We're Open!

As of 12 Noon today, we are open and ready to welcome you for the winter season!
Most of the ski trails are groomed and ready for skiing. The Dining Room and Wolf Creek Bar & Grill have great new seasonal menus, and the Gift Shop has some wonderful Christmas gift items in stock.

We have a wonderful variety of fun activities and events planned for the holiday season. Click here to see the schedule.

Come on up - we look forward to seeing you soon!

Annual Fall Closure

Sun Mountain Lodge will begin its annual fall closure for cleaning and renovation on Sunday October 23rd. We will re-open on Wednesday December 7. At that time we will be offering our 509er Room Specials prior to the Christmas Holidays. Our Reservation office will be open during the closure everyday from 9AM to 7PM. So call now and book your pre-holiday getaway up at the Lodge. 800 572 0493 or 509 996 2211.

Harvest Dinner at Sun Mountain Lodge

This Sunday, October 16, Sun Mountain Lodge will be hosting a Harvest Dinner celebrating the bounty of the Methow Valley and honoring our local producers. Enjoy fresh, local products and chat with the owners from the Big Valley Ranch, Crown "S" Ranch, Bluebird Grain Farms, King's Garden, Thomson's Meats, Undine Acres, Sunny Pine Farms, Larkhaven Farms, Blue Star Coffee and more! Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw has prepared an exciting fall menu featuring the fine products of these local suppliers. Dinner starts at 6PM and the cost is $58 including tax and gratuity. No-host Methow Valley Brewery and Lost River Winery products will also be available. To make your reservations, call Don Elsing, Wine Director, at 509 996 4770.

Maryhill Wine Dinner

This Saturday, October 8, is the final wine dinner of the season. It will feature the outstanding wines of Maryhill Winery, winner of the WA Winery of the Year Award. The menu, prepared by Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw, will include a house-made English muffin with lemon curd and Larkhaven Farms New Moon goatling cheese paired with the Maryhill Proprietor's Reserve Chardonnay, 2008. The second course will be a wild mushroom, Sunny Pine Farms goat cheese strudel with the Maryhill Proprietor's Reserve Barberra, 2006. Wild boar ossu buco with juniper, thyme spaetzle, braised red cabbage and Brussel sprouts and bacon lardons will be the entree, matched with the Maryhill Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005. For dessert you will enjoy a grapefruit parfait with the Maryhill Muscat Canelli, 2008. This suberb dinner is priced at $85 plus gratuity and tax. To make your reservations, call the Dining Room at 509 996 4707.

Terra Blanca Wine Dinner

On Saturday, September 24, Sun Mountain Lodge will be partnering with Terra Blance Winery for a fabulous wine dinner in our Dining Room. The menu will feature fall specials from Executive Chef J Russell Bradshaw paired with these outstanding wines from Terra Blanca: 2010 Riesling, Cherry Hill Vineyard, Columbia Valley; 2009 Chardonnay, Estate Vineyard, Red Mountain; and a 2007 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain. Darrell Rice from Terra Blanca will be on hand to talk about their wines, the vineyards and the winery. Dinner will be served from 6 to 8 pm. To make reservations, call the Dining Room at 509 996 4707.

Summer is Ending Soon

The forecast for this week at Sun Mountain Lodge is sunny and 85 degrees every day! Summer is soon coming to an end, so make your reservations today. We still have a few rooms available for the next couple of weeks, so call 800 572 0493 and book now.

Tsillan Cellars Wine Dinner

This Saturday night is the Tsillan Cellars wine dinner in the Dining Room at Sun Mountain Lodge. Four delicious courses from Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw. Four great wines from Tsillan Cellars. Owner Bob Jankelson will be on hand to talk about his wines. Cost is $85 per person plus gratuity and tax. To make your reservations, call 509 996 4707.

August Spa Specials

August offers a couple of great Spa Specials at Sun Mountain Lodge. 50% off selected retail items, including Colorescience make up, Ojon hair products and Sothys and Kerstin Florian sun care. Plus Salon Crazy: a healthy, sexy Tri-wheat hair treatment and polish changes for your hands. Finished with a shampoo, haircut and style. 75 minutes. $85. Call the Spa at 509 996 2211, extension 227 to make an appointment.

New Highway 20 Map

Make the most of your trip across the North Cascades Highway with this new map: Highway 20 Hikes and Sights. It features many walks, trails, interpretive loops, and more to see and do on your drive. From Newhalem to Mazama, it is a great guide to what's there. And it's Free! Stop by the Sun Mountain Lodge Activities Shop and pick one up. Sponsored by The Wilderness Society.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

The Merc Playhouse is presenting You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown outdoors in the Winthrop Park this Thursday through Sunday nights, August 4-7. Showtime is 7pm. Bring a blanket and a picnic (no alcohol) and enjoy this family favorite. Cost is $20 for adults and $10 for youth 18 and under. Great fun for the whole family. Visit www.mercplayhouse.org for more info.

This Weeks Dinner Specials

Some great specials in the Sun Mountain Lodge Dining Room this week: For a starter, try the local organic greens with Sunny Pine Farms goat cheese, toasted walnuts, house-made Bresaola, organic Lapin cherries and a Lapin cherry vinaigrette. A couple of great entrees: Asian braised Berkshire pork cheeks, ginger garlic emmer and sesame scented local vegetables or pan seared Alaskan ling cod on Israeli cous cous studded with house-made pepperoni and thyme, finished with a fennel/apple composition and pineapple vinaigrette. And to top it all off, a "Strawberry Lemonade" for desert. This is a layerd lemon panna cotta, strawberry gelee and champagne sorbet with a white chocolate strawberry truffle. I had this and it was fantastic!! Come on up and enjoy these specials. Call 509 996 4707 for reservations.

Tsillan Cellars Wine Dinner

Saturday night, August 13, the Sun Mountain Lodge Dining Room will be featuring a fine four course dinner paired with the wines of Tsillan Cellars from Lake Chelan. Owner Bob Jankelson will be on hand to pour and talk about his wines from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. The first course is seared Taylor Bay scallops with vanilla polenta paired with the Tsillan Cellars 2008 Gewurztraminer. This will be followed by deconstructed cherry antelope pie with hazelnut streusel and the 2008 Tsillan Cellars Sinestra, a blend of Sangiovese, Barbera and Nebbiolo. The main entree is a Blue Star Coffee rubbed pork loin with wild mushroom emmer risotto, grilled baby leeks and a Romanesco sauce. The wine is the Tsillan Cellars Piccolo Rosso 2007, a blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, Nebbiolo, Barbera and Sangiovese. Desert will be grilled peach brulee with sage derby cheese and a Tsillan Cellars 2010 Estate Pinot Gris. Price for this fabulous dinner is $85 per person plus gratuity and tax. Room and dinner packages are available from just $196 per person plus tax. Call 509 996 4707 to make reservations.

Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival

The Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival starts this Friday and runs through Saturday, July 30. Eight days of wonderful classical music in a beautiful setting. Fifteen nationally recognized musicians will be performing a great variety of works. From Debussy's String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10 to Villa-Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1 and No. 5. Don't miss it. For complete schedules, ticket information and more visit www.methowmusicfestival.org.

Free Slide Show

Don Portman, Sun Mountain Lodge's Director of Cross Country Skiing, and mountain man extraordinaire, will be presenting a slide show entitled "Day Hikes in the North Cascades" on Wednesday, July 13. A skilled outdoor writer and photographer, Don has had articles featured in Powder Magazine, Cross Country Skier Magazine, Ski Trax and many more. Don't miss this fun, informative event. Start time is 7:00 PM in the Sawtooth Room at Sun Mountain.

New Orleans Themed Interactive Dinner

This Sunday night, July 10, Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw will be presenting a New Orleans themed Interactive Dinner. Join the chef and learn how to, and help to, prepare these sumptuous dishes: Pasta Jambalaya, Shrimp Creole and Vieux Carre Souffle. Wine manager Don Elsing will be pairing these dishes with some fine wines. Cost is $65 per person plus gratuity and tax. To make your reservations, call 509 996 4770/

Great Entertainment in the Methow this Weekend

Lots of great entertainment in the Methow Valley this weekend to go along with the sunny weather. Friday night RT Junior performs cowboy music at the Burnt Finger BBQ and Fiasco does blues and funk at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, both in Winthrop. The Twisp River Pub has bluegrass with Polecat. Saturday rocks with Honey and the Killer Bees at BJ's Branding Iron in Twisp while Flowmotion is at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery and Shakedonia is at the Twisp River Pub. For a change of pace, Don Goodman plays Native American flute and 12-string guitar at the Burnt Finger BBQ. Surf movie sound track singer/songwriter Jon Swift is doing a benefit concert for the Winthrop Auditorium at the Barn in Winthrop on Sunday night at 8. And to top it all off, a complete day of entertainment on Monday at Arts Fest in the Twisp Park from 11:30 to 4:30 featuring the Mud Bay Jugglers and the Tune Stranglers from 1 to 2.

4th of July Weekend

The forecast for this weekend at Sun Mountain Lodge is Sunny and 78 degrees. Perfect weather for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, swimming, fishing and boating on Patterson Lake. We still have some rooms left, so call today and make a reservation for a fun-filled, sun-filled holiday weekend. 800 572 0493.

The Best Kid's Art Event Anywhere, Ever

Monday, July 4th is the 24th Annual Methow Arts Fest, the best kid's art event anywhere, ever. From 11:30 to 4:30 the Twisp Park will be transformed into a wonderland of hands on arts and crafts booths and entertainment for kids of all ages. Under the theme "Art Grows Here" there will be booths for copper Bubble Wands, home grown Felted Flowers, aromatic mists and bath salts, insect headdresses and capes and all time favorites such as Laverty Construction's Wooden Boats, tie dye T-shirts and creative cupcakes topped with your creation of garden microcosms! Demonstrations will include painting with Joan Lasse, glassblowing with John Breslin, massage with Judy Swank, John Doran and his famous horse and a visit with Sunny Pine Farms' goats. Live music and entertainment streams from the stage all afternoon providing music, dance and theatre, plus a pie eating contest. Headlining the stage are the Mud Bay Jugglers with the Tune Stranglers performing from 1-2 pm. Don't miss it! Tickets are $5 for kids 6 and older and include five free booth tickets. Adults are $7.

Sun Mountain Lodge Signature Bed

The Sun Mountain Lodge Signature Bed is now available for purchase in the Lodge Gift Shop. This special mattress was created exclusively for Sun Mountain by Northwest Bedding. An individually encased coil system features multi-gauge coil construction for a 7-zone sleeping surface. The system conforms to your body's curves yet is designed to enhance spine alignment during sleep, whether you sleep on your back or on your side. Talalay Latex cushioning is used only in the finest sleep sets. Latex is hypoallergenic and anti-microbial. Pressure point relief properties ensure that you will enjoy a restful night's sleep. Call the Gift Shop at 509 996 4716 for more information or to place your order. If you want to try out one of these great mattresses, book a room on the upper floor of the Gardner Building where these new king beds have recently been installed.

This weekend's Prix Fixe Menu

This weekend's Prixe Fixe menu in the Sun Mountain Lodge AAA Four Diamond award winning Dining Room features four delectable courses and three Northwest wines. It starts off with a Blue Nose Snapper, radish and peach salad with bleu cheese foam. This is paired with a Columbia Valley Goose Ridge Riesling, 2007 (3 0z. pour). Secondly we have Sauteed Quail with mushroom duxelle, foie gras, Andouille sausage emmer rissotto and truffled quail jus. Complementing this is a Willamette Valley Lachini Vineyards Estate Grown "S" Pinot Noir, 2008 (3 0z. pour). The main entree is Roasted Antelope wrapped with Thomson's Meats bacon, goat cheese puree, glazed carrots and a port wine demi. The wine for this course is a Chateau Faire le Pont "Elerding Vineyards" Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 (6 oz. pour). For desert we have a trio of Creme Brulees. Cost for this fantastic meal is $65 for the dinner only or $88 with the wine flights. Plus tax and gratuity. To make reservatons, call 509 996 4707.

Rhythm and Blues

July 15, 16 and 17 is this year's annual Rhythm and Blues Festival at the Blues Ranch in Winthrop. For all you 70's rockers out there, the lineup is awesome. Commander Cody, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, Booker T and Jimmie Vaughan. Plus the red hot Dusty 45's from Seattle. Stay at Sun Mountain Lodge and enjoy the best of creature comforts while enjoying some great music at the festival. For more info, visit their website at http://winthropbluesfestival.com/.

This Weekend's Prix Fixe Menu

Each weekend Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw, C.E.C. and Executive Sous Chef Pete McKinney put together a new and innovative prix fixe menu. Wine Manager Don Elsing then pairs a selection of fine wines to go with the meal. This weekend the menu is: Grilled Romaine with cucumber pearls, grape tomatoes, bleu cheese crumbles, toasted Macadamia nuts and fresh blueberries with a balsamic reduction blood orange vinaigrette. The wine pairing is a 3 ounce pour of the Columbia Valley Goose Ridge Riesling 2007. The second course is a Sauteed Blue Nose Snapper with grapefruit marmalade, carrot and pea puree and an endive and mushroom ragout paired with a 3 ounce pour of the 2007 Columbia Valley Townshend Sauvignon Blanc. The next course is a Roasted Duck Breast with spaghetti squash and brown sugar smoked corn hash and a blueberry Bordelaise sauce. This is paired with a 6 ounce glass of the Willamette Valley 2008 Lachini Vineyards Estate Grown "S" Pinot Noir. This is all topped off with a Trio of House Made Sorbets. Price is $63 plus tax and gratuity for the dinner only or $85 ++ with the wine flight. Make your reservations by calling 509 996 4707. Bon Appetit!

Fine, Fine Music

This Friday and Saturday nights, June 10 and 11, twelve string guitar virtuoso David Lee Howard will be performing in the Wolf Creek Bar and Grill at Sun Mountain Lodge. A "Trend setting, cutting edge Guitar Guru" David Lee Howard plays the 12 string guitar like no one else in the world. Following his Sun Mountain gig he will be heading back to Europe where he will be performing in Germany all summer. The shows start at 7pm and there is no cover charge, so come up and enjoy this one of a kind musician.

Wine, Wine, Wine

This weekend is a wine lover's bonanza in Winthrop. Saturday June 11 is the seventh annual Winthrop Wine Festival. Fifteen wineries from around the state of Washington will be on hand in the Winthrop Park from 2-6pm. The tasting fee is $30 and this is a 21 and over event. Later that evening Sun Mountain Lodge is hosting a Seven Hills Winery winemaker dinner with owner Casey McClellan on hand to talk about his wines. A fabulous four course dinner from Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw will accompany the Seven Hills wines. The dinner is served in the Dining Room from 5:30 to 8:30 pm and the cost is $85 per person plus gratuity and tax. To make your reservations call 509 996 4707. And on Sunday evening June 12, Chef Bradshaw will be hosting an Italian themed Interactive Dinner. Guests will have the opportunity to cook along with Chef Bradshaw and learn new culinary techniques. The price is $65 per person plus gratuity and tax and includes a flight of three wines selected by Wine Manager Don Elsing. The fun starts at 6:30 pm. Make your reservations by calling 509 996 4770.

National Trails Day

This Saturday, June 4, Sun Mountain Lodge will be celebrating National Trails Day with a variety of fun activities for the whole family. Guided hikes, a trail stewardship project, kids story trail and scavenger hunt and a presentation on hiking in the North Cascades. All events are free, so come up and join the fun. For more details: http://www.mountaineers.org/stories/news.cfm?reader=20

Interactive Dinners

Sunday June 12 is the first Interactive Dinner of the season with Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw. This fun and tasty culinary event will allow you to learn as you enjoy a great meal. You and Chef Bradshaw will be preparing and dining on a great Italian themed dinner of Angel hair concasse, Shrimp Scampi and Berries and Zabaglione. Plus, Wine Director Don Elsing will be pairing a great wine with each course. Cost is $65 per person plus gratuity and tax. Make your reservations by calling Don at 509 996 4770.

Seven Hills Wine Dinner

On Saturday June 11 winemaker/owner Casey McClellan will be here for a fantastic wine dinner featuring wines from his Seven Hills Winery. Founded in 1988, Seven Hills is one of Walla Walla's oldest and most respected wineries. Casey concentrates on Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varietal reds. His wines will be paired with a delectable spring menu from Sun Mountain's Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw. Dinner will be served in the Dining Room from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. The cost is $85 per person plus gratuity and tax. To make reservations, please call 509 996 4707.

'49er Days

This weekend is the 66th annual Winthrop '49er Days Celebration. Come on over for tons of family fun. On Friday at noon over 100 horses and riders plus 20 horse drawn wagons will parade through downtown following their four night Ride to Rendezvous. That will be followed at 7pm by the Dollar Watch Jamboree featuring Western music, storytelling, cowboy poetry and comedy. Saturday has the best small town parade in the West, beginning at 11am. Following the parade there will be old timey games in front of Sheri's Sweet Shoppe including an egg toss, pie eating contest, hula-hoop contest and rock/paper/scissors competition. In the Winthrop Park there will be the Packer Rendezvous with backcountry camps set up and demonstrations of campfire cooking, camp skills, storytelling and music. Plus a bratwurst barbeque. And to top it all off, there will be a dance in the Winthrop Barn on Saturday night at 9:30 featuring Buzz Brose and the Eagle River Band. Come have some real old west fun. For more info visit http://www.winthropwashington.com/49ers.html.

Mother's Day Brunch

Mother's Day is this Sunday. Do you have something for Mom? Try Sun Mountain's fabulous brunch featuring house cured salmon gravlax, eggs benedict, roast chicken, shrimp cocktails, prime rib, maple glazed ham. assorted salads, fresh fruit, antipasto platter, imported cheeses, a dessert station and much more. Make your reservations now by calling 509 996 4707. $29 per adult and $12.95 per child 12 and under. Served 9am to 2pm. Come up and treat Mom to a great meal!

More Spring News!

We were booked on Moccasin Lake Friday therefore Kevin guided two men fly fishing on Patterson Lake (it’s now a year-round fishery so we could fish on the 29th. Today, the 30th, is opening day for most lakes in Eastern Washington). The two were inexperienced fly fisherman yet had a great day. They landed 36 Rainbow trout and 5 Kokanee. They played twice as many fish as they landed. The trout ranged from 14 inches to 18 ½ inches. Kokanee were dinks.

As many of you know, trails are starting to melt out. We had our first guest rent a bike yesterday and complete a small loop. He rode Sunnyside and back on Beaver Pond. Yes, he ran into some snow towards the Homestead end. Patterson Lake trail is melted out and could be Mt. biked out and back. Rader Creek is still too snowy. Yes, hiking is still the best activity on the trails. Especially with the small early wildflowers out.

Kevin hopes to ski the top of Thompson Ridge today and will send a picture of that later.

Horseback riding started Saturday.

Pretty nice variety. Not many places can offer snow, wildflowers, hiking, biking, horseback riding and kick ass fishing all in one weekend.

Wildflower Season 2011 Is Here!

We're off to a great start for the 2011 wildflower season! Leafy lungwort, yellow bells and spring beauties are all in full bloom. Stay tuned for more colors and varieties!

Twisp Farmer's Market

It's back! We know spring is here when the Farmer's Market returns to the Methow Valley Community Center parking lot in Twisp. It will be open this Saturday (and every Saturday through mid-October) from 9am until noon. Head on down and check out all the locally grown produce and locally made products, many of which are featured at Sun Mountain Lodge.

Opening Soon: The North Cascades Highway

We are excited for the opening of the North Cascades Highway!
Click here for progress updates:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/northcascades

Spring Spa Specials

Lots of super spa specials going on this spring in the Sun Mountain Lodge Spa. Try the Sothys vitamin C facial and a peppermint hand and foot scrub and treatment, 60 minutes, $90. Or a super deal: 45 minute massage for only $65. Or the ultimate: a complete facial and body scrub package with two hours of pampering including a Sustainable Worth herbal salt polish and a Sothys Hydroptimale facial, $165.

Easter Breakfast Buffet this Sunday, April 24 from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm in the Dining Room. Omelette station, Eggs Benedict, Whole Poached Salmon, Honey Glazed Ham, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Waffles, Fruit and much more! Cost is $17.95 per adult and $8.95 for children 12 and under. Make your reservations by calling 509 996 4707. Plus the annual Easter Candy guessing game and children's Easter Egg Hunt (11:30). Fun for the whole family.

Grand Re-Opening

Tomorrow is the big day. We are re-opening for the spring, summer and fall seasons. The forecast calls for sunshine and highs in the mid 50's. Come on up and watch the spring flowers start to bloom. The mule deer are returning to the valley en masse. Passed nearly 100 yesterday on my way to work. So drive carefully.

World Championships, cont'd

The team of Sadie Bjornsen and Kikkan Randall finished 9th in the team classic sprint race in Oslo. On the men's side, Torin Koos and Andy Newell finished 10th. The men's race was won by the Canadians, their first gold at a world championships. The Canadian women also skied well, finishing in 6th place.

NCAA Ski Championships

The NCAA Ski Championships will be taking place in Stowe, Vermont from March 9-12. Two alumni of the Methow Valley Nordic Team have qualified. Skiing for the University of Alaska, Anchorage will be Eric Bjornsen. And competing for Montana State University will be Casey Kutz. Good luck to both of them.

World's Update

The Nordic World Championships are continuing in Oslo, Norway. The Methow's Sadie Bjornsen has been doing great. She qualified for the heats in the classic sprint, ending up 24th, the top North American woman. Yesterday she skied in the 10K classic race and wound up 29th, the second American after Holly Brooks from Seattle. Great job ladies.

World Nordic Championships

The World Nordic Champioships started today in Oslo, Norway. Sadie Bjornsen, an alumnus of the Methow Valley Nordic Team, will be there representing the USA. Sadie has been skiing in Europe this winter with the US Ski Team. Last week she finished 51st in the 10K classic race at Drammen, Norway and was the top American finisher. She also finished 42nd in the freestyle sprint race, which was won my her teammate Kikkan Randall. You can follow her races at the World Championships at http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=28397&cal_suchsector=CC. Good luck Sadie!

Lachini Wine Tasting

This Thursday, February 24, from 5-7pm, Ron Lachini of Lachini Vineyards in Oregon will be doing a wine tasting in the wine cellar at Sun Mountain Lodge. Cost is $15 per person. Stop on up and taste some of his fabulous wines.

The Eagles Are Back!

The eagles are back along the Methow River. This fellow was just downstream from the bridge in downtown Winthrop. Fishing has been good!

Jet City Improv

The family friendly comedy troupe Jet City Improv will be performing at the Winthrop Barn this Friday night, February 18 at 7pm. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Don't miss this fun filled evening! For more info, visit the Jet City website at www.jetcityimprov.com.

World Junior Nordic Ski Championships

Another update on the World Junior Cross Country Ski and Biathlon Championships. Today Casey Smith from Winthrop and a member of the Methow Valley Junior Nordic team finished 30th in the 12.5K individual biathlon event in Nove Mesto, Slovakia. Casey was the top American finisher. Yesterday Sadie Bjornsen finished 17th in the 15K pursuit at the U23 World Championships in Otepaa, Estonia. Last Friday, her brother Eric finished 14th in the 1.4K classic sprint race in the World Junior Championships. Both were the top American finishers in their events. Congratulations to Casey, Sadie and Eric, and to the Methow Valley Junior Nordic race program for training such great skiers.

Another BlueBird Day in the Methow

Deb Thorlakson, Midge Cross, Karla Kephart-Segale, Colleen Ryan and Hannah Dewey skiing across the Rendezvous on Sunday, January 30, 2011. Photo by Kristen Smith.

U23 World Championships

Sadie Bjornsen finished 23rd today in the 10K women's freestyle event at the U23 World Championships in Otepaa, Estonia. She was the top American finisher, 3 minutes behind the winner Krista Lahteenmaki of Finland, who finished an entire minute ahead of the second place skier. Congratulations Sadie!

World Junior Results

In the first race at the World Junior Championships in Otepaa, Estonia, a 10 K freestyle, Eric Bjornsen finished 57th out of 101 racers. Good job! Stay tuned, his sister Sadie races tomorrow. Both are alumni of the Methow Valley Ski Education Foundation Junior Nordic Team.

Methow Racer Wins 2011 Apple Invite

Derek Alumbaugh, son of Sun Mountain Lodge Activities Director Bret Alumbaugh, captured the Apple Invite "King of the Hill" trophy at Mission Ridge this past weekend. Derek, racing in the boys J-4 class, finished first in Saturday's slalom race and followed that up on Sunday with another first in the giant slalom. Congratulations Derek!

Methow Valley skiers at World Junior Championships

Sadie and Eric Bjornsen will be competing this week in the World U23 and World Junior Championships respectively this week in Otepaa, Estonia. You can follow their races at http://www.tehvandi.ee/njwsc/. Good luck to both of them! In addition, Casey Smith will be competing in the World Junior Biathlon Championships beginning January 29 in Nove Mesto, Slovakia. You can follow his races at http://www3.biathlonworld.com/en/events/do/showevent.html?EventId=BT1011JWRLCH__. Good luck Casey!

"PERFECT" skiing

The MVSTA groomers say the trails are "PERFECT". All the lower trails, plus Meadowlark and Blue Jay were groomed last night. The skate skiing is fast and fun, so give it a try.

Huun Huur Tu

Don't forget, the Tuvan throat singing quartet, Huun Huur Tu, plays this Saturday night at the Winthrop Barn at 7PM. This is a rare opportunity to see these most unusual musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 at the door. You can purchase them online at BrownPaperTickets.org or at the Daily Business stores in Winthrop and Twisp. Don't miss it!!

Sparklers of the World Dinner

Make your reservations now for an exciting event happening at Sun Mountain Lodge on Saturday night February 12. Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw and Wine Director Don Elsing have put together a wonderful 5 course menu paired with 5 unusual sparkling wines from around the world. First course is from Italy, featuring handmade tortelloni with shrimp, goat cheese and arugula pesto with a Maschio dei Cavalieri Prosecco NV. Course number two takes you to France with poached sea bream with asparagus in a Meyer lemon beurre blanc and a Champalou Sparkling Vouvray Petillant. Next up is Spain and an heirloom tomato gazpacho Bacalao and an Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut Rose by Freixenet. Your fourth course is from California, a foie gras stuffed breast of chicken and roasted onion tart with a Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir NV. And finally from Japan, cocoa mochi, with a Hana Awaka "Sparkling Flower" Sparkling Berry Sake NV. Price is $195 per couple plus gratuity and tax. Make your reservations by calling Don at 509 996 4770.

Lost River Wine Dinner

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Lost River Winery dinner at Sun Mountain Lodge on Saturday, January 29. Served in the Dining Room, the dinner will feature three fabulous courses by Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw and three wonderful wines from Lost River winemaker John Morgan. Starting off will be smoked scallops with Sunny Pine Farms goat cheese, toasted pinenuts and apricot vinaigrette paired with a 2008 Columbia Valley Pinot Gris. The main course will feature Big Valley Ranch ribeye steak with roasted cellared vegetables and a 2007 Cedarosa, which is a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cab Franc. To finish there is baked brie with drunken cherries and a 2007 Merlot. Cost is $65 per person plus gratuity and tax. To make your reservations, please call the Dining Room direct at 509 996 4707.

SNOW!!!!!

We received a foot of new snow last night!!! Really light, fluffy stuff. Roads are plowed and the sun is out now.

Awesome Music in the Methow, Sat. January 22

Coming to the Methow Valley at the Winthrop Barn on Saturday, January 22 is the incredible Tuvan throat singing quartet Huun Huur Tu. Mixing a blend of spa music and abstract electronica, this group makes a sound that is most unique. "They will ride into your brain and leave footprints up and down your spine." says the San Francisco Bay Guardian. A recent review in the New Yorker Magazine said the group "creates a deeply resonant buzz that is simultaneously human and unidentifiable." Tickets are $18 in advance and $22 at the door and are available through BrownPaperTickets.org or from the Daily Business stores in Winthrop and Twisp. You can visit their website at http://hhtmusic.com.

More National X-C Championship Results

On Thursday Brian Gregg of Mazama completed the 30 KM men's freestyle race in 6th place, an excellent result. On the last day of racing, Sat. Jan. 8, Methow Valley skiers again had a great day. Torrin Koos won the men's freestyle sprint, while Sam Naney, another Methow Valley Nordic Team alum, finished in the top ten at number 9. On the ladies side, Sadie Bjornsen had another great race, gaining her third podium finish of the Championships, by finishing in third place. Great job to all these fine racers!

Methow X-C Skiers Win at U.S. Nationals

It's been a big week so far for Methow Valley skiers at the U.S. National Cross Country Ski Championships in Rumford, ME. On Sunday Torin Koos, formerly of Leavenworth and now skiing for the Methow Olympic Development squad, won the men's classic sprint race. Finishing fourth was up and coming star Eric Bjornsen of Mazama, now skiing for the University of Alaska, Anchorage. On the women's side, his sister Sadie, skiing for Alaska Pacific University, also finished in fourth place, but was the third American finisher. And today, in the race of her life, Sadie won the women's 10K classic race, finishing 31 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor! Congratulations to all.