Don’t Pass on the Passes

 

By Christina McCarthy

Yakima County does a pretty darn good job keeping the roads clear in the winter, which means if you’re looking for a fun way to spend a day (or night), both Chinook and White Pass have plenty to offer.

Chinook Pass

In spite of the Nile Valley’s massive landslide last November, Chinook Pass still offers one of the most scenic drives around, and with the temporary road that’s been built, travelers can still see how a blanket of snow magically transforms the landscape into a Windham Hill album cover. While you can’t use the pass to get to the West side during winter months — the road is typically closed from the first big snow until mid-spring — Chinook offers its own treasures to those willing to take a little time to find them.

Whistlin’ Jack Lodge is the destination for many seeking a special dinner out, weekend breakfast or lunch, or, for the really fortunate, a quick overnight getaway. The restaurant, nestled under the trees and right on the banks of the picturesque Naches River, offers diners a delicious menu of Northwest cuisine… with a little French influence thrown in.  Chef Vern Watson has been with Whistlin’ Jack for more than 20 years and has developed many dishes that bring patrons back again and again, including signature specialties such as Edgar’s Gold Beef Medallions and Crab and Artichoke Gratin. His homemade yeast rolls alone are worth the 45 minute drive from Yakima, and they are the fluffiest, most buttery, hot morsels you’ll find anywhere.

For those seeking more than just a meal, Whistlin’ Jack also offers an entire lodge, as well as several cottages, all situated right on the river. The rooms are befitting of cabin-type lodging, with crisp, clean linens and homey furnishings. Each bungalow has its own outdoor hot tub, tucked in under the trees and stars, making it the perfect place for a romantic getaway.

If you have children in tow, Whistlin’ Jacks is a great destination as well. For most of the winter months, snow is just about guaranteed to fulfill your entertainment needs, and everyone knows those hot tubs are really just tiny swimming pools, perfect for warming you up after building the biggest snowman ever. Chef Watson has included several kid-friendly dishes on the menu, too, ensuring that even the pickiest eater will find something to go with his most delicious hot chocolate.

For activities on Chinook Pass, the great outdoors is one giant playground. Snowshoeing just a bit off the road will reveal an other-worldly sense of quiet and peacefulness, and there are plenty of places to do so.

The “end” of Chinook Pass—where road crews pull the gate across the highway the winter—offers snow fort builders, snowball fighters, sledders and kids of all ages the perfect winter wonderland with plenty of safe, off road play area. The Naches Ranger District can also provide maps to snowmobiling trails in the area. Located just 15 miles past Whistlin’ Jack, the closed road makes a drive up Chinook Pass a perfect day trip from Yakima or from Whistlin’ Jack.

White Pass

If you take a left at the Y on Highway 12 just past Naches, you’ll find yourself headed up to White Pass, which by many accounts, is the outdoor enthusiasts’ dream.

Wildlife

Be sure to make your first stop at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area, often referred to as the elk feeding station. Established in 1939, the wildlife area was created to help keep elk from damaging the orchards in nearby areas. Today, the almost 95,000-acre range is recognized primarily for the heard of about 3,000 elk that spend the winter there, though it’s also home to deer, bear and numerous bird species, as well.

The thrill of the Wildlife Area is the experience of seeing—truly up close and personal—thousands of elk. They are big, and when two bulls lock their antlers, you won’t soon forget the power of these 900 pound beasts.

Daily feedings are at 1:30, and if you arrive early (or call and make a request) you may be able to go out on a feeding truck. These popular tours will drive you right among the elk (who will be more interested in the hay being pitched to them than in the visitors), giving you the best photo opportunities around!

Skiing

If skiing is your thing, continue up the highway to the White Pass Ski Resort. Just 50 miles from Yakima, White Pass offers downhill skiers and snowboarders premium runs, as well as an intricate web of groomed Nordic ski trails.

Training grounds for the Olympic medal-winning Mahre brothers (you remember them), as well as the younger, way cooler, switch skier Andy Mahre (yes, Steve’s son), White Pass offers something for skiers and riders of every level. From the “magic carpet,” hauling tiny kids up the near-level bunny slope, to the Quad chair, rising to the top of the mountain (and breathtaking views), the lifts can move 6,500 snow-sport enthusiasts every hour. Thirty-two groomed trails—as well as unlimited opportunities to carve your own through the trees—provide plenty of options for heading back down the 1,500 foot vertical drop. And right now, the resort is in the process of expanding across the back side of the mountain. By fall 2010, White Pass Resort will be significantly larger, offering two new chair lifts, 11 new major trails, a backside lodge, and expanded parking.

Just across the highway from the main White Pass Resort lodge is a yurt — and the “base camp” for the Nordic trails. Here, you can get maps, cross country skis or snowshoes, and a snack before heading off into your own Ansel Adams world. With more than 10 miles of serene trails leading to inspiring vistas and classic snowy forest scenes (and little to no cell phone reception), a day of Nordic skiing will remove you from your busy life to a place of natural peacefulness you may have forgot existed.

Don’t know how to ski or ride? Not to worry. Group and private lessons are available most days, and the expert staff will give you the tips and confidence you need to enjoy your day away from regular life.

 

 

Winter Carnival

The highlight of White Pass can probably be summed up in a weekend of celebration, charitable fundraising and good food and drink, called Winter Carnival. This year, the 24^th annual event will be held Feb. 27—28, providing the perfect excuse to leave town and enjoy the sights, sounds and scenery of Central Washington’s winter wonderland.

Planned and managed by White Pass Resort, area high school students and adult volunteers, Winter Carnival raises money and awareness for Yakima’s Children’s Village and the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital.

If you plan to go, be sure to take time to admire and vote for your favorite snow sculpture. The Thursday before activities fire up, professional snow artists from across the U.S. and Canada will arrive to create masterpieces out of snow. Many times, they are still working on Saturday and you can watch the intricate art take shape.

With carnival games and face painting, youth skiing and boarding competitions, a torchlight parade, fireworks and a giant snow fort to play on, Winter Carnival is a great destination for a weekend with the kids. But the adult ski races, prime rib dinner, live music and hopping bar and make it the perfect quick retreat for adults, too.

For a complete schedule of Winter Carnival events, visit: http://www.skiwhitepass.com/schedule/wintercarnival.cfm