Bloated Skiing: Feb. 29, Anthony Lakes, Day 4

Francine skins up the shoulder of Lees Peak (with Angell Peak in background)

We were checking out of our house, the Orville Chandler Ranch. It was super nice, with views of rolling meadows and the Wallowa mountains in the distance. House comfortably slept four couples and was about a half hour from the ski hill. We had planned to check out another ski resort, but with good snow at Anthony Lakes, and no good snow anywhere else, we drove up for another day. Don was heading home, so it was just Francine and I. We planned to return to the Angell Peak Basin area and ski a couple of laps. We had half-off lift ticket coupons, from staying at our house. We used them to buy a single ride on the chairlift. 6 bucks for the two of us to get a ride to 8,000 feet. From the top of the lift, we skied down to Hoffer lakes. From the lakes it is about 1,000 feet vertical to any of the surrounding peaks, Gunsight, Lees, and Angell. We toured up into Angell Basin and skied a lap off Lees Peak and Angell Peak, then headed home. The relief is not that huge here, but the skiing has plenty of steeper lines. Some looked quite impressive. Awesome trip! We will be back. The great snow quality could definitely spoil someone from the northwest, where our snow always seems to be thick and heavy. At Anthony Lakes the wind would blow and refresh the slopes.