Winter Magazine 2018

6 | Methow Trails Methow Trails was formed in many ways as a balanced response to the 1974 proposed Aspen Ski Corporation alpine ski resort at Early Winters. 42 years later we are refining a recreationalist’s paradise and striving to maintain the balanced approach on which we started. The making of the trails hasn’t been as simple as providing world-class trails and inviting people to use them. At key moments in our history we have made very thoughtful decisions intended to keep the special nature of the Methow intact. There are many examples of this throughout our community, including overwhelming support for the Methow Headwaters Campaign to protect the upper Methow Valley from large-scale mining. There’s also the the way our community pulled together to fight and recover from three major wildfires over the past five years. The Methow owes its uniqueness in large part to these efforts to safeguard irreplaceable environmental resources - and the social fabric that values them. It’s a community – of residents, businesspeople, and visitors – that listens to one another to reach a consensus about the right balance between old and new and big or small, blending the rare with the everyday and adventure with comfort. Our connection to each other and our natural environment should continue to grow in order to maintain a balanced and sustainable community and trail system. That is why this winter we are launching an ongoing outreach campaign to help focus our projects for the next decade and beyond. One way to connect is through a survey you can find at www.methowtrails.org/survey and another is through our new Outreach and Access Manager, Erika Halm at erika@methowtrails.org. We look forward to hearing from you not only this year, but every year, as the members and needs of our community change and as recreation opportunities and challenges evolve. If we’ve done our job right, your connection to the Methow Valley should grow. My family and I have many adventures in and around the Methow and we often joke with some genuine seriousness that “this tastes better because we are up in the hills,” or “this feels better because we are outside.” With living, working, and recreating outside as the center of so many lives in the Methow, residents and visitors alike sense that almost all aspects of life feel better here. Think of how your breathing slows, your heart rate lowers, and your face bends upward as you drive into the Methow and reflect on adventures you’ve had and adventures to come. With your input we hope to keep the Methow this way for generations to come. On that note, it is my absolute honor to welcome you to our trail network and to the Methow Valley community that has created a balance that very few places have been able to achieve. Enjoy! 42 Years of Trail Experiences James DeSalvo Executive Director Favorite Summer Trail? Paterson Lake trail with a dip at the south end of the lake Favorite Winter Trail? Cedar Creek Loop, best early- and late- season snow Favorite evening activity? Hockey under the lights at the rink Do you ski more miles than you walk? Definitely in the winter Most important tip to make you a better skier? Ski with someone who makes you smile Methow Community Trail Take the community outreach survey! MethowTrails.org/survey