Camas Meadows

Blog for Camas Meadows Lodge™. Located on Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve outside of Leavenworth, Washington. http://www.camasmeadowslodge.com All materials and photos copyrighted 2006-2017©

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

White Spring.....update March 17th.






Usually about President's Day in February winter totally changes its character. This is our favorite time of winter. The days become warm and sunny though the nights are still cold. The powder snow is replaced by the corn snow of spring. Now you can ski in any direction from the lodge. The snow is firm enough that you do not have to follow ski tracks anymore. Snowshoeing is much easier as you do not sink into the snow.

As long as the nights stay above freezing the snowmelt is greatly slowed. However, once the night time temperatures get above freezing the melt becomes much more rapid. We still have about three feet of snow out on the meadow. On the south facing slopes we are down to a couple of feet. Even the songbirds have returned and you can hear their songs in the trees. I think there is more bird songs on the sunny days.

It is really more spring with snow than winter. Which is why maybe this season should be renamed White Spring. Bring clothes for layering as it can get warm out in the sunshine. You need to put on sunscreen since the reflection of the sun off the snow can over tan exposed skin. Laying on the LaFuma recliners in the sunshine can easily result in an unplanned nap!


It is a special time at Camas, but it is only around for about a month. The White Spring season will probably end sometime at the end of March. The days have been warm and sunny, but the nights have stayed below freezing slowing the snow melt. However, as you can tell by the photos portions of Camas Creek are now open in the meadow. Soon the stream will effectively split the meadow in two. The Forest Service 7200 road since it is north facing will hold the snow probably into April.

We have openings for the White Spring season. We are booked from March 27th through March 30th. So bring your sunscreen, skies or use our snowshoes for exploring the meadow. Enjoy the sunshine and the snow before it is gone for another year.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

It is easy being green in the sunshine......

Camas Meadows is only twenty minutes away from Leavenworth and thirty minutes from Wenatchee. Many folks are surprised to find such a pristine and beautiful setting so close to town. In the early 1990's most of Camas Meadows was purchased by the Nature Conservancy and the state of Washington establishing Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve. So now is preserved for future generations, but prior to that the entire meadow was privately held.

Camas Meadows was heavily used by the Native Americans prior to settlers moving in and was one of the earliest areas to be homesteaded in the Leavenworth area. So how did it remain so pristine?

Simple, Camas Meadows is off-the-grid. We generate our own power with 18 solar panels that each generate 80 watts of power. The panels charge the battery bank for power at night. And if we have an unusual string of cloudy days the computer automatically starts the generator to recharge the batteries. Generally, from March to September the panels generate all the power that is needed. During the winter months, the generator will start if we have a string of cloudy days.

The sophisticated solar system provides power for all the modern conveniences necessary for today. If you are looking for the best of the pristine natural world and modern conveniences, Camas Meadows Lodge is the place to visit.


The heavy Cascade snowstorms of the past three weeks have mostly passed south of Camas Meadows. Though we still have plenty of snow. The snow pack is starting to settle as the days become warmer. As of today, the county road to the meadow is bare and wet. The private road is just starting to show bare patches. The meadow, however, still has well over three feet of snow on the level.




President's Day weekend is still open. We are booked from Monday, Feb 18th through Sunday Feb 24th. The deep snow promises skiing, snowshoeing and sledding to continue well into March. The warm, sunny days with deep snow make for a delightful stay. Be sure to pack your sunscreen!