Thrill seekers or simply mountain lovers, go to Winthrop! For a weekend or longer, live the heliskiing experience or simply enjoy the beautiful slopes in the heart of nature just 5 hours from Seattle.
Heliskiing
North Cascade Heli offers one-day or multi-day excursions. Large basins, corridors surrounded by granite cliffs and arrows, skiing through the clearings, and the trees: you have everything you need! Your typical day trip starts with an avalanche safety briefing and a helicopter ride with your certified guide. You will then be given your mandatory avalanche safety equipment: an ARVA, a shovel and a probe, as well as an avalanche airbag.
You are ready to go! Your day will consist of 7 runs. You will usually start descending at around 1,500 miles and stop at 0,900 miles – This high alpine area offers excellent powder snow almost inaccessible without a helicopter. Nothing in the Pacific Northwest compares to the skiing/snowboarding experience you will get with a heliskiing trip from Mazama.
Nordic skiing, cross-country skiing
The Methow Valley Nordic Ski Area is the largest in the United States (200 kilometers), you will never tire of the ski trails. The resort is so large that you will feel as though you were going off into the unknown, alone. It is a paradise for winter sports and one of the olympic athletes favorite spots. But it is also a welcoming and rewarding place for novice cross-country skiers who take their first staggering steps. You will be able to buy your pass ($25) and rent your equipment if necessary.
Other activities in winter:
Skiing, cycling, skating, snowshoeing, ice skating . . . the choice is great!
You can ride the trail on a Fat Bike or snowshoe, and there is alpine skiing and even sledding at the nearby Loup Ski Bowl. Winthrop also has an outdoor skating rink near the start of the cross-country ski trail.
Winthrop in the middle of winter is an experience to try!
Translated by Clémence
