Spring Break is coming! Over 10 outdoorsy ideas to keep you entertained close to home!

Fresh *pow* should be fab in the backcountry ... 

Be festive and dress up for spring skiing. Pomerelle is offering discounts for
skiers/riders who dress up. Brundage is offering a free ski day on Sunday
for teens 17 and under. 

Camping in Leslie Gulch is on the list! 

What about hiking and camping at Bruneau Dunes? It's on the list. 

Hiking Cervidae and the local Grand Slam are on the list. 

Should be great weather for road biking ... see suggested rides below. 

Join Idaho River Sports on the Main Payette on Sunday. Potluck, too! 

Hi all,

It's been a soggy 10 days or so in Boise, so it's nice to see the sun burst out of the clouds today! And just in time as Spring Break approaches this weekend. If you're thinking of staying close to home, the weather looks favorable for spring skiing; hiking, biking or running in the Boise foothills, or heading out to the Snake River or Owyhee Canyonlands to go camping and exploring.

Here's the audio from Steve's radio segment on 94.9FM The River with Tim and Misty re: Spring Break tips! 

Just so you know, the weather is supposed to get wet next Monday-Tuesday, so you might plan your activities around that, if you wish. If you're base camping in the desert, hell, bring a big tarp! You'll be fine!

For this week's outdoor tip, I'm dishing up 10 outdoorsy ideas to keep you occupied and entertained during the Spring Break:

1. Spring skiing should be great at Bogus, Brundage, Tamarack and Sun Valley after all the fresh snow that fell in the past week. Brundage is offering FREE skiing to teens 17 and under on Sunday to kick off Spring Break! Sweet deal! On Sunday, March 27th, they're having a family day. Dad or Mom buy one lift ticket, and the rest of the family skis free.

2. Pomerelle got 15 inches in the last few days, and it's providing discounted lift tickets for people who dress up along their daily themes Monday-Friday of next week. Get festive! Themes are Manly Monday, Tuesday 2x2, Womanly Wednesday, Throwback Thursday and Freaky Friday. You can find great lodging deals in the Burley/Rupert/Albion area.

3. Get a jump on hiking and bag one of the peaks in the local Grand Slam. Tom Lopez, author of Idaho: A Climbing Guide, came up with the concept, and I wrote it about in my blog last year, after climbing one of the four, Cervidae Peak. I feature Cervidae in Boise Trail Guide: 90 Hiking and Running Routes Close to Home.  It's a tough, steep hike.

4. Go camping in the Snake River Canyon or the Owyhees, close to home. Here's five destinations that are sure to please, including Succor Creek State Park, Leslie Gulch, Bruneau Dunes State Park, and Celebration Park.

5. Try a new loop in the Boise Foothills. One of my favorites is the Five Mile-Orchard Loop or the Five Mile-Watchman-Three Bears Loop. Click on the links to see a description and photos. Good for hiking or biking. The hikes are moderate to strenuous, and the loops are rated advanced for biking. Great for running, too (rated strenuous).

6. Float the Payette River with Idaho River Sports on Sunday.  They're calling it St. Paddler's Day Float and Potluck. Sounds fun! Weather should be fab for floating the Payette on Sunday. Bring your food with you and you can party down on a beach, get the BBQ rockin' and all of that good stuff.

7. Dust off the road bike and go for a ride. Here are seven rides to try in Boise for various ability levels. All of the rides are from my Boise Road Cycling Guide, the only guide to road biking in the Boise area.

8. Head into the mountains and go backcountry skiing or snowshoeing in your Hawaiian shirt. That would work this weekend, especially Sunday. Try Pilot Peak, Sunset Mountain, Stargaze Yurt, Copper Mountain or Bull Trout Point.

9. Take a hike in the Owyhees. One of my favorites is the Wilson-Reynolds Creek Loop, which includes touring the beautiful redrock Reynolds Creek canyon and hiking the China Ditch Trail.

10. Check out a blog I wrote, Seven Days of Spring Break in Southern Idaho, in case one of these ideas tickles your fancy. Tandem BASE jumping anyone? Rafting the Hagerman reach of the Snake? Fishing Crystal Lake? All kinds of cool goodies.

Have a wonderful Spring Break!
- SS

Relatively warm, wet, "in-between" weekend creates a quandary of choices; Might try trail projects; ski sales or hot springs

My friend Michelle Cooper works on a trail in the Harrison Hollow area
as a board member and volunteer for the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley.
Become a "Boise Foothills Friend" to get more involved in trails.  

A peek at Ricochet Trail at Avimor. You can help build this trail on Saturday. 

Big groups of elk can be seen along the Banks to Lowman Highway.

It's been a long winter for the elk 

The Idaho Trails Association offers up many trail work opportunities for people
to tap into. See below for links to plug into ITA activities. 

Hi all,

The weather this weekend looks pretty warm, wet and mushy ... even in the high country. Maybe skiers can catch some powder early in the day in the mountains before things warm up and rain. But the high temperatures in the mountains in McCall and Stanley are going to be in the mid- to high-40s, so that likely means rain. That isn't good for skiing! Dang!

My outdoor tip this week will focus on a few tidbits of things to do close to home and special notes:

• Avimor Trail Day on Saturday - Ricochet Trail - Avimor, north of Eagle on Idaho 55, is breaking ground on a new trail this spring called "Ricochet." It's a beautiful one-mile addition laced with views, rocks, climbs, drops, challenge, exposure and flow, according to Marc Grubert, Avimor trail guru. Volunteers are needed for a work day on Saturday March 12th (weather permitting). Sign up at Volunteer Spot if you'd like to go. Volunteers should bring water, wear sturdy boots/shoes, long pants, a jacket and some form of eye protection. You'll be working remotely in steep rocky terrain (no dogs or small children). The work day will conclude with a BBQ back at the Avimor community center, food and beverages provided.
• Ski and board sales - All of your favorite local ski and ride shops are having sales right now, with deep discounts. If you're looking to make a major purchase, now is the perfect time to save a TON of money. Support your local businesses such as Idaho Mountain Touring (mid-winter sale), Greenwoods Ski Haus ("Haus Cleaning 10-50%), McU Sports (progressive sale; things get marked down more every day), and Boise REI (members garage sale) is Saturday. World Cycle may have some xc skis on sale, too. 
• Dog poop pickup party on Saturday - Well, I couldn't lead off with this one, but this is a necessary gesture to clean up dog poop in the footies. Thanks to Team Eastside Cycles, along with Boise’s Habitat Veterinary Hospital and Boise Parks and Recreation for co-sponsoring this event. It starts at 10 a.m. You can start at Camelsback, the Jim Hall Learning Center or the Old Pen trailhead. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/1TIoX0Y
• Last week of grooming at the Idaho City Park n' Ski Areas - Leo Hennessy reports that the groomer made its last pass over the cross-country ski trail system in the past week, and that'll be it for the season. There's still about 3-5 feet of snow in the area. Keep it in mind depending on weather in the next few weeks. 
• The Idaho Trails Association assembled a hearty list of trail projects that will occur statewide this summer. Go to the ITA web site for a full list of projects, how to sign up, and how to join this very worthwhile organization. 
• The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley launched a new program called "Boise Foothills Friends." To be a BFF, you can volunteer at least 4 hours a year on trail projects or donate to a trails fund. Go to the LTTV web site for more information. I'm a LTTV member, and I highly recommend it! Plus you'll meet new friends! 

Just in case you're interested, fellow Boise Hawks travel hockey parents and I are hosting a big multi-family yard sale at my house on Saturday, starting at 8 a.m. 3209 N. 39th St., Boise 83703. All items must go! Everything will be priced to sell! We have a ton of good-quality items for sale, including furniture, kids toys, clothing, a few whitewater boating items, mountain bikes, air hockey set, books, etc. All proceeds from the event will help send our boys to USA Hockey Nationals March 31-April 4 in Brooklyn, NY. These boys are the top high school hockey players in our valley!   

If you'd like to get out of town this weekend, I'd recommend taking a drive on the Banks to Lowman Road, look for deer and elk, and go soak at a hot springs of your choice ... Skinny-dipper, Pine Flats, Kirkham or Bonneville. See the Idaho Hot Springs site for details. Here's a blog I wrote about this tour. Pack a lunch and some beverages for a fun low-key day.   -SS

Wet, wacky weather coming this weekend! What to expect in March; What to do?

It's going to be wet in March! 40-50% chance of above-average precipitation 

But ... 30-40% chance of above-average temperatures. How will this play out? 

As of March 2nd, much of Idaho is at 100% of normal.
There's still a ton of snow in the mountains!

Hi all,

Well, just as I invited folks to get out and enjoy the trails in the Boise Foothills last week, it looks as if it's going to be wet this weekend and a major wet weather pattern is heading our way in the next couple of weeks. However, tomorrow (Friday) should be fabulous for spring skiing or playing in the foothills, with a high forecast in the mid-60s in the valley and clear skies. Enjoy that while you can.

Looking ahead into March, it's going to be a challenging balance between chasing fresh powder in the mountains or hiking, biking, trail-running, road biking, playing golf or tennis in the valleys below. Even spring camping in the Owyhee Canyonlands may be difficult depending on how much rain we get in the next few weeks. Wet mucky roads = getting stuck and stranded in a super remote place.

PLUS, rising rivers put another wrinkle on things for people who like to kayak, raft, SUP, etc. The Owyhee River has cut loose and it's running 4,000 cubic feet per second today, a sweet level for the Lower Owyhee River, starting at Rome and paddling down to Birch Creek, a 3- or 4-day trip. The Payette River and Salmon River are rising as well. The steelhead bite is on. More about the rivers in a moment.

My outdoor tip this week will focus on weather conditions expected in the next couple of weeks to give folks a sense of what to expect in planning their weekend outings or spring break.

An abnormally warm second half of February has people thinking winter is over, but I know it's too early for that! After all, I grew a beard this winter to DARE the snow gods to remain in our sphere for a full ski season, and that means at least another month of skiing! But I've been curious about what's in store for the next few weeks. Here's what I found:

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center forecast for the next two weeks calls for above-average precipitation and above-average temperatures:

50-60% chance of above-average precipitation March 9-19

30%-40% chance of above-average temperatures

In my experience, these forecasts are very accurate. Just to ground-proof it a little, I contacted the National Weather Service in Boise to get their take on things. The forecaster I spoke with indicated that, indeed, they are expecting a wet pattern to come in with gusto with strong winds. High temperatures will be in the mid- to high 50s in the Boise area, while mountain temperatures will vary according to elevation and microclimates.

We all hope for powder snow and no rain, and that will depend on snow levels with each storm. The NWS forecaster said he expects snow levels to be in the 4,000-5,500-foot range for colder storms coming soon, or maybe as high as 7,000 to 8,000 feet by March 11th. It's hard to say for sure, of course, but these are the predictions.

If you're a true skier and a powder hound, you'll watch the weather like a hawk and be in position to pounce when the gettin' is good! If you'd rather avoid the snow and winter weather at this point, you may have to endure a fair number of rainy days in the valley. Please watch the Ridge to Rivers web site or the Boise Foothills Trail Conditions Facebook page for the latest trail conditions and above all else, heed their advice!

Two of my favorite destinations for times when it's rainy in the valley and foothills trails are muddy:

• Marianne Williams Park - Barber Park -  Bown Crossing Loop.  4 miles. Rated easy. Click on link for details and maps. This is a hiking trip, no bikes allowed on the nature trails.
  



Eagle Greenbelt Loop 

• Eagle Greenbelt Loop - 6 miles. Open to hiking, running or biking. Park by the Greenbelt and Glenwood Bridge parking lot on Glenwood Avenue in Garden City or at Bardenay near Eagle Road. I like to start from the Bardenay area. Head east on a paved trail that gives way to dirt after a while and then becomes paved again on your way to the new pedestrian bridge crossing the Boise River. Cross the bridge and head west on a paved path that later turns to dirt as you get close to Eagle Road. When you emerge at Eagle Road, walk or bike across the bridge spanning the south channel, and then walk/bike in the swale to the north channel of the river. Pick up the Greenbelt there, head east a short ways, cross two pedestrian bridges, and then turn left to return to Bardenay. Walkers or runners could do a longer loop by going all the way to Glenwood before crossing the river and returning west on the trail.  

Now, back to the rivers, if you're looking to run the Owyhee this spring, here's a graph from NRCS Snow Survey that shows how the Owyhee River may flow in the coming weeks ... it could be peaking soon! 

Right now, the Owyhee is tracking close to the 1998 season, when it was
runnable through May. What happens with spring precipitation and heat
will determine how the rest of it runs off.

Hope that information helps for what you may be planning in the coming weeks! Have fun!
- SS

Boise Foothills trails are drying up, ready for hiking, trail-running and mountain biking

Steve at Shane's Summit as the sun was going down last night.
Happy to see the foothills trails dried up and open for use! 

Central Ridge trail 

Runners climbing Ridge Crest Trail in Military Reserve 

Central Ridge near Shane's-Bucktail Jct. 

Mark and Wendy on Crestline Trail 

Hi all,

A string of bluebird days and brisk winds are drying out the trails in the lower half of the Boise Foothills earlier than normal, and that means instead of getting your workout indoors at a fitness center or the Treasure Valley YMCA, you can enjoy an afternoon outing in the foothills, hiking, trail-running or mountain biking right now! For many of us, that's a big Woo-Hoo!

After skiing two powder days at Brundage Mountain last Friday and Saturday, I completed my weekend by returning to Boise and mountain biking one of my favorite loops in the Foothills, riding from Military Reserve up the connector to Crestline, and then climbing Sidewinder to Fat Tire, and then plunging down Trail #5 to Military Reserve and finishing on the sinewy trail along Freestone Creek.

Except for a greasy spot on Fat Tire near the junction with Trail #5, the trails were dry, and it was a delightful ride. My pointer Huck was happy to be out there, too. We've been riding in the foothills this winter on my snow bike on frozen snowy trails, but it's always great to be riding again in the spring. The word is getting out, as there were hundreds of people out and about in the foothills on Sunday, and every day this week.

The Boise Foothills Trail Conditions facebook page indicates that certain trails are still muddy or greasy and should be avoided, including Peggy's Trail and Polecat in NW Boise, and Rock Island and Garden in the Table Rock area. Keep an eye on that page to report what you're finding when you are out hiking, trail-running or mountain biking or see what other peeps are reporting.

For people who live in areas that are still snow-bound such as McCall or Ketchum/Sun Valley, you might want to pay Boise a visit and enjoy some early-spring outings in our beloved foothills. Maps of the foothills trails are available through Ridge to Rivers and more detailed information is available in my guidebooks, Boise Trail Guide: 90 Hiking and Trail-Running Routes Close to Home and Mountain Biking in Boise, 65 rides in the greater Boise area. 

Dress in layers! Try to time your workout in the heat of the day, and it's been cool, in the 50s. I wear a couple of warm, synthetic layers on top, and I've been hiking/riding in shorts. I pack along a wind-proof shell for the way down. I'm seeing runners in T-shirts and shorts.

Here are four other loops that I'd recommend right now for hiking, trail-running or biking, beyond the Sidewinder-Fat Tire-Trail #5 loop that I mentioned above:

1. Highlands-Corrals-Bob's Loop - 8 miles, rated moderate to strenuous as a hike/run, and intermediate to advanced as a ride. Bob's is a challenging rocky trail, but you can always carry your bike around tricky features. Travel time: 3.5 hours, hiking, 1:40 running, and 1:15 on a bike.
Park at the end of Hearthstone via Braemere in the Highlands. The is the trailhead for Bob's Trail and Highland's Trail. Climb Highlands, which might be shady in the bottom, but will quickly get sun as you rise out of the draw up to Corrals Trail, providing grand views of the North End. It's a little less than 2 miles and 400 feet of elevation to Corrals. Turn right on the dirt 2-track and cruise on a moderate uphill, and then downhill into a creek bottom, a fork of Crane Creek. The trail dissolves into singletrack here. Go through a gate, cross the creek, and then climb to Corrals Summit (turn right at the saddle to reach the top). It's 3.5 miles from Highlands jct. to the summit. Now you've climbed 1,325 feet and you're at the peak of the route. Descend on Corrals for about a mile until you reach the Bob's junction by a hairpin corner. Drop down Bob's, a narrow and rocky singletrack alongside a fork of Crane Creek. In a little less than 2 miles, you'll end up at the trailhead.

2. Toll Road-Cottonwood Creek-Eagle Ridge loop in Military Reserve Park. I call it the "Military Reserve Easy Double Loop" in Boise Trail Guide. Distance: 3 miles. Hiking time, 1:30, running time, 35 minutes, riding time, 20-25 minutes. This is an easy route with some challenging features here and there that provides a tour of the lower parts of Military Reserve Park. Park at the main trailhead off of Mountain Cove Road (off of Reserve St.) after you make the sharp right corner. Proceed up the Toll Road Trail #27A for a half mile to a signed junction. Turn right, cross the creek, and stay on the low trail, the Cottonwood Creek trail back toward the trailhead. It's a flat trail that zig-zags through the sagebrush. As you near the trailhead area, 1.3 miles, bear left into the Black Forest and enjoy that cool little trail. It pops out on a concrete apron. Pick up the trail to the left of the concrete and you'll hook up with Eagle Ridge Trail #25. Climb up the paved road a short bit to the top of the hill at mile 2. Bear left on #25 and take Eagle Ridge back to the Cottonwood-Toll Road junction. Return to the trailhead as you wish.

3. Jumpin' Jeepers Figure-8 Loop - 6.75 miles. Rated strenuous as a hike or run with moderate sections. Rated intermediate for biking. Hiking time, 2.5-3 hours; running time, 1:20; riding time, 1:10. This is one of my favorite rides in Military Reserve that connects to Shane's Trail. It's an equally nice run or hike. The name comes from the Boise Police Dept. shooting range at the end of Mountain Cove Road. The unexpected blast from a gun might cause you to jump out of your skin! To start, go to the main trailhead on Mountain Cove Road, after the sharp right-hand corner. Take the Toll Road Trail #27A to #20 Ridge Crest and climb to the top of the hill. Turn right on Central Ridge Trail and climb at a moderate pace to Shane's Junction. Take Shane's #26A to the left, and climb to the top of Shane's. You've climbed 1,000 feet over 3+ miles. Give your puppy a drink and a snack. Descend Shane's for less than a mile, turn right on the Shane's Loop and return to the Central Ridge-Bucktail-Shane's jct. Take Bucktail downhill and enjoy the big GS turns as you wind across a big downhill on a large flat. Bucktail drops into the Central Ridge alternative trail. Go right and then left on that and it'll take you back to the trailhead. It's a great view of Idaho's Capital City as you cruise downhill on that sagebrush slope to the trailhead.

4. Camelsback - Kestrel-Crestline-Red Cliffs Loop - Distance: 5 miles. Rated moderate for hikers and runners. Rated intermediate for biking. Hiking time, 2-2.5 hours; Running time: 55 minutes; Biking time: 45 minutes. This is a popular loop with hikers, runners and bikers. Start at Camelsback Park off of Heron and 13th Street in North Boise. Head over to the trailhead in the east side of the park, and follow Owl's Roost Trail on the right by the ponds. Follow Owl's Roost to the Foothills Learning Center area. Turn right at the junction with Kestrel, and climb Kestrel to Crestline, it's about .6 miles of continuous climbing. Turn left onto Crestline, climb a short abrupt hill, and then watch for a left-hand junction with Red Cliffs in less than a half mile. Turn left onto Red Cliffs and enjoy a fun descent for over a mile back to Hulls Gulch. Follow Hulls back toward the Foothills Learning Center, cross 8th Street, and take Chickadee Ridge back to Camelsback Park.

Have fun!
-SS

Go visit Miracle or Banbury Hot Springs near Hagerman, go hiking, sight-seeing on the way

Launching into the pool at Banbury Hot Springs

Big pool at Banbury is good for large groups and Scout groups 

Newly remodeled, Miracle Hot Springs has a really nice aesthetic ambiance 

Large pool at Miracle Hot Springs; Private rooms border the main pools outside.

Covered pool at Miracle is kept between 105-106 degrees 

Hi all,

There's nothing quite like immersing yourself in a natural hot springs and feeling the water cleanse your body and soul. Precious geothermal hot water -- heated naturally deep inside Mother Earth -- penetrates your pores and clears your head of all worries.

Just lie there, float freely and weightlessly in the steam-covered pool, and enjoy. It doesn't matter if it's snowing or raining, the hot water keeps you comfy and warm. Now that we're moving into early spring, it's prime time season for hot springs! Pack up your swimsuit, a towel and flip flops, and take some friends or family on a road trip!

If you like Gold Fork Hot Springs in Donnelly, you'll love Miracle Hot Springs -- the closest natural hot springs resort to Boise, near Hagerman.

Side pool at Miracle Hot Springs. 

Miracle was remodeled in 2012, and it turned out really nice - it has a ruggedly handsome design and ambiance, creating a very inviting and comfortable feeling for soakers and swimmers.

Miracle is an easy drive about 1.5 hours from Boise via I-84. Go east on I-84 to the Hagerman exit (exit #141). It's located about 15-20 minutes from the freeway. Take U.S. 30, the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway, to Miracle Hot Springs, located on the right side of the road next to Salmon Falls Creek. 

They have camping available on-site, or across the highway at Banbury Hot Springs. There's also some camp domes available for overnight accommodations, with prices ranging from $69 to $94/night, depending on how much room you need. Call ahead to make reservations if you want to stay overnight. Those domes are in high demand on weekends. 

Along the way, you could stop at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument or the Hagerman Museum to learn about the Hagerman horse and many other fascinating animals that lived in the area as long as 3.5 million years ago in more of a swampy grassland environment that existed in that era. 

Or, there are several state and national fish hatcheries you can visit, or stop at Thousand Springs State Park, visit Minnie Miller Springs and go for a hike on Ritter Island next to the Snake River. It's an easy, scenic hike that I highly recommend. Minnie Miller springs is one of the few springs in the Thousand Springs complex that hasn't been harnessed for hydropower or fish production.

A visitor once asked Dean Olsen about the name, Miracle Hot Springs. "The water contains over 50 minerals, which can be therapeutic and might make you feel much better," Olsen said. "This is our miracle -- the water."

When I visited Miracle Hot Springs, I spoke with three 40ish moms from Castleford, decked out in one-piece swimsuits, glittery sunglasses and hats, who were soaking in one of the side pools, kept in the 102-103 degree range. How's the water?

"Wonderful!" "Perfect!" "Lovely!"

The women come to Miracle as often as possible. "This is a great place all year round, and it's close to home. I love it," said Mickey Dekryf.

"You soak and it makes me feel great," adds Lori Hale, moving her shoulders around to loosen them up.

Miracle also has a 15 private hot pools enclosed in tasteful private rooms with a changing area and bath pool. It has 6 VIP private hot pools, which can be reserved in advance. The other private pools are first-come, first-served. Hot and cold water feeds allow guests to control the water temperature to their liking. 

Miracle has spa services as well. "You come here and it's like a vacation in one visit," says Jane Olsen, massage manager. They have a massage therapist on duty at all times; advance reservations are recommended. Call 208-543-6002 to make a reservation. 

Banbury Hot Springs, a property recently acquired by the Olsen family, is located across the highway from Miracle. Banbury has a large pool kept at about 100 degrees with a diving board and a large log to hang onto or plan on for kids. It also has private bathing rooms. The Olsens plan to do a full remodel of Banbury starting this fall. But the large pool is a good option for large groups and scout groups. 

The grassy camping and picnic areas at Banbury are really nice, located under a canopy of old cottonwood trees. Bald eagles often perch on the cottonwoods next to the Snake River during the winter. "Sometimes there are 15-20 eagles in one tree," says Enoch Olsen, co-owner. 

There's a free boat launch location at Banbury, which opens up opportunities to go Stand-Up Paddle Boarding, canoeing or kayaking on the Snake. One trip I'm planning to do when the weather warms up a bit is to launch at Banbury and go visit Box Canyon State Park, just 1.5 miles downriver. You can explore Box Canyon, the 11th largest natural spring in the United States, by foot on some hiking trails. Unique fish species live in the water because of its pure water and constant temperature 

There is not much current in this section of the Snake, allowing folks to paddle back upstream to the launch without much trouble. 

The other thing you have to do on this trip is stop at the Snake River Grill in Hagerman and have a hearty meal. They have sturgeon, catfish, alligator and many other exotic items on their menu. Highly recommend it! 

Enjoy your trip! 

- SS 

Road Trip! Take a tour of Magic Mountain and Pomerelle in a fantastic weekend getaway

Wendy skis a powdery bowl under the chair at Magic Mountain

Magic has some steeps off the top - plus some rock-launching opportunities 

Pomerelle has a new trip chair called E-Z Rider that accesses
Milk run, an immaculately groomed, perfect slope for people
learning how to ski or ride.  

Pomerelle has a down-home friendly uncrowded atmosphere ... and good food! 

On a sunny weekend in early February, I took my partner Wendy on a little ski stay-cation. Instead of driving to some of our favorite out-of-state resorts like Jackson Hole, Alta or Steamboat, we took a low-key approach and visited a couple of enchanting mom-and-pop ski areas right here in southern Idaho.

We visited Magic Mountain Resort  on Saturday, toured the mountain on alpine skis and cross-country skied a 4-mile loop to the top of the South Hills, and then hop-scotched to Pomerelle Mountain Resort   on Super Bowl Sunday and had a wonderful private Idaho experience there as well.

The allure of mom-and-pop ski areas is they harken back to the good ol' days of alpine skiing, when a two-person fixed-grip chairlift was luxurious compared to a rope tow, T-bar, and platter lift, lift tickets were relatively cheap, ski rentals cost a few bucks, and you had plenty of elbow room to enjoy the mountain.

Beginner hill at Pomerelle with magic carpet. Magic Mountain has a beginner
hill and a magic carpet as well, but a shorter hill. 

All of these things are still true at Magic Mountain and Pomerelle. Plus, both have been getting a 

TON of snow this year. Magic has 114 inches on top, and Pomerelle has a 122-inch base at the summit, while Grand Targhee has a 91-inch base, Sun Valley has 88 inches and Brundage has 90.  

In 30 years of living in Idaho, I had never skied Magic Mountain. But I think it's definitely worth checking out. It's a fun mountain with a nice mix of advanced, intermediate and easy terrain, a 750-foot drop, a cool terrain park with multiple rail features and big ramp jumps, and a cliff-band area offering even bigger jumping opportunities.  

"We're really geared to families," says Gary Miller, owner of Magic Mountain. "We've kept the prices down because we want the whole family to go. And the kids, they love the rock bands. We've got one cliff that's a 30- to 35-foot dropoff. And they love that, it's called Flathead. The kids really like flying. They want to get big air."

Lift fees are $31 for adults, $25 for seniors and military, $22 for kids aged 7-17, and kids under 6 ski free. Magic also has a fun tubing hill (tickets are $13), and 10 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails (groomed for classic skiing). Magic also offers lessons and ski rentals. The ski area is open Thursday-Sunday, and the tubing hill is open on Saturdays and Sundays.  

Two lifts service most of Pomerelle's skiable terrain, plus the magic carpet
for the beginner hill. 

Another bonus: It's easy to get there. You take the Kimberly exit on I-84 (1.5 hours from Boise; 2 hours from Idaho Falls; 1.5 hours from Pocatello), and go south on County G-3 to Magic Mountain in about 30-45 minutes. 

Pomerelle almost always has good snow because it's located on top of Howell Canyon at nearly 8,000-foot elevation. It has 1,000 feet of drop, one triple chairlift that serves the whole mountain, and a second triple chair -- new for this season -- that serves their core beginner and intermediate slopes and their terrain park.

Also geared toward families and kids, Pomerelle has a lot of ski school traffic, and affordable lessons for adults and teen-agers.  Group lessons cost $35 per person, and if you need rentals, the price is $40 for skiers and $45 for snowboarders -- that's a $20 savings right there.

"It's a great mountain to learn how to ski on or learn how to snowboard on. We've got mostly beginner and intermediate terrain. We have some pitches that will challenge anybody, but I call it a skier-friendly mountain," says Barry Whiting, Pomerelle Ski School Director.

Whiting's favorite slope is "Milk" run, where the ski instructors teach a lot of lessons. "It's a great opportunity for people to learn how to ski here."

I ran into a group of folks from Twin Falls on Sunday who were teaching their kids how to ski on Milk Run. "It's a nice place because you can teach you kids here," said one of the dads. "Milk run is great. It's nice and wide and not too steep."

Pomerelle's terrain park would be appealing for skiers and riders that like to get big air -- Colt 45 has intermediate and advanced rails and jibs, and a series of big kickers, where one could really fly high. Pomerelle is open seven days a week, it also has night skiing, and a bunny hill with a magic carpet.

Lift fees are $45 for adults, $33 for kids aged 7-12, and $17 for night skiing. Pomerelle operates 7 days a week. Pomerelle is easy to access, too. You take the Declo exit on I-84 and drive 25 miles to Pomerelle via Idaho 77. 

We did a 4-mile xc ski loop on classic gear
on nice groomed trails at Magic in the late afternoon. 

I was struck by the quality of grooming at Pomerelle. They have tree skiing and open bowls in the upper story of the mountain for people who like that kind of challenge, but many of their slopes are groomed top to bottom, beautiful corduroy for people to enjoy. I call it "hero skiing."

"Our secret is that we groom in the morning instead of the middle of the night," Whiting says. "That makes the snow ski really nice and fresh, almost like you've got a fresh layer of new snow."

Magic Mountain and Pomerelle serve a great niche in Southern Idaho, providing a low-cost place for skiers and riders to learn how to ski or ride, a place for teen-agers to enjoy terrain-park features, and a place for mom and dad to enjoy without breaking the bank. 

Wendy finishing up the Nordic adventure at Magic Mountain.
The xc trailhead is next to the chairlift. Very convenient. 

Now that the weather is getting a little warmer, and the days are getting longer, people can enjoy some spring skiing while there is still plenty of snow. It's time for the fair-weather skiers and riders to get out and revel in the sunshine.

For the best lodging options in the Magic Valley, search the Southern Idaho  Tourism web site for a full spectrum of pricing and locations. Wendy and I were lucky and stayed with friends on our trip.

One other tip: If you have backcountry gear, there are several great hike-to slopes immediately adjacent to Magic and Pomerelle that would provide excellent untouched powder runs. Carry climbing skins, an avalanche beacon, probe poles and a shovel, and go for it. I highly recommend it for backcountry devotees. 

-SS

Find your winter-time Fat Biking Nirvana in Idaho

Hi all,

My tip of the week is about some of the state's best destinations for fat biking. I wrote this piece for VisitIdaho and it doubles as my tip of the week:

VisitIdaho link: https://visitidaho.org/trip-guides/find-your-winter-time-fat-biking-nirvana-in-idaho/

I'll be talking about fat biking in the snow on The River with Tim and Misty at about 9:10 a.m. Friday on 94.9 FM.

You gotta try a fat bike!
-SS