Ski Rodeo Photos

Our last ski of the year was a great one!  Here are the photos from the Ski Rodeo which you are welcome to download and use as you wish. (click on the photo below to start the slideshow) A big thanks to everyone who joined us this morning.   Happy New Year!

2014 Ski Rodeo

And a couple more from Gabe Grayum

Methow Trails Après Ski Gear

We have some really great Methow Trails logo wear available at our Winthrop office. Our friends at Run Pretty Far helped us source some of the softest, nicest fitting athletic wear.  Great gift ideas or treat yourself!  It's just a small assortment so don't wait. Plus we still have $8 wool ski socks on sale, a total deal! Come on in.

 Men's Sweatshirts $50 

 Men's t-shirt $20

 Women's Sweatshirt $40

 Women's t-shirt $20

 Trucker Hats $20

Ski Socks $8 

Customers "stocking" up on socks 

SEATTLE ROAD TRIP

WINNERS of 3-day ski passes for you and a friend ($114 value) are:

Aileen Hannah
Olga Levaniouk
Skye Shansby
Susana Meistel
Myrna Flavedal
Ali Badereddin
Claudia Gemkow
Andrea Reilly
Scott Beveridge
Mary Duong
Zoe Maddox
Ed Rafaxz
Dillion Sturtevant 

*THANK YOU REI for letting us connect with skiers in Seattle.

We are very excited to hit the road for our annual Seattle REI store visit.  Methow Trails will be right in front of the beautiful fireplace at the Seattle REI store the day after Thanksgiving and the next on Saturday. Stop by and talk with James and Mike about all the great enhancements to the trails this winter. We will have copies of our new Trails magazine and new maps.  Enter to win 3-day Ski Passes for you and a friend!
We don't get out the Methow much but this certainly is one of the highlights when we do. Looking forward to connecting with skiers, fat bikers and snowshoe fanatics on the west side.

Friday, November 28  10:00am -2:00pm 
Saturday, November 29 10:00am - 2:00pm 

Top 10 Reasons to sign up for the Methow Nordic Festival

Top Ten Reasons to sign up for the Methow Nordic Festival 

Ski!  Run!  Bike!

1. SKI for FREE (not to mention free rentals and lessons) all day, all trails, on Friday January 23^rd.  The perfect excuse to take a personal three-day weekend
2. The Methow Community Trail is the Valley’s signature trail experience, and over the weekend you can classic, skate, race, tour or relay your way up and down this five-star trail
3. The Pursuit race is a 2 day race on a 30K course that goes up valley one day, and back down the next day.  Do it for fun with friends, or aim for the podium.  Relay option for teams of three. “The Pacific Northwest’s Birkebeiner!”
4. Rainshadow Running is offering a 15K winter trail run up on the Sun Mountain Trails on Saturday morning.  This is a first, and could be a new winter tradition!  And yes…….the traditional pizza and beer party is happening too!
5. Methow Endurance is offering a FREE clinic (specifically for runners) who want to take the leap and try out Nordic skiing and/or racing.  Saturday afternoon in Mazama.
6. Fat Bike Demo offered by Methow Cycle and Sport on Friday the 23^rd.  If you have not tried it out yet – it’s time!
7. Happy Hour at The Mazama Store – Beer on tap and tasty chili feed at the hippest little country store you’ve ever been to.  Saturday afternoon – a great way to convene, recover and celebrate.
8. Kids Ski and Race for FREE in the Methow Valley every day of the year.  Bring your whole family!
9. Salmon Dinner – Great food and a great cause (Methow Valley Nordic Team).  Join your fellow skiers, runners and bikers and enjoy a delicious meal and community gathering that the BARN on Saturday night. 
10. The Methow Experience – Even if you did not sign up for any of the organized events, just being in the Methow in the wintertime is an experience not to be missed.  Friendly people, world-class trails, snowy mountain peaks and SUN!

Learn more and register today at www.methowtrails.org

(photos courtesy of  Mitchellimage.com)

Trash Pick-up at Pipestone on Tuesday

Keep Pipestone Pretty Project

Project update:  Thanks to those who came out an joined us.  Our small group collected over 1140 pounds of cans, bottles and tin from the trails and roads in Pipestone!  Unfortunately we didn't get it all.  If you are out in Pipestone or anywhere hiking we hope you will take that extra moment to pick up little and recycle it where you can.  Our beautiful Valley just keeps getting prettier!  

Looking for a great way to give back to an area affected by the fires this summer? Join the Methow Trails Board and Staff on Tuesday, November 4^th at 9am for a Keep Pipestone Pretty Project.

If you have been out to Pipestone Canyon since the fire you may have noticed that the area is rapidly returning with flowers blooming, grasses growing and wildlife roaming. However, with the barren landscape, trash that has accumulated over the years is very visable. Join Methow Trails as we tackle a garbage pick-up of the roads and trails of Pipestone Canyon.

Tuesday, November 4

Meet at 9am

Junction of Bear Creek Road and Lester Road- across the street from Rhys Court’s Sculputure Yard- right where the pavement ends on Bear Creek Road.

Bring your own gloves and water and food as needed.

Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty with charcoal ash.

Bright clothing may also be preferred as hunting may be happening in the area.

Methow Trails will provide the trash bags.

Individuals will break into groups and walk sections of Pipestone picking up trash.

Project is only expected to last a couple of hours.

Thanks for joining our Keep Pipestone Pretty Project!

We have a new name!

The Methow Valley Sport Trails Association (MVSTA) would like to share some big news. MVSTA has a new name: Methow Trails! We have a new name, new logo, and new web address.

Why did we change our name? Well, honestly we knew that “Methow Valley Sport Trails Association” was a mouthful and our acronym of MVSTA often got in the way of sharing great trail experiences. Not only is our new name shorter, but it emphasizes the two things most important to our organization: the Methow and Trails. Going forward, we expect to spend more time talking about amazing trail experiences and less time explaining our name.

Methow Trails remains committed to enhancing, and growing trail opportunities in the Methow Valley. This winter season we will continue to operate North America’s largest cross-country ski area with over 120 miles of ski trail where kids 17 and under ski free everyday. We will continue to offer our signature programs and events along with new trailside amenities and communication tools to provide you with the best trail experience possible. We will continue our dedicated work as a non-profit organization in offering year-round trail opportunities and management of 11 Methow Valley trailheads. 

We are proud of our 37 year history. The organization has updated its name twice in the past as it has evolved. We are proud to showcase our new name and look, but more importantly, we are excited to more easily showcase our trails. We hope you will have the opportunity this winter to join us for a ski, fat bike, or snowshoe. 

You can follow us on the digital trail at methowtrails.org, on Facebook at Methow Trails, via our free Methow Trails grooming apps, or stop into our office in downtown Winthrop. 

Methow Trails

309 Riverside Avenue

PO Box 147

Winthrop, WA 98862

509-996-3287

methowtrails.org 

Cutthroat Classic Photos

Congratulations Runners!   

It doesn't get much better than that!  What a great day today.

Here are the photos from MVSTA in a web album which you are free to download the photos and use as you wish.

Fantastic photos from Mitchellimage.com are available for purchase.  Be sure to check his photos as well, Steve is a fantastic photographer.

Thanks again for coming out and supporting Methow Trails!

Why did the cow cross the trail?

Answer:  To get to the udder-side!

There are many trails (and roads) in the Methow Valley where you may encounter cattle. No one likes to be startled out on the trail...including animals! Here is some sage advice on how to handle the situation when you meet livestock.

Cattle should be approached slowly and quietly. Suddenly startling cattle will cause them to act unpredictably and with a high degree of unnecessary stress. Cattle will often charge down the trail you want to travel when you approach them aggressively. The best approach is to sensitively alert the animals that you are approaching and ease off your speed. If you approach the animal from behind, allow them to move down the trail until they can easily move off to the side. If possible, travel off to the side of the trail, this allows the animal to figure out a better escape route. Cattle have wide viewing areas. Travelling directly behind them is a predatory move which causes them to move faster. Moving to their side allows them to better see you and to move away from you and off the trail.

If you happen to meet an entire herd of cattle or livestock on the road, stop, step to one side and stand still and quiet. If the herd is being driven under the control of cattle ranchers, let them lead the cattle in the desired direction.

Please close all gates that you enter and exit!!!  

Ranching and recreation go hand in hand in the Methow Valley. It's another one of those special aspects of living, visiting and playing here!

ALL Sunflower Race Photos

Here are some photos from Stephen Mitchell at Mitchell Image. You may download the low resolution images of these photos. Full size images are available for purchase at Mitchellimage.com

Click photo below to view the album.

Sunflower Marathon 2014 ©stephenMITCHELL Images

Here are some photos from legs #1 and #2 of the Sunflower Marathon and Relay. Feel free to download any of these and use them as you wish.

Click the photo below to view the album.

2014 Sunflower

Sunflower Teams SOLD OUT!

The Balsamroot is just starting to bloom in Winthrop. The timing of the May 10th Sunflower Marathon and Relay might just be at the peak bloom!  

We are SOLD OUT for team entries. Still space for marathon runners who want to experience the thrill of running from Mazama to Twisp. 

Here is the Team Roster.  Some great team names here! 

HHRG Half Carafes 

Basher B Van

The Rutabagas

We'd Rather be Mountain Biking

Hellbenders

Team Pickle

Skagit Sunflowers

Bashers

kickin mules

Code Blue

Babetrons

Methow Mamas

N&J

Best of the Bashers

Lady Lions

The Ganbaro Gang

Spirit Animals

Runaway Moms!

Picollins

es petits pois chiches

Westside Webfoot Runners

Testing Einstein's Theory of Relativity

NW fit Coast Busters

MV SPRING SEED AND A SONG

Team Eusterbrock

Wild Flower Women

Green Canopy Runners

Team Finger

Hip-e-Chix

Supermoms

Superdads

Vultures

The Flying Gambles

Not As Fast As We Look

Manny's

Chads and their better halves

The Fabulous Five

The GRRRLS

Well Traveled

ThunderGun Express

The Nordis

Laura's Last Legs

Forty and Flying

MRD

Wonder Bolts

Blonde Lightning

HodgePodge

Owl the Way

In a Relay-tionship

Mustangs

The Sunflower Chasers

OLDER AND WISER

Lawyer, Writer, Chemist, Laywer aka Out for a Stro

TRIPLE H

Frolic for Forty

Greenlake Herd

Johns Juggernaut

The Sunflower Seeds

James' Giants

eXXtreme

Not Fast but Furious

CK Squared

HHRG Torture Sandwich

HHRG Pain au Chocolat

HHRG Butterup

SET Coaching

Carlton Cruzers

The Dashing Gents

Lightning L

Skagitonians Over the Hill

Things that seem like a good idea when you've been...

THE HONEY BADGERS

Valley Girls

HEAM Team

Sunflower Fields Forever

Hauling Sass

Hot purple

Awesome Sauce. 2

Samkeegaenry

Chrissy Fuentes

Team Miskin

Team Dexter

Downhill Runners

Girls on Fire

Karate Sawing Jabberwocks

Larissa and the Boys

Windhorse Runners

Team O'Marosenberg

The Three Bears

OSB Beer Runners

team Sanken

Team Roasting Goats

Second Time Around

Sheedy

Maybes

Pickled Syzygy

McSpor Water Cooled

Nature Sprites

Slesk Family

The Runners

Steere

Molasses Crew

SSSR

Winkling

The Huxley Heartbreakers

Team Sunbeam

VanGasparich

C Squared

Snot Rocket Science

Venable

Toe Biters

Run for the Forest Run

The Sunny Sunflowers

The Mid-Englanders

Awesome Sauce.1

DADS ON THE RUN

Scooby Snacks

Cream Buffs

Candy

Sunflower Marathon and Relay May 10

For 34 years, every May, we have been running through fields of wildflowers!  

We hope you can join us Saturday, May 10th for the Sunflower Marathon and Relay!.  Gather your friends and family and form a team of 2-5 runners or tackle the full 26.2 miles from Mazama to Twisp all by yourself.  Don't wait to register, team entry is limited and sells out every year!  See you there!

Fat Bike all through April

Fat bikers taking a break at Grizzly Hut in the Rendezvous 

Attention Fat Bikers!

Starting April 1st, all the trails in the Rendezvous and all the trails at Sun Mountain will be open to fat bikes. Collectively this is 63 miles of snow-covered trails. The ski trails are the last thing to melt out each spring so you can probably expect snow trails all through April.  This is a great opportunity to continue to ride on the snow!  The best riding will be in the early morning before the snow softens.  Please obey the same conditions of use as winter as to not damage the trails. A trail pass is not required from April 1st on.  ENJOY!

Groomer Appreciation Party March 27

Our groomers perform feats of strength all winter, rising in the middle of the night and grooming up to 8 hours in the dark at a top cruising speed of 4-6 miles per hour. On good nights they go out in the snowcat, plug in their iPod and listen to the same playlist over and over again. On other nights they sit exposed to the elements on a snowmobile.

Many of you have asked..."who are these people and how can I thank them?"  Here is an opportunity to sit shoulder to shoulder with these superheros and thank them for another great season.

Thursday, March 27

Old Schoolhouse Brewery 

4:00pm - 6:00pm  

Please feel free to stop by and enjoy the company of these fantastic MVSTA employees.

2014 Grooming Team: 

Joe, Mike, Steve, Rob, James, Lliam, Mike, Torre, Ed, Alan and Jake.

Free Ski Day: Friday, March 14

 photo by Jackie Hovis 

Backyard Ski Day, Friday March 14 

The Methow Valley Sport Trails Association (MVSTA) and local community partners invite everyone to enjoy a free cross-country ski day on Friday, March 14^th.

Backyard Ski Day is a great way to experience the Methow Valley ski trails for the first time. Trail passes will not be required on this day and the event even includes free ski rentals and free ski lessons. Enjoy this barrier-free opportunity to experience the thrill of cross-country skiing. Bring your family, bring a friend, and enjoy a fantastic day outdoors on the ski trails. 

Details of the event include:

• Free trail access all day on all the MVSTA ski trails. 
• Free ski rentals can be obtained from Winthrop Mountain Sports, Methow Cycle & Sport, and the Mazama Ski School.  Reservations recommended. 
• Free, one hour cross-country ski lesson courtesy of Methow Valley Ski School will begin at 10:00am at the Corral Trailhead in Mazama.
• Free snow cat rides from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Corral Trailhead in Mazama
• Free beverages and s’mores at the Corral Trailhead in Mazama from 10:00am to 3:00pm
• Dogs also enjoy complementary trail access ( with free deer carcasses here and there.)  

Program sponsors include: Blue Sky Real Estate, Central Reservations, Chewuch Inn, Freestone Inn, Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies, Inner Passage, Lariat Coffee, Methow Cycle and Sport, Methow Valley Ski School, Nordic Ultratune, Rivers Edge Resort, Rocking Horse Bakery, Smartwool, Sun Mountain Lodge and Winthrop Mountain Sports.

For more information on Backyard Ski Day contact events@mvsta.com or Danica Ready, Program Manager at 509-996-3287.

The Methow Valley Sport Trails Association (MVSTA) is a non-profit organization that connects people to the special nature of the Methow Valley and support community vitality.

The MVSTA trail system includes over 120 miles of cross country ski trails in the winter months, and is recognized as one of the finest trail systems in North America for Nordic skiing, mountain biking, trail running and hiking.

Grooming til April 1st, Ski Pass Deal, Upcoming Events

KEEP SKIING! 

MVSTA plans to groom and keep the ski trails open until April 1st this season. An incredible opportunity to ski right into spring.  March provides some of the very best skiing of the year. The sun shines, the days are longer, the temperatures are comfortable and the trails are in great shape.  Follow the MVSTA Grooming Report for daily updates on conditions.

Trail passes will be required through March.  MVSTA is offering a special incentive...buy a season pass now for next ski season and the pass will also be good for the remainder of this year.  Passes are being offered at the early season price of just $275 per person.  You need to ski just 13 times to make a season pass worthwhile and you could do all of that this March alone!   Passes can be purchased at the MVSTA office in Winthrop.

There are a number of great events in March including:

• 200k Challenge.  If you haven't reached your 200 kilometer goal yet, keep skiing!  You have until March 13 to reach this goal. Then be sure to enter your name on the MVSTA website to be eligible for prizes. 
• Fat Bike. Have your cycled in the snow yet?   
• Winthrop Balloon Festival- March 7-9.  As if the Winthrop scenery wasn't incredible enough, over a dozen hot air balloons fill the ski for this festival.  Balloons launch in the morning and you can ski the rest of the day = Perfect!
• Backyard Ski Day- March 14  MVSTA's final "free ski day" at the Mazama Trailhead. Bring a friend who has never skied before! Come meet some of our groomers, enjoy some food and social time with new and old friends. 
• Trail Running Film Festival - March 18 at the Twisp River Pub hosted by Rainshadow Running. A great way to get inspired for some trail running after your ski season is all done.  
• See how great spring skiing is. We filmed this video in March. Note the sunshine, light jackets and fast snow!  

GROOMING TIL APRIL 1st

MVSTA's plan is to groom until April 1st.  (no joke).   We have more snow than we had last year at this time. The skiing is fantastic and  will be for weeks to come. The fat biking is also perfect with lots of packed snow. If the everyday event of incredible skiing, scenery and sun isn't enough to entice you over check out our events calendar for upcoming weekend activities.  Here are some photos from the past couple of days on the trails:

President's Day Weekend Events for Saturday, Feb. 15

It's going to be a great holiday weekend ahead with lots of new snow and great skiing. 

Here are some great events to consider for the weekend. MVSTA's full event schedule can be found here. 

The Methow Valley Nordic Holiday Ski Camp runs Saturday and Sunday (Feb 15&16). This is a great opportunity for kids to get some expert ski coaching and have a lot of fun with other kids. This camp runs from 1-4pm each afternoon.  More information can be found on the Methow Valley Nordic website. 

Try Biathlon is Saturday, Feb. 15 from 10am-1pm.  This very popular event is a great way to try the Olympic sport of Biathlon. Participants need no experience! Methow Valley Biathlon team coaches will provide instruction all in a safe environment. Bring the whole family or challenge a group of friends to join you!  First come first shoot in 30 minute time slots. Ski out to the biathlon range in Mazama to sign-up. $20 entry includes all the instruction and a souvenir photo and the event is a fundraiser for the Methow Valley Biathlon team. More information can be found here. 

The Tour of the Methow is also Saturday, Feb. 15 sponsored by the Methow Valley Nordic Club. This is a great way to challenge yourself to a lot of kilometers. There is a bus option for skiers wishing to ski from Cub Creek to Mazama.  Read more details about this option here.  There will be a fun MVSTA sponsored food/party stop for skiers in Mazama at Cow Beach shelter, (or. wai-Cow-ki Beach) all with a luau theme! More food stops are available at North Cascades Basecamp who will be grilling up some great brats for just $5 as well as the ability to stop and enjoy all your Methow Valley favorite bakeries and restaurants in Mazama and Winthrop. This event is a celebration of skiing and a fun way to enjoy the day with family and friends. It's also a great way to rack up a bunch of kilometers for MVSTA's 200k Challenge. More details on the Tour of the Methow can be found on the Methow Valley Nordic website. 

Current Ski Trail Conditions

The skiing right now is the best of the season!  Here are some photos from the trails from the past few days.

Rendezvous Race Photos Courtesy of Mitchell Image

Here are some great photos from Mitchell Image from the Rendezvous Race on Saturday.  Congratulations to Tav Streit from Hoodriver, Oregon on taking the win and Laura Mccabe for finishing as the first female.

Full race results can be found here.

Pictures below maybe purchased at high resolution from Mitchell Image.

Click on photo to view album.

MVSTA Pursuit 2014 ©stephenMITCHELL photos