Stellar conditions prevail for fat biking on Nordic trails at Bogus Basin! Trip report!

Beautiful spot in a grove of ponderosa pine trees on the Nordic Connector Trail.

Hi all, 

With all of these postcard blue days we've had, it's been getting cold at night into the single digits and teens (below-zero in Stanley) and that's been good to retain the snowpack we have in the mountains. 

The cold nights also have been good for maintaining good snow quality for grooming downhill ski runs and xc ski trails. A solid firm base lies underneath the soft surface, and that also creates perfect conditions for fat biking in the snow! 

I noticed that several people had been fat biking at Bogus Basin on the Fat Bike Boise Facebook page, and raving about it, so I thought I'd zip up there on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 2, and give it a whirl! 

Recent dusting of snow created sweet riding surface on an ungroomed trail.

They were right! The snow conditions were excellent for fat biking on Bogus' Nordic trails yesterday ... The firm foundation allowed me to spin along the trail quite easily while leaving almost zero impact on the trail itself ... this is an important factor that fat bikers should pay attention to retain good relations with xc skiers. If your tires are creating a big wedge or rut in the snow, then you will upset the xc skiers, who are expecting to glide on a smooth surface. If you leave light to no tracks, then the conditions are perfect for fat biking.

That's the situation we've got right now. Think about heading up to Bogus Basin to go fat biking on the Nordic trails, or head for a few other destinations that allow fat biking on Nordic trails - Jug Mountain Ranch, Tamarack Resort and the North Valley Trail near Donnelly and McCall, or the Idaho City Park and Ski Trails, northeast of Idaho City. Similar firm conditions prevail at all of those locations. 

At Bogus, it costs $45 to rent a fat bike for 2 hours, $65 for the day. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. midweek, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. So you could easily head up there after work if you have a daytime job. Nordic trail passes cost $15 for a half-day, $21 for a full day. 

I have a Bogus alpine season pass, so I paid $15 for a trail pass at the Nordic center, and then stopped in the Bogus Basin office back in town and paid another $10 for a Nordic season pass. They credited me for the day ticket and rolled that into the season pass. Alpine season pass holders get a discount on the Nordic pass FYI, so that's all good!  

I have owned my own fat bike for more than five years, so I didn't need to rent one. My fat bike has 4-inch-wide tires, disk brakes, and a nice range of gears for climbing and riding downhill.  

I covered about 10 kilometers on my ride, maybe a little longer. Starting at the Nordic Center, I took the Nordic highway for a few yards, and then went left on the Nordic Connector Trail to drop into that timbered bowl above Bogus' snow-making reservoir. It's really scenic and beautiful in that area, and the trail had a number of fun twists and corners, hills and downhills, for the most fun portion of my whole ride. 

Trail map courtesy Bogus Basin Nordic Center

I followed the Nordic Connector around to the Meadow trail, and began climbing out of the bowl, following Meadow and then The Flush back to the main Nordic Highway trail. The recent dusting of new snow this week made it fun to ride portions of the Meadow trail which had not been groomed as yet. The dusting made for a sweet and tacky climbing surface, and my fat bike is geared to handle moderately steep trails.  

Once back on the Nordic Highway, I rode slightly downhill over to the Bitterroot chairlift and then more downhill to Superior before the steep climb to the Shafer Butte picnic area turnoff. They don't allow bikes on the climb to the picnic area from that junction, so you can go another half-mile or so on the Nordic Highway, turn around, and head back. 

Shafer Butte picnic area junction.  

The whole ride took me about 1.25 hours because of the fast and firm conditions. You could easily add some more loops to the ride, if you'd like to go farther. 

Be aware that some of the Nordic trails are closed to fat biking. Be sure to check with the Nordic staff at the lodge to ensure you know which trails to ride. 

I highly recommend the Nordic Highway-Nordic Connector-Meadow-The Flush-Nordic Highway loop. 

Be aware that xc skiers and snowshoers may not have seen many fat bikers on the trail before. Please be courteous and try to be a good trail ambassador. One of the "rules of the road" is to ride off to the side of the xc ski trail so as to leave the middle skating lane open for the skate skiers. The classic skiers will be skiing in the grooves. Snowshoers also should stay off to the left or right sides of the groomed trail. 

The good news is that the Nordic Highway is so wide that there should be enough room for everybody, especially mid-week or in the evenings. 

Fat biking hasn't really taken off in SW Idaho compared to a number of other places in the U.S. I see more people on fat bikes in ski towns like McCall, Sun Valley or Driggs and Grand Targhee. 

Besides renting a fat bike at Bogus, you might be able to rent one in town. Check with your favorite bike shop to see if anything is available. I did a quick Google search and saw that McU Sports downtown rents fat bikes, $40 for a half day, and $60 for a full day. 

There you have it! It appears that high pressure aloft in the Pacific Northwest will bring us mostly sunny skies and no snow for the next 10 days. If you're getting bored with your existing routine, try fat biking for something different! You'll like it! And it's a great workout if you work in some hilly trails and climbing. The downhills are fun, too! 

- SS  

McCall Winter Carnival kicks off Friday, Jan. 28! Ice sculptures, skiing, xc skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, live music, food you name it!

Return to the Sea ice sculpture at the 634 cafe on main street in McCall.

Hi all, 

With the dreaded gray, cold inversion in place in the Treasure Valley, it's pretty much a no-brainer for me to find a way to escape from that depressing scene to go play in the mountains above! Hope you can do that, too! 

The weather forecast for this weekend is nothing but sunshine at higher elevations and ground fog and cold temps in the valley floors. 

The McCall Winter Carnival kicks off on Friday and runs for two weekends through Feb 8. This year's theme is: "Return to our Roots." I've heard lodging is really hard to find in McCall proper, and Donnelly and Cascade may be tough, too, so be sure to reserve something quick, if you're hoping to stay overnight. Maybe try for mid-week, next week? 

But even a day trip to McCall to see all the ice sculptures - and perhaps get out on some type of outdoor outing during the day - would be worth the trip! There are things to see and do in Donnelly and Cascade as well this weekend, and also Tamarack Resort has ice sculptures to view, live music, multiple food venues, and all kinds of skiing/riding, of course, on the mountain. 

Check out the McCall Winter Carnival events schedule for all of the details.  

I noticed that the free ice skating rink at Golden Glove Park in McCall is freshly flooded and ready to go. There was no one there when I shot this picture, and the ice skating surface is beautiful! 

Ice skating is free, BTW. Just bring your own skates. 

More sculpture pics that took on Thursday ... 

Train at Fogglifter coffee house and cafe. 

Horse-drawn chariot at Whitetail Real Estate and Shore Lodge 

Rupert's executive chef Gary Kucy fashioned this sculpture for Stacey Cakes ... "Pig Out!" 

Other events of note include: 

• Idaho Mountain Freeride series with slopestyle and rail jam events going on at the Little Ski Hill this weekend and Tamarack Resort next weekend.  
• Bloody Marys and DJ Dance Party at the Yacht Club in McCall. 
• Snowbike race in Cascade
• Fireworks
• Beer gardens 
• Dog sled races 
• Pancake breakfasts
• McCall Starz on Ice

Again, see the McCall Winter Carnival events schedule for all the details. 

Remember that you can go downhill skiing at Brundage Mountain in McCall, xc skiing or snowshoeing at Bear Basin, Ponderosa State Park, Jug Mountain Ranch and the North Valley Trail, snow biking at Jug Mountain Ranch, tubing at the Activity Barn, guided snowmobile trips, snowmobile rentals, hot springs and more to do!   

Lake Cascade State Park has xc skiing and snowshoeing on the Crown Point Trail. 

Have a great weekend! 
- SS 

Five winter hiking/walking ideas in SW Idaho for this picture postcard weekend!

Lots of room to roam with your puppies at Ann Morrison Park in Boise. 

Hi all, 

A storm front is expected to clear out the valley fog and inversion for a day or so while the mountains got freshened with 4-5" of new snow Thursday night and we got 2-3" in the valley floor. 

Please see my outdoor article in the Idaho Press about five places to go winter hiking in SW Idaho ... 

• Ann Morrison Park
• Hyatt Hidden Lakes
• Eagle Island State Park
• Eagle Greenbelt Loop
• Snake River trail from either the east trailhead, west of Swan Falls Dam, or starting at Celebration Park. 

See the full article here: https://www.idahopress.com/community/room-to-roam/article_8235b4b8-63aa-5323-b22e-bd9eca47ce56.html

All of these hikes are featured in Boise Trail Guide: 95 Hiking and Running Routes Close to Home. 

You can pick up a copy of Boise Trail Guide at Boise REI, Idaho Mountain Touring and Rediscovered Books. 

Have a great weekend!

- SS 

Head for the mountains to go play in the snow for MLK holiday weekend!

Happy xc skiers enjoying the Idaho Park and Ski trail system. (Courtesy Tom Helmer, IDPR) 

Hi all, 

Last week at this time, Idaho's ski areas and mountains were getting hammered by heavy snowfall - to the point where ID 21 was snowed shut, the Idaho City Park and Ski Areas were smothered with snow, avalanche conditions were high to extreme, and powder skiers and snowboarders were having a great time shredding powder at alpine resorts. 

Following one of the snowiest Decembers on record, a high pressure weather system that's dominating Idaho and the West at the moment is bringing clear skies and bluebird weather conditions in the mountains for a long 3-day weekend. For many, Monday is a holiday observed in memory of the great civil rights activist, Martin Luther King. 

Courtesy Tom Helmer, IDPR 

So my outdoor tip this week is to get out and play in the snow! 

• The Idaho City Park and Ski Areas have been freshly groomed this week along with the parking lots north of Idaho City on Idaho 21 between Mores Creek Summit and Beaver Creek Summit. That'll be a great option for xc skiing, snowshoeing or snow-biking on groomed trails. Remember to purchase a Park and Ski parking sticker online before you go.  

  

  Carving turns on freshly groomed slopes is a treat (courtesy Tamarack Resort).  

  
  
• Our downhill ski areas have plenty of snow and they're 100 percent open. If you don't have a season pass, try to buy day tickets in advance at Bogus Basin, Tamarack Resort or Brundage Mountain. In Sun Valley, you might have the best chance of a discounted lift ticket if you purchase a sky and stay package. See the Sun Valley web site for more information. If you have trouble finding a day ticket, another option could be Soldier Mountain in Fairfield. 
• Nordic skiing and snowshoeing at Bogus Basin, McCall, Galena Lodge and the Wood River Trail system will be stellar.   
  
  

  

  North Valley Trail is open to xc skiing, snowshoeing and snow biking 

  
  
• Snow-biking - Bogus Basin, Jug Mountain Ranch, the North Valley Trail in McCall and the Idaho City Park and Ski areas allow snow-biking. Conditions are excellent right now because the trails are freezing hard at night. Bogus has bikes available for rent.    

If you're heading to McCall or Sun Valley, look for a place to stay overnight in advance through VRBO, AirBnB or book a hotel. Check with the McCall Chamber or Sun Valley Chamber for more lodging options. 

If you're staying close to home, the Ridge to Rivers trails are kind of treacherous right now because of the mix of snow, ice and mud that you'll find in the afternoon. Be sure to use the trails in the morning when they're frozen to avoid causing damage. Always check the Ridge to Rivers Facebook page for the latest advice before you go. 

Boise River Greenbelt is plowed and dry for walking, running and biking.

The Boise River Greenbelt is fully plowed and dry, BTW ... I did an hour-long ride from Veterans Park to the orange ParkCenter bridge and back yesterday, and it was impressive how well the pathway was cleared of snow and ice. 

When you're out and about, please be mindful of the omicron coronavirus spreading right now and respect local masking requirements/recommendations.

Have a great weekend! 
- SS 

Lots of new snow to enjoy! But ... be careful out there! Avalanche danger is high!

Wendy and Steve xc skiing at Bear Basin in McCall, one of our favorite spots. 

Hi all, 

Winter got a late start in mid-December, but here we are several weeks later, and the amount of snow we've been getting in SW Idaho and Central Idaho has been off the charts! 

This week, following the Christmas-New Year's holiday, it's been snowing like crazy and people who are retired or don't have to work are enjoying one hell of a powder parade at Idaho's ski areas! 

That said, the warm-up that's occurring Thursday in the Boise Mountains will make the new snow heavier and more prone to sliding. Avalanche danger is "considerable" to "high" depending on location. If you go backcountry skiing or snowshoeing, be safe and know that the snow is going to be deep and difficult to break trail. It'd be smartest to stick to established trail networks or ski areas to avoid extreme danger. 

Be aware that Idaho Highway 21 is closed at the present time from Granite Creek, north of Idaho City, to Lowman. That means areas around Mores Creek Summit and the Idaho City Park and Ski areas will not be accessible until the highway reopens. See the Idaho 511 site for the latest road conditions. 

I checked the Mores Creek snotel site this morning, and it's had 16" of new snow in the last two days! Snow depth is 78 inches!   

Given the road closure, it might be better to head up to Garden Valley, Cascade or McCall to enjoy the snow, if you're a xc skier or snowshoer. Closer to home, Bogus Basin also has extensive Nordic and snowshoe trails; I highly recommend them, too.  

See the Bogus Basin, Brundage Mountain Resort and Tamarack Resort web sites for more information on their latest conditions for downhill skiing. It's been an epic powder week to say the least. More snow is coming on Friday, with 10" to 12" or more at Tam and Brundage forecast, and 5" at Bogus. Bundle up and be ready for heavy snow conditions!  

See my post at the Idaho Daily Snow for the latest snow forecasts for Idaho. 

If you're a fair-weather skier, the snow will taper off by Friday night, and Saturday-Sunday will be clear and sunny in most locations. High pressure is moving in for the next week or so. 

Sun Valley, Galena Lodge and the Wood River Valley also have getting slammed with snow. Galena and BCRD have the whole Wood River Trail system groomed up and ready to go. World-class xc skiing and snowshoeing.  

McCall Nordic areas have 2-3 feet of snow for a base and excellent conditions. You can choose from  Ponderosa State Park, Bear Basin, Tamarack Resort, Jug Mountain Ranch and the North Valley Trail. Click on the McCall Nordic link for the latest grooming conditions. 

Again, be aware that there's substantial avalanche danger following the big snow storms! See the latest reports from the Sawtooth Avalanche Center and Payette Avalanche Center. It may be best to stick to lower-gradient slopes and do some touring to avoid any potential danger. 

Snow biking has been fun the last couple of weeks while things have been cold and snowy.

While it's been fun to go walking, xc skiing, snow-shoeing, snow-biking or sledding in the Boise Foothills, be aware that the warmer temps in the Boise Valley will continue to melt that snow, with forecast highs in the mid-40s and rain Thursday, Jan. 6 and Friday, Jan. 7. Ridge to Rivers is recommending staying off the trails when they're muddy and slushy in the afternoon.  

In case you were wondering, interesting to see the latest Idaho snowpack map ... we are catching up! 

- SS 

Winter finally arrives with a powder bang! Downhill skiing, xc skiing, snowshoeing, snow biking are doable right now!

Mid-week pow day at Bogus Basin. Private Idaho! 

Hi all, 

Well, Old Man Winter, or perhaps it was the Norwegian Snow God, Ullr, took his time to wake up from a long summer snooze, but in the last 5-10 days winter has kicked with a major powder bang statewide, thank goodness! 

In the Central Mountains, West-Central Mountains, and Boise Mountains, 2.5-3 feet of new snow has fallen or more, depending on location, and that has suddenly allowed most of Idaho's ski areas to open for the season, plus that snowfall has put the mountains in shape for xc skiing, snowshoeing and snow-biking. 

See my post at the Idaho Daily Snow for the latest snow forecasts for Idaho. 

Earlier this week, Bogus Basin opened the Pine Creek chairlift for the season, and on Saturday, they'll open Bitterroot and Superior lifts, basically the whole mountain. Fun fun fun! Might even have some sunshine at Bogus this weekend on Friday and Saturday. Bogus is reporting a 25-inch base, with 7" in the last 24 hours, and six lifts in operation. Remember it's still early-season conditions. 

Brundage Mountain Resort and Tamarack Resort opened on Tuesday of this week with over 30" of new snow since the previous Friday ... from "zero to hero," is how spokeswoman April Whitney put it for Brundage. Tamarack got even more snow than Brundage in that series of storms, and it was amazing for skiers/riders to enjoy copious amounts of powder on opening day! 

Sun Valley, Galena Summit and the Wood River Valley also have shared in the powder goods, with over 2.5 feet of new snow falling in that area and counting. That has allowed the Galena and BCRD to groom a large portion of the Wood River and Galena Lodge xc trail system. They're open 7 days a week. 

The McCall Nordic report indicates that all of the key xc areas are working on getting up and running, including Ponderosa State Park, Bear Basin, Tamarack Resort Jug Mountain Ranch.

I have not gotten a report from the Idaho City Park and Ski areas, but I saw that the Mores Creek Snotel site has 34 inches of snow near Mores Creek Summit, so all of that area should be in good shape for xc skiing, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing. Try to find a grooming report to see if IDPR has been up there grooming trails to the backcountry yurts. 

Be aware that there's substantial avalanche danger following the big snow storms! See the latest reports from the Sawtooth Avalanche Center and Payette Avalanche Center. It may be best to stick to lower-gradient slopes and do some touring to avoid any potential danger. 

In case you were wondering, interesting to see the latest Idaho snowpack map ... we are catching up! 

Snow forecast in Idaho through 12/26. These are cumulative totals from today. 

  

With sunny afternoons through Sunday, enjoy low-elevation trails like the Wilson-Reynolds Loop in the Owyhees

Entrance to Reynolds Creek canyon from the north. Took this pic in the spring.

Hi all, 

One more week of this unseasonably warm weather in December before winter weather is forecast to descend on Idaho next week.

So you might as well continue to enjoy low-elevation trails in the Boise Foothills or the Owyhee Front.  Please keep tabs on the Ridge to Rivers Facebook page for the latest trail conditions ... trails that are on north slopes or in permanent shade are going to be muddy and should be avoided. 

Trails in the Snake River canyon, such as this recent post detailing trips to an old homestead or Celebration Park to Halverson Lake would work well as would these must-do hikes in the Owyhees - Leslie Gulch and Mary's Creek/Sheep Creek.   

The China Ditch Trail ... Courtesy Idaho Hiking Club

Another sweet hiking loop is the Wilson Creek-Reynolds Creek Loop, which is featured in both my Boise Trail Guide and Owyhee Canyonlands guidebooks. It's 7.5 miles round-trip, travel time about 3.5 hours, vertical gain 750 feet, and it's super scenic. I saw that the Idaho Hike Club hiked it earlier this week. 

Here's a description in All Trails as well. 

My writeup on the hike:  

General remarks: This is a great hike/trail run in the foothills of the Owyhee Mountains, about 45 minutes from Boise. The trail weaves through rock formations on the way over to Reynolds Creek, and then you'll hike along on top of the China Ditch Trail - an old Chinese-built irrigation ditch high above the creek. The red rock canyon is spectacular. Bring your camera, plenty of water and a lunch.

Example of the cool rock formations you'll see going over to Reynolds Creek canyon.

Getting there: From downtown Boise, hook up with I-184 west and head for Nampa. Take the Franklin Road exit (City Center) in Nampa, and turn left. Follow Franklin to the intersection with 11^th Street. Turn right and take 11^th into downtown Nampa. Follow signs for Idaho 45 south. Take ID 45 to Walters Ferry at the Snake River and turn right on ID 78, heading for Marsing. In a couple miles, turn left on Wilson Creek Road. Proceed up the paved road until it turns to dirt and pull into a dirt parking area on the left for BLM Trails #300 and #400. The hike/run starts here.

Directions: To begin, pick up Trail #300 out of the parking lot. Ignore trails branching off to the left in the first mile. At mile .9, you’ll cross a road and continue on the singletrack trail. The trail climbs one last hill and then widens into a two-track and descends to a T-junction at a dirt road (mile 1.8). Go right for a short bit, and turn left on Trail #410, a sandy wash going downhill towards Reynolds Creek. At mile 2.3, go right on Trail #310 and proceed for a half mile to a junction with Trail #600, the "China Ditch” trail. Go right and walk upstream along Reynolds Creek canyon for about a long mile. After walking next to vertical rock walls, the trail opens up on the right at the junction with Trail #510, #601 and #610. Go right on #510 and climb out of the canyon. At mile 4, bear right at a Y junction on #510 and stay on #510 to BLM dirt road #37154. Go right and follow the road to the junction with Trail #400. Go left on #400 at mile 5.28 and head back to the trailhead. At the top of the first hill, you can either stay on Trail #400 or branch off on #300. Both ways head over to the Wilson Creek Road and the trailhead.

Hiking notes: Even though the route is 7+ miles, the elevation gain is pretty minimal, so the hike may be suitable for kids 8 and over. My kids enjoyed the hike, especially throwing rocks into the creek on the China Ditch trail.

Wondering what's going on with the winter storms predicted next week? See my post in opensnow.com for the Idaho Daily Snow for details. 

- SS  

Make sure you bring the kids! This was Quinn and Drew a few years ago!