Fall Getaway

It was my turn this month to pick a getaway trip for us (we've decided to take turns). Our dermatologist recommended Sun Mountain Lodge to me, and we got a good deal on a fall package rate.

Sun Mountain Lodge is a four hour drive over the scenic North Cascades Highway to the Methow Valley. The high point is Washington Pass, which is almost 5,500'. The Lodge itself is around 3,000'. We had nice weather until the drive back; it was raining and 37 degrees at the top of the pass.

 Two views from the observation point by Washington Pass

Sun Mountain is 10 miles SW of the small town of Winthrop, founded in 1891, population 400+. It's probably had a couple of coats of paint since then, but still looks original.

After checking in, we went back to town for dinner in the one recommended restaurant there, Arrow Leaf (venison ossobuco, bison meatloaf). Driving down and back in early evening was exciting because the Methow Valley is home to the largest concentration of mule deer anywhere. Herds were grazing in all the pastures around, and they often venture onto the road. We had to slow to let one cross. Another close by was not so lucky.

Debby and I hung out around a beaver pond for a lot of our one full day there. We walked for over 3 hours, and later I went out for over an hour.  My foot tolerated it well.

Candid of me on the prowl in the bush

Debby on our favorite bench

View of pond from our bench

Debby spied this apparent seed carrier and I snapped it

Through young aspens

Patterson lake (boating available)

From lodge back up Methow Valley to the high country

The lower ranch buildings with horse stock and a couple of tennis courts.

The rear of the lodge

Pool

Yours truly through the garden

Fall color aspens in late afternoon sun

 Autumnal equinox sunset

Debby switched us to one of their four fireplace rooms on our second night. I loaded it up with large logs and the embers were still glowing the next morning. The staff were very helpful and courteous and we had a great, relaxing two days (retirement is just too busy for us).

Sun Mountain is designed mostly for folks like us. Pets are not allowed, and since there is not much there for children to do, we did not see any children there either. The lodge is well appointed with a collection of trophy racks (that is, animal heads with big horns hanging on the walls). The hotel food was fine, with homemade ice creams and butters.

The highway over and back is scenic and fun to drive. We seem to have found the rhythm of the area's mid-week vacationers, stopping for a bite not quite half way at a small eatery that was first introduced to us by the local Parks and Rec folk while on a birding excursion. We saw the same people stopped there that we later saw at the lodge and in Winthrop. (Actually I noticed two of the same cars, a Porsche and an Aston Martin; some here in the NW apparently are able to shrug off the recession.)