Winter Guide 2023/24

Winter 2023/24

Methow Valley A SUPPLEMENT TO THE METHOW VALLEY NEWS

V I S I T O R I N F O R M AT I O N Winter 2023-24

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TRAIL MAPS

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AC T I V I T I E S 3

METHOW VALLEY SKI SCHOOL & RENTALS CLASSIC & SKATE LESSONS & GEAR WAXING

Located on the ski trail in Mazama 509.996.3744 mvskischool.com

C H A R D A N N A Y * M A S S I F * L E E W A R D

JOIN US FOR A TASTING OR A GLASS OF WINE

LOST RIVER WINERY

26 State Route 20, Winthrop, WA 98862 509-996-2888

Providing Excellent Service for more than 45 years

on the trails in the heart of mazama Located in the heart of Mazama, our inviting mountain Inn is just steps from the trails, store and pub.

If a private cabin is more your style, we’ve got you covered. We’ve been managing nightly rental cabins in the Methow Valley for over 35 years.

Visit www.innmazama.com or call 509.996.2681 to make your reservation today.

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C H A R D A N N A Y * M A S S I F * L E E W A R D

JOIN US FOR A TASTING OR A GLASS OF WINE

LOST RIVER WINERY

26 State Route 20, Winthrop, WA 98862 509-996-2888

M E R L O T * B A R B E R A *

C O T E W A L L M E R L O T * B A R B E R A *

C O T E W A L L

Methow Valley News

Inside

UNPARALLELED NORDIC . . . . . . 5 North America’s best Nordic trail system is in the Methow Valley

A WINTER WALK MADE EASY . . . . 9 Discover the joy of snowshoeing

THE METHOW WINTER SPOKESPEOPLE . . . . . . . . . . 11 Fat biking trails keep up with growing popularity

PARA NORDIC SKIING MAKES ITS MARK IN THE METHOW . . . . . .

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START FROM THE TOP . . . . . .

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Opportunities growing, more events open Loup Loup Ski Bowl is an alpine treasure – and so much more

JUST BELOW THE SURFACE . . . . 18 Ice fishing opportunities at our local lakes

SKATING WITH A VIEW . . . . . .

The outdoor Winthrop Rink offers great experiences for all ages

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DON’T LEAVE THE DOG AT HOME . 21 Select trails are open to our canine friends

TO THE BACK OF BEYOND . . . . 24 Snowmobiling can take you to the valley’s remotest reaches

Winter on its own terms

H

ow do we know it’s winter in the Methow Valley? It’s not necessarily a date on the calendar.

Usually, when there is enough of a lasting snowfall to groom the Nordic ski trails, we mark that as the onset of winter (we don’t mind a big storm or two). And we hope that alpine skiing, snowmobiling, fat biking and snowshoeing are not far behind.

The Winthrop Rink, which launched its season in late October, gets a head start because it can make ice. As for ice fishers, they have to wait until cold weather makes the lake surfaces safe.

Valley activities that are not weather-dependent will keep visitors busy until the appropriate snow accumulation arrives, and between periods of outdoor activity when all the trails are open. We devoted a couple of pages of Methow Valley Winter 2023-24 to summarize the many options.

Also, check out our dining and lodging guides for information about what’s available, from casual to elegant.

Methow Valley Winter 2023-24 CONTRIBUTORS

THE QUIET SEASON . . . . . . . 26

Marcy Stamper

HEAVENLY NIGHTS . . . . . . . . 29

Ann McCreary

Nature adapts in the Methow winters Our clear and cold winter skies are perfect for stargazing

AS LONG AS YOU’RE HERE . . . .

Sample some of the other attractions the Methow Valley offers

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OUR WINTER CALENDAR IS FULL OF EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 VISITOR INFO . . . . . . . . . . 36 FEATURED LODGING . . . . . . . 38 FEATURED EATERIES . . . . . . . 40 ADVERTISERS . . . . . . . . . . 42 Winter 2023-24

Methow Valley Winter 2023-24 is all about helping you do all you can do here.

The magazine is full of detailed information about all of our outdoor activities, plus maps to help you navigate our various trail systems. There’s no part of the valley where you can’t find something to do.

To fully enjoy your Methow experience, here are a few “insider” tips: Take it easy, there’s no need to be in a hurry. Be attentive to winter driving conditions, which can be challenging and change suddenly (a codicil: look out for deer!). Be aware of and heed rules for using trails and other facilities — courtesy and consideration are always appreciated. Be patient — transactions may take a few minutes, but they’re worth the wait. And at the end of the day, go outside for a few minutes and look up. There’s nothing like a clear Methow night for stargazing.

Our advertisers make this publication possible — we hope you will take note of and patronize them.

We’re happy to welcome you to the valley and are glad you found your way this far. Methow Valley Winter 2023-24 will help take you the rest of the way.

Reporter Freelance writer

Ashley Lodato MVN columnist

Sandra Strieby MVN contributor

David Ward MVN columnist

Steve Mitchell MVN contributor

Matt Dressler Map maker

On the cover

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Groomed trails and sunny days await the Methow Valley’s winter visitors.

A publication of the

Methow Valley News

P.O. Box 97, Twisp, WA 98856 509.997.7011 • editor@methowvalleynews.com www.methowvalleynews.com Find us on Facebook

Don Nelson, publisher/editor Tera Evans, Advertising MyKenzie Bennett, design

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Photo

by Steve Mitchell Methow Valley News

Photo by Ashley Lodato

Unparalleled Nordic North America’s best Nordic trail system is in the Methow Valley

BY A S H L E Y LO DATO

P

icture a vast glittering white blanket, with smooth stretches, steep folds and a few rolling bumps.

Now add a shimmering river, frosted pines, majestic cottonwoods. A network of pathways spider across the blanket, running through fields, over hill and dale.

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Sprinkle in a couple of cozy huts and a charming town at either end of the blanket, and you’ve got the Methow Valley trails system spread out before you, just waiting for you to clip on your skis and insert yourself into the picture.

Widely celebrated as the largest Nordic ski trails system in North America, this 200-kilometer network of skate platforms and

classic tracks is one of the Methow Valley’s biggest lures. Managed and maintained by Methow Trails (www.methowtrails.org), the trails system is the result of the vision of a group of skiing friends in the 1970s, whose foresight and tireless efforts to secure rights-of-way on public and private lands gives residents and visitors alike thousands of person-hours of enjoyment and exercise each year.

Methow Trails’ rights-of-way on public and private lands give residents and visitors alike thousands

of person-hours of enjoyment and exercise each year.

NORDIC SKIING: THE BASICS ■ KEY PLAYERS • Loup Loup Ski Bowl, a community nonprofit ski hill, offers nearly 50 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails near Loup Loup Pass. www. skitheloup.com/nordic-skiing, (509) 557-3401 • Methow Trails, a 44-year-old recreation-focused nonprofit 7

organization that establishes and maintains more than 200 kilometers of trail from Mazama to Winthrop. www.methowtrails.org, (509) 996-3287

FIND TRAILS

There are five major trailheads for access to Nordic skiing in the Methow Valley; three of the main areas are linked.

The Methow Trails system comprises three main areas, all connected by the 30-kilometer Methow Community Trail, which stretches from Winthrop to Mazama with spurs up to Sun Mountain and out to Wilson Ranch and Early Winters Creek. The Sun Mountain and Rendezvous areas are the highest and thus tend to be open earliest (often

by Thanksgiving) and stay groomed the longest (through April 1 in good snow years).

■ METHOW COMMUNITY TRAIL With trailheads at several locations along its 30K reaches, the Methow Community Trail (MCT) is the most easily accessed section of trail in the system. Whether you’re looking for some flat runs through sunny fields, a slow and easy ski after a morning latte at the Mazama Store or the Rocking Horse Bakery in Winthrop, or a fun point-to-point ski with some hill climbing in the middle, the MCT delivers.

The self-service waxing hut at the Spring Creek Ranch Trailhead in Winthrop is insulated and heated for the coming season.

An iron and bench are provided; bring your own wax. Many skiers like to make the warming hut at the base of Power’s Plunge a lunch break destination for a flat

out-and-back trip from the Spring Creek Ranch Trailhead.

■ SUN MOUNTAIN If you like varied terrain, the Sun Mountain trails are the ones for you. Climb up Thompson Road for sweeping views, then swoop back down as fast as you dare. Or take the moderate Little Wolf trail out and explore an old homestead site, or whoop it up on the roller coaster Yellowjacket trail. There are a solid handful of relatively flat trails as well, and dozens of different loops for those who don’t like to repeat terrain.

The Chickadee Trailhead, which feeds into the majority of the Sun Mountain trails, has a warming hut and a welcoming front porch in the sun, while up the hill the Sun Mountain Lodge offers both casual and fine dining options or a cup of hot cocoa. An illustrated “StorySki” makes Chickadee an appealing place to start with the kids.

Although you’ll see evidence of the 2021 Cedar Creek Fire along some of the trails at the outer reaches of the Sun Mountain trail system — Thompson Road, AquaLoop, and Upper Inside Passage in particular — for the most part your skiing experience will be unaffected by wildfire impact. AquaLoop will be fully reopened this year, much to the delight of those who like that swooping, solitary loop.

■ RENDEZVOUS Don’t ski the Rendezvous if you don’t like hills. But if you do, the Rendezvous won’t disappoint. The Rendezvous offers a point-to-point ski to Mazama (if you don’t mind a laborious vehicle shuttle) as well as access to numerous loops in the

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Rendezvous Pass area that really make you feel as if you are out in the backcountry. The Gunn Ranch Road is a spectacular and sunny way to access the Rendezvous trails and cuts out some of the elevation gain, but it gets quite crowded on weekends, especially as it is both a

dog trail and a fat bike trail.

■ THE LOUP The Loup Loup Pass area offers a small but worthwhile Nordic option: South Summit. Located 12 miles east of Twisp, South Summit features 50K of trails with some dog-friendly options. Trail passes are not required but a Sno-Park permit, available at the Loup Loup ticket office, is. The Bear Mountain Nordic Trails at the Loup are operating when the luge is not, on Wednesdays and Fridays except during holiday weeks.

■ CHECK IT OUT • 200-plus kilometers of groomed Nordic ski trails in the Methow Trails system. Methow Trails grooms more than 25,000 kilometers annually. Many well-traveled

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Methow Valley News

skiers agree that the grooming on the Methow Trails has no equal.

• 50 kilometers of trails groomed weekly in the Loup Loup area.

• Daily grooming report and grooming app at www. methowtrails.org.

• Kids 17 and under ski free every day.

• Warming huts at convenient locations along the trail system: Suspension Bridge, Rendezvous Pass, base of Powers Plunge.

• Scattered throughout the trail system are benches strategically placed for skiers to pause, reflect, recover, and soak up the view.

Some benches feature engraved quotations with winter themes, others are placed in memorium of beloved Methow Valley community members. More than just places to rest, these benches can serve as sites to appreciate the meaningful people and places of the Methow Valley.

• Ski rentals and lessons. Learn to ski or improve your technique through private or group instruction. Purchase new equipment or test drive cutting-edge gear. Find information at www.methownet. com/skischool; cascadesoutdoorstore.com/ski-rentals-salesservices; www.winthropmountainsports.com/rentals; www. methowcyclesport.com/rentals.

• Almost 30 kilometers of dog-friendly trails. Those passionate about canines and skinny skis will love the opportunity to bring their dogs out on the trails where they’re allowed.

• Adaptive skiing options. Adaptive Nordic skiing on a sit ski allows those with long-term physical disabilities as well as those recovering from knee or hip replacements to enjoy the magic of Nordic skiing.

Courtesy of the Methow Valley Fund, Methow Trails has three adult sit skis and one child sit ski available for loan in Winthrop and Mazama. With advance notice, they can frequently provide trained volunteer support as well.

• Fat bike trails (see fat bike article on page 11).

• Snowshoe trails (see snowshoe information on page 9).

• Free trails. Methow Trails offers two locations where trail passes are not required: Big Valley and the loop right at the Spring Creek Ranch Trailhead. Please bear

Winter 2023-24

in mind that trail pass sales, however, pay for trail grooming.

Those Pisten Bullys aren’t cheap and the trails don’t groom themselves. If you’d like to see the highest-quality grooming on all of the Methow Trails, purchase a day, multi-day, 10-day punch card, or season trail pass.

■ SKI EVENTS Methow Trails typically hosts numerous events each winter, ranging from races as competitive as the Ski to the Sun Marathon & Relay to those as wild and wacky as the Doggy Dash, where costumed humans and canines battle it out in the six-legged race.

Check Methow Trails’ events page for details at www.methowtrails. org/events.

Methow Valley Nordic presents several events, including the Methow Valley Ski Camp at Sun Mountain in December and the Lee Adams Tour of the Methow, which gives skiers the choice of 20K, 30K, 50K and 80K stretches of trail in a non-competitive environment. Visit Methow Valley Nordic’s events page for details: www.methowvalleynordic.com/events.

Methow Trails used to offer free shuttle service on Saturdays between the Spring Creek Ranch Trailhead, Brown’s Farm, and Mazama, but now the TranGO bus provides that service, with six buses each day Monday through Saturday. Park your car, hop on the bus to one of the stops, and ski back to where you started (okanogantransit.com/ routes___schedules/index.php).

Trail pass required.

■ DOGS Can’t imagine skiing without your dog? Several of the trails are dog-friendly, including most — but not all! — of the Rendezvous system, as well as the Big Valley trails, and the Lollipop Loop, a short loop accessed from the Winthrop Fish Hatchery. Like human trail users, canine trail users need annual or day passes to use the trails (except for Big Valley, which is free to all users). Humans accompanying dogs are required to scoop and carry their pets’ poops — not just fling it off to the side of the trail. For more information, see the article on page 21.

■ WHEN TO GO From the moment the snow flies until the day it all melts. Methow Trails begins rolling trails with the first snowfall and can groom with heavy equipment as soon as there are 6 inches on the ground.

Depending on conditions in the spring, they often groom through April 1. Nordic trails in the Loup Loup area are typically groomed on Thursdays and Fridays.

Some of the best skiing conditions can be found after President’s Day weekend, which is when many visitors stop traveling to the valley.

Sunny skies, comfortable temperatures, fast conditions.

Methow Trails routes are open from dawn ’til dusk and no one will frown upon an occasional night ski as long as you stay out of the way of the groomers and stay off the freshly groomed skate platform.

■ HEAVY EQUIPMENT You may call them Pisten Bullys or Sno-Cats; we call them by their first names: Ginger, named for longtime Methow Trails Executive Director Jay Lucas’s dog, is used to groom the Mazama trails. Scooter,

in honor of a late trail groomer, takes care of Sun Mountain’s trails. Red McGroom, in memory of valley resident and benefactor Red McComb, covers Big Valley and other areas. Miller Time, which allows us to remember the late trail advocates Carl Miller and Lee Miller, sculpts the Rendezvous trails. And our newest machine, The Real Deal, honors the late trails champion Mike Real and grooms between Winthrop and the Suspension Bridge.

■ INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES A new fully functional trailhead at the Methow Trails campus on Horizon Flat offers ample parking, vault toilets, and an excellent place from which to launch a ski journey out of the Winthrop area. Like they did last year, Methow Trails will groom a short connector trail parallel to the Susie Stephens footpath to get skiers from the 1K loop around the campus to the Spring Creek Ranch trailhead (above the Winthrop Rink). A newly repaired bridge on this connector trail was accomplished with record speed

Programs, Events, Races and More!

Kids

SKI CUBS all-inclusive, six-week, learn-to-ski program at MV Elementary METHOW VALLEY NORDIC TEAM season-long, ages 6-18, beginner to advanced BIATHLON XC skiing and rifle marksmanship

Adults

BIATHLON XC skiing and rifle marksmanship WEEKLY CLASSES AND FITNESS GROUPS CAMPS AND CLINICS

Embrace an Outdoor Lifestyle This Winter!

Register at methowvalleynordic.com Need-based financial assistance available!

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through the support of the Okanogan County Commissioners.

The Winthrop Trailhead at the Methow Trails campus serves as a hub for trail-based recreation in the Methow Valley and is, they hope, the first link in the Twisp to Winthrop Trail.

■ INSIDER INFO The mobile ticketing system is user-friendly. Purchasing a day pass or multi-day pass on your Smart Phone takes less than a minute and saves you a trip into a local retailer to buy a traditional pass. Display your phone to the trailhead ambassador, and you’re off in the tracks.

Ten-day punch cards offer more flexibility than a three-day pass (which must be used on consecutive days) and more affordability than a full annual pass. Punch cards must be redeemed from any ticket vendor and are valid for two years.

The Try Winter Pass is an excellent way to experience winter from three angles: Nordic, alpine, and ice. Purchase a regular season’s pass through Methow Trails, the

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Winthrop Rink, or Loup Loup Ski Bowl and you’ll receive a threepunch transferable pass worth $114 good for one day at each of those recreation areas.

• One of the best ways to experience the Rendezvous is slowly, from the comfort of your

European-style backcountry hut (www.rendezvoushuts.com). Book a hut for a couple of nights, get your gear and food shuttled, and spend glorious days exploring the Rendezvous trails and leisurely evenings reading or playing board games in your cozy hut. Make

your reservations early or look for cancellations.

• “StorySki” panels illustrated by author/artist Erik Brooks blend literacy with activity and usher young skiers down the trail. Located at Chickadee, Spring Creek Ranch, and Mazama trailheads.

LUXURY PRIMED FOR ADVENTURE. ON THE TRAILS IN MAZAMA

Get in touch to book your stay · 509-996-2681 · BASECAMP49.COM 10

Methow Valley News

Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service

A winter walk made easy Discover the joy of snowshoeing

BY S A N D R A S T R I E BY

F

or thousands of years, people have used snowshoes to navigate winter landscapes. A snowshoe’s broad platform distributes weight, and its metal teeth grip the snow; in combination, they provide flotation and traction so

Winter 2023-24

wearers can move across the snow rather than sinking in.

Learning to snowshoe is easy, making it a great way for the whole family to explore the winter world.

For tips on safety and snowshoeing in general, take a look at Snowshoe Magazine’s beginners’ guide: www.snowshoemag.com/snowshoeing-for-beginners-the-firsttimers-guide.

■ GUIDED TOURS Sun Mountain Lodge will offer

private snowshoe tours from Dec. 15, 2023, through Feb. 25, 2024.

Contact the Sun Mountain Ski Shop at (509) 996-4735 or activities@sunmountainlodge.com for information and reservations.

■ GEAR You can rent snowshoes at the places below; most also sell trail passes and offer free maps of the Methow Trails system. The Outdoorsman in Winthrop sells snowshoes, as do several of the outlets below.

Mazama • Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies • Methow Valley Ski School & Rentals Twisp • Loup Loup Ski Rental Shop Winthrop • Cascades Outdoor Store • Methow Cycle & Sport • Sun Mountain Ski Shop • Winthrop Mountain Sports

■ TRAILS, MAPS, AND PASSES • Methow Trails offers multi-use 11

(bike, snowshoe, ski) trails in the Big Valley, Winthrop, and Mazama areas; shared-use (ski and snowshoe only) trails in the Mazama and Rendezvous areas; and dedicated snowshoeing trails at Sun Mountain and around the Freestone Inn. Passes are available online and at the Methow Trails office at 21 Horizon Flat Road in Winthrop; visit www.methowtrails.org/tickets-and-passes for more pass-purchase locations in Mazama, Winthrop and Twisp. Cost is $10 for a day pass, $50 for a season pass — or use your ski pass. Kids 17 and under snowshoe free.

Seniors 75 and older can also use the trails at no cost — visit the Methow Trails office to receive a lifetime pass.

Everyone can snowshoe free on the Big Valley Ranch trails and several trails near Winthrop — check a trail map for locations where no pass is required. There are maps in this guide; pass vendors have them too. Methow Trails has maps at www.methowtrails.org/winter-maps, along with links to its new app, where you can use the maps, buy digital passes, check out

trail conditions, and more.

TranGO now provides service from Twisp through Winthrop to Mazama Monday-Saturday; for more information, visit https:// okanogantransit.com/ and click “Routes and Schedules.”

• The Lloyd Ranch Winter Trail System offers multi-use (bike, snowshoe, ski, walk) and shareduse (bike and snowshoe only) trails.

Snowshoers are welcome to explore beyond the groomed trails. There is a map in this guide and at www. sefiles.net/merchant/5361/images/ site/LloydRanch19-20Map.jpg.

Discover Pass required; purchase online, at Pardners Mini Market or Winthrop Ace Hardware in Winthrop, or at the Valley Hardware Do-It Center in Twisp.

• The Pearrygin Lake Sno-Park offers multi-use (bike, snowshoe, ski, walk) and shared-use (bike and snowshoe only) trails. Snowshoers are welcome to explore beyond the groomed trails. There is a map in this guide and at https://www. parks.wa.gov/DocumentCenter/ View/12188/Pearrygin-Lake--MapPDF. Sno-Park permit required; purchase online, at Pearrygin Lake

Photo by Steve Mitchell

State Park, or from local vendors — see https://www.parks.wa.gov/147/ Sno-Park-Permit-vendors for a list.

• The South Summit Sno-Park offers shared-use (ski and snowshoe) trails. Trails west of USFS Road 41 are dog friendly. There is a map in this guide and at www. parks.wa.gov/DocumentCenter/

View/10734/South-Summit?bidId. Visitors can snowshoe on any trail, but are reminded to stay off groomed set tracks, and follow trail etiquette by staying single file on the right side of the trail. Sno-Park permit required; see Pearrygin Lake Sno-Park listing for where to purchase.

TRAIL USE GUIDELINES THANK YOU FOR BUYING A PASS

STAY SAFE

BE KIND

Plan ahead.

Control your dog.

Be aware of others.

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.

Working with our community to protect the Methow Valley’s special places.

Learn more at methowconservancy.org

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Methow Valley News

Photo by Ashley Lodato

The Methow winter spokespeople Fat biking trails keep up with growing popularity

BY A N N M CC R E A RY

T

here are all sorts of reasons to ride a fat bike. It’s great exercise, it gets you outside in winter, it doesn’t take a lot of expertise ... but mostly, it’s just plain fun.

“You sort of feel playful on a fat bike,” says Winthrop resident Steve Mitchell. “Like when you’re a kid and you hop on a ‘big wheel’ trike.

You feel invincible, you bound over anything. And you feel that feeling of accomplishment, because here you are, you’re out in the cold.”

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Mitchell should know. He’s been riding on snow for more than 30 years, and helped create the network of groomed fat biking trails here in the Methow Valley.

Fat biking in the Methow Valley really got rolling in the winter of 2010, when Mitchell, along with locals Joe Brown and Dave Acheson, formed an informal organization called Methow Fatbike and began grooming trails for fat bikes on state park property around Pearrygin Lake and on state wildlife land on nearby Lloyd Ranch.

In cooperation with state park and wildlife officials, Methow Fatbike has expanded and improved the trail system over the years, creating a network of fat

bike and multi-use trails. From an all-volunteer effort using borrowed snowmobiles when it first began, the grooming program now has four paid seasonal groomers and modern new grooming equipment.

■ LOTS OF OPTIONS More than 20 miles of groomed trails at Pearrygin and Lloyd Ranch offer varied terrain from easy to advanced, including scenic lakeside trails and challenging climbs with sweeping views of the North Cascades and Pasayten Wilderness.

Methow Trails has also expanded its Nordic ski trail system to include fat bike trails over the years, and offers 20-plus miles of multi-use or fat bike trails.

Maps of the trail systems and signs on trails indicate which trails are multi-use and which are designated for fat bikes only.

The Spring Creek Ranch Trailhead (also known as the Town Trailhead), operated by Methow Trails in the heart of Winthrop, is a hub of multi-use trails for fat biking, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing, with the Winthrop Rink just next door. That means family members and friends can launch their own adventures from the same vicinity.

The popularity of fat biking in the Methow Valley has continued to grow, both among locals and visitors, in part because it’s an activity that’s pretty easy to pick up for anyone who has ridden a bike.

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“It’s relatively easy to do. The bikes are easy to ride, you feel very secure on them because you’re not going that fast,” Mitchell said. “When you do crash, it’s usually a soft landing.”

For people who are dedicated Nordic skiers, fat biking offers an alternative when the weather isn’t cooperating. “When skiing conditions aren’t great, it’s usually good for fat biking,” Mitchell said.

■ NIGHT RIDERS For Mitchell, his favorite fat biking is at night. “It’s a lot of fun, but it can feel a little intimidating” for people who are new to it, he said.

Methow Fatbike sponsors a weekly evening ride, called Fat & Fire, which includes a 60-90 minute group ride and campfire every Wednesday night in winter, beginning mid-December (conditions permitting), meeting at Pearrygin Lake State Park.

It’s a good way for people to experience riding at night, because the rides are guided by people familiar with the terrain, Mitchell said.

In fact, it can sometimes be easier to see where you are riding at night with a headlamp, compared to days when it is snowing or the light is flat and the trail blends into the snow, Mitchell said.

To have the most fun fat biking, people should make sure to have warm boots and gloves or mittens, he advised. “Hands and feet are the single biggest cause of a bad experience,” he said.

“One novice mistake people make is they dress too warmly,” Mitchell added. “You want to avoid sweating ...so dress in layers.”

Parking for the Pearrygin and Lloyd Ranch trails requires a Sno-Park permit, but the trails are free. “We encourage everyone to get a Sno-Park pass.

Those are the funds that keep this program going.”

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Methow Valley News

Fat bike fun in the Methow Valley ■ WEEKLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT ‘FAT & FIRE’ Local fat bike enthusiasts will meet for the weekly Fat & Fire, a 60-90 minute group ride and campfire every Wednesday night in winter, beginning mid-December (conditions permitting). Meet at 6 p.m. at Pearrygin Lake State Park with your fat bike and a good light for an evening ride. All levels of riders are welcome!

Dress warmly and bring layers for the post-ride activities.

Participants must provide their own gear. Rentals are available at local outdoor shops. Bring something to throw on the grill for dinner and warm yourself around the campfire. Fat & Fire is free, but a Sno-Park parking pass is required. For more information, call Methow Cycle & Sport, 996-3645.

Photo by Steve Mitchell

■ 10TH ANNUAL NORTHWEST FAT BIKE MEETUP Fat bikers from all over the Northwest and beyond convene in the valley on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend in January for group rides, night rides, fun and friends. Information is available on the Northwest Fatbike Facebook page, on Methow Fatbike Facebook or Methow Cycle & Sports website (methowcyclesport.com) events listings.

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Winter 2023-24

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Fat bike trails in and around the Methow Valley ■ OPERATED BY METHOW TRAILS: • Big Valley Ranch — 4.8 miles of easy riding along rivers and through meadows • Rendezvous — 7.6 miles on Gunn Ranch Road and to Grizzly Hut with panoramic views • Town Trailhead — 6.3 miles of varied terrain, with a gentle trail from the Winthrop Rink or Winthrop Fish Hatchery to more rolling and intermediate riding around Bitterbrush and Barnsley loops • Multi-use .7-mile loop around Methow Trails new Horizon Flat office, connecting via a 1.4-mile trail to Spring Creek Trailhead and other fat bike trails.

• John’s Way — 3.2 flat miles in Mazama Operated in partnership by Methow Fatbike volunteers, Pearrygin Lake State Park and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: • Lloyd Ranch — 7.5 miles of groomed fat bike trails over rolling hills with great mountain views • Pearrygin State Park — 15 miles of groomed multi-use (ski, snowshoe, fat bike), over a variety of terrain.

Rent a fat bike • 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 • Cascades Outdoor Store, 222 Riverside Ave., Winthrop, (509) 996-3480 Note: Reservations for bikes are recommended, especially on weekends and holidays

■ GROOMED MOTORIZED TRAILS: Fat bikes are allowed on groomed snowmobile [motorized] trails accessed by Sno-Parks in the Methow Valley, according to the Methow Valley Ranger District. Trail users must display a Sno-Park pass.

■ THE SCOOP ON PASSES …

• Lloyd Ranch — Sno-Park permit or Discover Pass required for parking, no trail pass required • Pearrygin Lake State Park — Sno-Park permit for parking, no trail pass required • Methow Trails — $10 daily/$50 annual trail pass, free parking, www. methowtrails.org • Groomed motorized trails — Sno-Park permit required

Find out about fat biking in the Methow • Methow Trails: www.methowtrails.org • Methow Cycle & Sport: www.methowcyclesport.com • Methow Fatbike: www.facebook.com/methowfatbike • Northwest Fatbike: www.facebook.com/northwestfatbike • Winthrop Chamber of Commerce: www.winthropwashington.com

NORDIC SKIS, FATBIKES, SNOWSHOES PASSES, CLOTHING & MORE OPEN EVERYDAY • SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS Serving the Methow since 1995

16

29 Hwy 20 Winthrop, Wa methowcyclesport.com 509-996-3645

Methow Valley News

Para Nordic skiing makes its mark in the Methow Opportunities growing, more events open

BY M A R C Y S TA M P E R

W

ith the variety of flat, gently rolling and wide Nordic trails throughout the valley, there is truly something for everyone who wants to experience winter on skis.

Opportunities for Para Nordic skiing, which encompasses sit skiers, standing skiers, and visually impaired skiers, have grown tremendously in the Methow in recent years. In addition to many suitable trails, there are two types of sit-skis available for loan, experienced ski buddies ready to join skiers on the trail, and a para category in several events.

The Nordic trails are used by everyone from para skiers on vacation, to skiers using adaptive equipment to recover from an injury, to elite athletes training for the Paralympics.

Methow Valley Para Nordic coordinates events and can connect people with buddies for recommendations about trails, help with access, or to accompany them on an outing.

There are two types of sit-skis available for loan, in sizes for adults and children: chair-style skis and bucket-style skis. The skis are free, but reservations are required.

Chair-style sit-skis are best for recreational use or for skiers who need more support. They resemble a lawn chair mounted on skis and provide more back support, so they tend to suit people who have more trouble with balance and coordination. The skis have a metal frame and footrests in front so legs are extended.

Chair-style skis are also the best option for able-bodied people who have a knee injury, broken

Winter 2023-24

Photo courtesy of Methow Valley Para Nordic

leg, or other temporary condition.

Chair-style sit-skis accommodate straps for towing by an able-bodied skier.

Bucket-style skis tend to be more suitable for skiers who don’t need as much support, and are therefore good for more experienced skiers. Bucket-style skis allow the skier to be in a more dynamic position, where the skier can shift weight more effectively and apply power to the skis.

Methow Trails has two sit-skis for loan in Mazama, available to anyone, including people with temporary needs because of an injury.

Methow Valley Para Nordic has specialized equipment for people with a disability.

Methow Valley Nordic is running a three-day Para Nordic clinic for sit-skiers, standing skiers who need adaptations, and visually impaired skiers. Coaches will work with experienced para skiers and with those trying the sport for the first time.

Two races this season — the Race

of the Methow and Ski to the Sun — have a division for sit-skiers and visually impaired skiers.

bucket skis were donated by U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing.

More Info

■ SKI BUDDIES: Want to be a ski buddy? Methow Valley Para Nordic is looking for volunteers and will provide training in December. If interested, contact methowparanordic@gmail.com.

■ GENERAL INFO: methowvalleynordic.com/paranordic. Contact the valley’s Para Nordic ski group at methowparanordic@gmail.com for information, advice on suitable trails, ski buddies, equipment loans, or to sign up for special events.

■ SIT-SKIS: Methow Trails has two sit-skis available to disabled skiers and people with a temporary injury through Methow Valley Ski School & Rentals in Mazama. Free; advance reservations required.

Methow Valley Para Nordic has skis for disabled skiers — contact methowparanordic@gmail.com.

The chair-style skis were purchased

by Methow Trails through a grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Washington, and the

■ SPECIAL EVENTS: Race of the Methow Feb. 3 and 4, 2024: Held at McCabe Trails, Liberty Bell High School. Interested Para Nordic skiers should email pete@mvnsef.org.

Para Nordic Camp Feb. 7 to 9, 2024: Sponsored by Methow Valley Nordic Ski Education Foundation. Contact methowparanordic@gmail.com.

Ski to the Sun Marathon and Relay Feb. 10, 2023: Para Nordic division for sit-skiers and para standing skiers.

17

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Start from the top Loup Loup Ski Bowl is an alpine treasure — and so much more

E

ven as Nordic skiing gets underway, there is always eager anticipation for the day when the Loup Loup Ski Bowl announces it will open for the season.

The Loup is the Methow Valley’s alpine alternative for skiers of all ages with a need to speed downhill.

The ski area on Highway 20 just outside Twisp — convenient to the Methow and Okanogan valleys — is popular with locals and draws rave reviews from visitors for its

18

facilities and friendly staff.

The Loup is not just an alpine destination, but also offers a range of winter activities: Nordic skiing, snowboarding, tubing and luge sledding (reservations are advised for the luge); ski and board school with PSIA-certified instructors; and gear rentals and sales. The ski school provides opportunities for improvement to skiers of all levels.

To start or end the day, or for a mid-day break, visit the comfy day lodge — now a couple of years old but still feeling new — for food and beverages.

From day passes to season passes, the Loup provides lots of options for skiers of all ages. The Try Winter Pass — which lets visitors access the Loup, Winthrop Ice Rink and Methow Trails — will be available again this year for $114.

Loup Loup Ski Bowl is operated by the nonprofit Loup Loup Ski Education Foundation, which according to its website “exists for winter sports education for our community through the operation of a safe, affordable, family friendly mountain destination for today and future generations.”

LOUP LOUP SKI BOWL: the basics ■ FIND IT Between Twisp and Okanogan on Highway 20. From the Methow Valley, turn left just past the Loup summit sign.

■ CHECK IT OUT • Alpine and boarding:1,240 vertical feet; 10 cut runs; highest elevation, 5,260 feet. Quad chair lift, platter surface tow, rope tow.

• Nordic: 23 kilometers of Methow Valley News

groomed trails; multi-use trail connects to 50 kilometers of groomed trails at South Summit Sno-Park.

• Terrain park and tubing hill.

• Luge sledding program on Bear Mountain adjacent to the ski hill.

• Ski and snowboard lessons; Nordic lessons by advance request.

• Ski and board shop offering equipment rentals, tune-ups and repairs, accessories and gifts.

• First aid room and ski patrol.

• Day lodge with food service.

• Season passes available online.

■ WHEN TO GO • Opening is scheduled for December 2023 when there is an adequate snow base, and closing is usually in late March, but both dates depend on snow conditions.

• The Loup typically operates on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the first week in March; Friday-Sunday until late March; Saturday and Sunday only the last weekend in March. Open every day except Christmas during Christmas week; open on Martin Luther King Day; and daily during Presidents’ Week.

• Ticket Office hours: 8:30 a.m.3:30 p.m.

• Half-day rates start at noon.

• Last chair: 3:45 p.m.

■ AND MORE • General information: (509) 557-3401.

• Conditions line: (509) 557-3405 .

• Visit www.skitheloup.com for

all of the above and more.

■ WHAT’S NEW • Former foundation board President Jon Brown has taken on the position of interim executive director.

• The foundation board announced that, subsequent to a community survey, the Loup has instituted a “significant roll-back in our seasons pass pricing for the 2023-2024 season, which increases the accessibility to the Loup for all of our community members and their families.”

■ DID YOU KNOW? • The Loup Loup Alpine Ski Team for kids ages 6-16 trains and races at the Loup.

• The Loup Loup Boomers Ski Club for anyone 55 or older meets Wednesdays and Fridays for camaraderie and fun. Visit https:// skitheloup.com/ski-clubs/louploup-boomers-ski-club for more information.

• Skiers 65 and older enjoy Senior and Super-Senior rates.

• The Loup invites applications for its ski patrol and other jobs at the hill.

• Loup season ticket holders receive benefits at other regional ski areas.

■ COMPETITIVE EVENTS • Wolf Chase, Slope Style and Randonee competition are regular events. Check the Loup’s website for updated information.

Photo by Steve Mitchell

guiding you home to

the methow valley

t Winthrop Store

The Downtown Winthrop Gas Station

Espresso • Guido’s Deli • ATM • Fuel Deli Sandwiches Made To Order – Call-In Orders Welcome!

Mix & Match Craft Beers or Ciders • Non-Ethanol Supreme

228 Riverside Ave. • 509.996.2175 •

@WINTHROPSTORE

www.methowvalleynews.com Winter 2023-24

CBWINTHROP.COM I 509.996.2121 19

Just below the surface Find ice fishing opportunities at our local lakes casting or reeling in — makes it fun for kids • some species, like trout, are easier to catch in the winter

BY M A R C Y S TA M P E R

Y

ou can savor fresh fish — and fresh air — all winter long by ice fishing. With the right equipment, you can pierce the layer of ice in less than a minute, gaining access to a world of yellow perch, rainbow trout and kokanee.

The equipment and technique are fairly straightforward and inexpensive, compared to summer fishing.

You don’t need a boat or high-end fly-fishing gear — and you can keep what you catch for dinner.

You drill a hole with an auger, scoop out the snow and ice, and drop your line in the hole with live bait or a shiny lure and a jig to sink it. When you get a fish, you pull it straight up through the hole instead of reeling it in.

Drilling a hole, even with a handcranked auger, is surprisingly quick — a sharp auger will make a hole through more than a foot of ice in less than a minute. Most ice fishers make a hole that’s 6 to 8 inches in diameter, big enough to see what they’re doing and bring up fish easily without compromising the ice.

Many people bring a bucket to use as a seat and then to carry home what they catch. Ice fishing is also fun for kids, since they don’t need to learn to cast.

Prime ice fishing opportunities abound at lakes in the Methow Valley and around the county. While it can be chilly, the valley’s bright, sunny winter makes it comfortable to be out long enough to catch a few fish. And you can bring a wheelbarrow or metal trough to build a fire – or a tent for shelter if it’s really cold.

■ WHERE TO GO BEST SPOTS IN THE METHOW VALLEY: • Campbell Lake — rainbow trout • Davis Lake — rainbow trout • Patterson Lake — yellow perch (no limit), rainbow trout, kokanee, bass

20

■ SPECIAL EVENTS The 20th-Annual Ice Fishing Tournament and Festival on Sidley Lake in Molson (northern Okanogan County) is Saturday, Jan. 13. Excellent opportunities for good-sized trout and triploids. Prizes for adults and kids in categories including longest fish, combined weight of your catch, best warming shanty, and longest distance traveled to the festival.

Registration is at the Molson Grange starting at 7 a.m. Fishing starts at 8 a.m. and runs into the afternoon, but the best fishing is early in the day.

The Grange will offer its famous breakfast. Lunch will be available at Sidley Lake, where there will also be a bonfire for warmth. More food and prizes will be back at the Grange in the afternoon.

For more info, call (509) 560-3583.

Photo by Ashley Lodato

BEST SPOTS IN THE OKANOGAN: • Bonaparte Lake — kokanee (1012 inches), triploid eastern brook trout, tiger trout, smallmouth bass • Leader Lake (just over the Loup Loup summit) — best for bass, black crappie and bluegill, also some perch, rainbow trout and brown bullhead • Palmer Lake — diverse fish population, including yellow perch (6-10 inches); largemouth and smallmouth bass (1-3 pounds), black crappie, burbot and mountain whitefish Limit on most species is five a day.

■ WHAT YOU NEED • a short pole (even a stick and some fishing line will work once you make a hole) • an ice auger (to drill a hole) • a scoop (to keep the hole free of snow and slush) • a bucket (to support the rod, to sit on, and to carry your catch; a lawn chair also works)

• live bait, a shiny lure or artificial maggots All can be had for less than $100.

You’ll also need a fishing license from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife — (360) 902-2464 or https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov.

OPTIONAL, BUT NICE TO HAVE: • a jig (to sink the lure or bait straight down in the water) • a wheelbarrow or metal trough (for a fire) • a tent or other shelter EVEN MORE LUXURIOUS: • an electric sensor that beeps or lights up, or a device that sends up a flag (to let you know when you have a fish) • an underwater camera or sonar (to help find fish)

■ WHY YOU SHOULD GO • cold-water fish are tastier, with a less “fishy” taste • the simplicity of ice fishing — no

■ ICE SAFETY Make sure the ice is thick enough to support you • Drill a hole with an auger a foot or two from shore and measure the thickness of the ice, then test it again in the middle of the lake — 4 to 6 inches is generally considered safe, but remember that ice is not uniform — it may be a foot thick in one area but only a few inches nearby.

• Look for new, clear ice. Clear ice tends to be more solid; ice that is off-color is usually weaker. New ice is generally stronger than ice that has been around for a while – 4 inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person, while a foot of older ice that has thawed and refrozen may not. Remember that snow insulates the ice, meaning it will freeze more slowly.

• Carry ice-rescue claws. Claws will enable you to climb out if you fall through the ice. You can make claws from pieces of wood or a broomstick with nails embedded in the ends, or from sharpened screwdrivers.

Methow Valley News

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Skating with a view The outdoor Winthrop Rink offers great experiences for all ages

BY R I C K L E W I S

I

t’s almost like that opening scene in “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown.” Children on the ice, skating to the gentle piano soundings of the late Vince Guaraldi and his trio, snowflakes gently wafting down from a wintry sky.

The view from mid-ice at the Winthrop Rink is unique and quite picturesque.

Winter 2023-24

Whether your status as an ice skater is a beginner or an expert, recreational or competitive, hockey player or solo non-contact, the Winthrop Rink has a time and an activity for you. As winter drops its veil of white over the Methow Valley, the all-season, multi-purpose venue turns its attention and facility to ice skating.

This is the 25th year for the Winthrop Rink nonprofit organization, which started originally as a group of people with a dream in 1999 — then a roped-off section of the parking lot at Mack Lloyd Park that was filled with water for a makeshift pond.

The current rink, located on the west end of the Spring Creek

pedestrian bridge since 2007, offers organized hockey leagues, drop-in open hockey, open public skating, as well as group and private individual lessons.

The unique outdoor rink adds that little something that most rinks around the Northwest don’t: spectacular views of the local snowcapped hills and majestic Gardner Mountain, seemingly rising just off the west end of the rink. As well, the extra added experience of being out in the elements, like the cold of winter, occasional precipitation (mostly in the form of snow), and the aesthetically soothing gurgle coming from the nearby confluence of the Chewuch and Methow Rivers.

For the casual observer not inclined to get out on the ice, the Winthrop Rink has a heated indoor viewing area on the second floor of the lodge, or you can sit outside in the bleachers across the ice from the lodge. There are some snacky things available in the lodge concession, along with restrooms, a dressing room and a full rental shop with skates and helmets of all sizes and for all ages.

The schedule can be somewhat complicated, so be sure to check the daily schedule posted to the Winthrop Rink’s website. Every day the rink provides several open public skating sessions. Other offerings are noon-time pick-up

21

hockey — Wednesday lunchtimes are reserved for “Old Dog” hockey where minimum age is 50 years old and intentional contact is not permitted, mostly.

A new take on the old game of hockey is “Half-Hockey.” Essentially a three-on-three affair with goaltenders, the rink is split in half with temporary boarding and two games are going on at once. It’s a new idea and teams are already full for this year.

As in the past, lessons from some pretty experienced skaters are available in seven-week sessions; the first session underway as soon as the rink opened in early November was completely full. Registration opens on Dec. 1 for the second session of lessons beginning in early January.

■ NEW EVENT A fun, new event this year will be a 24-hour “Countdown to the Winter Classic” over New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day. It’s a local celebration of the Jan. 1 National Hockey League Outdoor Winter Classic, played this year in Seattle’s T-Mobile Park baseball stadium.

Watch the Rink’s website for details to emerge later in November about this unique event.

There are a number of weekend winter hockey tournaments that draw in teams of all ages from all over the Pacific Northwest. When a tournament is in town, it can be hard to find a table at a restaurant at meal time, harder to find a hotel room, and hard to find time for free skate. However, the rink usually squeezes in some public skate time on tournament weekends between game sessions.

A short jaunt south from downtown Winthrop, the rink is located at the Town Trailhead, on White Avenue just west of the Highway 20 bridge over the Methow River.

You can’t miss the large parking lot adjacent to Winthrop Physical Therapy & Fitness and the Methow River Lodge and Cabins. If one is inclined to walk from downtown, take the pedestrian shortcut over the Spring Creek Bridge and land at the rink’s edge. There is very little parking available at rink level, the best bet is to use the upper lot.

Pay attention to signs and don’t park on roadways, pathways or at the hotel.

We serve the Methow Valley with 24/7 emergency care.

Our skilled Orthopedics team provides surgical and non-surgical treatments for fractures, strains, and sprains.

Finding information Be sure to check on the Rink’s website for schedules and events. There is a full slate of programs, lessons, open skates, drop-in hockey (for varying levels of skill and experience) and weekend hockey tournaments that occupy the ice almost constantly. Rentals are available for young children to grown adults at reasonable prices. Website: winthroprink.org. Phone: (509) 996-4199.

Weddings • Parties • Fundraisers Reunions • Performances • Meetings WIFI, Music System and Fully Equipped Professional Kitchen Downtown location by the Park (509) 996-3160 • www.winthropbarn.com

Advertising works! Reserve your spot in the next special issue!

(509) 997-7011 advertising@methowvalleynews.com

22

Methow Valley News

Don’t leave the dog at home Select trails are open to our canine friends

BY S H E L L E Y S M I T H J O N E S

O

ur canine fur babies need fresh air in the winter, too. If your dog has a big fur coat such as a Golden Retriever, Husky, or Malamute, he or she most likely loves the winter.

No amount of snowfall will deter a big dog from romping through the white, fluffy stuff. Smaller dogs, puppies, and those with short hair have a bigger challenge when the snow and cold settle in for the winter. In fact, some would just disappear after a heavy snowfall.

Still, there are activities for almost all dogs.

Dogs are allowed on select Methow Trails to accompany owners while cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. To keep trails in good condition for both dogs and skiers, Methow Trails has a dog pass program. A $50 annual pass or $10 day pass requires dog owners to agree to “Conditions of Use” and doggie must always wear the pass while on ski trails that are designated as dog friendly (pawprint) on the trail map.

About 40 kilometers of dog-friendly trails in the system are groomed.

No passes are needed for Lunachick in Mazama and Big Valley in Winthrop. Rex Derr Trail in Pearrygin State Park allows dogs on leash while snowshoeing or walking after the snow is hard packed. As is true any time of year, responsible dog owners must pick up dog waste to keep the trails in pristine condition.

Dog-friendly restaurants are a little more difficult to find in the winter. However, those with firepits and/or outdoor heat lamps can offer a bundled-up experience for dogs and owners. Some of the places include Mazama Store courtyard, Mazama Public House, Methow Valley Ciderhouse, East 20 Pizza, Twisp River Tap House,

Winter 2023-24

Photo by Shelley Smith Jones

and Old Schoolhouse Brewery Tap Room in Twisp.

■ TAKE A WALK Dog walks are still possible in the winter, though more limited than the warmer seasons. Methow Trails

offers Twin Trail off Horizon Flat Road for a nice short loop. Roads that are plowed but have less traffic are an option such as Wolf Creek Road (after the cattle guard) and Lester Road (off Bear Creek Road).

A brisk walk around downtown

Winthrop or Twisp provides some window-shopping opportunities while enjoying the holiday ambiance on into the new year.

Crampons (ice cleats) are recommended for traction on firm snow and ice during cold, icy weather.

Sweater, jackets, and booties are available in a variety of sizes and styles for the dog’s comfort.

American Kennel Club (AKC) has unique ideas for winter dog activities. Skijoring is a popular Scandinavian sport that combines cross-country skiing with some of the same skills as dog mushing. One or two dogs that weigh over 35 pounds wear a harness and skijoring belt while the skier holds a towline and you’re off under dog power.

Another activity for big dogs in deep snow is a backyard scavenger hunt. AKC explains, “Make little snow mounds or dig out shallow holes in the snow to hide treats and toys. Then have your dog use their nose (and eyes) to find them.” Sounds like fun.

Don’t forget the Methow Trails Doggie Dash scheduled for Feb. 18, 2024. Human-dog teams compete in short heats to win the coveted Golden Poodle award. Humans must ski.

Dogs on leash (not retractable) must run. Both dog and human must be in costume while circling the Spring Creek Ranch loop. Best in Show Costume award is given in addition to the race winner trophy. Methow Trails requests pre-registration.

mountain lifestyle real estate experts

MethowBlueSky.com | (509) 996-8084

Anne Eckmann & Heather Marrone, Owners, Kathy Goldberg, Valerie Kardonsky, Leverett Hubbard, Crescent Rudholm, Sherry Malotte, Callie Fink

23

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Map designed by Mountains To Sound GIS, matt@mtsgis.com, on behalf of Methow Trails. Data sources include Methow Trails, OWNF, USGS, WADNR, WDOT, Okanogan County GIS and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. While great care was taken in the creation of this map, errors in accuracy and completeness do exist. MTS GIS llc shall not be liable for any general, special, indirect, incidental or consequential injury or damages resulting from the use of this map. This project is funded in part by the Okanogan County Hotel/Motel Lodging Tax Fund. Methow Trails operates under a special use permit from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and in partnership with 175 private landowners who graciously allow trail access through their land.

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To the back of beyond Snowmobiling can take you to the valley’s remotest reaches

BY M A R C Y S TA M P E R

S

nowmobiling in and around the Methow Valley offers a range of opportunities for winter adventures, from leisurely, scenic rides on forest roads to challenging off-trail routes.

Snowmobilers can access 175 miles of groomed snowmobile trails from six Sno-Parks in the Methow

26

Valley — and connect with routes to Conconully or Chelan from the Loup Loup summit or Gold Creek.

You can find information to explore on your own, or get to know local trails and other sled enthusiasts by joining a ride with the Methow Valley Snowmobile Association (MVSA).

The club’s rides take you to designated backcountry areas to play on the hills. Club rides are open to everyone and are a good way for less-experienced riders to team up with others. Riders typically set out in small groups from a Sno-Park.

The club leads regular rides, with

routes chosen based on conditions.

There is generally a variety of rides to suit sledders with different levels of experience. Dates and locations will be posted on MVSA’s blog and on Facebook — check on Thursday to see what’s planned for the weekend. (See web addresses below.)

The club also organizes rides in conjunction with events such as the outhouse races in Conconully and fundraising rides.

The local Mountain Trails Grooming Association grooms regularly — at least three times a week— although the schedule can change if conditions warrant. They groom

the most popular routes — from Boulder Creek, Eightmile and Goat Creek — most often. They also head up the North Cascades Highway to Cutthroat and up Harts Pass Road to Deadhorse Point every few weeks.

MVSA has three safety warming huts equipped with a wood stove and basic emergency supplies. The huts are on Starvation Mountain, about 1 1/2 miles below the summit, near Shrew Creek; in Blackpine Basin, between the Goat Creek and Yellowjacket Sno-parks; and on Sweetgrass Butte.

Skiers and snowshoers also use

Methow Valley News

■ SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR AVALANCHE COUNTRY • Carry an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe, and know how to use them.

• Get the forecast and consider current avalanche and weather conditions when planning your ride.

• Cross avalanche slopes one at a time, and don’t gather in run-out zones.

• Take an avalanche course.

• Look for signs of recent avalanche activity, which indicates snow is unstable, and avoid those areas.

• Check the Northwest Avalanche Center for forecasts at https://nwac. us. snowmobiles to get to the high country. Backcountry skiers often head up the North Cascades Highway by sled, and then strap on their skis and climbing skins to get up to powder-filled bowls.

There is considerable avalanche terrain from Silver Star through Washington Pass. Winter recreationists should be aware that many people use the backcountry and they may not see or hear other users above or below them.

MVSA maintains an avalanche check station at the Silver Star Sno-Park, where riders and other users can check to be sure their avalanche beacons are working.

Sunday, Feb. 9 to 11, 2024. There will be guided rides from different trailheads in the Methow on Friday and Sunday. Join other sledders at the Winthrop Barn for dinner and trivia night on Friday, and dinner with a live band on Saturday. Sign up for rides at different skill levels and destinations at the barn. Visit www.wssa.us for more info.

MVSA’s annual bucket run is Saturday, Feb. 10. Details about routes and where to meet will be on the association’s blog and Facebook page.

■ WHERE TO GO Sno-Parks and groomed trails • Eightmile Sno-Park (Chewuch) • Boulder Creek Sno-Park (Chewuch) • Goat Creek Sno-Park (Mazama) • Yellowjacket Sno-Park (Lost River) • Twisp River Sno-Park (Twisp River/Buttermilk) • North Summit, Loup Loup • North Cascades Highway to Cutthroat Lake Road

■ GET OUT TO EXPLORE • Information about MVSA rides and events: mvsnowmobile.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/ methowvalleysnowmobile.

• Connect with local sledders — and find routes suited to your ability — by emailing methowsnowmobilers@gmail.com.

• Grooming info: mountaintrailsgrooming.blogspot.com or https:// parks.wa.gov/find-sno-parks.

• Support the Methow Valley Snowmobile Association with a membership: family, $20/year; individual, $15/year.

■ SPECIAL EVENTS The Washington State Snowmobile Association’s annual Winter Rendezvous is in Winthrop this winter, from Friday through

■ WHAT TO BRING • extra warm and waterproof clothing • extra water and food in case you end up being out overnight

Winter 2023-24

■ REGISTRATION AND PERMITS All snowmobiles must be registered through the Washington State Department of Licensing.

People can register their sled online through www.dol.wa.gov or a local licensing agent such as Methow Valley Licensing and Services in Twisp. Registration is generally $63.25, which includes the $40 SnoPark permit.

For groomed trails, snowmobilers must have a Sno-Park permit, which covers plowing at Sno-Parks.

The rest of the registration fee pays for grooming at some 90 trail systems across the state. Leftover funds go toward grants — in the past, grants have funded a snow ranger for the Methow Valley Ranger District and maintenance and insurance for MVSA’s warming huts.

Out-of-state riders can get a motorized Sno-Park permit at local businesses, including Hank’s Harvest Foods in Twisp and Pardners Mini Market in Winthrop, or online at https://epermits.parks.wa.gov/ Store/SNO/SnoChoice.aspx.

■ MORE INFO Winter recreation program specialists provide info about trails, grooming and Sno-Parks at (360) 902-8684. Also visit https://parks. wa.gov/find-sno-parks for a list of Sno-Parks.

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27

Photo by Steve Mitchell

The quiet season Nature adapts in the Methow winters

BY S A N D R A S T R I E BY

A

s the moon rises high in the winter sky and snow transforms the Methow Valley’s landscape, plants and animals use a variety of tactics to survive the cold season and prepare for the intense activity that characterizes the spring of the year.

Last year, winter shocked us all by arriving in full force on Nov. 3 and retaining an unrelenting grip well past the official start of spring.

This year, snow made an even earlier appearance, although without

28

2022’s depth or severe cold. Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Old Farmer’s Almanac agree that El Niño will influence 2023-24 winter conditions, but beyond that, the prognosticators part ways.

NOAA is calling for above-normal temperatures, with precipitation uncertain to slightly below normal, while the almanac predicts a winter that will be colder and snowier than usual. The Old Farmer’s Almanac also suggests it will be mid-November before the valley sees significant snowfall.

For the natural world, a longer fall means more time to prepare for a season that places heavy demands on both plants and animals.

Each species gets ready in its own way — storing food, making winter

nests, moving to more conducive environments. Here are just a few of the ways in which non-human residents handle the season.

■ DEER TAKE WINTER IN STRIDE Deeply embedded in the Methow experience, deer are year-round residents who migrate within the watershed to take advantage of changing conditions. Their long, slender legs are also powerful, helping the animals navigate through deep snow, and their mobile feet provide traction.

Deer belong to an order known as even-toed ungulates. Each hoof is composed of two toes clad in keratin — the same material as human fingernails. The toes can spread when they need to,

improving balance and grip in slippery conditions. Deer also have dew claws that can act as snow brakes when extra skid-resistance is needed.

As they use their feet in different ways, deer’s tracks will vary.

Observing the tracks is one way of learning about the animals’ winter behavior and survival mechanisms.

Tracks may be hard to see in deep snow or on hard surfaces, but a fresh skiff of snow can reveal how deer are maneuvering on steep or icy surfaces.

Bucks shed their antlers during the winter, generally in response to shorter day length. The bony appendages are not needed after the breeding season, when they’re used to establish dominance, and they can be a liability in cold weather.

Methow Valley News

Heavy and cumbersome, antlers are an unneeded burden at a time when animals need all the calories they can get to stay alive. They may also radiate heat, burning more of a buck’s fuel reserve.

As part of nature’s circular economy, rodents seek out the mineral-rich “sheds,” and antlers fond in the wild often show tooth marks where animals have chewed on them, using the discarded bone as a source of nutrients and also to wear down their constantly growing teeth. A few weeks after antlers are shed, the process is reversed — lengthening days trigger increased testosterone production, and new antlers begin to grow.

■ WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE? Winter doesn’t offer the brilliant color shows that we see in autumn and spring, but there’s one group of organisms that stay colorful year-round: the lichens. There are thousands of species of lichen, each one the product of a symbiotic relationship between one or more fungi and another organism — usually an alga, sometimes a bacterium. The algae and bacteria in those relationships create food by photosynthesizing; the fungi provide structure and protection for their partners.

Lichens take many forms depending on the type of fungus involved.

In some cases, the fungi produce fruiting bodies that can add another layer of visual interest. For color, lichens depend primarily on the algae or bacteria in their makeup.

Some are subtle, some vivid, and

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■ WINTER MIGRANTS While many birds leave the Methow Valley for the winter, and others are here year-round, some migrants make irregular appearances, coming to the valley only when food is scarce in Canada and Alaska.

This winter, there are good cone crops in the boreal forest, and migratory finches may take advantage of the plentiful seeds and stay put.

That means we could see fewer hoary redpolls, red crossbills, and white crossbills than in years when the birds have to travel farther in search of sustenance. Pine siskins may be more likely to migrate south this winter as white spruce, a favorite boreal-forest food, has not been productive this year.

Red-breasted nuthatches are almost certain to be here, although not in great numbers. They are year-round residents, with some moving from the mountains to the lowlands for the winter and then returning to higher and more

forested elevations for the breeding season. They also migrate to the valley from northern latitudes, with the number of migrants depending on conditions.

This winter, forecasters are reporting a good crop of balsam-fir cones in the boreal forest.

Red-breasted nuthatches are particularly fond of those cones because they break apart easily, making the seeds readily accessible, so a plentiful supply means there will be less incentive to migrate. That will mean less competition for local nuthatches, who eat seeds and also forage in bark crevices for insects and spiders.

Along with juncos and chickadees, nuthatches are common at feeders, so local naturalists have a good chance of spotting them even though the northern cohort may elect not to visit this year.

Winter 2023-24

Photo by Marcy Stamper

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29

frequently many species will grow together, creating patches of color.

Many lichens have fanciful names that reflect their appearance — names like lime dust, sockeye psora, punctured rocktripe, dog pelt, shadow ruffle, and blistered paw.

Some lichens grow on the ground, creating crusts that help stabilize the soil.

Others grow on surfaces that are visible in winter — trees and fences, rocks and gravestones, even old farm equipment. Lichens are often the first inhabitants of bare rock, and start the process of forming soil by trapping blowing dust and exuding acids that weaken and begin to break down the stone.

As fissures form in the rock, both lichens and water can penetrate the tiny cracks. Water furthers the process of disintegrating the stone by creating pressure when it freezes, and even the lichens themselves can have a physical effect as they expand and contract in

response to varying levels of moisture.

One of the most visible lichens in the valley is the bright chartreuse wolf lichen, which grows on Douglas firs and can form sizable clumps that may fall to the ground under the influence of wind and snow. Some lichens are edible, but wolf lichen is not one of them. Although it’s poisonous, Native Americans did find it valuable as a source of dye.

Lichens also have a place among traditional medicines, and their absorbent quality made them useful as baby diapers. Animals like deer, mountain goats, and moose eat certain lichens, often relying on them during the winter, and birds and squirrels use them as nesting material.

Even in this still season, there’s a lot going on, and the natural world holds many rewards for the careful observer. Within winter’s quiet crucible, all of life is moving forward, readying itself, approaching spring. visit mercplayhouse.org for info & tickets

Photo by Marcy Stamper

With 41 years in the Methow our experience makes the difference

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Jan. 25 Jan. 28

The Half-life of Marie Curie

By Lauren Gunderson | Readers’ Theater Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry but was demoralized by rumors an affair. This show explores the power of female friendship.

March 14 March 24

James & THe Giant Peach

MID MAY Oct. 3 oct. 13

LBHS MUSICAL COLLABORATION | Production To be AnnounCed THE HOUSE

Oct. 24 Oct. 27 DEC. 5 DEC. 15

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From the book by Roald Dahl. Dramatized by Richard R. George Roald Dahl’s story comes to life in this delightful dramatization.

By Cindy WIlliams Gutierrez | Local playwright & poet This memory play revisits the turbulent, formative years of childhood through the eyes of the observer who saw it all — the house itself.

RAVENSCROFT

By Don Nigro | Readers’ Theater This psychological drama is a funny & frightening dark comedy.

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Sherlock Holmes & the First Baker Street Irregular

By Brian Guehring Sherlock Holmes takes a 14-year-old pickpocket under his wing. Her & her gang of urchins helps him solve two dangerous mysteries.

Methow Valley News

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Heavenly nights Our clear and cold winter skies are perfect for stargazing

BY DAV I D WA R D

B

e sure to spend some time checking out the night sky this winter. It is my favorite time of year for stargazing.

Just a minute or two while you are unloading your skis out of the back of the car is better than nothing.

If you really want to see the majesty of the night, drive out of town a few miles and up above the valley floor.

Getting away from all the Christmas

Winter 2023-24

lights is a must. The subtleties of the night sky cannot compete with Rudolf’s blinking red nose.

If you are visiting from western Washington, you will never see a star-filled sky like the Methow Valley has to offer. Here are a few easy-to-spot stars and planets to look for this winter.

Venus: The brightest object up there besides the sun and the moon is hard to miss if you are out just before dawn. Look east about an hour before sunrise for a brilliant light above the horizon. A closer look will reveal it is not twinkling like the bright stars, a giveaway that it is a planet.

Jupiter: Another very bright object

up there, it is almost as bright as Venus. You do not have to get up early for this one. It will be visible in the east not long after it gets dark in the evening. If you have a small telescope, it will show you four of its 70 some moons and its cloud bands on the surface of the planet itself.

Brightest star in the night sky: Look in the southeast for Sirius, a dazzling and twinkling white star.

It will be easier to find later in the winter when it is higher in the sky.

Is it bright because it is close to us or is it really a bright star? It is hard for us stargazers to tell because the dome of stars over our heads appears two-dimensional. Believe me, it’s very three-dimensional. Sirius

is bright because it is close to us, practically our next-door neighbor and the closest star we can easily see up there, besides the sun of course.

Bright stars of Orion: Around the world, Orion is probably the most familiar constellation in the heavens. It spans the celestial equator so it is visible from everywhere on our planet, and it has some of the brightest stars in the sky within it.

Look for his obvious belt. There is nothing else in the sky quite like it, three bright evenly spaced stars in a row. Line up the three stars and point them to the left, and they will lead the way to Sirius.

Around the belt a rectangle of

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four stars makes up the body of Orion. At the lower right bright white Rigel is an amazing powerhouse pumping out 60,000 times the brightness of our sun. On the upper left, reddish Betelgeuse is as strange a star as is its name.

Astronomers tell us it is destined to blow its guts out in a supernova explosion soon. How soon is soon?

Estimates vary from 50,000 years in the future to next week.

Pleiades star cluster: One of the most beautiful objects in the sky, you can find this little gem west of Orion. About the size of the full moon, it looks like a tiny dipper.

If you have good eyesight and conditions are clear with no moon, you can probably pick out six stars.

Actually, there are over 3,000 in this cluster. A pair of binoculars will reveal dozens more.

A working star nursery: Do you want to see a place where stars are being born right now? Look just below Orion’s Belt for three dimmer stars in a row hanging down from his belt. This is his sword, and you may be able to see that one of the three is kind of fuzzy. Binoculars will come in handy here or even a

small telescope. It is called the Orion Nebula, and it is a cloud of gas thousands of times bigger than our solar system. Stars are actually being born there and they are lighting up that gas like a giant florescent light bulb.

Andromeda Galaxy: All the stars we see in the sky and hundreds of billions more, including us, all live in the Milky Way, a huge system of stars shaped like a pinwheel. There is only one other galaxy that we can see with the naked eye, Andromeda.

First find the “W” of Cassiopeia in the north and use the sharper of the two points to lead the way over to a faint fuzzy spot. Binoculars really help with this one. If you see this smudge of light, congratulations. It is the biggest and the farthest away thing you have ever seen. There are a half a trillion stars in that smudge, and its light has taken two and a half million years to get to your eyes.

OK, you probably cannot feel your toes anymore so maybe it is time to head back inside. For more information on the night sky, check out my articles in the Methow Valley News. Happy star hunting and stay warm out there.

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Methow Valley News

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As long as you’re here …

Sample some of the other attractions the Methow Valley offers

BY A S H L E Y LO DATO

T

here may have been a time when the Methow Valley was a sleepy little place, but those days are long gone. The dilemma is not finding something to do — it’s deciding how to prioritize from amongst dozens of options. Schedule your time wisely, and you might be able to pack it all in. If not, save it for another visit.

Winter 2023-24

FRESH AIR ■ COLD AS ICE Our unique community-built, open-air ice rink nurtures both the family-friendly experience and a competitive atmosphere, depending on the time of day. Winthrop Rink sessions include open skate, lessons, hockey practice, drop-in hockey games and tournaments.

Visit www.winthroprink.org, or call (509) 996-4199.

■ HAVE A HELI OF A TIME For an exhilarating backcountry

skiing adventure via helicopter, contact North Cascades Heli, www. heli-ski.com, to learn more. North Cascades Mountain Guides, www. ncmountainguides.com, also offers snowmobile-accessed skiing and snowboarding at Washington Pass.

■ JINGLE ALL THE WAY Dashing through the snow at Sun Mountain Lodge you’ll get to snuggle in a blanket on a sleigh behind a full team of horses complete with jingle bells! Daily sleigh rides from the lodge are offered throughout the winter.

Visit www.sunmountainlodge.

com/activities/winter-activities/ sleigh-rides. Some years sleigh rides are offered at the Spring Creek Ranch Trailhead; check newspaper listings on holiday weekends.

■ GO ALOFT On the first weekend of March, Winthrop hosts an annual hot air balloon festival, when balloons from around the Northwest fill the morning skies. The silent colorful bubbles juxtaposed against a blue sky is a sight that causes cars to stop along the roadside and passengers to crane their heads skyward 33

to take in the view. Check methowcommunity.org/calendar closer to the date of the Winthrop Balloon Roundup for updates and details.

■ STARSTRUCK Winter stargazing is breathtaking, and the Methow Valley’s dark skies are a magnificent backdrop for the real stars of the show: Orion, Auriga, Gemini, Taurus, and, of course, the Big and Little Dippers.

Check out Dave Ward’s article about winter stargazing on page 29, and read his Naked Eye column in the Methow Valley News for current happenings in galaxies near and far, far away.

■ CHRISTMAS AT THE END OF THE ROAD Winthrop offers “an old-fashioned cowboy Christmas” on Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. With the lighting of the town, activities for kids, discounts at local retailers, and a chance to visit with Santa, it’s a family-friendly way to kick off the holiday season. It also includes “the best small-town fireworks show in the Pacific Northwest.” Visit winthropwashington. com/events/christmas-festival.

■ MISTLETOE MADNESS Mistletoe Madness is Twisp’s “annual holiday shopping extravaganza like no other.” The event takes place Dec. 16 on the streets of Twisp, with bonfires, carolers, vendor booths, carriage rides, cookie decorating, live performances, and a vist from Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as in the many retail shops and art studios located throughout the town. Visit www.twispwa.com/ event-details/mistletoe-madness.

INDOOR FUN ■ NIGHT LIFE Yes, the Methow Valley has a nightlife, and you have the energy to take advantage of it. On weekends, Copper Glance,the Old Schoolhouse Brewery and the Methow Valley Ciderhouse in Winthrop frequently host bands from around the region, as does Sun Mountain Lodge, in its glorious hilltop location overlooking a shimmering valley.

The Branding Iron in Twisp is 34

another hot spot, where you can enter pool and dart tournaments, and on Fridays you’ll find a lively karaoke session. The Twisp River Tap House and Old Schoolhouse Taproom in Twisp feature live music and craft beer, specialty bourbon, spirits, and local art.

A more recent entry to the night life scene is the Mazama Public House, at the Lost Creek Road/Goat Creek Road intersection, which often features live music on the weekends.

■ LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL The best deal in town is the Methow Valley Community Center’s gym and closet full of roller skates, all of which you can rent for $50-$75 for three hours. Bring some tunes, some snacks, and a makeshift limbo pole and you’re set for a rocking and rolling good time.

Rent the adjacent kitchen for an additional $50 and you could add a meal to your skate party. methowcommunity.org/gym-rental.

valley-goods/

FUEL UP ■ FRESH ROAST We Pacific Northwesterners love our coffee, and the Methow Valley gives us numerous places to sip different roasts: Blue Star Coffee Roasters, Jupiter, The Big Dipper, Rocking Horse Bakery, the Mazama Store, Oliver’s Artisan Kitchen, Cinnamon Twisp Bakery, and the deli at Hank’s

Harvest Foods. The Pony Espresso in Winthrop and Michael’s in Twisp both offer drive-up windows. Most cafes feature high-quality hand roasted beans 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.

■ EAT UP Visit our dining guide on pages 38-39 for information about the valley’s eateries, offering dining from

■ COUTURE FUNK Twisp’s Thrifty Fox is more than just a secondhand clothing store; it’s a curated boutique for chic and funky pre-owned attire and accessories. The owner/buyer is in possession of a keen eye for fashion and a flair for unique and stylish duds. The imaginative and entertaining staff will help you find the perfect outfit for any occasion, and what fun you’ll have choosing. Preowned clothing and housewares at pocket-change prices can also be found at the Methow Valley Senior Center Thrift Store on Monday through Wed, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

■ BUY LOCAL Your one-stop shopping space for locally-made products, Methow Valley Goods features the work of more than 70 artists, producers, creators, growers, and makers. From housewares to beauty products, clothing to home furnishings, art to edibles, the Valley Goods store, as well as the storefronts where artists and artisans sell their art and wares, is the best way to support the local artisan economy and to give thoughtful, unique gifts to friends and family for the holidays. twispworks.org/ on-campus/twispworks-partners/

97.5 fm Methow Valley News

casual to fine. Most restaurants offer take-out; some have cozy outdoor seating around tables with built-in fires, so you can stay warm and watch the night sky while you dine.

■ TREAT YOURSELF Get a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure or other personal treatment. Try the Nectar Skin Bar and Boutique in Winthrop, the TwiSpa in Twisp, or head up to Sun Mountain Lodge for pampering in their hilltop spa.

Feeling sassy? You can get permanent or temporary body art at Heart of the Valley Tattoo Studio: twispwa.com/listing/ heart-of-the-valley-tattoo-studio.

■ SWEAT IT 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, like yoga, Barre, circuit, and strength. All of the local yoga studios offer drop-in rates and a welcoming atmosphere.

There’s no better way to get to know other community members than by working out with them.

■ DO SOMETHING Want to feel like a local? Get involved, do something community-oriented: join a group or volunteer at an event. Weekly classes and discussion groups welcome drop-in visitors; check the community calendar in each week’s Methow Valley News. Plug in and meet this community’s movers and shakers by volunteering at an event: www. volunteermethow.org.

NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN ■ SOAK UP KNOWLEDGE This valley is full of interesting people who love to share their knowledge, experiences, poetic talents, and images with others.

A robust schedule of live and virtual presentations and classes are offered through many of the valley’s nonprofit organizations.

Visit www.methowconservancy. org/events, www.methowarts.

Winter 2023-24

org/community calendar, www. winthroplibraryfriends.org/ events, methowcommunity.org/ calendar, www.ncwlibraries.org/ locations/winthrop-public-library/ and methowvalleynews.com/ calendar-of-events/.

■ GET CLASSY Hungry to learn something new? Whether you’re interested in becoming a master at a skill or craft, or just wanting to bask in someone’s knowledge, you can do it in the Methow Valley. Learn to knit, write caligraphy, memorize a poem, create a sourdough starter, identify animal tracks, read a topographic map, cook, and dozens of other skills. Visit http://www.methowarts.org/category/classes/ for class offerings.

■ BOOKWORM 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.

SEEK ART ■ ART EXHIBITS Find topnotch art at The Confluence: Art in Twisp and at the Winthrop Gallery on Riverside Avenue. Both feature works

by Methow Valley artists, and lots of gift-giving possibilities.

Some artists and craftspeople 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 and Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop and Cinnamon Twisp Bakery in Twisp. Look for unique items at other boutiques and stores.

■ ART OUTSIDE 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. Much of it is accessible in winter. Visit www. methowarts.org/public-art-map for a map and brief description of the art and artists.

■ METHOW RIVER POEMS In 1992, just a year before his death, Northwest poet William Stafford was commissioned by the U.S. Forest Service to write a series of poems celebrating the Methow Valley. In 1994, those poems were published on roadside plaques and installed at scenic turnouts along the Methow River watershed, from Washington Pass to Pateros, most of which are accessible even in winter. The location of each poem can be found on the public art map at www.methowarts.org/williamstaffordmethowriverpoems2020/.

■ THE SILVER SCREEN At The Barnyard Cinema, an eclectic roster of films ranging from wide-release to independent to arty rotates through the theater’s deluxe viewing room, complete with oversize recliners and an unparalleled sound system. Local beer, wine, coffee, and a quintessential movie-house candy selection complete the package. The Barnyard Cinema, www.thebarnyardcinema.com, (509) 996-3222, info@thebarnyardcinema.com.

■ CENTER STAGE The Methow Valley’s arts-loving community is rife with plays, concerts, poetry slams and other literary readings, and informal jam sessions and open mic opportunities. Check the weekly Arts Briefs listings in the Methow Valley News for a current roundup of events.

■ HEADLINER Keep up with local goings-on with a subscription to the Methow Valley News, delivered to you once a week with fresh stories and tons of useful information. Call (509) 997-7011, email frontdesk@methowvalleynews.com, visit our website, www.methowvalleynews.com, or find us on Facebook for daily news and updates.

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Photo by Steve Mitchell

Our winter calendar is full of events T

hings don’t slow down much in the Methow over the winter. Many organizations provide a variety of programs and presentations — some free, some with costs attached — that are open to the public.

Here are some sources to help you stay current.

■ THE METHOW VALLEY NORDIC SKI EDUCATION FOUNDATION 36

https://methowvalleynordic.com, hosts a number of public activities through the winter. Look for ski camps for kids and adults, several opportunities to try biathlon, and events such as the Ski Rodeo, Vintage Ski Festival, Hanz’ Big Adventure, Chasing the Sun Biathlon Race, Race of the Methow, Para-Nordic Clinic and Ski to the Sun Marathon and Relay

■ THE METHOW CONSERVANCY https://methowconservancy. org, offers events such as its “First Tuesday” program, as well as classes.

■ METHOW TRAILS www.methowtrails.org, sponsors the Backyard Ski Day, Ski to the Sun Marathon and Relay, Methow Valley Doggie Dash, Lee Adams Tour of the Methow and more.

■ THE MERC PLAYHOUSE IN TWISP www.mercplayhouse.org, offers a full schedule of on-stage productions.

■ THE WINTHROP RINK http://winthroprink.org, has special themed events, and hosts adult and youth hockey tournaments,

throughout the winter.

■ LOUP LOUP SKI BOWL https://skitheloup.com, hosts events such as the Wolf Chase and SlopeStyle competitions.

■ METHOW ARTS www.methowarts.org, brings top-notch entertainment acts to the valley and sponsors other happenings; its events page is especially inclusive.

■ THE CONFLUENCE: ART IN TWISP www.confluencegallery.org, presents locally curated exhibits that change regularly.

Methow Valley News

■ WINTHROP GALLERY https://winthropgallery. com, features local artists and changing exhibits.

■ THE WINTHROP BARN https://winthropbarn.com, is a popular events venue; check out its calendar.

■ THE METHOW VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER IN TWISP https://methowcommunity. org, is another popular site for events such as the Christmas Bazaar.

■ TWISP Visit https://twispwa.com/ twisp.wa, for a good roundup of Twisp events, and others.

■ WINTHROP Visit https://winthropwashington.com for the lowdown on Winthrop events including Christmas at the End of the Road, the Methow Valley Balloon Roundup and snowshoe softball tournament.

■ CASCADIA MUSIC www.cascadiamusic. org, presents performances

featuring local musicians.

■ THE METHOW VALLEY INTERPRETIVE CENTER IN TWISP www.methowvalleyinterpretivecenter.com, presents informative programs of general interest.

■ THE SHAFER MUSEUM IN WINTHROP www.shafermuseum.org, hosts programs throughout the year.

■ THE LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN TWISP AND WINTHROP www.ncwlibraries.org/locations/twisp-public-library; www.ncwlibraries.org/locations/winthrop-public-library — host a variety of programs for kids and adults.

■ METHOW AT HOME methowathome.org, offers many programs that are open to the public.

■ METHOW VALLEY NEWS www.methowvalleynews. com, for weekly updates on all events including live music; visit our Facebook page as well.

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Choose local. Choose independent.

Choose The VIP Insurance Agency.

The best local independent insurance agency in the Methow Valley

Offering business, farm, auto, home, secondary home, nightly rental insurance, and more.

Twisp 509-997-5291 102 S. Glover St.

Winthrop 509-996-4515 505B Highway 20

info@vipagencygroup.com • www.vipagencygroup.com

Winter 2023-24

37

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Visitor information Help when you need it ■ INFORMATION CENTERS TWISP: 997-2926; 201 Methow Valley Highway (Methow Valley Community Center) WINTHROP: 996-2125; 49 Highway 20

■ NEED A PLACE TO STAY? METHOW RESERVATIONS: 996-2148 or (800) 422-3048; www. methowreservations.com; info@ methowreservations.com ■ OPEN LATE HANK’S MINI MARKET: 410 E. Methow Valley Highway, Twisp; 997-4332; until 10 p.m. every day; 24-hour fueling MAZAMA STORE: 50 Lost River

38

Road, Mazama; 996-2855; 24-hour fueling PARDNERS MINI MARKET: 900 Highway 20, Winthrop; 996-2005; until midnight every day; 24-hour fueling

■ NEED A TOW? CLASSIC TOWING, TWISP: 997-2333

20335 Highway 20, Twisp; 997-8452; www.valleyveterinaryclinictwisp. com

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

■ POST OFFICES CARLTON: 997-6091; 2274 Highway 153

WINTHROP VETERINARY CLINIC: 523 Highway 20, Winthrop; 9962793; www.winthropvetclinic.com

METHOW: (509) 923-2759; 34 Main St.

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

TWISP: 997-3777; 205 Glover St. WINTHROP: 996-2282; 1110 Highway 20

■ PET PROBLEMS? METHOW VALLEY VETERINARY HOSPITAL: 910 Highway 20, Winthrop: 996-3231; www.methowvalleyvethospital.com VALLEY VETERINARY CLINIC:

■ NEED TO CHARGE YOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE? 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,

Methow Valley News

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 ABBYCREEK INN: 1006 Highway 20, Winthrop; 996-3100; www. abbycreekinn.com TWISP TOWN HALL: 118 S. Glover St. WINTHROP LIBRARY: 112 Norfolk Road; 996-2685; www. ncwlibraries.org/locations/ winthrop-public-library

■ CAB & SHUTTLE METHOW MOTION SHUTTLE SERVICES: 996-2894; www. methowmotion20.com; reservations@methowmotion20.com ■ TRANSIT OKANOGAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY (TRANGO): www.okanogantransit.com; (509) 557-6177

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; 112 Norfolk Road; 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: 9964000; 24 W. Chewuch Rd., Winthrop METHOW TRAILS: 996-2387; 21 Horizon Flat Road, Winthrop; www. methowtrails.com

■ POLICE/EMERGENCY/911 TWISP POLICE DEPARTMENT: 997-6112; townoftwisp. com/index.php/departments/ police-department

WINTHROP RINK: 996-4199; www.winthroprink.com

WINTHROP MARSHAL’S OFFICE: 996-2160; www.winthropmarshals.com

CASCADE LOOP SCENIC HIGHWAY: www.cascadeloop.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

PEARRYGIN LAKE STATE PARK,WINTHROP: 996-2370; www. parks.wa.gov/563/Pearrygin-Lake

NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK: Newhalem visitor center, (206) 386-4495 ext.11; www.nps. gov/noca/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) 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) 9232571; www. pateros.com TOWN OF TWISP: 997-4081; 118 S. Glover St.; www.townoftwisp. com TOWN OF WINTHROP: 996-2320,

LaFonda Lopez Restaurant

S Authentic Mexican Menu P L UPASTAS, CURRIES, HAMBURGERS, STEAKS, SALADS & DESSERTS

Lunch • Dinner • Beer • Wine • Cocktails Winter Hours: Monday – Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Daily Specials • Dine In or Take Out 997-0247

102 Methow Valley Hwy (Across from North Cascades Bank)

Winter 2023-24

206 Riverside Ave., www.townofwinthrop.com

■ HEALTH CARE THREE RIVERS HOSPITAL, BREWSTER: (509) 689-2086; www. threerivershospital.net MID-VALLEY HOSPITAL, OMAK: (509) 826-1760; www.mvhealth.org CONFLUENCE HEALTH METHOW VALLEY CLINIC, WINTHROP: 996-8180 FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS MEDICAL CLINIC, TWISP: 997-2011 BREWSTER CLINIC: (509) 826-1800 SAWTOOTH DENTAL CARE, TWISP: 997-7533 ULRICH’S PHARMACY, TWISP: 997-2191

■ HIGHWAY INFORMATION WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: 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.

FISHING LICENSES

Trail Passes Lures, Tackle & Live Bait Sporting Goods & Camping Gear Valley Hardware IN TWISP • 509-997-3355

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Featured Lodging Base Camp 49 is Mazama’s new luxury micro-resort with four twobedroom nightly rental homes, sleeping up to six guests each. Enjoy recreation at your door. All cabins feature a private covered patio, propane fire pits, courtyards and stunning views in all directions.

Available also for groups, weddings and events.

Cabins of The Methow is the local nightly rental service managed

by The Inn at Mazama for over 35 years. Our portfolio includes over 40 cabins and homes in The Methow Valley’s best places, from rustic log cabins to modern architect-designed get-aways. All with full kitchens and 2-5 bedrooms. Let us help you book your next stay.

The Inn at Mazama is your adventure basecamp, located at the heart of downtown Mazama, steps from the trails, store and pub. Ski, hike or bike from your back door. Available for weddings, yoga retreats & group events. 18 relaxing rooms with kitchenettes. Pool, hot tub, tennis and pickleball, yoga studio, private offices, meeting rooms. Petfriendly units. Private cabins also an option.

Nestled in the picturesque North Cascades, Sun Mountain Lodge is Washington’s premiere winter wonderland resort. Offering a blend of adventure and luxury, access skis and trail passes to explore our pristine trails. Indulge in gourmet dining with locally sourced ingredients. Accommodations have been thoughtfully renovated, ensuring a cozy, upscale experience.

Private nightly rental cabins in the Upper Methow Valley. Timberline Meadows enjoys a secluded location with spectacular views from the tree line, close to Mazama and a short drive to the North Cascades hiking trailheads. 1-3 bedroom vacation homes available. Reservations managed by The Inn At Mazama.

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.

basecamp49.com

996-2681 7-11 Patterson Rd, Mazama

cabinsofthemethow.com

996-2681 Multiple Locations

innmazama.com

996-2681 15 Country Rd., Mazama

sunmountainlodge.com

996-2211 604 Patterson Lake Road, Winthrop

timberlinemeadows.com

996-2681 45 Timberline Lane, Winthrop

twispriversuites.com

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

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.

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Methow Valley News

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

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Base Camp 49 | 7 - 11 Patterson Road, Mazama | 996-2681 | basecamp49.com

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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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Cabins of the Methow | Multiple locations | 996-2681 | cabinsofthemethow.com

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Casia Lodge and Ranch | 20556 State Route 20, Twisp | 509-416-5463 | casialodge.com

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Chewuch Inn | 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 | freestoneinn.com

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Hotel Rio Vista | 285 Riverside Avenue, Winthrop | 996-3535 | 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 | innmazama.com

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Mazama Ranch House | 10 Country Road, Mazama | 996-2040 | mazamaranchhouse.com

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Methow Reservations | Multiple locations | 996-2148 | methowreservations.com

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Methow River Lodge & Cabins | 110 White Avenue (Twin Lakes Road) Winthrop | 996-4348 | methowriverlodge.com

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Restaurant on site

AC

Pet friendly

Internet

Kitchen/Kitchenette

Lodging Guide

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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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North Cascades Mountain Hostel | 209 Castle Avenue, Winthrop | 240-9393 | 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 | riverbendrv.com

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River Run Inn | 27 Rader Road, Winthrop | 996-2173 | 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 | 322-4062 | riverpinesinn.com

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Rolling Huts | 18381 Hwy 20, Winthrop | 996-3551 | rollinghuts.com

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

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

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 | sunmountainlodge.com

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Timberline Meadows | 45 Timberline Lane, Winthrop | 996-2681 | 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 | twispriversuites.com

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Winthrop Inn | 960 Hwy 20, Winthrop | 996-2217 | winthropinn.com

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

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

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

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

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Winter 2023-24

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Featured Eateries Arrowleaf Bistro is a neighborhood restaurant. We invite you to unwind, celebrate and enjoy in one another’s company over consciously curated plates and wine. Our priority is to offer quality food and wine in a warm and friendly environment. We hope to serve you a great taste of the Methow Valley.

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

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: winthropstore

509-996-2175

arrowleafbistro.com

996-3919 207 White Ave, Winthrop, WA 9886

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.

facebook.com/lafondalopeztwisp

Welcome to Three Fingered Jack’s, Washington state’s oldest legal saloon. Come in to watch a game or play a game of pool! We offer fun, family-friendly dining and a full bar 7 days a week, 11am-9pm with dinner specials 5pm-9pm and breakfast 7am-10:30am Fri-Sun only.

See you soon!

3fingeredjacks.com

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!

997-0247 102 Methow Valley Hwy, Twisp

996-2411 176 Riverside Ave, Winthrop

996-2175 228 Riverside Ave, Winthrop

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.

42

Methow Valley News

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

Fine dining

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

Burgers

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

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

Small plates

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Carlos 1800 | 149 Riverside Ave., Winthrop | 996-2245 | carlos1800.com

Mexican

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Casia Lodge and Ranch | 20556 State Route 20, Twisp | 509-416-5463 | casialodge.com

FIne dining

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Cinnamon Twisp Bakery | 116 N. Glover St., Twisp | 997-5030 | cinnamontwispbakery.com

Bakery, Deli, Espresso

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Copper Glance | 134A Riverside Ave., Winthrop | 433-7765 | 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 | 997-1068 Glover Street Market | 124 N. Glover St., Twisp | 997-1320 | gloverstreetmarket.com

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Beer/Wine/Cocktails

Barbeque

Take-out available

6 Point Saloon | 3 Twisp Airport Rd, Twisp | 509-679-9926 | sixpointsaloon.com

Wheelchair accessible

Meals served

Reservations

Cuisine type

Kid friendly

Dining Guide

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Mexican, American

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Deli

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

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Hometown Pizza | 202 Methow Valley Highway, Twisp | 997-2100 | facebook.com/HometownPizza

Pizza, Deli

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

Pizza

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Jupiter | 248 Riverside Ave., Winthrop | 996-3651 | jupiterwinthrop.com

Multi-cuisine

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LaFonda Lopez | 102 Highway 20, Twisp | 997-0247 | facebook.com/lafondalopeztwisp

Multi-cuisine

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Lal’s Fork | 502 S Glover S, Twisp | 557-0977 | forktwisp.com

Sri Lankan, Curry, Small Bites

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

Asian

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Mazama Public House - An OSB Place | 516 Goat Creek Rd, Mazama | 519-4321 | facebook.com/mazamapub Feel Good Pub Grub

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

Bakery, Deli

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Methow Fresh | Pickup or Delivery in Winthrop, Mazama, Twisp | 509-429-8803 | methowfresh.com

Multi-cuisine

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Methow Valley Ciderhouse | 28 Highway 20, Winthrop | 312-1790 | methowvalleyciderhouse.com

BBQ, American, Tacos

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

Deli

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

Pub grub

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Pardner’s Mini Market | 900 Highway 20, Winthrop | 996-2005 | facebook.com/pardnersminimarket

Deli

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

Bakery, Deli

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

Italian, Pizza

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The 1908 Barbeque and Bourbon | 101 N Glover Street, Twisp | 269-2338 | 1908bbqtwisp.com

Barbeque

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The Big Dipper | 109 W 2nd Ave, Twisp | 996-2127 | littledipperwinthrop.com

Bakery, Deli

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The Dining Room at Sun Mountain Lodge | 604 Patterson Lk Rd, Winthrop | 996- 4707 | sunmountainlodge.com Fine Dining

B, D

American

Twisp Chevron/Sub Shop | 126 Methow Valley Highway, Twisp | 997-3181

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

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

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Deli

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Twisp River Tap House | 201 Methow Valley Highway North, Twisp | 881-5751 | twisprivertaphouse.com

Multi-cuisine

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

Deli

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

Multi-cuisine

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

Pizza

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Winter 2023-24

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43

Directory of advertisers ■ ARTS & CULTURE The Confluence Gallery . . . . . 35 The Merc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

■ LODGING

■ REAL ESTATE

Base Camp 49 . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Blue Sky Real Estate . . . . . . . 21

■ CAFÉS/DINING/ESPRESSO Arrowleaf Bistro . . . . . . . . . . .6 Blue Star Coffee Roasters . . . . 25 LaFonda Lopez Restaurant . . 37 Lost River Winery . . . . . . . . . .2 Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . . 33 Three Fingered Jack’s . . . . . . 27 Winthrop Store . . . . . . . . . . . 20

The Inn at Mazama . . . . . . . . .2

Coldwell Banker Winthrop Realty . 17

Methow Reservations . . . . . . 44

■ RECREATION/ACTIVITIES

Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . . 33

Methow Cycle & Sport . . . . . 14

■ CARPENTERS Collective Carpentry . . . . . . . 30 ■ EVENT FACILITIES Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . . 33 Winthrop Barn Auditorium . . . 20 ■ FINANCIAL SERVICES J Bart Bradshaw . . . . . . . . . . 28 ■ FUEL & GROCERIES Winthrop Store . . . . . . . . . . . 20 ■ HEALTH/MEDICAL Three Rivers Hospital . . . . . . 20 ■ INSURANCE SERVICES VIP Insurance Agency . . . . . . 35 ■ LOCAL GOODS Bluebird Grain Farms . . . . . . . 13 Blue Star Coffee Roasters . . . 25 Lost River Winery . . . . . . . . . .2 TwispWorks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

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Twisp River Suites . . . . . . . . 30

■ MASSAGE PRACTITIONERS/ SPA SERVICES Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . . 33

Methow Trails . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Methow Valley Ski School . . . . .2 Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . . 33 Winthrop Rink . . . . . . . . . . . 13

■ RETAIL

■ ORGANIZATIONS

Lost River Winery . . . . . . . . . .2

Methow Conservancy . . . . . . 10

Methow Cycle & Sport . . . . . . 14

Methow Trails . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Sun Mountain Lodge . . . . . . . 33

Methow Valley Nordic Ski Educational Foundation . . . . . . 7

The Wine Shed . . . . . . . . . . . 27 TwispWorks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Valley Hardware Do-it Center . . 37

■ PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Methow House Watch . . . . . . 14

■ SPORTING GOODS Methow Cycle & Sport . . . . . . 14

■ RADIO

Methow Valley Ski School . . . . .2

KTRT 97.5 FM . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Valley Hardware Do-it Center . . 37

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1984 509-996-2148 WWW.METHOWRESERVATIONS.COM

WONDERING WHERE ON EARTH TO STAY?

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