Camas Meadows

Camas Meadows is above the foggy weather!!

2011-12-15T16:07:00.000-08:00

Camas Meadows is above the foggy weather!!

We have been running up to the meadow to get the cabin ready for winter and also to get above the fog that forms in the Wenatchee Valley this time of year.

Yesterday, we went up to Camas for the first snowstorm of the season. We awoke to a skiff of snow and blue sunny skies. It was great to be above the grey skies below, but we were looking forward to the first big snow at Camas. Currently, we just have a few inches on the ground.

The other reason for heading up to Camas was the total lunar eclipse on Saturday morning. This was a great eclipse since totality started at 6:00 am. This is a rather civilized time for an astronomical event! It was a good eclipse not as dark as the blood red eclipse of 1979. Here is the view of the eclipse taken from the deck as the moon set in the west. The moon was just far enough north that the peaks of the Enchantments were to the south. The moon and trees will have to do for this eclipse. One of these days we may be blessed with the eclipsed moon setting over the mountain peaks.

So if your looking for sunny skies in December there is a good chance that you will find them at Camas Meadows. However, we would still like to see a good snowfall to get winter started on the right note.

First Snow at Camas Meadows........

2011-11-28T19:24:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving seems to be the time for first snows at Camas Meadows. It was only six inches, but gives every indication of sticking around for the entire winter. The sun covered peaks of Three Brothers Mountain, however, are totally white for the winter.

Winter is a time of quiet. The elk have moved to their winter ranger on the Columbia River. Most birds have moved south for the winter. The coyote's are still hanging around the meadow and at night you can catch their performances by walking out on the deck.

Soon the next couple of storms will put a mantle of snow on the meadow. That will be the start of cross-country skiing season on the meadow.

We are starting to book the month of January. However, there are plenty of openings in December including the all important days of Christmas week and New Year's. Book now if you are looking forward to exploring the snow covered mountains and meadows of the east slope of the Cascades.

Fall Colors.......Sounds of the Elk

2011-09-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

The days of summer appear to be coming to a close. Fall at Camas is warm sunny days under blue skies with cool nights. Frost is not uncommon in the morning.

On the round the meadow morning hike you can see the start of the color change. The entire aspen stand was green except for this one small branch. The branch wanted you to know that fall is coming!

There are also other hints that fall is coming soon. The most obvious is the elk herd and the coming challenge to the Bull Elk. For now he is keeping a close eye on his harem as this picture clearly shows.

In the evenings, however, the sounds of the elk bugling means that the old Bull Elk will probably face another fall challenge. That is still several weeks away so the Bull Elk can enjoy another few weeks of peaceful meadow life.

We are booked the last weekend in September. The fall colors will start coming on quickly now. Peak color should be the second or third weekend in October. So book now for your fall spectacular stay at Camas Meadows.

Summer......this time its different.

2011-08-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

The wet spring should have changed our summer. This summer I paid careful attention to the changes as a result of our long spring weather. The obvious was the extended wildflower season. It is almost September and you can still find wildflowers finishing their blooming season.

Well, all those wildflowers did have one effect. That is an explosion of butterflies of all species and types. Camas Meadows is a "butterfly" destination and as such you can find people swishing nets during spring and summer. Normally, we end up with one or two species being very common during the summer. This summer there are many species and all of them are fairly common. So next time we have a wet spring I should just look forward to the summer butterflies. Here is a picture of a couple of wood nymphs living up to their name and ensuring a population for next year.

Besides butterflies there has been an explosion of pinedrops throughout the meadow area. I have always noticed pinedrops throughout my career in the woods, but this year they are very abundant at Camas Meadows. Here is a link to a Forest Service wildflower site with more information on the species: PineDrops. The species has threatened and endangered status back east. I suspect the species went west to enjoy the wet spring at Camas.

We have not seen the elk in the meadow, but have heard their bugling at night. The rut is still several weeks away, so the nighttime racket of bull elk rattling the aspens and bugling all night long is still weeks away.

It will be interesting to see if the fall color change is more intense due to the late spring. Fall colors usually start showing up by late September and reach their peak the first two weeks in October.

We have had some glorious dark nights for viewing the stars. Just perfect for getting that scope out for viewing the summer Milky Way and the fall constellations. Early risers can also get a sneak peak at the winter stars. Here is the weather forecast just for viewing the stars at Camas: Camas Meadow Clear Sky Chart.

We are booked for Labor Day weekend and September 23rd weekend.

All other times are still open so book your last summer weekend or that fall color trip in October!

Finally.....Summer.

2011-07-12T10:46:00.000-07:00

One advantage to a late spring is that the meadow stays green and full of wildflowers for much later in the summer. The meadow is still green and flowers still blooming, but August is just around the corner.

This summer we have had a bumper crop of Tiger Lily's in the meadow. The purple monkshood have flourished with the cooler, wetter weather. Here is mid-July the Lupine is still blooming, while the yellow arrowleaf flowers are just fading from the scene. Usually, they are done by mid-May!

After being on the meadow for 14 years we thought we had found everything. Well, as the aspen grove at Lily's place rotted and fell apart it revealed a row of yellow roses. These are small delicate roses that are the same size as the wild roses found on the meadow. So Lily must have had a fondness for yellow roses! There are Iris's and Lilac's at her homestead that bloom every spring, but this is the first year that we have found the yellow roses.

The elk are still in the meadow. Looks like this cow is keeping a close eye on her calves. Is that the start of a rack on one of those calves?? Coming home from a performance of the Sound of Music at the Leavenworth Summer Theater we encountered a small, big eared pup. He ran up to the car and wanted to check us out. We thought, we was a coyote pup, but looking through the web it appears he was a fox kitten.

On a walk around the meadow we encountered this little "message" in the middle of the trail. The scrape is not visible in the photo, but there was no doubt that it was a cat. Bugaboo was interested, but not excited. Professional courtesy between predators?? A quick look into our Animal Tracks and Scat reference revealed that it was a bobcat. We had seen Bobcat's on the paved portion of Camas Creek Road, but this is the first time we had seen sign of them on the meadow.

Elk, foxes, bobcats, and all sorts of creatures. It appears that the Sandhill Cranes have left the meadow for their summer nesting grounds. However, there is plenty of wildlife roaming the meadow.

We are currently booked through the 17th of July. The last weekend in July and Labor Day weekend are also booked. August is open. So book your summer stay on Camas Meadows!!

Wildflower Season

2011-04-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

I was talking to the manager of Sun Mountain Lodge up in the Methow Valley about May in eastern Washington. We both agreed that May was the best time to visit the east slope of the Cascades. Yes, it is before school ends, but there is nothing like spring on the eastern slope. Wildflowers, sunny skies, and a backdrop of snow-capped peaks. For those that endured the grey skies of winter the warm sunshine is enough to lift anybodies spirits.

If you are unfortunate enough to only be able to visit Camas Meadows once a year May is the month to do it. The elk are in the meadow. Sandhill cranes probe the edge of Camas Creek searching for food. Mallards hang around the temporary ponds. Songbirds flit amount the ponderosa pines and fill the woods with song. There is even a very special frog chorus every night at dusk. After sunset, the stars fill the night sky. After the long slumber of winter, Camas Meadows comes alive during May.

There is much to draw the eye at Camas Meadows, but it is the 135 species of wildflowers that provide the calender for the meadow as they change from Glacier Lily's to Balsam Arrowroot to the namesake of Camas Meadows and finishing up with the endangered species found only in the area around Camas Meadows the Checker-Mallow.

When you visit Camas Meadows the peace and contentment of the meadow soon becomes part of you. When we first started, we had work days at the cabin. But soon "Camas contentment" would overtake us and we retreated to the deck to watch the snow-capped peaks and wildflowers. It really is a different world.

We have plenty of openings in May and June. We are already booked for Memorial Day weekend. Book now to catch the wildflowers of May and June.

More Spring and Less Snow.....

2011-03-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

From the cabin the view of Camas Meadows is a solid covering of snow three feet deep extending all the way across the meadow. However, when we skied the meadow we found that Camas Creek is starting to show here and there. It will be a couple more weeks and spring will be here.

In the late 1990's when spring came to Camas it came with a rush. All the snow would melt at once and the meadow would turn into a huge lake about a foot or two deep. Since the ground was previously frozen you could walk the "entire lake" in Camas boots. It was fun following our young daughter around the "lake" and we even made "boats" to float on the new lake.

After a day of two the lake would drain and we would have our meadow back. Then the wildflowers would soon follow.

We are still hopeful for a couple more x-country ski trips before "Camas Lake" makes its temporary appearance.

Spring skiing is the best since you do not need to follow tracks. The corn snow gives plenty of base and great glides. It is like skiing on marbles!! One kick and the slide goes on forever.

As the meadow melts out there are additional ski opportunities up the Forest Service Road 7200 on the other side of the meadow. This road faces north and holds snow for a longer time than the meadow.

We are starting to get inquiries for spring and early summer. So go ahead and make your plans now. There is nothing finer than the wildflowers and blue skies of spring at Camas Meadows.

Spring and Snow at Camas

2011-03-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

This is one of those special times at Camas Meadows. We generally have warm sunny days and a well settled snow pack. It is the start of spring in the mountains. On those nights that the temperatures remain above freezing, snow continues to melt round the clock. In a few short weeks it will be disappearing.

March skiing is one of the best times to explore the meadow. The firm base of snow lets you ski around the meadow without following tracks. One kick and the glide seems to go on forever. The warm sunshine means sunglasses and sunscreen are required equipment.

Camas Creek is starting to show after its long winter slumber. In a few weeks you will have to search out the snow bridges to cross from one side of the meadow to the other.

After you're done exploring the meadow, a warm fire and a glass of wine is a perfect finish to a perfect day.

The snow will be gone by the second week in April. Then the elk will return to the meadow on April 15th, and hopefully, so will our pair of sandhill cranes. The Glacier Lily's and Spring Beauties will appear as the snow melts.

May is a magical time at the meadow. Wildflowers blooming everywhere and warm summer days with cool nights that call for a fireside chat with friends. Book your spring stay at Camas Meadows soon.

Dedicated to Ziggy: The Dog of Camas Meadows

2010-12-30T16:36:00.000-08:00

Ziggy Platis passed to his reward on December 29th. He had lived on the meadow and greeted everyone who arrived for the past 10 years. There have been plenty of dogs that have lived at Camas Meadows and were part of the meadow and its history. However, one dog made the meadow his special place, Ziggy. He welcomed visitors, guests, and residents with the same wagging tail and friendly face. The entire meadow was his home and he wandered around spending time with the "south" end residents as well as those of us on the north side.

He was friends to all our dogs. When he heard our car pull into the driveway, and would come over to welcome us back to the meadow and play with our dogs. There was not a mean bone in his body, and everybody was his friend. We are not sure what sort of relationship he had with the coyotes on the meadow, but they left him alone.

Ziggy lived at the house at the end of the road. He was a pound puppy when he was adopted. We are not sure of his first two years of life, but as soon as he showed up at the meadow he knew he was at home. For these reason we do not know his exact age, but suspect he was probably 12 or 13 when he left the meadow behind.

Ziggy was not trained, but he was a gentleman that liked everyone. No he did not listen to you (at least for the first 7 years), but neither did he bark, threaten, or act obnoxious around you. We on the meadow, will miss him greatly.

We have had snow and more snow. There is three of four feet on the meadow now. None of the grasses are showing. It is a foot of powder on a three foot base. Skiing is good if you find tracks to follow or you can make your own personal ski tour route on the meadow.

We are booked the weekends of January 15th and Jan 28th. All other weekends are open. Come enjoy the sunshine and snow of Camas Meadows this winter. Winter is usually around only through the first or second week of March so don't miss it.

Snow Season is Here!

2010-12-14T20:22:00.000-08:00

This is what the meadow looked like on December 10th. Snow on the meadow, but the meadow grasses were still poking through the snow. The weather forecast promised more snow over the weekend. It did start snowing on Saturday and just kept on snowing and snowing.

The snowfall covered the meadow in a blanket of white. It was a fairly heavy, wet snow so it is providing a good base for snowshoeing and x-country skiing. The snow is PERFECT for snow people and snow balls! Unfortunately, the meadow population of snow ball and snowman experts is very low. That is people under the age of ten that know how to make the perfect snowball or snowman. I guess those of us over the age of ten can try and remember our past expertise.

This is what it looked like on Monday.

It looks like we have three feet of snow on the level. The snow will consolidate over the next couple of days, but more snow is predicted for this weekend. Yes, it will be a white Christmas at Camas Meadows once again.

We are booked from December 24th through December 27th and December 31st through January 2nd. In January we are booked from the 15th through the 17th and the 28th through the 30th.

Other weekends and weekdays in January and February are still open.

Book your winter wonderland trip to Camas Meadows this winter.

Larch, Blue Skies and Snow on the Mountain Top

2010-11-04T15:03:00.000-07:00

The aspen lost their leaves early this fall, but the larch are making up for it. Even with the recent rain, the larch have kept their yellow needles on the trees. This, plus the blue skies and fresh snow on Three Brothers Mountain, has made for some picture perfect days at Camas. There is even one lonely poppy insisting on blooming this month.

We always enjoy this quiet time on the meadow. Yes, the coyotes are still hanging around, but the elk are ready to make their trip to their winter range at West Bar. We are looking forward to their return next April along with the Sandhill Cranes. The birds are fewer in number, as many have decided to turn into snow birds and head south. However, yesterday as we walked the meadow route, a crow followed us around squawking and generally raising a ruckus. We are not sure what his issue was with our hike.

Ziggy joined us for the walk around the meadow. But Ziggy is getting on in years and he was happy to get home and his place by the fire. Ziggy always enjoyed the snow and hopefully he will again this year despite his advanced years.

It is now cold enough to snow at the meadow. The next few fronts coming through will bring snow. We have had some very large snow events in late November and early December. We are never sure when the first good snow will come and stick, but it always does prior to Christmas.

We are booked Thanksgiving weekend, though the holiday itself is open. We are also currently booked from December 24th through December 27th and December 31st through January 2nd.

Book your fall/winter stay at Camas. Keep checking the blog for the first snowfall of the season. Last winter we had outstanding cross-country skiing in December under sunny blue skies.

Talking to the Elk

2010-10-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

Spring took a long time leaving, so summer decided to hang around longer. However, this week is looks like we finally fell into fall. The red oak next to the deck is making a grand showing of being well red. The aspen even dropped their yellow leaves early in shame in comparison to the red oak. However, the poppies we planted this spring are just going ahead and blooming right through fall. So the deck is all gold and red.

The late summer has meant that Three Brothers Mountain is still bare of snow. Hopefully, soon the Enchantments and Three Brothers will sprout a fresh topping of white.

It has been an active year for the elk in the meadow. One of our recent guests was using the elk call. He commented that he was not sure if it was the elk answering him or one of our neighbors. Well, our neighbors would never pull a stunt like that. Besides, the bull elk always responds to the lonesome cow call. Warning, you might want to use this call judiciously so your not surprised by an elk bounding up the steps to the deck.

Looks like this guy was wandering the entire meadow looking for that lonesome cow.

We are booked Thanksgiving weekend (November 26th-28th) and Christmas (December 24-27). All other dates are open for that special visit to Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve.

Fall is Almost Here!!

2010-09-08T17:52:00.000-07:00

The clouds have finally crossed the Cascade crest and brought the first September rain to Camas Meadows. The skies are bluer and the stars much brighter after a rain. Rain is the exception at Camas making it a refreshing change from all those sunny, warm days of summer! Fall weather at Camas tends to be warm and sunny during the day with cool nights.

The elk are starting to bugle in the meadow. The coyotes are still singing their songs. The pace is starting to accelerate around the meadow as the residents start preparing for the winter season ahead. However, first we have time to enjoy the fall colors. The aspen start changing color about the third week in September. With the wet spring the forecast is for great fall colors. We shall see if the forecast comes true. Here is a picture of the fall colors from 2008.

As you can see, that year one of the aspen groves decided to turn red rather than yellow. We kept a close eye on this grove last year and it was back to a golden color. This grove is just west of the pond. We will watch closely to see what aura develops in 2010. Will it be gold or red?

This scene is familar to everyone that drives the road into the lodge. But, have you ever stopped and hiked down to that bush in the middle of the meadow?

There is a surprise waiting for you when you go down to check it out.

We are booked September 24th through the 27th and October 8th and 9th. So book now to get the remaining fall color openings.

We are starting inquiries about the winter season so book you fall and winter holiday at Camas Meadows soon.

Summer at Camas Meadows

2010-07-25T17:39:00.000-07:00

The weather "man" was right! The long spring is over and we have moved into summer at Camas Meadows. The month of July has been warm and sunny with a bit more wind than usual. Camas Meadows is at 3000 foot elevation, so temperatures tend to run 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Wenatchee. The wildflower season has been extended by the long spring, but now the fireweed, checker-mallow, and astors are blooming and signify the wildflower season will be coming to a close. This year we planted poppies in the deck tubs. The poppies start blooming as the wildflowers are slowing down, extending the color at Camas for a couple of months. From the deck, there is still a bit of snow to be seen on the top of Three Brothers

Summer at Camas offers the best star filled nights. August will bring meteor showers, slashing their way across the Milky Way and spanning the entire sky. Some of our guests spend their nights sleeping on the deck where they can watch the sky and fall asleep without moving! Those LaFuma recliners come in handy for watching the night sky.

Summers will end in September and crisp nights and fall colors will soon abound. It will be interesting to see if the wet spring results in a brillant display of fall colors.

We are booked the weekend of July 30th and the week of September 13th. Labor Day is still open. Book your star filled weekend in August or fall colors in September.

The Long Spring continues at Camas Meadows

2010-06-18T20:48:00.000-07:00

The long spring continues at Camas Meadows. The weatherman says that we might be headed for summer in a week or two. Of course, in a week or two we will be headed into July. The June showers have kept the meadow green and the wildflowers blooming.

The Camas is still blooming in the meadow as you can see by this picture taken this morning. It is just past peak color so the Camas will be fading soon. The lupine and Indian paintbrush is just starting to bloom to replace the Camas on the meadow. With a 135 species of wildflowers growing at Camas Meadows it will be late July before the wildflowers start fading.

It appears that the Sandhill Cranes have flown off to raise their family. However, the elk herd stays in the meadow throughout calving season. Last night, we watched as the elk moved out from the aspen groves into the open meadow. The calves were full of energy as they romped through the meadow. As soon as they layed down they disappered from view. When you see that in three months they will be approaching the adults in size that is a pretty impressive growth rate!

We are booked the weekend of June 25th, but are open from June 29th until July 8th. That means the 4th of July weekend is open for some lucky group to book. We are then booked from July 8th through July 20th.

Summer will arrive astronomically on June 21st. The weatherman assures us that summer weather will soon follow at Camas Meadows.

The Long Spring at Camas Meadows

2010-05-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

It has been a long, long spring at Camas. In our thirty-two years of living in eastern Washington and north Idaho this has been one of the most cloudy and rainy springs in memory. We have had spells of great weather, but after four or five days the rain and clouds would come back. At Camas it feels more like late April than Memorial Day weekend.

As you can see by the picture the aspen have just broken bud and are leafing out. The elk are back in the meadow. The sandhill cranes have flown to raise their family.

There are a couple of coyotees hanging around the meadow which probably means we will have a litter of pups here soon. I hope this litter is musically talented. We had a litter a few years back of tone deaf pups. It was awful. When "musically" talented coyotees howl at the moon it reminds you how special is Camas Meadows.

The color of the moment is yellow. Arrowleaf is blooming. The pussy paws, blue bells are already out but they are scattered compared to the Arrowleaf.

However on Friday we saw the first Camas flowers. So in a week or two the meadow will once again turn into a sea of blue. Each year the display varies and hopefully with all the moisture this years display should be special.

The lupine are waiting to their turn to bloom. For a short period of time the meadow does turn purple and gold. It has been an extended wildflower season. With all the moisture the wildflower season might well extend into July.

The butterfly folks are having their convention in Leavenworth in June, with field trips to Camas Meadows. So if you like you colors in motion, rather than stationary we do have butterfly guide at the cabin.

We have had a busy May being booked every weekend. We are currently booked through June 9th. Then open except for the weekend of June 25th until July 8th. That important 4th of July weekend is still open. July is then booked from July 8th through July 19th. Summer is coming soon. Catch the wildflowers and then the lazy days of summer under a sky full of stars!

Coming back to Camas Meadows

2010-04-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

It is still winter on Three Brothers Peak; however, down on the meadow spring is bursting out with wildflowers, flowing creeks, and the annual return of summer residents to the meadow. On the drive along Camas Creek Road, I spied a large tom turkey with his female friends out for an easy stroll. And yes, the camera was packed away.

On Friday afternoon, the Sandhill Cranes spiraled down from the sky to feed in the meadow. It looks like they are back for another romantic stay at Camas Meadows. The average lifespan for a Sandhill Crane is twenty years, so we can look forward to many more years of their spring visit. The following picture does not do justice to the size of the birds. When they flew down into the meadow you could see every inch of that eight foot wing span.

The frog chorus is slowly starting up. As their numbers increase through the spring, so will the volume. But for now, they are just warming up.

The songbirds have returned to the meadow. The wildflowers are blooming. We are currently "showing" Glacier Lilies, Spring Beauties, and Blue Bells.

But the meadow royalty are the elk. They return every year on April 15th. This year they were a day late. We suspect it had nothing to do with filing a tax extension.

It looks like the current elk herd is 10 animals and, hopefully, it will increase when the babies are born in a few weeks. At one time, the Camas herd numbered two hundred animals. Unfortunately, the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Department is trying to kill off the entire herd. They have scheduled a rifle cow season open to all hunters for three years in an attempt to eliminate the herd.

So come to Camas soon, before a historic and natural part of eastern Washington becomes a collection of fading photos in a book.

We are booked the following weekends in May: May 1st and May 13th. Memorial Day weekend is still open. Camas Meadows is peaceful and quiet on Memorial Day weekends; and with the wildflowers and elk it is a very special place.

In June, we are booked from June 2nd through June 8th, but the rest of June is still open.

In July we are booked from July 8th through July 19th. The 4th of July weekend is still open.

So book now for that special weekend.

You can contact us through our website: www.camasmeadowslodge.com

Wildflowers bounce back after getting buried by Snow!

2010-04-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

On Friday it snowed. Camas ended up with about six inches of fresh snow. It buried all the wildflowers that had started blooming. However, by Sunday they had emerged from the snow with the message that spring is just around the corner.

For good measure the blue bells joined the Glacier Lilies in proclaiming the end to winter. Six inches of snow is a lot of snow, but come spring it melts away rather quickly. Camas was a field of white on Friday, today it is waiting for the elk, the Sandhill Cranes and the rest of the 135 varieties of wildflowers to arrive in the meadows.

We had rays of sunshine today, but Three Brothers Mountains just peaked in and out of the clouds. The weather should improve by the coming weekend. This time of year we tend to have more sunny and warm days than cloudy days, but it is Spring in the mountains and anything and everything does occur.

We are booked from April 5th through April 12th. The last weekend in April is also booked, as well as the weekend of May 13th. June 2nd through June 8th and July 12th through July 19th. Memorial Day weekend is still open. Book now for the wildflowers of May.

As always, you may contact us through the web site for booking your reservation:

www.camasmeadowslodge.com

Say Farewell to Snow!

2010-03-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

Update: March 20th. Spring skiing or fly fishing the lakes of eastern Washington. It is always a tough choice in March. But there is nothing like spring skiing at Camas Meadows. So off I went to enjoy a day in the sun. Camas Creek has several channels as it wanders through the meadow.

Now the end of ski season is usually announced by the murmurings of Camas Creek after it appears from a long winter slumber. Today, I carefully picked the snow bridges over Camas Creek as I skied the meadow. On the way back to the cabin I carefully picked my location and swiftly skied over the ice covered channel. Well, the ice suddenly gave way and I was looking up from the bottom of the creek channel to the ice sheet above me. I can report that the ice was approximately an inch thick and obviously fairly rotten. Bugaboo quickly ran over and wanted to play with me in the newly exposed creek channel.

So ends ski season 2010 at Camas Meadows. And it ended not with the gentle sounds of the creek flowing once again, but rather with a rather definitive "sploosh".

This weekend was sunny and warm. Perfect for spring skiing on the meadow. This winter has been sunnier and with less snow than a normal winter. However, the meadow is still covered in snow, but the warm weather will soon lead to a field of wildflowers rather than snow.

Our min-max thermometer showed a high of 70 degrees this month at Camas! The low for the month was 14 degrees. The nights are still cooling down nicely. This means that skiing is icy in early morning. For the best skiing sleeping in is the ticket, and then venturing out in the corn snow for a great afternoon ski trip. Once the meadow melts out, there still will be additional skiing on Forest Service lands south of the chalet.

Out in the middle of the meadow, Camas Creek is slowly peaking through the snow. Soon the snow bridges that span the creek will fall through. There is probably one or two more weekends of skiing left on the meadow.

Soon our attention will shift to wondering when the first Glacier Lily will appear. Are the elk going to show up on April 15th or will they come earlier this spring? Now that we have figured out the mystery of the Sandhill Cranes, when will they arrive for their romantic tryst? See last year's blog entry for more information on the Sandhill Cranes of Camas Meadows.

If you can visit Camas Meadows only once a year, wildflower season is the time to do it! Our wildflowers should peak about mid-May this year.

We are booked the second weekend in April. We are also booked July 12th through July 19th. It looks like we will be getting more week long bookings this summer. So reserve your special trip to Camas Meadows soon.

Spring Time in January!

2010-01-14T16:02:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-11T14:46:00.000-08:00

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

2009-09-17T17:44:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-07-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

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!!

2009-06-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

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!!

2009-04-05T19:29:00.001-07:00

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.

Where is Camas Meadows?

2009-03-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

When we get inquiries about Camas Meadows Lodge the first question people ask is "Where is Camas Meadows"?

It was not always this way.

At one time everybody in the Northwest knew where Camas Meadows was located. Camas Meadows was one of those special places that everybody knew and loved. Residents of eastern Washington would come up to Camas to camp and get out of the summer heat. Camas Meadows is a good ten to fifteen degrees cooler than Wenatchee.

The meadow would be filled with campsites. I am sure the sound of kid's laughter drifted across the meadow. Like all special places, stories were told and retold about Camas Meadows and became legends.

For the story on Camas Meadows and the legends it inspired, please see the stories about Mountain Goat and Coyote's Racetrack in "The Wenatchee Valley and its First Peoples", written by Richard Scheuerman.

In the early 1800's, two eastern guys came out west writing the first guidebook about the Northwest. They never did come closer than a couple hundred miles to Camas Meadows, but their guidebook did start changing the Northwest. We recommend that you read the University of Nebraska version of the Lewis and Clark Journals.

The Wenatchi Indians would come up here in the summer to harvest the Camas root for which the meadow is named. Camas Meadows was a special place for the Wenatchi Indians for thousands of years. It is still a special place.

The knoll that figured so prominently in the story about Mountain Goat and Coyote is directly across from Camas Meadows Lodge. The "white fog" that drifted across Camas Meadows in the story still makes it appearance after rain storms during the spring and summer months.

Come experience the legend that is Camas Meadows.

We are starting to get snow followed by clearing skies, but spring is definitely just around the corner. The snowfalls now melt away in a day or two rather than adding to the snowpack.

With daylight savings time, it is easier to get up and experience the magic of Camas Meadows in the morning. But even if you sleep in, the view is still pretty good at mid-morning. All the weekends in March are still open.

Oh, Camas Meadows is also known as CamasLand on the Forest Service maps. We are just up Camas Creek road from Highway 97. Twenty minutes from Leavenworth and thirty minutes from Wenatchee.

Mornings are Priceless at Camas Meadows!

2009-02-19T15:50:00.000-08:00

This past weekend the weather brought snow showers and unfortunately mostly cloudy weather. But given our easterly location clouds do not stay long at Camas Meadows. Tuesday morning dawned with fog in meadow, sunshine on Three Brothers, and blue sky above. On mornings like this it just gets better and better.

By the time the coffee was done and poured the fog had started its retreat. We could see the aspen grove in the middle of the meadow and now there was more blue sky visible.

Quickly by the second cup of coffee the fog was almost gone from the meadow and Tip Top could be seen with its trees covered in fresh snow.

Soon those magic moments of early morning were gone and so was the coffee. So we put on our cross-country skis and ventured out into the meadow and the sunshine.

All the pictures were taken from our deck. So you can experience the beauty of a Camas Meadows morning while lounging around in your pajamas! The warm cozy fire and the view make that coffee taste extra special.

It has been a mild winter with little snow after the snowstorms and cold of December. Spring is coming soon. If your looking for skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, building snowmen, or any other activity that requires that white stuff book your reservation soon.

The snow should be here for another two or three weeks, but with temperatures in the high 40's during the day and low 20's at night the snow is slowly retreating. As soon as our night time temperatures stay above freezing the snow will be going fast.

The Mysterious Ice Sheets of Camas Meadows

2009-02-02T16:19:00.000-08:00

Every year at Camas Meadows the seasons are slightly different. Just when you think you have seen it all, something new comes along. This is our twelfth winter at Camas, but our first with the mysterious ice sheets.

This winter we had substantial snowfall and record cold temperatures in December. This was followed by a rain on snow event in January. After this, all the snow and rain ceased and we had warm, sunny days followed by clear, cold nights. We suspect this particular timing of events led to the appearance of the ice sheets at Camas.

The ice is about six inches thick and found along all the water courses in the meadow. We have not tried ice-skating or playing hockey with the neighbors on the sheets of ice, but they are interesting to follow while skiing around the meadow. When spring comes, we suspect that the snow on the meadow will melt first; but then what will happen to the ice sheets?? Will they float and create abstract displays of ice dams?

In December, with the cold temperatures and snow, it looked like a late spring for sure. January, however, proved to be quite different. We ended up with warm sunny days and cold clear nights. What will February bring?? The first week is forecasted to continue the January pattern.

So spring might be early this year at the meadows. For those of you looking for skiing, snowshoeing, snowball fights or building snowman do not wait to long. Those winter opportunities could just melt away.

This coming weekend is the full moon. Camas Meadows at night under a full moon is something else!

We are booked President’s Day weekend. But other weekends are still open. Winter break week is still open and we will honor the 3 for 2 mid-week special. Winter at Camas Meadows is always a treat.

Camas Meadows-Your Special Place

2009-01-19T15:43:00.001-08:00

Ten years ago, when we first started renting, we thought Camas Meadows Lodge was a special place for couples. The lodge offered the perfect weekend getaway for a romantic stay at a high mountain meadow. We provided a place for couples to unwind from the pace of everyday life. The well-appointed kitchen made fixing those special dinners a treat to prepare. There were wine glasses for enjoying fine wine in front of a roaring fire and gazing out to view the snow-capped peaks in the distance. Why weren’t we ever listed in Best Places to Kiss?

Soon we noticed that many of our guests were returning with children. Think there was any correlation? Talking to several of our favorite guests, we discovered that many of our Camas enthusiasts were kids under 12! There are sleds to slide on and snowmen to be built. We stock videos and games for the younger set, along with K’nex for the whole family. We’ve seen some awesome creations throughout the years. Pretty in Pink likes to play on and behind the spiral staircase, making a tent and “camping”. And after all those rides on the sleds, snowball fights, and snowmen built there is hot chocolate to be had while warming up by the wood stove.

Pretty in Pink may look like a charming little girl, which she is, but get her on her skies and you will find she’s a speed demon. She searches out moguls and downhill runs to practice her turns. We suspect it won’t be long before she will be telemarking on the slopes above the meadow; and then move on to ski racing and jumping!

The weather has been perfect these last two weeks with plenty of sunshine and a firm base for great skiing. The forecast is for colder weather and snow by this weekend. Powder snow on top of our current base will make for the best cross-country skiing of the season.

We are open the weekends of January 24th and February 7^th. President’s weekend is already booked. Our guess is that skiing and snowshoeing will be possible until the middle of March.

Book a stay with us and find out why Camas Meadows is such a special place whether your four or eighty-four.

Making Tracks after the Pineapple Express!!

2009-01-12T11:26:00.000-08:00

When the Pineapple Express goes through the Northwest we generally get rapid snowmelt, flooding and a real mess; but the Pineapple Express blowing through Camas settles the snowpack and offers great recreational opportunities. Before, at Camas, we had over three feet of fluffy, powder snow which was beautiful and made snowshoe trips a delight. Skiing, however, was difficult as there was no base and your ski's just settled into three feet of powder. The dry snow also made building "snowpeople" a challenge.

By our third experience with chinook conditions, we knew the best ski conditions begin in Camas Meadows after the Pineapple Express has unleashed it's fury. The three feet plus of powder snow has become two feet of a solid base that allows great skiing throughout the meadow. Now we're ready for that skiff of powder snow so that conditions are absolutely perfect.

Yesterday the temperature reached the 40's in the meadow. Combined with the sunny skies, it felt like spring in the mountains!! We're sure that there will be more skiing ahead this winter, but we are almost halfway done!!

We have had a last minute cancellation for Martin Luther King's Holiday Weekend. As always, you can click on these photos to get a larger view of the current conditions and you may decide to reserve this upcoming weekend for you and your friends and family.

The last weekend in January and President's Day Holiday are booked, but there are still other weekends available. It is always a guess when spring will arrive and when winter sports are no longer possible at the meadow. But generally, we have good conditions until March 15th, or so.

So book your fun and relaxing trip now to enjoy this special place called is Camas Meadows.

Snow, Snow and More Snow!!!! Luckily, we plan for it in the Mountains

2008-12-31T14:33:00.000-08:00

This is the view of the clearing on January 2nd. The forecast is for one more snowfall on Sunday.
Currently we have about three plus feet of snow in the meadow. Click on the photo to enlarge the view. You can see the fence posts in the distance getting "shorter and shorter".

This is a picture on December 10^th. We had a glorious November and first of December at Camas Meadows. Temperatures were in the 50’s with blue skies and views of snow capped Three Brothers from the deck.

When we lived in the Rocky Mountains clear skies brought cold temperatures. In the Cascades, however, the daytime temperatures tend to be well above freezing. We get really spoiled with sunny, and relatively warm days in the middle of winter.

Well, somewhere around the middle of December, Camas Meadows started up with a Rocky Mountain weather pattern with lots of powder snow followed by sunny, but cold days and nights. On December 20^th we hit the lowest temperature we have recorded in the eleven years we've been at Camas Meadows. The nighttime low was minus 16.1 F.

Fortunately, the Arctic air mass has moved east and the temperatures at Camas are back to seasonal norms. Our highs are in the thirties and the lows in the teens.

The abundant snowfall of the past three weeks has provided opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. A couple of our guests have taken great snowshoe hikes up the Yellow-Gate trail to view the Stuart Range and the meadow.

The forecast is for snow showers followed by blue skies. Be sure to bring the sun screen for the sunny days!

With the temperatures back to normal and the special magic of snow on the meadow we are starting to get inquiries for January and February. To make sure that you get to stay and experience Camas Meadows this winter call and make your reservation now.

Picture taken December 30th, 2008.

November Storms visit Camas Meadows

2008-11-12T14:39:00.001-08:00

The fall colors at Camas were literally blown away by the early November storms. Since Camas Meadows occupies the far eastern edge of the Cascade Mountains in north central Washington, we are mostly blessed with sunshine and blue skies. But come winter, the stronger weather fronts clear the crest of the Cascades and present a different view from the deck.

The blue skies may be missing for a short time, but the clouds swirling around the mountain peaks have a beauty of their own.

With the clouds came rain and then the first snow of the season. We awoke one morning to the following scene.

The snow quickly melted as the temperature rose above freezing. The forecast is for sunny skies and temperatures in the high 50's for this coming weekend. However, the meadow residents have been put on notice that winter will soon be coming to stay on the meadow.

Winter activities at Camas Meadows can start anywhere from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Last year we had 10 inches of snow at the end of Thanksgiving weekend which was followed by three feet of snow in one storm a week later. Those storms created wonderful snow conditions for skiing the entire month of December and beyond.

We are not sure what this winter will bring in terms of snow; but rain, shine or snow, Camas Meadows is always a special place to visit.

We are currently open for Thanksgiving weekend. We have all the kitchen stuff you need to prepare your Thanksgiving feast. We provide plenty of seasonal music, videos, and DVD's for your family to enjoy and since there is no TV reception at Camas Meadows those pesky football games will not interrupt your dinner.

We have plenty of openings this year, with some bookings already for December and January. Those important days of Christmas and New Year's are still open, but the days in between are now booked.

The Christmas Tree lighting weekends in Leavenworth are available.

So, come experience the premier high mountain meadow of the Washington Cascades this winter!

The Splendor of Fall Colors

2008-10-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

The fall colors are probably at their peak at Camas Meadows. The aspen have turned color. The view from the deck shows the fall colors, but Three Brothers Peak is still without its winter mantle of snow. The Enchantment Peaks now have snow, but Three Brothers is just a bit lower in elevation.

The larch on the opposite side of the meadow have yet to start turning color.

Last year on the meadow we noticed that one grove of aspen prefers to change to red colors, rather than yellow. This year the grove again turned red.

In other parts of the meadow the aspen still turn a brilliant yellow that contrasts nicely with the green of the pine's.

Activity around the meadow is quickening as the birds and mammals prepare for winter. The squirrels are busy collecting pine cone seeds for the winter ahead. The jays are busy dropping cones and eating the seeds. The elk in the meadow are preparing for their trip to the winter range on the Colockum Wildlife Area along the Columbia River. However, they intend to enjoy the fall colors and blue skies of Camas Meadows until the snow flies. You can hear the bull bugeling in the twilight, anxious to fulfill nature's command to enlarge the herd to offset the losses of the hard winter and hunter mortality.

Fall is a special time at Camas Meadows. Join the elk and rest of the wildlife as they enjoy the waning days of fall. We are open for several weekends in October and November.

December and January are starting to book for the Christmas season and ski season.

Fall Colors and Flirting with the Bull Elk

2008-09-09T17:21:00.000-07:00

The colors are just starting to turn on the meadow. From here until the end of October the aspens and other trees and shrubs start turning red and yellow. They provide a dramatic foreground to the deep blue skies of autumn.

The elk herd is back in the meadow. During morning walks around the meadow you can hear the bugling and calling back and forth within the herd.

One evening at twilight, two cows appeared in the meadow. Shortly thereafter, they were followed by the Bull Elk. With our electronic elk call, I tried to “communicate” with the elk. I pressed the bugle button on the call. The Bull Elk continued grazing. Then I pressed the dominant bugle button on the call. Would this get his attention? He continued grazing.

It was time for a change in tactics. I pressed the lonesome cow button. Immediately, his head went up and he started looking around. After a few minutes, I tried the lonesome cow call again. The Bull Elk once again started looking around for the lonesome cow. Slowly, the herd moved off into the Aspen grove. However, as the 'ole boy moseyed along, he gazed fondly toward the house looking for that lonesome cow.

I guess when it comes to Bull Elk "pitching woo" is much more important than picking a fight.

Autumn is a special time is special at Camas. Come experience blue sunny skies set off by the yellow and red vegetation in the meadow. Temperatures are perfect. Daytime high's generally reach the mid-70’s while night temperatures drop into the 40’s.

Enjoy the warm temperatures during the day and sit by a cozy wood fire at night.

We are booked the next two weekends. After September 21^st, we have openings for Autumn Leaf, Octoberfest and other upcoming festival events in Leavenworth. Reserve your mountain adventure today!

Star-filled Nights Complete with Celestial Fireworks

2008-08-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

August, September and October offer the best star-watching season at Camas Meadows. The stars are always big and bright, but come August they just seem bigger and brighter than the rest of the year. August also has the strongest meteor showers of the year with the Persids on the night of 11^th and 12^th with close to a hundred meteors falling each hour after midnight.

Venus is moving into the evening sky and will soon be visible over Three Brothers Peak, a direct view from the deck. Mercury, Mars and Saturn will be keeping Venus company. While in the south Jupiter will be blazing by itself. The spotting scope at Camas will show the four moons of Jupiter as they dance around the planet.

If you have a telescope bring it up to Camas to view the night sky in all its glory. For those without telescopes bring your largest set of binoculars or use the spotting scope for a view of the night sky that you will long remember.

Camas Meadows has its own weather forecast to predict those clear nights:

http://cleardarksky.com/c/CmsMdwsLdgWAkey.html?1

Labor Day weekend is still open and offers a new moon for better viewing the stars.

We have openings from August 21^st to Sept 8^th including the weekends.

For those planning further ahead Christmas and New Years Eve are still open, but December 27th through the 30th is now booked.

For those interested in using the heavens above for more earthly pursuits, the full moon weekend in October is still open. The full moon rising over Camas Meadows is the perfect complement to a romantic evening.

Nowhere else but Camas Meadows

2008-07-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

Most visitors to Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve are under the impression that the meadow was protected because of its natural beauty and mountain setting. The Nature Conservancy did buy the original land parcels under their "last best places" on earth. However, the land purchases were primarily to protect two endangered plants that live in Camas Meadows. The Wenatchee Mountain checker-mallow (Sidalcea oregana var. calva) and the Wenatchee larkspur (Delphinium viridescens) are the reason for the Natural Area designation.

The Preserve at Camas Meadows contains 75% of the global population of the Wenatchee Mountain checker-mallow and 40% of the Wenatchee larkspur. The are a few other nearby places that have smaller populations of these two plants, but Camas Meadows is their primary home.

For additional information on Camas Meadows Natural Area preserve:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_na_camas_bro.pdf

This picture shows the checker-mallow (purple flower) with some of its close neighbors.

The Wenatchee larkspur is not quite as pretty and is not yet blooming. However, it definitely an interesting plant. It has its own beauty.

The Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow is much more of a conventional wildflower.

The Camas bloom is over, but the checker-mallow and other wildflowers are now taking center stage as we move into summer.

We still have plenty of openings in July and August. For those looking forward to the fall colors they should be at their peak from mid-September through October. Labor Day weekend is still open.

Come and explore one of the "last best places on earth".

River of Wildflowers

2008-06-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

When the Camas blooms the meadow turns into a river of wildflowers. This is the view from the south side of the meadow looking back towards the cabin. The Camas bulbs flower every year, but the best displays seem to occur in different parts of the meadow depending on moisture and sun. This is our favorite view of the Camas blooms this spring.

Not to be outdone, the arrowleaf and lupine also have a great show around the meadow. The Camas prefers the wetter, lower parts of the meadow. The lupine and arrowleaf prefer the drier upland slopes just above. They also like having the Ponderosa pine for their neighbors. Blue, yellow and purple are the most common colors on the meadow right now. However, orange and red color flowers are beginning the bloom cycle and will become the dominate colors as the summer moves in and the camas, lupine, and arrowleaf finish their displays.

Of course, the best way to explore the meadow is by hiking the old roads that surround the meadow. For those that are into rapid transit, the cabins four mountain bikes can shorten the trip if you can resist stopping to take pictures of the flowers.

Every spring is different on the meadow. So far, this year we have had cool, but sunny weather. It did rain for a couple of days last week and that seems to have quickened the wildflower displays.

We have plenty of openings for the remainder of June. July and August are starting to book, but there are openings still available. We also have a couple of bookings for September and October. Don't miss the summer and fall seasons at Camas!!

We are only two hours and about a hundred and twenty miles from the Puget Sound area. Less than a tank of gas away, but worlds away from the crowded city.

Camas Contentment

2008-05-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

The blue skies and snowcapped peaks are a special part of Camas.

So are the bull elk displaying their velvet antler in the spring. While walking the loop trail this week I spied this bull at the east end of the meadow.

But what makes Camas really special is "Camas Contentment". The meadow is just over 100 miles from the Puget Sound area, but it is light-years away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is a different world.

Here is what a recent guest wrote about the first visit to Camas Meadows.

"We knew we were in for a treat when we decided to come to Camas Meadows, but we had no idea just how much it would move us. My son has never enjoyed nature like this before; and I’m not sure that I’ve ever appreciated the majesty of the mountains or the songs of the birds, the windsong of the trees and the company of my family without the distractions of everyday city life." "My family and I are in love with this place, and we are already planning when we might come back. Hopefully soon! Something makes this place so perfect. I haven’t felt so much peace in my heart and believe me it was sorely needed."

" Wilderness heals. This special place has wonderfully done just that for me and my family. The time slows down to a calm pace, as the rapid beat of our everyday lives became gradually undone. After time spent here, one feels at peace. I know we all experienced that relaxing feeling, it seems so fragile that I want to protect it. Camas Meadows Lodge most certainly has gained another set of enthusiastic friends. We will from now forward hold it very dear. Our family wishes to thank Vladimir and Susan for providing and lovingly taking such great care of this spot. May all of you that come to enjoy it in the weeks and months ahead and take the same wonderful feelings and hope that we gained from our short but sweet stay."

Camas Meadows is the real thing. Experience the magic in this meadow.

We are booked for Memorial Day weekend, but there are plenty of openings in June!

May Wildflowers Season is Here!

2008-05-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

The wildflower season is starting at Camas Meadows. Soon the entire meadow will be a sea of wildflowers. These Glacier Lily's blooming in the meadow are the advance guard for the next 130 species of wildflowers that will follow.

May brings sunny days followed by cool nights at the meadow. It is our favorite time at Camas. If you can only make one trip to Camas, May is the month to be here. The wildflowers are blooming; the elk are in the meadow. Days are warm and nights are still cool enough that an evening fire is a cozy way to end the day.

Soon the entire meadow will be covered with wildflowers. It looks like the peak of the wildflower season will be mid-May to early June. At peak bloom, Camas Meadows becomes a sea of wildflowers. There are probably well over fifty wildflowers blooming at the same time.

The elk herd has returned to the meadow. Our neighbor counted 24 elk in the herd this morning. This is before the cows drop their young. It looks like the elk herd is starting to increase once again. Everything in nature cycles, but we always appreciate an increase in the elk population. At it's peak in the early '90's the herd numbered 225.

Today, as we glanced at the meadow we spied two Sandhill Cranes. The cranes have been visitors to Camas for four or five years now. They hunt the frogs and other amphibian's that are found in the meadow during spring runoff. Once the meadow dries out for the summer, they fly off to raise their young. We're not sure where they go, but we do appreciate their stopping at Camas Meadows on their spring flight.

We are currently booked the weekend of May 16th, June 24th and 25th, 4th of July weekend, and the week of July 28th. Memorial Day and the weekends in June are still open for wildflower season.

Don't miss the best season at Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve.

Waiting for the Elk...........

2008-04-14T12:00:00.001-07:00

Camas Meadows has special days that everyone anticipates with excitement. It is not quite the excitement of Christmas, but they are special nevertheless.

In spring, it is the first glimpse of the Glacier Lilies and then the return of the elk to the meadow. The Glacier Lilies have arrived and the elk will soon follow! This is a view of the elk from the deck of Camas Meadows Lodge. Early mornings and evenings are the best times to see the herd. They will be off in the distance, but the spotting scope at the lodge offers the opportunity to watch the herd up close and personal without disturbing them.

Just at daybreak and in early evening, the elk wander into the meadow to feed. In May, the newborn calves add to the scene as they frolic among the herd. Each spring we count the number of elk in the herd. The herd has slowly been dwindling in numbers from about 50 animals in the late 1990’s to about 25 animals today. On some early mornings the elk wander to within a couple of hundred feet of the back deck.

The wildflowers of April and May are phenomenal. The Spring Beauties and Glacier Lilies are here now. The Camas flowers will arrive the middle of May and the peak wildflower season soon follows.

Come experience the wonders of spring at Camas Meadows!

Make your reservations now to see the spring wildflowers and the elk herd. We are starting to get summer bookings, but still have openings in spring and summer. Experience the splendor. Reserve your special getaway now.

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

2008-02-26T12:05:00.001-08:00

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.

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

2008-02-12T13:25:00.001-08:00

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!

Snow.....Blue Sky.....Snow.....Blue Sky.....More Snow!

2008-01-13T16:52:00.000-08:00

With the LaNina settled in over the northwest the weather pattern at Camas Meadows is snow followed by sunny blue skies. We currently have well over three feet of snow in the meadow. If you look carefully at the fence posts in the distance, you can tell they are slowly being covered in powder snow.

Today was foggy in the Wenatchee valley, but Camas was above the fog. Then about noon the fog rolled to the edge of the meadow when this photo was taken. I thought that we were going to undergo a color change from blue to gray. However, in just five minutes the fog decided to retreat back down Camas Creek.

The clouds and the mountains make a wonderful view from the deck. However, out on the meadow the scenery is just as pretty, but at a much smaller scale.

Our next opening is President's Day weekend. We are booked February 18th through the 20th.
The National Weather Service is predicting more snow and sunny skies through March. With more than three feet of snow we expect skiing, sledding and all the other snow activities to continue through the middle of March.

Late February and early March is our favorite time of year for x-country skiing at the meadow. The snow has firmed up and you can easily ski in any direction from the house. The skies are generally sunny and the sun feels very warm. Come experience spring skiing at Camas Meadows.

Christmas at Camas

2007-12-14T12:15:00.001-08:00

The Christmas season has arrived at Camas. It came complete with a large snowfall and a gorgeous Christmas Tree. Our Christmas trees are found growing naturally in the forest. We usually start picking out our tree in October. After Thanksgiving weekend the tree is put up and the Christmas season is in full swing.

Christmas, however, is not complete without snow. Camas is located at 3000 foot elevation so almost all our Christmas's are white. In the ten years we have owned the cabin, we have had a white Christmas all but one.

This year we had a substantial winter storm drop lots of snow the first weekend in December. The three feet of snow was quickly followed by a day of rain!! This is great news for skiing and snowshoeing the meadow. The rain packed the snow down to provide a firm base for skiing.

The forecast is for another storm this weekend that should put a powder snow on top of the base. This makes for fantastic x-country skiing.

This is a photo from last week as the storm was clearing. After the storms move on we are usually blessed with brilliant white snow reflecting the sun and blue skies.

Our first openings now start on the weekend of Jan.5th. We are booked Martin Luther Kings weekend.

First Snow!

2007-11-23T18:33:00.000-08:00

First snow becomes the first snowman of the season.

Our guests last weekend had three little girls that took the time to build a snowman on the deck!

We were particularly impressed with the Ponderosa pine hair. But it definitely looks like it is starting to thin on top!

Well, it was actually the second snowfall. The first was October 18th, but it quickly melted. This snowfall looks like it is going to be around for the season. It looks like it will be a snowy winter. There is additional snow forecast for the start of next week.

The grasses are still sticking out above the snow, but the next couple of snowfalls should cover the meadow just in time for skiing.

We are open until December 7th. We are also open from December 19th through the 24th. If you are interested in these dates.

New Year's weekend and Martin Luther's Day are booked in January. Other weekends are still open.

Keep watching the blog for updated snow reports.

Christmas Tree Season

2007-11-04T09:08:00.000-08:00

November is the start of Christmas tree season at the meadow. The residents of the meadow are scoping out the young Douglas-fir on National Forest land to pick the perfect Christmas Tree. You can join the hunt. Stay at Camas Meadows Lodge and we will leave a Forest Service Christmas Tree permit, a handsaw for you to use, and a map to find that perfect tree.

November is also the season for the first snowfall. Last year we had four inches of snow on November 1st and well over a foot at Thanksgiving. So far this year the weather has been warm and sunny during the day with cool nights. Check last year's blog for pictures of the snow in November.

The aspen have dropped most of their leaves. The larch have all turned yellow. Once the larch needles have dropped fall will be over at the meadow. Hopefully, soon after, a snowfall will change the meadow to a blanket of white.

Veteran's Day weekend is open. We are booked from November 17th through the 25th. In December, we are booked from December 15th through December 22nd. New Year's Weekend from December 29th through January 1st is also booked.

The first two Christmas Tree Lighting weekends in Leavenworth at open. We are also still open during Christmas!!! December 22nd though December 28th is open and waiting for your family and friends to reserve this special time on the meadow.

We almost always have a white Christmas at Camas! Keep checking this blog for snow updates.

October Fall Colors

2007-10-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

This time of year high pressure cells occasionally weaken over eastern Washington and clouds and rain cross over the Cascade crest. The rain is usually followed by crystal clear blue skies, but it changes the mornings.

At Camas Meadows the moisture results in a meadow ground fog right at sunrise. This results in great views from the deck. Sip your morning cup of coffee and watch the sun begin to burn the fog away.

Quickly the sun rises. The fog burns off. The sky turns a deep blue. Mornings are always special at Camas.

This Sunday morning we took the 3.8 mile hike around the meadow to admire the fall foliage. Some of the unconventional aspen trees have taken a reddish tinge to complement the yellow color of their neighbors. We are not sure how the "yellow" aspens feel about this.

Of course, for the ponderosa pines green is the only color choice and they wear it year round. Fall at Camas Meadows is when the blues, greens, reds and yellows grace the landscape. The larch are also turning yellow showing their solidarity with the yellow aspens.

October is a very special time at Camas.

We are booked for Thankgiving and New Year Holidays. Christmas Week is still open. All other weekends are still available. Discover the magic that is Camas Meadows.

Fall Colors are Painting the Meadow!

2007-10-01T16:41:00.002-07:00

Fall colors have arrived at Camas! Even the bull elk is strolling through the meadow admiring the fall foliage. Click on the photo above to better see the rack on the male of the herd.

Yesterday, a weather front finally crossed the Cascades and brought rain to Camas for the first time in several months. The mountains above Camas have the first dusting of snow. Today the clouds swirled around the peaks while the meadow was filled with patches of sun and the long shadows of autumn.

October has the fall colors, the deepest blue sky and the best skies for enjoying the night sky. The days are usually warm with temperatures peaking in the low 70's and mid 60's. The nights are getting cold with temperatures at the freezing mark. Perfect for enjoying a cozy fire at night.

The fall colors will be around for the most of the month. Peak fall color will be over by the next couple of weeks. Come and enjoy the meadow colors and Octoberfest in Leavenworth! The upcoming weekends are available, just waiting for your visit.

Golden Days of Fall

2007-09-11T18:17:00.001-07:00

The meadow has turned to a golden brown as fall rounds the corner. The meadow will soon be accented by the golden leaves of the aspen groves. Last year the aspen started turning color on the 23rd of September. This year the aspen are already beginning to turn. Our best guess is that the fall colors will peak on September 22th and continue through mid-October. As the aspen leaves fall, the larch begin showing rthe yellow-gold color that continues through autumn.

This morning on my walk to the church camp pond I saw the elk herd. Usually the bull elk is difficult to spot; but there he was in the middle of the herd. A few years ago the meadow residents petitioned and succeeded in making Camas Meadows a "no shooting" zone by Chelan County ordinance. Since the ordinance went into effect, the elk have stayed in the meadow through the fall.

Here is a guest's comments from Sepember 20, 2000. "Aspens are turning fast. Have seen a herd of deer(we suspect it was the elk herd) in the meadow--three bucks starting to lock horns. Never saw that in the wild before. A coyote wandering down the fence line hoping for a grouse or a hare before the snows. Mountain tops have snow now. Chipmunks and squirrels have started their hibernation; they are nowhere to be seen. Magic of nature manifest...........Quiet, peaceful, scenic. So easy to drive through the mountains without appreciating them or notice the flora and fauna embracing them. So nice to have found a place that melds so much, so well. I hope you, your neighbors, the State and the [Nature] Conservancy can keep this special place so special."

We call it Camas contentment....find out why Camas Meadows is such a special place.

The trails of Camas Meadows are beaconing hikers and other critters. There are also special events going on just 20 minutes away.

If you have kids, or just a kid at heart.....check out the award winning Salmon Festival in Leavenworth. The dates are September 20-23, 2007. Here is the website: www.salmonfest.org. It's free and offers a wonderful educational experience for all ages. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! Everyone will have a great time!!

We are booked this weekend, but Salmonfest, Autumn Leaf and Octoberfest weekends are all open.

Fall at Camas offers sunny days and vibrant blue skies followed by crystal clear nights. Temperatures are in the 70's during the day, dropping to the 40's at night. It is a special time at the meadow. Don't miss it!

Summer.........slip, sliding away.

2007-08-02T09:18:00.002-07:00

Summer and the season is slowly slip, sliding away. The start of summer at the meadow is noted by the melting of the winter snows on Three Brothers Peak and the emergence of fireweed. The fireweed is the last showy wildflower to appear on the meadow. Once the fireweed is in bloom, summer is in full swing.

Summer days at the meadow are perfect for lounging around in the LaFuma recliners on the deck. At nightime the recliners are perfect for observing the numerous meteor showers of July and August.

The weather will continue with sunny warm days through the early part of October. However, the nights will start cooling down towards the end of August.

The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is September 20th through the 23rd. This event for kids and adults is at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Loads of fun no matter what your age.
Click on the activities listing on the web site for all the available activities. Don't miss it!!

http://www.salmonfest.org

We have openings from August 11th through the 15th and after August 20th. Festival weekends is late September and early October are still open.

If you are looking for a quiet, relaxing place to stay over Labor Day weekend Camas Meadows is the place. We are worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the last holiday weekend of summer.

Summer time and the living is easy......

2007-07-02T15:46:00.001-07:00

The snow is rapidly melting from the Stuart Range. This is the first indication that summer is here. The meadow is still mostly green, but there are patches of brown starting to show as the grasses begin drying out.

New wildflowers are showing up as we move towards summer conditions in the meadow. The flower below is called Monkshood. A close look at the flower shows that the name was well chosen. A large number of these flowers are showing at the west end of the meadow where Camas Creek starts its steep journey down to Peshastin Creek.

Even after the wildflowers go to seed there is beauty still to be found. These seeds are just waiting for the breeze to freshen so they can "fly" over the meadow.

Summer on the meadow. Warm days with cool nights. The nights are filled with stars. This is the time to bring the telescope to the meadow to explore the night sky. August brings the Persid meteor showers. On the night of August 11-12th a streak of light can be seen about once a minute as the meteor stream encounters earth's atmosphere.

The elk herd was still in the meadow as of July 1st. However, with the warmer weather they will be heading for higher ground. Usually, they are back in the meadow for Labor Day weekend.

Reserve your time on the meadow. The recliners are out on the deck and the mountain bikes are ready for riding. Give us a call for current openings.

More Wildflowers!!

2007-06-11T14:52:00.000-07:00

An interesting week of weather at Camas Meadows. Mountain weather is always a surprise and this week verified that. The week started with hot weather and daytime temperatures reaching 90 degrees at Camas, and a record setting 97 degrees in Wenatchee. By Wednesday, the morning low was 32 degrees! Thankfully, the days stayed warm and sunny even if the early mornings were chilly. Saturday a weather front actually crossed the Cascades and we had a gentle rain for a couple of hours. Sunday morning, the ground moisture formed a misty fog in the meadow just at daybreak. The rest of the day was perfect for watching the mountain scenery and laying in the outdoor recliners.

Sunday morning the elk herd crossed the meadow in front of the house. A couple of bulls with racks in velvet, trailed by a cow elk. And rushing around from one end of the herd to the other were five newborn calves. You could just feel the excitement and energy level by watching the new born calves. The herd should be in the meadow for another couple of weeks. But with the warm weather of summer, they will be heading for higher country by late June.

The wildflowers continue to bloom. The memory of spring beauties and glacier lily's has almost faded. Currently the lupine are starting to take center stage as the yellow leaf balsam root begins to fade. The Camas bloom is also ending. The picture is a flower in the crepis genus. A nice walk around the meadow will show many varieties of wildflowers, with new varieties popping up every day. The flowers should continue to bloom for a several more weeks, but will slow down as more hot weather arrives along with summer.

We have booked the last weekend in June, 4th of July, July 21st weekend, and July 28th weekends. The week of August 5th is also booked. All other weekends and weekdays are still open. For those planning ahead Labor Day weekend is still open.

Wildflower Season

2007-05-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

Wildflower season is in full swing at Camas Meadows. Here are some pictures of our favorite wildflowers. With over 135 species of wildflowers in the meadow and surrounding forest there are plenty of favorites to chose.

The wildflowers should be blooming through the entire month of June. We are booked from May 25th through June 10th. There are plenty of openings for June and July. You can still catch the late season wildflowers in June.

We are still open for 4th of July and Labor Day weekend. For those thinking far in advance Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas week are still open.

Green Up!!

2007-05-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

The wildflowers start appearing just after the snow melts. The meadow takes a bit longer to start greening up. This past weekend the green up has started in earnest. The aspen started breaking bud on Friday morning and were leafing out by Sunday.

On Saturday morning we went took the walk around the meadow. The walk is almost four miles and is always on the edge of the meadow. On our walk we saw 19 different species of wildflowers and this is just the beginning of wildflower season. The meadow has 135 different species of flowers. By this weekend we should start seeing the initial bloom of the Camas flowers.

On Sunday morning the elk herd paraded in front of the lodge. The count is 16 elk. Several of the cows appeared to be very pregnant. They should be dropping their calves any day now. It is always a treat to watch the young calves cavorting around the meadow this month.

One spring we watched as a pack of coyote's started running at the elk in the meadow. The elk formed a circle and protected the young calves. They never panicked or broke ranks and after 15 minutes or so the coyote's gave up the hunt. These events are rare, but do provide a special memory to staying at the meadow.

During the winter outdoor activities such as skiing and snowshoeing beckon. This time of year the wildflowers walks are a much more genteel activity. The elk watching is generally best from from the deck. And on those sunny afternoons the LaFuma recliners and a good glass of wine are always on the list of must do activities.

The forecast is for sunny weather east of the Cascades for the next several weeks. Temperatures should be in the low to mid 70's during the day. Perfect spring weather.

Remember the Leavenworth Bird Fest is the weekend of May 18-20. See previous entries for web address or do a search on Leavenworth Bird Fest.

We are booked for Memorial Day weekend. The other weekends in May are still open. This is a very special time at Camas Meadows. Don't miss it!!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

2007-04-23T17:28:00.001-07:00

The brief April showers will soon bring the lavish displays of wildflowers in May. It has been a fairly dry spring so far, but we have had an occasional rain shower.

Camas Meadows has it's own private weather forecast.

Check the following link: http://cleardarksky.com/c/CmsMdwsLdgWAkey.html?1

This forecast gives the expected weather and astronomical viewing conditions for the next three days specifically for Camas Meadows. It is a fun web site to explore especially if your interested in astronomy.

A brief note from our guests this past weekend:

"Delightful!........Crackling wood fire, so many stars at night, the elk that came in right on schedule and that rare commodity.....quiet. All while being pampered with the many thoughful touches you have put in place for your grateful guests. Thanks you for a wonderful weekend."

From guests in May, 2001.

"Our second visit to Camas Meadows Lodge and we love it just as much in spring as in winter. Lots of big yellow flowers blooming all around (Arrowleaf Balsamroot" according to the book), elk in the meadow and blue skies everyday..........

The picture on the previous entry shows the Arrowleaf bloom. Camas is a veryl special place, but especially so in May. Book now for those May wildflowers. The weather in eastern Washington is usually sunny, with maybe brief showers. So if you're tired of the rainy weather west of the Cascades, sunny skies are just a short trip across the mountains.

See our website to book your stay. http://www.camasmeadowslodge.com

Easter Morning Sunrise

2007-04-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

The Glacier Lily and the Spring Beauties are the first wildflowers to bloom. This weekend we noticed that the Oregon anemones with their blue flowers have also started to appear. There are 135 wildflowers that bloom at Camas Meadows. The wildflower season starts now and is pretty much completed by early July.

Glacier Lily

The picture below is arrowleaf balsam taken last year in the middle of May. Entire sections of the meadow turn yellow in early May. The camas flowers then turn the meadow into a sea of blue later in May. The peak wildflower display is usually the mid-May. Spring is our favorite time at Camas. Blue sunny skies, the meadow filled with wildflowers and the elk back in the meadow. See the previous entry for more information on spring at Camas Meadows.

Currently Memorial Day weekend is booked but the other wildflower filled weekends in May are still open. The bikes are ready to ride and hiking trails are ready. To book your spring time retreat contact us through our web site: http://www.camasmeadowslodge.com.

Arrowleaf Balsam surrounds
old plow

Spring!!!!

2007-03-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

This past week the sunny, warm weather is melting the snow. Camas Creek is now flowing through the meadow. There is water flowing everywhere. The road to the cabin is open and clear.

The elk always show up in the meadow within a day or two of April 15th. We are starting to suspect that they wait to file their taxes before arriving at Camas Meadows. This picture is from 2005. The herd varies in size from year to year depending on the fall hunts. Last year was the last of the cow hunts so hopefully the numbers will start increasing once again.

Spring is a very special time at Camas Meadows. The elk are usually in the meadow. We have a pair of sandhill cranes that have visited every spring for four years. The coyotes return to the meadow to sing their songs late into the night. The wild turkeys follow the blooming wildlflowers up into the meadow. And if you're lucky you will catch our local bear lumbering across the meadow.

Camas Meadows was preserved by the state of Washington for the checker-mallow and delphinium plants. In addition, to these two endangered plants there are 135 species of wildflowers that bloom in the meadow. In a couple of days the Glacier Lilies and Spring Beauties should start appearing next to the melting snowbanks. The wildflower display is usually at peak color the middle of May. In early June the meadows namesake Camas turns the lower meadow into a sea of blue. By late June, the blooming fireweed signals the end of spring and the start of the summer season.

The weekend of May 18-20 is the Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest. The following web site has additional information on this event: http://www.leavenworthspringbirdfest.com

This is the perfect time of year to enjoy the birds as well as the wildflowers. Camas Meadows is a happening place in May!!

The Leavenworth Summer Theater season starts July 6th. The productions this year are the Will Rogers Follies, Camelot, and the Sound of Music. The Sound of Music is presented outdoors on the Wenatchee National Forest with the Cascades as a backdrop. A special musical presented in a very special spot. Book your tickets early as they go fast: http://www.leavenworthsummertheater.org

Watching an outdoor venue on a summer evening and driving back under the star-filled skies to Camas Meadows is a wonderful experience.

As always you can e-mail us through our web site: http://www.camasmeadowslodge.com
or call at 509 665 0876.

Spring Snowstorm!

2007-02-25T15:39:00.000-08:00

This weekend brought a spring snowstorm complete with 8 inches of new snow. The warmer weather of the past two weeks has been slowly opening the creek and settling the snowpack. Yesterday's storm indicates that old man winter is not quite ready to throw in the towel. It started snowing Saturday morning and is continuing to snow this afternoon.

It is a wet, fluffy snow. Perfect for snowball fights, building snowmen, and constructing that all important igloo. For kids, sledding on any type of snow is perfect!

With this snowfall, it looks like winter activities will continue at least through the middle of March.

We still have openings in March. Book now for April and May wildflowers! The elk herd is almost always back in the meadow by April 15th. Sorry Memorial Day is already booked.

Vladimir

2007-02-19T14:17:00.000-08:00

This was the view from the deck on Friday morning. We had a great sunny weekend, but the forecast is for snow the next two days.

Spring snow has arrived at Camas Meadows. The dry powder snow of this winter has been replaced by heavier, wetter snow. This snow is not the puffy powder of winter ski resorts, but it does have its own set of advantages. It is a lot easier to build a snowman!! The skiing and snowshoeing is much easier. You can ski or snowshoe anywhere without worrying about sinking into the powder. But you need to get out earlier to get the best conditions. By afternoon, the snow may warm up enough to begin sticking. Then is the time to move the lounges to the sun.

Our last guests built a great little sledding run for the smaller kids right off the deck.

The weather is also much warmer. The days are in the 40's and 50's while nights still drop below freezing. In the sunshine, it feels much warmer. With daytime temperatures that warm, the days of winter are numbered. Our guess is that there will be adequate snow for skiing and other snow sports through the middle of March.

Book now for that last bit of winter fun. We are open for the last weekend in February, the 24th and 25th. The first weekend in March is booked. We are also open on weekdays if you can take advantage of the stay two nights get one free offer.

2007-02-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

This is the couch

This is the view from the couch

Camas Meadows is an outdoor paradise. We provide snowshoes, sleds, and mountain bikes for our guests to explore the meadow. There is a spotting scope for viewing elk in the spring and fall.

But “Camas contentment” can strike within minutes of making oneself comfortable at the cabin. The view from the couch can make the choice between becoming a couch potato and an outdoor adventurer difficult.

We provide everything that you can possibly need at Camas. You do need to bring your own food and clothes.

There are books to read. Most have outdoor themes, but Camas Meadows is a very outdoor place. Yes, there is a copy of Walden.

There are also board games, puzzles and toys for both kids and adults.

There are plenty of CD’s to listen too and if you want to make your own music a piano. If you’re musically challenged there is even a Belarus Lap Harp complete with sheet music that anyone can play.

If you’re into gourmet cooking, the kitchen has everything you need to prepare that special meal. For those tired of cooking in the kitchen, a large gas Weber barbecue offers an alternative to standing over the stove. Of course, there are wine glasses to toast the end of a perfect day.

For many of our guests the LaFuma recliners, the deck, and the view are all they need for the perfect weekend. For them, “Camas contentment” is the real deal.

The choice is yours…..skiing, snowshoeing or the recliner??

February 4, 2007

2007-02-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

The forecast for Saturday night called for fresh snow by morning. Sunday, however, was once again sunny. This is one of the longest stretches of sunshine we've had during the middle of winter. January is usually the snowiest month of the year. The forecast is for snow on Wednesday.

With the sunny weather the x-country skiing has been great. The longer days of February should bring longer days with warmer temperatures. Hopefully, those sunny days of January will still be around this month.

The meadow is quiet as most of the wildlife has retreated down to the winter range. On Sunday, a pile of bird feathers and coyote tracks showed a successful hunt for one of our winter residents.

We are booked the weekend of February 9th and 16th. The weekend of February 24th is open, but the first weekend of March is reserved. Winter break week from February 20th is open.

Saturday, January 20th, 2007

2007-01-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

Both these pictures are taken from Lily Snode's homestead site. Until the early 1990's all of Camas Meadows was in private ownership. Lily's last will and testament assured that these lands would be preserved by specifying the property be sold to the Nature Conservancy. This later resulted in the establishment of Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve by the State of Washington. Over the past 15 years additional acquired acreage put most of the meadow in public ownership. For more information on Camas Meadows Natural Area see the web address in the previous blog entry.

Lily's homestead is still a special spot, even though the cabin was removed shortly after purchase by the Conservancy. In spring, the domestic Iris flowers still bloom and are the only reminder that this spot was home to Lily.

The photos display this part of the meadow, which is a short five minute walk or ski from the lodge. Lily Snode's old homestead is a very special place within Camas Meadows.

The next three weekends are still open for reservation. Sorry, the mid-week special is taken for the week of Feb 5th and President's Day weekend is booked.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

2007-01-14T11:39:00.000-08:00

This is the parking lot at the entrance to Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve, one mile from Camas Meadows Lodge. As you can see the rain, wind, and snow had little effect on the snowpack. Most of the wind missed Camas Meadows. Wenatchee, less than 20 miles away, was hit hard. The rain helped settle the snow pack and create a solid base for snow sports. A couple of inches of cold snow followed and put a layer of powder on top of the base.

The stormy weather this winter delivered lots of snow and lots of sun. The fronts moving quickly through eastern Washington keeping the clouds on the move. Snowy, sunny winters are the best!

The past week has brought cold weather, with temperatures in the mid-20's during the day but dropping to below zero at night. The record low for this winter was Saturday morning at minus eight. Fortunately, our guests at the cabin had lived in Siberia so they thought the weather rather balmy.

The forecast is for continued clear skies with high's in the 20's and 30's dipping to the teens at night.

President's Day weekend is booked but other weekend days are open. The days are starting to get longer and should be getting significantly warmer over the next month.

For more information on Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve see the Department of Natural Resources web site at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nap/publications/camasbro.pdf.

Paste this address into your browser or search for Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve brochure.

December 31st, 2006

2006-12-31T18:05:00.000-08:00

Snow and more snow was the theme for December. The snow at the meadow normally peaks the first week of February. This year we have reached our normal maximum in late December. Check the snow level on the photo versus the one in early December.

The snow is powder. For now, we are following our neighbor's ski tracks in the meadow. As the snow settles it will be much easier to strike out on one's own across the meadow.

Starting the first weekend of January we are open for bookings. Both Martin Luther King and President's Day holidays are open. Perfect time to try out snowshoeing, skiing across the meadow, or watching the kids sled!

December 3rd, 2006

2006-12-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

Mornings are always special at Camas. Sunday's morning sunrise was one of those special days at Camas. The sunrise lead to brillant sunshine that is only found in the mountans.

The powder snow has made for perfect cross-country skiing in the meadow.

The clear skies have brought cold temperatures with the high temperatures reaching only into the mid-20's. But out in the sun it feels much, much warmer.

Here is the link to the Department of Natural Resources website on Camas Meadows Natural Area preserve.

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nap/publications/camasbro.pdf.

Paste this address into the URL or use google and input Camas Meadows brochure into the search engine.

November 26, 2006

2006-11-27T18:12:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving weekend brought snow....lots of it. There were an additional 12 inches on top of the six that were already on the ground. There s plenty of snow for cross-country skng annd sledding after this weekends snowfall. The forecast is for clear skies during the week and then more snow by Thursday.

This week it wll be time to cut the Christmas tree and decorate the lodge for the Christmas season.

The Christmas Tree Lighting weekends in December are still open. Christmas weekend is booked, but New Year's weekend is stll open.

With the snow cross-country skiing and sledding are on tap. We do provide snowshoes for those looking for a "slower" more genteel experience.

November 2nd, 2006

2006-11-02T19:32:00.000-08:00

Saturday, morning October 28th. The warm days and cool nights have continued throughout the month. The aspen have lost most of their leaves and the larch are now taking center stage.

Today, November 2nd we had four inches of snow at Camas Meadows. This is the first serious snow of the year. Will November return to sunny to the sunny weather of October or will it be more like snowy December?

2006-10-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

The long warm sunny spell ended this morning with rain showers. The sun broke through to shine on Three Brothers Peak.

Last week the temperatures ranged from highs in the upper 70's to a low of 29 degrees. We have not had the cool mornings that fall generally brings. The forecast for the coming week is sunny days and cooler nights.

The aspen have completed turning color, while the maples are halfway through the color change. The larch have just started to turn. The next two weeks wll be the peak of the fall color season. Hopefully, with the cooler temperatures Three Brothers Peak will get a mantle of snow to complement the fall colors in the meadow.

2006-10-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

October 1, 2006

Fall, according to the calendar, starts on September 21st. On the meadow, however, fall starts when the aspen start turning color. This year the aspen started changing color on September 25th. In the past couple of days, several groves have, changed to completely golden yellow while other groves are still green.

Last week the daytime temperatures were up in the low 80's, while the nighttime low was only 38 degrees. Fall is just beginning.

The elk think it is fall. They are back in the meadow hanging around in the aspen groves. The best time to see them is at dusk and dawn. Evening is the best time to use the elk call and initiate a conversation. The elk "bugle" is more like a whistle. The bull elk does respond to any potential rivals using the elk call.