Ample snow helps the Methow’s tourism economy rebound
By Don Nelson
Kristen Smith was able to offer a first-hand, up-to-date account of how the Methow Valley’s winter recreation season is going when a reporter caught up with her on Monday (Jan. 5). She was out cross country skiing, encountering other skiers from places like Portland, Oregon, and St. Louis, Missouri — and answering her cell phone.
Smith, who is the marketing director for both Methow Trails and the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, has been fielding a lot of calls lately, many from people already on their way to the Methow or planning a winter trip.
The report she’s able to offer them is good: excellent conditions throughout the valley’s 200-kilometer network of groomed trails. That’s a stark contrast to one year ago, when lack of snow and relatively balmy temperatures put an early crimp in the winter season. Some events such as the annual Ski Rodeo and Backyard Ski Day were canceled for lack of adequate snow while Methow Trails (then known as Methow Valley Sport Trails Association) worked hard to keep about a fourth of its trails open. A month of steady snow in February helped the valley recover somewhat.
This year, groomed Nordic ski trails began opening before Thanksgiving, and Loup Loup Ski Bowl — which had a minuscule season last year — opened for alpine skiing on Dec. 21.
Smith said she believes that December will be a record-shattering month, both in terms of ski trail passes sold by Methow Trails and motel-hotel occupancy taxes that are collected to support tourism marketing. She’s confident that January will be just as strong.
Then there’s the anecdotal and observational evidence from local businesses that have been overwhelmed by visitors over the year-end holidays. Anyone who was in the valley the past couple of weeks could not have failed to notice the heavy vehicle, foot, ski, skate and fat bike traffic.
“Opening before Thanksgiving Day was enormous for us,” Smith said. “I’ve had an unbelievable number of calls at the [Winthrop] visitors center.”
Smith said the well-packed snow base that has already accumulated will sustain the Nordic ski season even if there is no more snow. Even Monday’s rain won’t be a problem, she said, because it will help the base become more packed.
C.P. Grosenick, in his first year as general manager of Loup Loup Ski Bowl, is similarly confident that the downhill skiing base — approximately 42 inches — is adequate to last the season.
“We’ve had steady crowds,” he said. “We’ve been busy with individual lessons, group lessons and rentals, and the tubing hill is busy too.” The Wolf Den restaurant in the lodge has been packed as well, he said.
“The conditions are absolutely perfect,” Grosenick added late last week.
“We couldn’t have asked for better timing for a storm,” he said of the snowfall around Thanksgiving. “That’s what gave us our base. It’s critical for all of us to be open during the holidays.”
Sharla Lynn, manager of the Winthrop Ice & Sports Rink, said that despite a late start the rink’s business took off over the holidays. Between Dec. 27 and Jan. 4, more than 2,000 skaters paid admission, and that doesn’t include those holding season passes or kids under age 5.
“We did great business,” Lynn said. “Just about every person out there gets a smile on their face.” One little girl was having such a good time that she shed tears when she had to leave the rink, Lynn said.
Warmer daytime temperatures were making ice time a “touch and go” proposition this week, Lynn said, but a retreat to below-freezing temperatures should remedy that.
“It’s kind of nerve-wracking,” Lynn said. “Hopefully, we’ll be OK.”
