Packaged Deal
Ski-Pak offers plenty of options for winter fun

   When winter arrives, conversations commonly turn to snow
sports: where to find the deepest powder or best après ski.
Ski-Pak, the area’s oldest ski travel company, ensures that such pressing subjects are addressed.

   “Our staff has local knowledge for all the ski areas we serve,” said Bryan Boice, President of Ski-Pak. The seven-person team has stayed and skied at all the resorts they service, including Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks and Whistler. 

   Dick and Rita Gentry began the company in Bellevue, Wash., in 1972 and still manage trips, which include helisking, dog sledding and snowmobiling options. Today, Ski-Pak is run as the “snow division” of Pacific Northwest Tours, based in Seattle, by Boice and co-owner

Tim Worthen.

   “We stay focused on what’s important: awesome customer service,” said Boice. Even with special touches like seeing off every tour group personally or managing the complexities of booking out entire hotels, Ski-Pak stays competitive.

   “I couldn’t beat their prices,” said Greg Munford of Tacoma, who looked into other tour options before deciding to use Ski-Pak to organize an annual trip for the past 12 years. “We’ve gone with them every time and it’s worked out well.”

   And other groups keep returning, such as Microsoft, Boeing and Paccar.

   However, such great mountains don’t always cooperate.  An avalanche recently cancelled a 10-person train tour to Big Mountain. Bryan’s crew scrambled to make airline reservations, then hand-delivered the tickets to every client.

   Boice and Worthen, who also coordinate tours for Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, are expanding this year to include summer activities like mountain biking and fly-fishing.

Ski-Pak

PO Box 30085  Seattle, WA 98113

(206) 729-8200   www.ski-pak.com

Founded in 1972

Pears with a Purpose
Hood River farmers create a niche among healthy eaters

   Over 50 years ago, Bob and Norma Willis decided to purchase 30 acres of orchard land in Oregon’s picturesque Hood River Valley from Norma’s parents. Today, their pear orchards have grown to include 300 acres of mostly the D’anjou variety. While many small farms are struggling to compete with foreign competition and large agri-businesses, the Willis family – brothers Rick, Mike and Gary – and neighbors Mike Goe and Son, Inc., have created a unique niche among healthy eaters.

   Founded in 2001, Gorge Delights markets healthy fruit snacks for eating on the go. The company packages and sells sliced pears that have been preserved in a calcium and vitamin C mixture and PearBars, a fruit energy bar that contains no preservatives or artificial flavors.

   Each 40-gram bar contains two pears, is fat free and contains 130 calories, 32 grams of carbohydrates and 1 gram of protein. Their wheat, dairy and sulfur-free properties appeal to people on special diets while their compactness appeals to outdoor athletes.

   The bars are an excellent source of energy and, as a result, have fueled athletes at events such as Cycle Oregon, the Warm Springs Endurance Series, the Mount Hood Cycling Classic, the Seattle Kids Marathon and the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic.

      Gorge Delights will soon launch a new line of 100 percent apple-based bars called JustFruit Bars, that will expand its offerings beyond pears. You can find Gorge Delights’ products at all Oregon and Washington Albertson’s, New Seasons, Larry’s, PCC Markets, and The Bike Gallery as well as natural food and sports stores across the country and on its website, www.gorgedlights.com

 Gorge Delights

396 Evergreen Drive

P.O. Box 252

North Bonneville, WA 98639

(509) 427-4433

www.gorgedelights.com

Founded in 2001