Spring Time in January!

Right on cue, snow came for Christmas. Currently we are at about 75% of the normal snowpack for this time of year. Normally, at this time of year there are no grasses visible through the snow. We need one more snow to make the meadow a sea of white.

Our snowpack usually peaks the first week in February. It will be interesting to see if we catch up to normal later in January or February.

Today at Camas it felt like spring with the air temperature at 40 degrees. The warm weather has settled the snowpack and it is in good condition for skiing. All we need now is some powder snow on top of the pack for perfect conditions.

On those years with early springs, our ski and snow season ends in early March. A late spring can extend the season into the first week of April.

January is half gone and Camas is rented every weekend but the last weekend in January. February is open, including President's Day weekend. Book now before the snow and skiing becomes a memory, and you missed this year's opportunity!

Blue Sunny Skies with Skiffs of Snow

We have had a warm and sunny fall at Camas Meadows. Well, it was warm and sunny until this week when the high were in the teens and the lows reached all the way to minus eight. Fortunately, in eastern Washington it is a "dry" cold! So even the cold temperatures feel much warmer than the thermometer would indicate...when you are standing in the sun. However, standing in the shade means you feel every one of those minus degrees,, but a couple more logs in the wood stove bring the temperatures back into the 70's.

We have had a few dark and stormy days, as the November picture posted below shows. These cold days will bring the important snow base for skiing and sledding. We have had several minor snowstorms, but nothing like the two plus feet on the ground this time last year. In the past 12 years, only one year has not provided enough snow for skiing by Christmas. Even the dark and stormy days have a beauty all of their own and you can watch it out the windows next to a warm and glowing fire.


There has been enough snow for building a sledding hill!

One of joys of owning Camas Meadows Lodge is sharing the "caben" with the "other" owners. Most of them are well under the age of ten. Camas Meadows is a special place for starting their memories. Come and start your own special memories of Camas Meadows.

We are open until late December.

December 26th through December 29th is booked.

We are open for New Year's weekend and until January 8th.

All the following weekends in January are booked. We still are open on weekdays.

Start your winter memories of Camas Meadows this season.

Making Memories at Camas Meadows

Update: September 28. The aspen as turning gold right now. Peak color season will be for the next three weeks. We are booked this weekend October 2nd. The remainder of the color season is still open. Book your golden memories of Camas Meadows soon!!

There are accommodations and then there are special places. Camas Meadow Lodge provides a place to rest, enjoy great meal with your favorite wine, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

The Aspen are just starting to turn color in the meadow. In a couple of weeks, the trees will be brilliant gold under a deep blue sky.

Come and listen to the elk bugling back and forth in the meadow throughout the night. There is a lot more bugling going on this fall. It looks like some of the young bulls are going to challenge the Old Bull Elk for the harem. The bugling has been mixed with the sound of the aspen branches cracking as the bulls bang their racks against the aspen trees.

Here is a picture of a young bull slowly skirting the harem. We are not sure if he is the one bellowing all night long. Probably not, since he is avoiding making eye contact with the old bull.

Everyone needs to create their own special memories. Come and find out if the old bull loses his harem this year, or if the young buck still has a lot to learn. We're rooting for him and took opening picture of him and his ladies so he can put it up on the wall of " the old elk's home" when the time comes.

These pictures was taken through the spotting scope from our deck at Camas Meadows.

We do not know when the elk herd will decide to move down to their winter range along the Columbia River, but they should be there for a few more weeks. The fall colors are just getting started and will continue through October. After the aspen, the larch will start changing color.

We are booked the weekend of September 17th and October 2nd. The other weekends are still open. For those planning farther ahead, Thanksgiving and all of the holiday season is open.

Book now so you can have your own special memories of fall in Camas Meadows.

At Camas the Milky Way is not a candy bar.

It is starting to be summer at the meadow. The meadow is turning from green to brown. Three Brothers is rapidly losing its mantle of snow. Summer nights at the meadow turn into magic as the Milky Way pinwheels across the night sky. So if your child thinks the Milky Way is a candy bar rather than the home galaxy bring them to Camas Meadows. The summer nights feature meteors streaking across the sky. The Milky Way is all its glory as it stretches from horizon to horizon. Studies show that 75% of us live we the Milky Way is not visible. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of adults and children have never seen the Milky Way.

Bring your binoculars and telescopes to experience the night sky that can only be seen on a high mountain meadow on the east slopes of Cascades.

The warmer weather means the elk herd is so moving up the mountain side. They should be back in the meadow by September. As you drive the north side of the meadow there is an elk wallow a hundred yards below the road. It shows how close to the surface there is water in the meadow. It did not take long for the elk to find the spring and create a small pond that they can cool off and coat themselves with mud.

We are booked from July 20th through July 26th. We have openings from July 27th through August 2nd. Then we are once again booked from August 3rd through August 19th.

Labor Day and weekends in September and October are still open. Fall colors should be starting in late September peaking the middle of October. September and October are great times to be visiting Camas Meadows. The days are warm and sunny while the nights are cooler, but those starts are just a bright.

For those looking ahead to winter skiing and snow. Both Christmas and New Years are still open.

Everything Happened at Once!!

It has been a cool, but sunny spring. Then everything happened at once! The elk returned to the meadow. This year's count is 27. The Sandhill Cranes left to start raising their young. The flowers started blooming. The aspen buds burst open and now we can hear the rustle of aspen leaves once again.

For one of our younger guests it was not the elk, flowers or the kid toys upstairs that caught her attention, but the frogs. Every spring, at dusk the frog chorus starts up and continues well after dark. At the age of two, this was her first experience with the frog chorus. She sat quietly for twenty minutes and just listened.

She then announced to her parents that she wanted to come back to "her cabin" soon. But don't worry! you can still make Camas "your cabin" by calling soon to reserve your week or long weekend this summer.

As the meadow is drying, the frog chorus will soon fall silent. However, the bugling of the elk and the bird songs will still be there to enthrall both the young and old.

We have plenty of openings in the upcoming summer months. The 4th of July and Labor Day holidays are still open. The Perseid meteor shower in August is still open. Summer at the meadow will be going until Labor Day!

Sandhill Cranes and Camas Meadows

In May of 2004 our guests from Minnesota noticed a couple of large birds in the meadow. They were Sandhill Cranes visiting Camas Meadows for the first time. They must have liked the meadow for they have been coming back every year since 2004. The Cranes would show up just as snow melt started in the meadow and would depart as the meadow started drying out.

We were not quite sure why they kept coming back year after year even though Camas Meadows does not offer good habitat for nesting and particularly the rearing of young. Well this spring our neighbor caught the Cranes in their "mating dance". It seems that the Cranes were using the meadow as a romantic start to raising their families.

For five years now the Cranes have been back for their spring honeymoon. You can catch the Cranes through the spotting scope at the lodge. They are usually gone as the meadow dries out later in May. We are not sure where they go after their "honeymoon" at Camas. But every year at this time they are back at Camas Meadows.

Last week we were skiing on the meadow. This week the snow clings only to the north side of the meadow. By this weekend we suspect all the snow will be gone. On the south facing slopes the Glacier Lily's and Spring Beauties are out in full force. Wildflower season has started and will continue through mid June.

Come join the Sandhill Cranes and the returning elk herd for spring at Camas Meadows. This is our favorite time of year with wildflowers blooming, snow capped peaks, and sunshine with a deep blue luster to the sky. This is the reason that come May the Sandhill Cranes and elk head for Camas Meadows to join the mountain bluebirds and other wildlife on the meadow.

Unlike the Cranes and elk you do have to make reservations to stay at Camas Meadows. Fortunately, we still have plenty of vacancies in May!

Wildflowers Coming Soon!!

The winters at Camas start with heavy snowfall and cold temperatures. They end with sunny, warm days. Today we went skiing on the meadow for the last time this season. The snow is rapidly melting. The road to the cabin is ready for travel, totally melted out and dried. The snow only lingers in the meadow and the north facing slopes.

It was great skiing in the warm sunshine. When you kick with the skis, the glide goes on forever. The mysterious ice sheets of Camas Meadows are still there and they came in handy for crossing Camas Creek as it flows through the meadow. The ski trip was followed by a glass of wine and a nap in the LaFuma recliners on the deck in the sunshine.

The first Glacier Lilies were spotted along Camas Creek road!. It will not be long until wildflower season is in full swing at the meadow. The elk herd, as always, is expected to show on April 15th. I must admit it is the only thing we look forward to on April 15! The forecast for the rest of the week is to be in the mid 70's, so the last reminder of the loooong winter will disappear this week as the snow retreats and the meadow greens for the arrival of the elk. Then the camas will appear and blue blossoms will cover the meadow to herald in the wildflower season in full glory.

April and May are the best times at Camas Meadows. The days are generally warm and sunny with cool nights. The elk herd is in the meadow and the birds and other wildlife are active as spring gets into full swing.

There is nothing like May flowers in eastern Washington. If you can only make one trip to Camas Meadows... May is the time to be here!! We are booked for Memorial Day weekend, but other weekends are still open including the romantic full moon weekend of May 9th.