescue . . . . . . . . . 8 Three Rivers Hospital . . . . . . . . 21 ■ EVENT FACILITIES Bear Creek Golf Course . . Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . Twisp River Tap House . . . Winthrop Barn Auditorium .

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.15 .2 .2 .10

■ EVENTS/FESTIVALS Lake Chelan Arts Festival . . . . . 34 Methow Arts Alliance . . . . . . . . 27 Omak Stampede . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival 3

■ FUEL Pardners Mini Market . . . . . . . . .16 Winthrop Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 ■ GALLERIES The Confluence . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 ■ GROCERIES Pardners Mini Market . . . . . . . . .16 Winthrop Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 ■ HARDWARE STORES Valley Hardware Do-it Center . . . .16 Winthrop ACE Hardware . . . . . . .12 ■ HEALTH/MEDICAL Confluence Health . . . . . . . . . . 37 Family Health Centers . . . . . . . . 34 Three Rivers Hospital . . . . . . . . 21 ■ INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS Methownet.com. . . . . . . . . . . . 37

■ LODGING The Inn at Mazama. . . . . . . . Mazama Ranch House . . . . . Methow Reservations . . . . . . Mt Gardner Inn . . . . . . . . . . Rolling Huts & Methow Tents Silverline Resort . . . . . . . . . . Spring Creek Ranch . . . . . . . Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . Twisp River Suites . . . . . . . . Virginian Resort . . . . . . . . . .

. 9, 46 . . 36 . . 56 . . 30 . . 25 . . .14 . . 45 . . .2 . . .19 . . .15

■ MASSAGE PRACTITIONERS/ SPA SERVICES Nectar Skin Bar & Boutique . . . . . 7 Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . . . . 2 ■ MINI GOLF Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe . . . . . . . . . 9

■ INSURANCE SERVICES VIP Insurance Agency. . . . . . . . . 7

■ MUSEUMS Shafer Historical Museum . . . . . 45

■ LOCAL GOODS & PRODUCE Blue Star Coffee Roasters . . . . . 39 Bluebird Grain Farms . . . . . . . . 39 Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso . . . . 27 Methow Makers’ Market . . . . . . 32 Methow Valley Farmers Market . 30 Methow Valley Jewelers Collective 8 The Confluence . . . . . . . . . . 39, 43 TwispWorks/Valley Goods . . . . . 36

■ ORGANIZATIONS Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance 21 Methow Arts Alliance . . . . . . . . 27 Methow Conservancy . . . . . . . .15 Methow Trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Shafer Historical Museum . . . . . 45 ■ RADIO KTRT 97.5 FM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

■ REAL ESTATE Blue Sky Real Estate . . . . . . . . . 45 Coldwell Banker Winthrop Realty 55 Windermere Real Estate/Methow Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 ■ RECREATION/ACTIVITIES Bear Creek Golf Course . . . . . . .15 Cascades Outdoor Store . . . . . . . 2 Methow Cycle & Sport . . . . . . . .14 Methow Fishing Adventures . . . 34 Methow Trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 North Cascades Mountain Guides41 Slide Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . . . . 2 Winthrop Mountain Sports . . . . . .12 ■ RETAIL Cascades Outdoor Store . . . Lone Pine Fruit & Espresso . Methow Cycle & Sport . . . . Nectar Skin Bar & Boutique . Outdoorsman . . . . . . . . . . Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . TwispWorks/Valley Goods . . Wine Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . Winthrop Mountain Sports . .

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.2 27 .14 .7 .7 .2 36 .41 .12

■ ROLFING Cascade Rolfing. . . . . . . . . . . . .10 ■ SPORTING GOODS Cascades Outdoor Store . . Methow Cycle & Sport . . . Outdoorsman . . . . . . . . . Winthrop Mountain Sports

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Methow Valley News

Frank kline Summer 2022

dave thomsen

emily gibson

cierra schoenthal

Kate waag

christina knapp 55

Est.

1984

“Love all the staff at Methow Reservations... they are always kind, courteous and helpful. The place I stayed at was perfect for my family. I'll use this local company anytime I come to the Methow Valley!” - Recent Guest

Pearrygin Lake North Shoreline

THE METHOW VALLEY is open for adventures.... our lodging team can help you ﬁnd the perfect spot to perch. We rent legal, licensed nightly rental homes, small inns, and extended stay homes for a longer stay, and we are happy to assist you and make recommendations.

509-996-2148 WWW.METHOWRESERVATIONS.COM PHOTOS BY

Methow Valley News

Summer Guide 2022

Articles inside

We’re all yours

Full cycle

Feeling bouyant

Take the reins

Finding meaning in the Methow

The nature of the Methow

Filling your days in the Methow

Some local trails feel the burn

A walk in the woods