Panhandle Nordic Club of North Idaho
Welcome.
Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/PanhandleNordicClub
For Updates on snow and grooming Please See the “Post It” section in the top menu. You are also welcome to post your own information there.
The club has purchased the new groomer for the Fourth of July Area. It is carefully stored with the Forest Service awaiting sufficient snow to accumulate up on the ski area. About everybody in the group contributed to this milestone. Some made direct cash contributions that lifted us over the financial hurdle. For five years many worked the station at the Coeur d’Alene Marathon and stayed around to clean up the race route to build our savings account towards this goal. Many more contributed through their membership dues. The club gives its thanks to all of you who helped out. Now it is time, snow permitting, to enjoy the groomed trails this machine and its kin will create.
Will 2013 Idaho State Park & Rec stickers or print out’s qualify to park and the 4th of July Park N’Ski area?
No the State Park stickers do not qualify. This is not a State Park administered area.
I will be visiting C d’A and would appreciate recommendations of good sources for nordic ski and snow shoe equipment rentals. Thanks.
New to area looking forward to finding some snow shoe trails.
Please use the “Post It” Section in the top menu to report trail conditions, not here. Thanks.
I am looking for snow conditions for snow shoeing on the 4th of July. How much is there on the mountain right now and what the trails are like. I am new to the sport and am looking for marked trails but not groomed trails. Any information is helpful.
Thanks
Tyler
On Christmas day there was plenty of snow for both snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. I would guess at least 8-12 inches (hard to know exactly once its packed). There are maps and the trails are pretty obvious. The upper snowshoe trail (it is to the left just before you drive down the hill into the parking lot) is wide and not too challenging. The lower trail that takes off to the right just beyond the start of the main cross-country trails is narrow, steeper and has a drop off on the side in places.
Thanks for the info Beth. Might be headed up there this weekend to check it out.
I’m new to CDA. Is 4th of July groomed for skate skiing as well as classic? Is it possible to overnight in any of the shelters? Thank goodness we got some snow. Nate.
Is the snowshoe trail open yet at 4th of July Pass?
I am new to the area and looking for someone to snowshoe with and/or show me the trails. I am in the Moscow area.
do I need a parking pass and does it cost to use trails for snow shoeing or cross country skiing? is there enough snow yet?
Yes you need a Park N Ski Sticker to part at Fourth of July pass (not just the parking lot)
Washington Residents can use their Sno Park pass.
Currently there is no suitable snow.
You can purchase them online at http://www.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov
Sticker will be mailed, but you can print out a temporary one to put on your dashboard.
You can also purchase them at our Meeting Tuesday, December,4 (see Latest News on our website)
Last year at least they were also available at the following locations:
Army Navy, 1620 Government Way, CDA
Vertical Earth, in the Riverstone Plaza, CDA
Bicycle Service And Repair, 1901 North 4th Street, Coeur d’Alene
The Rose Lake Store at Rose Lake Junction
Ski Shack, 9437 N. Government Way, Hayden
Fee $25 a year ……..$7.50 for a 3 Day Pass
Please Designate Area 11 (eleven)- The majority of funds will go to Northern Idaho to support improvements in our ski Area.
December President’s Message
On Friday, November 30th we plan to raise the superstructure of the snowshoe hut and ,time permitting, clear a little more of the Jeanette’s Jaunt snowshoe trail. Otherwise we are just waiting for a substantial snowfall in order to move up the groomers, turn the gates, and open the Fourth of July Ski & Snowshoe Area for the winter season. All the other trails were clear when last we looked a little over a week ago. The newly tailored covering for the snowshoe hut can be installed, stoves set up, and signs placed when the snow permits easier access by snow machine.
Important Dates
As the Yuletide season bears down on us and we are all busy with family and friends, there are some important dates we hope you will keep in mind:
December 4th is our next regular meeting. It is also the annual cookie exchange, so bring in those cookies to trade and keep in mind that Jackie Berry will want to siphon some off for the Department of Transportation care basket so please bring a few extra if possible. The Departments road crews keep the access road and parking lot plowed and each year we say our thanks with the basket containing cookies and other goodies. More detail will be provided below on the program.
January 5th is the annual Free Ski Day declared by the state. All Park N Ski Areas are open to the public free of charge that day. The club has chosen this day for its annual Best Hand Ski Event. The event is a fund raiser for the club. Prizes this year again follow the catered dinner/trip list we had last year with some donated prizes by our ardent supporters. These include the ever popular gourmet catered dinner which inspired our approach, an overnight guided canoe trip to Upper Priest Lake, a hike with a catered lunch, and a bike ride outing with ice cream at Harrison. This and other prizes will make the entry fee worthwhile.
January 8th will be our first meeting of the 2013. New Year day falls on a Tuesday this year so that will back us up one week.
Consider a Hog Loppet
The Board is considering a new event for later this year, a Hog Loppet. The o in Hog is umlauted, so my Germanic friends tell me it is pronounces Hoog Lopt at least in German. A Hog Loppet is a friendly and long group ski with refreshments and food stops along the way. We are considering 8.5, 10 and 16 mile trips all based at the Fourth of July Area. Such an array will accommodate beginners through seasoned skiers. These events are becoming popular in the Wenatchee Area, the Methow, and also in Canada, so we thought we might want to try one here. We hope to have a video at our next meeting to give you a better idea of this type of ski experience. Who knows we might add a Snowshoe Loppet.
Next Meeting – December 4, 2012
The next meeting will be December 4th at 7:00 PM at the Coeur d’Alene River (Fernan) Ranger Station at 2502 E. Sherman Avenue, Fernan Village. Please park in the rear parking lot that will be open and come downstairs to the conference room. Remember to bring cookies for the exchange if you can. There will be announcements and sign-ups for the Best Hand event and a short video on a Hog Loppet. The main program will be given by Jim McMillan and friends on their recent trek through Nepal in October. Hope to see you there.
Geoff Harvey