http://www.methowoutdoors.com Outdoor living in the Methow Valley Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:00:40 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en  Here are a few photos of the Monument Fire, which was sparked by lightning in early August.  The Monument Fire is located up the Lost River near Mazama and is on a ridge south of Pistol Peaks.  It is too dangerous to staff and was kept in check by retardant. Photo ... http://www.methowoutdoors.com/2008/08/23/monument-fire/   Photo taken from a ridge south of Buck Mountain, looking to the south. http://www.methowoutdoors.com/2008/08/22/photo-of-the-day-3/    An unknown lake (known to someone, just not me) in the Sawtooth Wilderness near Twisp. http://www.methowoutdoors.com/2008/08/21/photo-of-the-day-2/ Sunday's destination was Lookout Mountain, a high point 4 miles southwest of Twisp that is home to a forest fire lookout.  The trail begins at an elevation of 4,300 feet and climbs to the lookout at an elevation of 5,515 feet over a distance of about 1.3 miles.  The beginning section of the ... http://www.methowoutdoors.com/2008/06/08/lookout-mountain-412/ Located within the 5,600 acre Big Buck Wildlife Area, Aspen Lake makes a perfect quick outting during the spring season.  This weekend, being Memorial Weekend, usually means tons of people at all the snow-free trails, but not here.  We only met a handful of hikers and four people on horseback.  ... http://www.methowoutdoors.com/2008/05/24/aspen-lake/ Here is one of two beautiful white ptarmigans spotted on a snowy hillside on Sunday during a trip up the North Cascades Highway behind the gate.  http://www.methowoutdoors.com/2008/04/27/photo-of-the-day/ Thursday is the big day, the day the North Cascades Highway opens.  While the reopening of the pass is seen as a positive event for many people, for some of us it marks the end of a period of solitude and freedom from speeding cars.  There is a golden time between ... http://www.methowoutdoors.com/2008/04/27/we-have-until-thursday/ Winter just doesn't want to let go.  Last weekend the valley received snow here and there.  By Monday morning there was up to a few inches of new snow in some places.  Three of us decided to test it out with a trip up to Loup Loup.  Driving in, we ... http://www.methowoutdoors.com/2008/04/23/somewhat-spring-skiing/ Ahhh, the first day of Spring.  The birds are comming back, the highway department is about to start work on clearing the pass, and I've seen the first Spring Beauties in bloom.  And it snowed overnight, but only a skiff.  Spring is coming and with it hopefully more frequent updates ... http://www.methowoutdoors.com/2008/03/20/hello-springi-think/ It's snowing in the upper valley! There's been a few inches of nice champagne powder so far.  If you like playing in the fresh snow, today's the day. http://www.methowoutdoors.com/2008/01/29/snow-update/