Suggestions for tours out of Twisp?

Anyone have any shareable knowledge about tours around the Twisp area? So far the only trip we have on the docket is Silver Star, but I'm hoping to find some more easily accessible turns to match our vacation style outings... and hopefully some good spots to go if its storming. Anything decent along SR20 east of Twisp? Forest roads up in the Okanogan? Good suggestions come with the promise of a skin track slowly and awkwardly put in, or beers at the pub!

Erik

My experience is that it's hard to get up high (where the good skiing is) without a snowmobile.  If you are fit and/or there's a track in, there are turns to be had off of Sandy Butte, above NC heli.  There is additional quality skiing rumored to exist above the highway between Early Winters and Silver Star, although sometimes the highway closes at Early Winters, turning such ventures also into a trudge. Loup Loup Pass environs seems promising, although I don't have any firsthand knowledge.

To drift your thread slightly: anyone know of a place in the Mazama area that rents sleds?

Of course, the best senario would be to put your thumb out on the hiway and get picked up by some local Bro's pulling sleds who would just love to show you around all their private stashes. I truly wish you all the best luck with that.
Otherwise, try calling north cascades mountain guides, especially if you have a group. They have snomobile accessed day tours. You'll get what you're looking for, and you'll be supporting the local economy.
I plan to hire a trip the next time I'm out there figuring the cost will also pay dividends in beta for future outings.
Also, Loup Loup proper is closed most days of the week offering straight forward self powered turns, and it looks like they have a decent base right now. I think there is also a possibility of skiing off the sw side of the Loup.

No place in Mazama rents sleds. Unless you hire NCMG and use theirs, which is a pretty reasonable option once you factor in their expertise, terrain knowledge and the cost of a sled for a day. Plus they are good guys and gals and a lot of fun to ski with.

The lowland skiing (aka Sandy Butte, access to Silverstar) is a mixed bag right now. You might be able to get some good turns above 4K on Sandy Butte, but if you don't know the terrain and the lines, it can be quite tightly treed and really unfun.

Apparently the DOT plowed to the Silverstar gate today so that makes it a relatively easy/short skin up HWY 20 to some good lines on the S facing bits of Delancy ridge. No idea how much longer they will do this- my guess is by New Year's they will throw in the towel for the winter.

The Loup has just released an uphill travel policy (banned during daily ops, grooming, etc) but no idea how stringent enforcement is. They open this Friday and are in daily ops w the exception of Christmas day, so your options there are limited.

What a ca-winki-dink! Check out the stoke:

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=26574.0