Living in Portland, we were far from convinced that a 5 ½ hour, 300-mile drive to the eastern reaches of Oregon was a recipe for winter fun.  Wrong!  Perched at the northern end of the Blue Mountains, 20 miles up a winding creek bed from the metropolis of North Powder, Anthony Lakes resort is well worth the trek.  Consider the advantages:

(1) Oregon’s driest powder snow
(2) frequent clear skies & sunshine
(3) uncrowded slopes with challenges for all downhill levels of expertise
(4) an outback Powder Tour via sno-cat
(5) highest base elevation in Oregon (7,100 ft.)
(6) second largest groomed Nordic trail system in state

This winter playground has attracted local skiers since the early ‘30’s, but didn’t merit a chair lift until 1968, when a double chair was erected to rise to 8,000 feet.  Three years ago Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort, Inc. converted the original summit lift into a triple chair that serves a mountainside of 21 groomed runs that include expert steeps and gentler bowls and open glades.  The lift-serviced terrain is 38% intermediate, 42% advanced and 20% beginner.  The latter category is served by a surface handletow.

A day lodge and parking lot are at the lift bases.  The lodge offers meals, a saloon and full service rental shop for downhill and Nordic equipment, plus a learning center with certified instructors for alpine, snowboard and cross country pastimes.  A Nordic Center occupies a former pioneer homestead at the entry to the resort parking lot.  Here cross-country skiers and snowshoers may purchase trail passes, register for lessons, rent, tune and wax equipment and gain direct access to over 37 kilometers of groomed trails.
 

The incredible lightness of being offered by local powder is easily and safely accessed from the summit lift and encourages departure from groomed runs.  Now a snowcat with passenger cabin, introduced in the winter of 1999, takes further advantage of snow conditions with Powder Tours of full or half day guided trips into an outback of 2,000 acres and up to 1,200 vertical feet.  A 12-person heated cabin provides touring comfort for skiers and snowboarders.  

Sparkling Scenery Abounds

We categorize the Anthony Lakes alpine scenery as inspiring.  Clear blue daytime skies are a norm here and this end of the Blue Mountains has a series of steep peaks surrounding the ski terrain.  At 8,000 feet the azure air offers views that extend clear to the highest summits of the Cascades, over two hundred miles to the west.  

The North Powder turnoff to the ski area from I-84 is roughly equa-distant (just over 20 miles in either direction) from La Grande to the north and Baker City to the south.  Both cities offer a selection of dining and lodging.  Baker City’s Geiser Grand Hotel  is a classic restoration of the only high rise in 
this cattle country with the exception of grain elevators.  Mining and ranching before the turn of the century brought an influx of bodies and economic activity that engendered dreams of an urban center, symbolized by the Geiser Grand, now reflecting its origin with fine dining western style and antique 
furnishings throughout. 

Days and Hours of Resort Operation

Anthony Lakes Resort operates from late November to mid-April, with facilities open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, holidays included.  The enjoyment of Oregon’s finest snow conditions is very affordable.  Lift ticket rates top out at $28 for a full day, with lower rates for seniors and children up to 12 years.  Powder tours via snowcat are $75 per person half day, $150 for a full day that includes lunch.  Lesson programs for every level and type of snow activity are available.  There is a Ski 1-2-3 $90 package for 3 rentals, 3 lessons and 3 full day lift tickets.  Half price lift tickets are offered on all Thursdays, plus Dec. 17-21 and March 24-28.  Kids 6 and under and seniors over 70 may ski or snowboard at no charge.

The current Anthony Lakes Resort was restructured in 1998 by local residents-the Ball, Kearney and Kutsch families.  Their addition of the triple chair lift, additional Nordic trails and new snowboard terrain are the first steps in a Master Development Plan approved by the U.S. Forest Service.  This
project includes doubling uphill lift capacity, additional groomed downhill and Nordic runs and expansion of the current day lodge and parking area.

Snow conditions and the laid-back, friendly welcome of residents of the Union-Baker county region can be expected to remain stable.  The distance of Anthony Lakes Resort from Oregon’s major population centers will continue to guarantee short lift lines and uncrowded slopes.  We’re describing a truly different alpine atmosphere in contrast to the popular mountain playgrounds of the Cascade range…an atmosphere taking you back decades to the way it was and still can be for winter recreation.

Interstate 84 is a long and generally boring approach to the nirvana of Anthony Lakes, but we’ll testify that it’s well worth the effort upon arrival.

© 2002 Oregon Magazine