Methow

By Joanna Bastian The 2018-2019 winter race season is right around the corner, and Christina Gibson is ready to mush with her team of Alaskan Huskies. After a successful run at the mid-distance Junior Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska last winter, Christina, 17, has her sights set on competing as an adult this year […]

By Joanna Bastian It was an honor to meet Sandra Warriors Pistol Bullet, a student intern at the Methow Valley Interpretive Center (MVIC). Her story was featured on the front page of the Methow Valley News last week, written by Ashley Ahearn. To celebrate Sandra’s internship, the Methow Valley Interpretive Center and the Methow Native […]

By Joanna Bastian We recently enjoyed a dinner with friends from Singapore. Our friends joked about the common American greeting, “How’s it going?” My friend spoke in amused amazement about the number of people who would walk by him, make eye contact, smile amicably, and say, “How’s it going?” Before our friend could answer, the […]

By Joanna Bastian Holy smokes, Batman! Finding clean pockets of air is like jockeying for good seats at a concert. At a concert, if you’re lucky, you can reserve perfect seats with a great view. Otherwise, you and your crew spread out strategically and whistle or howl when the good seats are found and secured. […]

By Joanna Bastian Three wild horsewomen would like to share their recent Mongolian experience by bringing their Mongolian guide to the Methow Valley. Robin Baire, Lorah Super and Jil Wickander recently completed a two-week guided horseback tour through the UNESCO world heritage sites and national parks of Mongolia. Impressed with the experience, they asked their […]

By Joanna Bastian Most of our dinners are planned around what is available this time of year. Last night, our dinner consisted of a roasted vegetable sauce smothered over potatoes and scrambled eggs. A side salad of cucumbers and fresh-picked tomatoes still warm from the sun rounded out the meal. The sauce is a favorite […]

By Joanna Bastian Outside the U.S. Post Office in Carlton, Lorraine Wagner deftly snaps an American flag to the flagpole and raises the red, white and blue until it unfurls in the cool morning breeze. Old Glory is not the only colorful item swaying in the breeze. The garden bed along the walkway is a […]

By Joanna Bastian A fun thing I might do again, but not anytime soon, is the 4.5-mile, 4,000-foot climb to Scatter Lake. First, I need to regain feeling in my quadriceps, gluteals, hamstrings, calves and foot flexors. The entire group of muscles in each leg feels like a tub of Jell-O. Or like that wind […]

By Joanna Bastian Danford “Danny” Miller raised a well-traveled American flag on Memorial Day. After waving in wind currents around the globe, the broad stripes and bright stars came to rest in the Methow Valley. This particular Old Glory is seen as a symbol of what connects us all: life, liberty and the pursuit of […]

By Joanna Bastian The Fifth Annual Salmon Bake and Cultural Celebration is happening on Saturday, June 23, along the banks of the Columbia River at Pateros Memorial Park. Music, art, games and savory food all benefit the Pateros-Brewster Community Resource Center (www.paterosresource.com), a valuable connection to health and human services. Randy Lewis and friends will […]