Skykomish is the classic ski town where the locals who work at the ski
resort live and hang out and affectionately call the town "Sky". This
town is full of history and has old railroad cars that you can
tour. The town hosted the Artrain USA event this spring. There is a
library, quilt store, vintage stove shop and a city hall. The main
attraction in town is the Whistling Post. Here you can talk to local
skiers and even participate in a raffle to guess the date of the first
snowfall. The Whistling Post has food, beer and liquor. It is the
closest bar to the cabin. This is where we like to hang out when we have
cabin fever.

Also in Skykomish is the Cascadia Inn Café & Lounge. A great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner if you don’t feel like cooking. It is the closest restaurant to the cabin.

Here is a link to info and history about the town of Skykomish as well as a great aerial photo.

First & Last Chance Espresso is just 1/8th of a mile from the cabin towards Skykomish. If you are really jones-ing for a real latte (instead of the great cup of java you could make yourself at the cabin) head over to see Cynthia and she will make you a great latte complete with chocolate covered espresso beans on top. She also has lots of eclectic things for sale and a house full of talking parrots. This is the closest place to get a latte to the cabin.

If you are heading up skiing, Stevens Pass has hot food & bar service available during normal ski season pass operations.

Leavenworth is wonderful. It is a perfect day trip and approximately 40 minutes from the cabin over the pass. It is a Bavarian theme town and has an event practically every weekend of the year. It is very hot in the summer and there are great places to drink beer and eat pretzels and shop to your hearts content. In the winter it is a magical winter wonderland and the whole town is lit up with Christmas lights. There are lots of things to do and much recreation nearby. There is a miniature golf course in town and horseback riding and rafting nearby. Drive down the Icicle River Road for the trailhead to hikes up to the Alpine Wilderness or have a picnic beside the river. Make sure you bring plenty of water for the trip as it gets very hot. Also the weather can change very quickly so make sure you have jacket.

Winter is wonderful in the cascades and there are so many things to do. It is always fun to wake up to a fresh blanket of snow on the ground.

Skiing & Snow Shoeing
Of course skiing is one of the main attractions in the winter. Stevens Pass is 13 miles from the cabin. Drive carefully and make sure you have 4 wheel drive or chains. If it is snowing and chains or traction tires are required, you will get pulled over by the state patrol and they will make you turn around if you don’t have chains. You can pick up chains at Les Schwab and keep them in your trunk. If you don’t end up using them they can be returned at the end of winter. Also make sure you keep an eye on how much it is snowing during the day because driving down the mountain in the dark after a day of skiing can be a slow trip home. Drive slowly as there are often accidents and spin outs.

Stevens Pass is one of the Northwest's premier resorts offering 10 lifts, over 1,125 acres of skiable terrain, and 37 primary runs. Cross-Country and night skiing are also offered. Stevens Pass Ski area is located on the crest of the Cascade Range. It receives an average of 450 inches of snowfall each year. The ski area still retains the charm and characteristics that make it such a fabulous family area, but also contains an abundance of terrain for more adventurous skiers. It is situated at a base area elevation of 4,061. The Nordic Center features 25 km of wide, groomed trails and offers both traditional tracked trails and adjoining skating lanes for different skiing styles and abilities. The center is located five miles east of the Stevens Pass Ski Area on Highway 2. 2006 was an unbelievable season as far as snowfall. Keep your fingers crossed for this year!

Skiers and boarders who love adventure and luxury--take note! Cascade Powder Cats is now just north of Seattle and offers you the chance to rip it on a minimum of 10,000 vertical feet (6 to 15 runs a day, depending on which slopes they access). Not only that, but they will transport you in one of their 10 person, fully enclosed and heated Snow Cats. Enjoy the spectacular view of the Cascade Mountains while you savor snacks, beverages, and a gourmet lunch.

There are ski rentals available for skis and snowboards at the pass and at the Nordic Center east of the pass. To save money and time you can rent them ahead of time in Gold Bar at The Hill Billies (360-793-0221). Info & trail maps for cross country skiing call (360) 902-8552. Both Stevens Pass Nordic Center (25k of groomed trails) 5 miles east of Stevens Pass Ski Area (360) 973-2441 and Lake Wenatchee State Park at Hwy 207 (509) 763-3101 have groomed trails. They also run a nice guided snowshoe tours during the winter on Saturdays and Sundays. It is on the website and usually advertised in The Seattle Times.

Miller River Road, half-way between Baring & Skykomish, is a good cross country skiing and snowshoeing destination when the snow level is low (2,000ft). pass. The closest snowmobile area is Foss River Road at the end of Tye River Road but there are no rentals available.

Foss River Road (at the end of Tye River Road) is also a good place for cross country skiing. The snowmobiles create a nice groomed trail. Watch out for cars on the road as you ski.

You can call the ranger station for current trail info, trail passes and snow conditions. Click here for their hours of operation.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Rafting/Kayaking
The Skykomish River offers some of the most adventuresome commercially guided white water rafting and kayaking in Washington. There are several local companies that offer professionally guided rafting adventures in the area such as, Chinook Expeditions , and Osprey Rafting Company at www.riverrider.com. Osprey also has a school of kayaking. Alpine Adventures offers guided whitewater river rafting trips in Washington State . There is good info at www.americanwhitewater.org

There are class IV-V rapids, which thousands of rafters and kayakers conquer yearly during the spring, early summer, and fall. Spring and early summer are the best times for rafting, as the water level is usually too low by mid to late July, depending upon snow pack and current rainfall. There are also gentle family floats on parts of the Skykomish River. Make sure you scope the river before going by yourself and check in with a rafting company as there are many dangerous waterfalls that need to be avoided.

Fishing
The Skykomish River offers great fishing for steelhead, salmon, and trout most of the year. The best fishing months are October - December. The Skykomish River splits just below the town of Index. The main part of the river as well as the North and South Forks offer good steelhead and trout fishing. http://wdfw.wa.gov/outreach/fishing/highlake.htm


The fishing season is June 1-Nov. 30 for most game fish; but due to the falls (Sunset, Canyon and Eagle) there is limited fishing until the fish elevator goes into operation, usually late July through October, bringing up steelhead and spawning salmon (illegal to catch spawning salmon). There is rainbow, cutthroat and bull trout in the river system, and the best fishing is mid-July through October. You can fish in the Tye River across the street from the cabin. The best access is to walk or drive down Foss River Road and find a quiet spot. Lake fishing opens the last Saturday of April. A WA fishing license is required and there are frequent rule changes. Contact Dept of Fish and Wildlife for more information. Fishing licenses can be purchased on-line, or in Monroe at Fred Meyer or at Sky Valley Traders on Hwy 2. http://wdfw.wa.gov/

There is also Fishing at Reiter Ponds. 453 Reiter Road, Gold Bar, WA 98251. 360-793-1423 or 360-793-0475.


Hiking
Some of the best Washington hiking and mountain biking trails are found in the foothills of the North Cascade Mountains. Hiking is one of the more popular local activities and there are dozens of close-by hiking trails to choose from ranging from easy walks through the woods for the family to strenuous climbs for the more athletic. You can hike to waterfalls, trout lakes with crystal clear water surrounded by wildflowers, historical lookout towers, old growth forests, and to spectacular mountain top viewpoints. The normal hiking season is from April through October, but even during the winter there are some trails accessible. Hikes to higher elevations (above 4000ft) are usually snow-free by the end of July, but most of the trails will be hiked long belong then by eager hikers who pack the snow down. All trailheads can be reached by 2WD vehicles. There are trails at the cabin in the binder that you can use to find a good hike.

Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest

Pacific Crest Trail

Iron Goat Trail


Waterfalls
Wallace Falls
A moderately difficult 5-mile round-trip trail in Wallace Falls State Park takes you to the beautiful waterfall visible between Sultan and Goldbar. Hikeable year round. Elevation gain is 1,200 ft.

Deception Falls Nature Trail
An easy, scenic 1-mile round-trip walk along the Tye River. Hikeable year-round.

Bridal Veil Falls

Eagle Falls

Canyon Falls

Alpine & Sunset Falls


Doolittle Park - Bicycling/Motorcycling
A well-maintained asphalt road takes you through several miles of national forest along the North Fork Skykomish River, contact the Skykomish Ranger Station (360-677-2414).

Heybrook & Evergreen lookout towers


Wellington train disaster site
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5127
http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2231/places/58496/
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/events/1910avalanche.htm

Abandoned logging roads make great mountain biking and 4-wheeling roads.

Railroad History-Iron Goat Trail
For railroad buffs, the 7.8 mile Cascade Tunnel can be visited on the way to Stevens Pass, and the wheelchair accessible Iron Goat Trail retraces the path of the original railroad grade, avalanche sheds and the original 3-mile Cascade Tunnel. There is an interesting history of turn-of-the century mining endeavors in this area, and some of the mines can still be visited.

Rock Climbing
For rock climbers there is the vertical 500 ft Index Town Wall, featuring some of the most technical rock climbing anywhere in the state. There is one 5.6 route on the Great Northern Slab, and a handful of 5.7 and 5.8 routes as well. The majority of the routes at Index are aid routes and steep crack climbs. A few of the classic routes in the area include a three star 5.9 route named Godzilla and Town Crier.
http://www.climbingwashington.com/features/rcwindex.htm

Horsebackriding
Horses are available at Skyland Ranch in Gold Bar 360-793-2611.


Other Good Links

www.experiencewashington.com
www.parks.wa.gov
http://www.cascadeloop.com/
http://www.stevenspassgreenway.com
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/about/srd.shtml

These are only some of the many things to do in the area. If you have something else in mind, just google it and I’m sure you will find lots of good links.