You can tell a lot about a community’s health by the outdoor events they put on! Baker County, Oregon has a beaut!
When you drive west from the fog-shrouded Baker Valley and head into the Elkhorn Range of the Blue Mountains – the sun breaks through, the air is cleaner and you leave all your troubles behind when you reach the snowy Shangri-La called Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort.
The Anthony Lakes ski scene offers a base elevation that is highest in Oregon, at 7100 feet and nearly guarantees dry powder throughout a season that runs from November through April.
A day use lodge offers all the comforts across the 1100-acre playground that’s unlike any you’ve ever seen that also includes more than 30 kilometers of cross-country ski trails.
I recently enjoyed one-of-a-kind adventure on the Anthony Lake Loop Trail; a community event that really knows how to have fun.
The unique “Taste of Nordic” at Anthony Lakes Nordic Center lets visitors explore the mountain on skis or snow shoes and enjoy local eats and drinks along the way.
More than four hundred skiers of all ages recently joined the fun on the Anthony Lake Loop Trail where every four hundred yards, visitors could stop at one of ten food and beverage stations - like D&J’s Taco Shop!
Visitors purchase $2 token at the Nordic Center – the tokens are used to purchase a variety of food and drinks, according to Josh Ostrander, co-owner of D&J’s.
“This is a terrific way to sample the culinary efforts of our local vendors. You also get to meet so many new people …so for us, building the business is the fun part of this event. So many people trying our food in the great snowy outdoors – it’s really a special time.”
Josh Kerber of Anthony Lakes Resort, served delicious tri-tip sliders and tasty blood mary drinks. He offered, “It’s the great food from our varied vendors, the people who come, plus the overall atmosphere that sets this apart from anywhere else in Oregon snow country.”
When you ask the locals what sets Anthony Lakes apart from Oregon’s many other ski sites, it’s the “down home” feeling and the friendly smiles that keeps folks coming back for more.
“It’s so small and family friendly,” said Chelsea Judy. “You can’t replace the down-home feel, cuz everyone knows each other. It’s affordable too! If you come up on a Thursday, it’s $17.50 to ski all day long. so I think that’s unique and you can’t find it anywhere else anymore. People comment on how quaint it is, so a pretty special experience.”
Chris Parker, with Lone Pine Café, said that the unique setting draws many folks. “When do you ever get to be outside, ski and then stop to have a bite to eat or a drink or something – it’s really pretty fun! I think this reflects the larger story that things are really happening in Baker County. There’s new stuff happening all the time and I think people are interested in quality over quantity and that’s kind of the vibe at Anthony Lakes too.”
If you would like to visit more of Oregon – consider a walk on the wild side with my new book: “Grant’s Getaways: Oregon Adventures With the Kids.” You’ll find activities to engage any kid, from archery to clamming on the coast to hunting for thundereggs to zip-lining through trees in an aerial adventure park.
In addition, be sure to check out “Grant’s Getaways Guide to Wildlife Watching in Oregon.” You will enjoy 48 uniquely Oregon adventures highlighting my fish and wildlife encounters. Scores of colorful photos by “Grant’s Getaways” photographer, Jeff Kastner, show off some of our finest moments in the field. You can also learn more about many of my favorite Oregon adventures in: "Grant's Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures"