Happy New Year

Best wishes to everyone for a happy new year. Talk to you again in 2010.

New Year's Eve Party

It's party time at Sun Mountain Lodge. Back to supply the music is the outstanding 12 string guitarist David Lee Howard. He has played numerous times at Sun Mountain and is always a crowd pleaser. Also on tap is a four course dinner in the Dining Room from Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw and his team. And for the kids there is a sleigh ride and dinner followed by a Carnival Party. So come on up and get the new year off to a great start at Sun Mountain Lodge.

ACF Apprenticeship Program Approval

Sun Mountain Lodge has been approved by the American Culinary Federation as a culinary apprenticeship site. Congratulations to Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw for achieving this distinction and setting up the program. In addition to our current program of hosting culinary school externs, we will now also offer a full-blown culinary apprenticeship program.

SNOW! (but not much)

Received a trace of new snow today. Helps to whiten things up. Skiing is still good on Little Wolf, Thompson Ridge, the Rendezvous (Cub Creek side) and Mazama. I skied Couger Bait today on classic no-wax and it was very fun. More snow is in the immediate forecast, so let's keep our fingers crossed.

Local's ski day

I personally went out and checked on the ski trails yesterday and ran into most of the Valley. I skated out Little Wolf to the Homestead. The coverage was excellent, the surface was fast but not icy, and the classic tracks looked good. On the way I ran into Dr. Joe Jensen, our local family practice doc. Then around the corner I bumped into Ann Henry, wife of Joe's predecessor at Methow Valley Family Practice, Doc Henry. (Ann, I haven't seen knickers like that in ages!). Then Mike Kutz and Steve Devin skied by. Their daughters, Casey and Jamie, both race for Montana State University. Then I met Scott Johnston, coach of the Methow Olympic Development Team, teaching a classic clinic for the Methow Vally Nordic Club. And finally Dick Ewing and Brett Alumbaugh, two of our instructors for Don Portman's Methow Valley Ski School, were out honing their skills. (Brett was doing that most difficult of tasks, teaching his own kids!). So don't let the local's have all the fun, come out and ski.

Santa, Cookies and Songs

Yesterday's MV Nordic Team ski-with-santa and cookie decorating session at the Lodge was a big success. Tonight the Cascadia choir sings in the main lobby at 5:00 pm.

Christmas Week

Christmas week is upon us. Mother Nature has not been overly generous with snow, but where the trails are groomed the skiing is good. Most of the trails around Sun Mountain Lodge, in Mazama and on the Cub Creek side of the Rendezvous are open. We received a dusting of new snow last night, the clouds are moving out and the sun is coming. Check the web cam and the mvsta grooming report for updates. Lots of holiday happenings over the next 2 weeks at Sun Mountain. We are hosting the Methow Valley Nordic Ski Team's annual ski-with-santa outing this afternoon. Tomorrow evening the Cascadia Choir sings in the lobby at 5pm. Check out our home page on the website for further details. Happy Holidays.

Grand Re-Opening

Today is the seasonal grand re-opening of Sun Mountain Lodge. We have sunshine and powder snow and the Lodge is all decorated for the holidays. A list of all our holiday activities is on the home page of our website.

More New Snow

We received about 2 more inches of new snow last night. And it is snowing lightly now. Looking very White Christmas-like out there. Don Portman, our Director of Skiing, was out classic skiing on Little Wolf yesterday afternoon and said it was good. No classic tracks set yet, but hopefully soon. He ran into Laura McCabe, ex-U.S. Olympic skier, who was teaching a clinic for the Methow Nordic Club.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Hooray! Six inches of new snow last night. The Methow Valley Nordic Club's Annual Ski Camp kicks off the winter season at Sun Mountain Lodge on Thursday.

Nordic Man Video

Check out this fun video on You Tube about Nordic Man and his interest in Sun Mountain Lodge. Send it on to your friends!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLlUr6Ev8FQ

Welcome Back

I have just returned from my seven week layoff. We received an inch of new snow last night and are hoping for a bunch more tonight and tomorrow. The Lodge is still re-opening this Thursday, December 17. Hope to see you up here soon for some winter fun.

Seasonal Fall Close Down

Our return to a seasonal fall close down schedule is fast approaching. Our last night of the season will be Saturday, October 24th (we still have rooms available). We will re-open on Thursday, December 17th for the winter season. During the close down we hope to accomplish many tasks including painting the Mt. Robinson guestrooms, refinishing exterior woodwork on the Robinson wing and in the Main Lodge, sealing the aggregate floor in the Main Lodge and rebuilding and finishing the floor in the Wolf Creek Bar and Grill. In all, about $55,000 of work. The reservations and group sales offices will remain open during the close down period. Look forward to seeing you all in December.

Snow up, Fall Colors here

The recent snow has receded into the higher mountains, while the fall colors are out down here. The leaves have been a little slow in changing this year, but are rounding into form now. Come over and have a look.

Exciting New Snow Sport at Sun Mountain Lodge

Last night we received the first snow of the year! Had to brush it off my windshield so I could drive home. Although it will be short lived, it is a message that winter, and snow sports, are on the way. There is an exciting new snow sport that we have discovered, and Sun Mountain Lodge is the perfect place for it. You can capture the essence of this new sport by watching this short video on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w7sVSMbjyM

Fall Closure

Due to the current economic climate, Sun Mountain Lodge will be returning to its seasonal schedules from the 1980's. This year we will be closing the Lodge from October 25 through December 16. On December 17 we will re-open just in time for the Methow Valley Nordic Club's annual ski camp. You may contact us at (509) 996-2211 for any questions you may have. We look forward to serving you again this winter.

Steelhead Season is Open!

The Methow River is now open for steelhead fishing! And rumor has it that it should be a great season. Our own Grace Shaddox from the Activities shop landed a very nice one this last Friday. Bret and Kevin in the Activities shop also run a guide service, so give them a call (509 996 4735) and come over and enjoy some of the fall colors and some great fishing.

Sweetgrass Ridge

We were hiking on Sweetgrass Ridge this weekend. One of the more accessible hikes in the area. You can drive to about 5500 feet, then hike along the ridge with great views of McCloud and Sunrise Peaks, Isabella Ridge, Mt Gardner and Silverstar. Saw a few patches of snow on the ground, watched some flurries fall from the sky and viewed a dusting on the higher peaks. The larches at this elevation have all changed to a golden yellow. To get to Sweetgrass, drive 6 miles north of Winthrop on the West Chewuch Road. Turn left up Cup Creek Road and follow the signs to Sweetgrass Butte, about 10 more miles (seven of which are gravel, but in good shape)

Fall Colors on the Way

I was hiking up at Blue Lake off of Washington Pass this weekend and the fall colors were starting to come out. The western larches were just starting to turn lime green, the stage before their bright yellow fall color. The ground blueberries were a bright red, making for some beautiful mountain scenes. Down closer to the Lodge, the smaller cottonwood trees along Patterson Lake are already starting to turn yellow. The aspens should be next.

Wine Press Northwest Wine List Awards

Wine Press Northwest Magazine has just released its annual "Herbie" Awards (named for the renown Herb Farm Restaurant in Woodinville) for outstanding Northwest wine lists. Once again Sun Mountain Lodge claimed a spot as one of the winners in the Northwest Wine List category. The Lodge's wine cellar features over 600 different labels, with over 300 of those from Washington state. Cellarmaster Don Elsing is especially proud of his collection of wines from Washington's newest AVA, Lake Chelan. So come up and enjoy some of your favorite Northwest wines at Sun Mountain.

Chateau Faire Le Pont Wine Dinner

Your erstwhile scribe has been on vacation, touring Idaho. Stops in Sandpoint, Sun Valley and Stanley. Another very beautiful state. This Saturday the Lodge is featuring Chateau Faire Le Pont wines with a special three course menu in the Dining Room. Starts with veal cheek with goat cheese angioletti and the 2006 pinot noir. The entree is ras el honout rubbed loin of Ellensburg lamb and the 2005 Elderling Vineyard cabernet sauvignon. Dessert features a peach sorbet and bruleed peaches with the 2006 viognier. Cost is $65 per person plus tax and gratuity. Come up and enjoy.

Wine Award Winner

The Sun Mountain Lodge wine program just received the 2009 Sante Magazine Wine Hospitality Award for the western region for fine dining hotels and resorts. This award honors restaurants and professionals that exhibit outstanding achievement in wine service and hospitality. Sante is the leading magazine for restaurant professionals. Their Awards program is the only peer-judged restaurant and hospitality competition in North America.

Pot Bust

On my way to work last Tuesday, I passed several large trucks, about 20 men dressed in camouflage, and two black helicopters parked in the overflow parking lot above the Beaver Pond. We later were told that a large marijuana growing operation up above Little Wolf Creek was in the process of being busted. Activities closed all of our hiking trails in the area as the helicopters airlifted tons of marijuana plants from the scene. The raid was staged by the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force. In a report in yesterday's Seattle Times, it was related that over 50,000 pot plants worth 21 million dollars were captured in Okanogan County during raids last week.

Oden Road Fire calms down

Last Friday a lighting caused wildfire started on the east side of Loup Loup Pass off of Highway 20. Our reservations manager, Verla McVey, lost her home in the fire. In addition, the fire burned into the only power lines serving the Methow Valley. About 5,100 customers, including Sun Mountain Lodge, lost power for approximately 19 hours. To date the fire has burned more than 8,500 acres. Prevailing northwest winds have kept most of the smoke on the other side of the Loup. Reports on Monday indicate that the fire activity has slowed considerably. Over 550 firefighters and support personnel have been working to bring the fire under control.

Watchable Wildlife

Enjoy watching a doe with her twin fawns frolicking right outside your window! Listen to chipmunks chattering in the trees, watch squirrels stashing snacks for the winter, and see two different types of grouse strolling about on the lawns. The serenity of the Sun Mountain Lodge grounds offers a safe haven to many types of watchable wildlife!

The "Writin' Wrangler"

Many cowboys are famous for talking; long stories of the lonesome trail, lost love, and cantakerous doggies. But our head wrangler, cowgirl Kit McLean, is famous for her writing. She, along with co-author Karen West, has recently published Bound for the Methow: A Pictorial History of the Methow Valley. It is a beautiful, coffee-table quality hardcover book that chronicles the lives of the early homesteaders in the Valley. In 288 pages and with over 300 historic photographs, the book is a monument to the hard work and hard times of the early settlers. It is available for purchase in the Sun Mountain Lodge Gift Shop. Published by the non-profit Shafer Historical Museum in Winthrop, proceeds go to benefit the museum. To learn more about this legendary horsewoman, click here:
http://roamsters.com/horseback-riding-at-sun-mountain-lodge-with-the-legendary-kit-mclean/

Wine, Wine, Wine

This just in from Wine Director Don Elsing: we have scheduled a wine dinner with Fielding Hills Winery for May 22, 2010. Mike and Karen Wade from the winery will be here to host the event and tell you about their wines. Don't forget, this Saturday, August 15, our AAA Four Diamond award winning Dining Room is featuring a special three course menu featuring the wines of C.R. Sandidge Winery. Sante!

August 10 Fishing Report

The cooler weather is settling in this week, which will lead to great fishing conditions. With warmer water temperatures this last week, the best fishing has been in the mornings. We still have been seeing some pretty large fish being taken on our guided trips this last week. Best success has been with yellow bodied stone fly patterns, pmd's, Chernobyl ants and parachute adams on the surface. When the topwater fishing slows down, it's best to throw a stone fly nymph with a dropper. Get out and enjoy the fishing. Reported by Bret and Kevin in the Activities Shop.

Summer Fun

It's August 4th already, and believe it or not, summer will soon be gone. So quick, pack up the car, corral the kids, and head over to Sun Mountain. There are still lots of opportunities to horseback ride, mountain bike, swim in Patterson Lake, innertube the Methow River and all the many other great things to do here in the Methow Valley. I floated the Chewuch River last night. Sandy beach, warm water, and very, very peaceful. Our Summer Surprise package is available for one more month, so take advantage and make your reservations today.

June at Sun Mountain Lodge

June is the most beautiful month at Sun Mountain. Wildflowers are out, the grass is green and there is still snow on the mountain peaks. This month brings several fun events to the Methow Valley: Saturday the 20th is the Glenmorangie scotch dinner at the Lodge. A five course dinner complemented by five samples of the finest single malt scotches. That weekend is also the Winthrop Wine Festival, featuring over 15 wineries from north central Washington. The weekend of the 13th and 14th brings the Methow Bike Tour to the valley, with a variety of road bike races and events. So come on over and enjoy the great spring beauty of the Methow Valley

The North Cascades Highway is Open!

Come on over -the Pass is Open!

A Great Place to Wine & Dine!

Join us for one (or more!) of our famous wine events this year! We host a variety of winemakers for tastings, dinners, and special events throughout the year!
2009 DINNERS
APRIL 4: Lone Canary Winery: 3-wine flight and 3-course dinner, $40/person ++
MAY 2: Lost River Winery
JUNE 20: Glenmorangie Five-Scotch, Five-Course Event
AUGUST 15: Karma, CSR Wineries
SEPTEMBER 5: Chateau Faire le Pont
DECEMBER 5: Maryhill Winery

Annual Summer Wine Event: July 3-4
Featuring Hedges Winery represented by Pete Hedges and Hightower Cellars represented by Tim & Kelly Hightower, both located on Red Mountain.

Annual Fall Wine Event: November 13-14
Annual Fall Wine Event with Fielding Hills

For more information, please contact Don Elsing, Wine Director, at (509) 996-4770 or smlwine@sunmountainlodge.com

Springtime fun at Sun Mountain Lodge!