INTO THE MOUNTAINS VOL. 1
March 16th, 2020 marked the beginning of the first quarantine, and a stay-home-order here in Washington State due to COVID-19. I will never forget that date. It may have been 10 days, maybe a full two weeks later - this date I can’t recall - when it occurred to me that quarantining and literally staying at home, are two very different things. That day Kristina, our two boys and I loaded up the dogs and headed for the mountains for a hike, fresh air, and surroundings that were not our living room, kitchen or backyard. As much as those spaces generally offer comfort and good feelings, the walls were beginning to close in. That day outside changed everything.
There is so much opportunity to get outside, and just as many to enjoy food and wine while you are at it, or Aprés if thats more your speed. Recently we hit the road, skipping our local mountain, opting instead for one of the best small town ski resorts in the Northwest, Anthony Lakes. Known for some of the best snow in the west, and great terrain, what really sets the place apart is the incredible local vibe. We’ve been skiing Anthony Lakes for years, and every time we go the parking lot is loaded with RVs and campers. Camping out at the mountain is something we have always wanted to do, so we pulled the trigger on a whim. For three days we “boondocked” it in the parking lot. We skied, we ate and we drank on rotation. Never was the tradition of Aprés observed. Never did we break our “Covid-Bubble”. When the lift lines were busy, we fired up the grill and cooked, or hit the far less-busy rope tow with the kids. When lift lines thinned out in the afternoon, we skied as many laps as we could before the resort closed.
Modern campers have all of the amenities to make camping even in the coldest weather comfortable. Even still, we tried to rough it as much as possible and cooked all of our meals outside over charcoal. The highlights were grilled pizzas for the kids, fondue of Fontina cheese and Thyme, and the ultimate one skillet brunch - Shakshouka.
(Our tip: many good dough recipes work equally well as fresh grilled pita as they do for pizza crust; for the Shakshouka, toss in artichoke hearts and small pimento stuffed green olives to add brightness and boost the wine pairing factor).
We especially like white wines and Rosé in colder temperatures. Red wines tend to shut down and tighten up when the mercury drops, whereas chilled white wines are perfectly in their element. They also tend to be lower ABV. The Columbia Valley Rosé, RANGE Grenache Blanc, and Conner Lee Chardonnay were the most opened bottles of the weekend.
Consider skipping the big resort next time you head out to hit the slopes, especially if avoiding crowds is a priority. There are so many charming small hills throughout the country to checkout, and especially here in the Northwest. If you don’t have a camper, there are often incredible cabin rental opportunities near ski areas. It may not be the vacation to Hawaii you were planning, but then again, experiencing something new is sort of the point. Get out there and break new ground, and enjoy a bottle of wine in a wild place. Send us a picture!
Writing and photography and wine by Jared Burns. Food by Jesse Kleban.