By Erika Kar
Spring is definitely here, ushering in a season of growth and newness. Eric Burr reports that the first flowers are peeking out on south facing slopes. On March 29, seven Methow At Home hikers counted Spring Beauties and Yellow Bells as the first bloomers up on the old Spokane Gulch trail across from Mazama.
Eric goes on to say that at Fun Rock, a short scramble to the top of these popular roadside sport climbing crags will reward flower buffs with the first Sage Buttercups, over on the west side of the little series of ledges adjacent the upper sport climbers’ bolts. You will need to park along the road, as the parking lot is still snowed in, as are some of the higher trails. If you are interested in some early spring hikes, check in at Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies or Mazama Country Inn for trail reports and maps.
We are also seeing other new things popping up all over Mazama, besides all the old dog poop that had been covered up for the last four months. New businesses!
Have you been wondering what is going on in between the Mazama Store and the Windermere building? It is the site for the new and expanded Goat’s Beard. For now, it looks like just some felled trees, but before we know it, construction will be underway. The parking area at the site will need to be kept clear to make room for trucks, not such an issue during this shoulder season, but once things start picking up, the handy dandy Methow Trails parking lot is just a short walk from the store and its use is encouraged.
What is going to go in the current Goat’s Beard building, you ask? It is still in the rumor category, as I have not heard it directly from the mouth of a LeDuc, but an anonymous source tells me that the long-awaited pub may finally happen. That’s right, Mazama, a pub of our very own. And that will be in addition to the new pizza restaurant going into the former Kelly’s location at Wesola Polana.
Finally, we have Alex Gehring’s yoga classes being held at the squash court at the Mazama Country Inn. Alex is a certified yoga instructor offering $5 yoga classes that are appropriate for all levels. She is a nurse practitioner and athlete who believes that yoga offers a path to improved psychological and physical health. You can check out what she is doing this April on Wednesdays and Friday from 8-9 a.m. No class on April 27.
Happy April!
