As most of you surely know the sky has finally opened with a substantial snowfall after a very dry December and first half of January. Skiable snow could be found, but you had to search far and high for enough snow. Just before the storm struck,

Skywalker and Moonwalker (FSR 614) were groomed and the gate was closed to stop motor vehicle access. The Fourth of July Area was groomed after the snow and track set on the five mile circuit and skate lane on most of the circuit. Both Skywalker and Moonwalker are being groomed for skate skiing out to Rose Creek Saddle.

We ask traditional Nordic skiers and snowshoers using Skywalker (FSR 614) as part of the Twisted Klister system to stay to the side of this very wide trail and not damage the skate grooming.

The stove will be placed out at Ian’s Hut as soon as groomer gets out there. The snowshoe warming hut up on Twisted Klister was caught mid construction by the snowstorm. We plan to dig it out and complete it for the season soon. This is the latest information as this is written. However, conditions change from weather front to weather front so keep an eye on the website for the latest on conditions.

This year as you ski and snowshoe the Fourth of July Area you will find new opportunities and trails for traditional Nordic and snowshoe use and greatly expanded opportunity for skate skiing. What you should not find is any motor vehicles on Skywalker and Moonwalker (FSR 614), which have been administratively closed to this use while we are grooming them for skiing.

The end of the holiday season has ushered in the season for ski trips. We have managed a few day trips to give lessons ant Lookout Pass and tour a new area at Fernan Saddle. A small group of us took advantage of cut rate ski pass rates offered by the Methow Ski Trail Association to enjoy three days of skiing in Washington’s Methow Valley. New snow made the skiing good at the Loop Loop area on the way over and in the Methow. The snow proved a bit soft for optimal skating and the tree limbs full of snow were unburdening at times onto unsuspecting skiers below, but these are minor inconveniences compared to the enjoyment of such a large and well groomed system of trails.

At the end of January another group will ski the Palouse Divide Park N Ski area located northeast of Moscow. The group will be overnighting at a local lodge in the area to ski an area that few of us have tried in recent years.

Rough plans are being laid for a rail grade ski off Lookout Pass in one or the other direction and for a ski on Fourth of July’s ten mile loop. Both of these day trips are planned for February.

More ski lessons are planned as well for late January and February.

The annual Rock Soup Event is planned for the Fourth of July Ski Area on Saturday, February 4th. The general scheme of this causal event is for the organizers to show up about 2 PM at the Panhandle Hut with a stove, kettle or two and a soup base to put in them. A fire is kindled in the hut’s stove; the soup base is put on and heated. As participants show up they bring not only their ski and/or snowshoe gear but a can of something of their own choosing to put in the soup. After making their contribution participants go off to ski or snowshoe until about 5 PM when darkness falls. We all gather in the hut to partake of the “rock soup” and any drinks and bread or whatever participants might want to bring as well. It is also smart to bring a soup bowl and spoon and not depend on there being enough to go around. A flashlight or headlight to find your way back to the parking lot can be indispensable as well. I urge you all to come out for the rock soup ski and ultimate potluck dinner. Enjoy the skiing/snowshoeing, soup, the company and the night air.

The Panhandle Nordic Club’s membership will meet again on Tuesday, February 7th at the Fernan Office of the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District at 2502 E. Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene at 7 PM. After a short business meeting and a break to visit and make trip plans, Dwight McCain will give a talk on a canoe trip to the Bowron Lakes Provincial Park in the Cariboo Mountains of British Columbia. Dwight’s talk will provide new members with some insights into the type of summer activities the club encourages.

A record dry December has not aided our efforts to open the Fourth of July area for the winter season and has made skiing close to home a problem. There is snow cover at Lookout Pass and skiable snow along the Northern Pacific rail grade down to Taft in Montana and the Hale Fish Hatchery above Mullan. Two days prior to Christmas I skate skied the rail grade down to Taft with my daughter and son in law. The snow cover was adequate along the grade all the way down, although it was rather slim on adjacent south facing slopes. Most remarkable was the walk through the Borax Tunnel. Normally large icicles hang from the roof of the tunnel, while water that drips from these icicles refreezes in mounds on the floor. On this trip the Borax was as dry as I have ever observed it during the winter. So the snow that has fallen there has remained frozen in the cold of December.

There is also good skiing closer to home off Fernan Saddle. The road up to the saddle was in frightful shape earlier in December. The approximate two feet of snow that came in late November was never plowed off the road. The last two miles of the road were two wheel ruts down the middle of the road with snow scraping the bottom of the car carriage. In many locations ice filled the two ruts. Going up was simply a matter of keeping moving. However, coming down in those two ice filled ruts was a nerve racking test of the low gears on an automatic transmission mixed with brake tapping and a prayer that nobody was met coming up the hill.

I am happy to report I was up at Fernan Saddle on the day after Christmas and thankfully the road has been graded. There is a foot and a half to two feet of snow at 4,000 feet. If you go to the road system to the south and east of the parking lot, you should be out from under the feet of the snow machines and you should be able to find area to ski and snowshoe. There are two large tank traps placed by the Forest Service to keep motorized vehicles out. These must be circumvented or crossed. There is also a resident moose to whom I recommend you give the right of way. Please be courteous and keep out of the snowmobilers’ way. They pay for the road grading and upkeep of the parking area that makes this close to home area available when the snow forsakes Fourth of July Pass.

The Panhandle Nordic Club is headed into a busy January. The weekend after our Tuesday, January 3rd meeting, the club will be hosting a combination Free Ski Day and Best Hand Ski at the Fourth of July Area on Saturday, January 7th. The scheduling of the Best Hand Event, the club’s single fund raiser of the year, on Free Ski Day, is a departure from years past. Since it is on Free Ski Day, no sticker will be required to park in the lot at the ski area. As usual, we will be manning the Panhandle Hut with hot drinks and treats and have trainers on hand to teach ski lessons (weather permitting) for those interested. In addition, we will be holding the best hand ski with all entrants collecting cards towards attempting to get a prize winning hand as they cover the ski or snowshoe course of their choice. All entrants will receive a complimentary scarf to warm them from the winter cold. Prizes are a departure as well this year with many focused on either trips or passes. A full list is elsewhere on the website. Snow or no snow, I urge you all to come out for the Best Hand Ski or walk in Saturday, January 7th. Please help support the club and its activities.

For a printable version of the flyer go to http://panhandlenordicclub.com/besthand11.pdf

The Panhandle Nordic Club will meet at 7PM on Tuesday, January 3rd in the basement conference room of the Fernan Ranger Station at 2502 E. Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. After a short business meeting, John Williams of the Silver Mountain Ski Area in Kellogg, will speak to the group concerning the sport of skiing in our area in general, how the demographics of skiers has changed, and the economic impact of these changes on on the area. In addition we can discuss how the club might partner more effectively with Silver Mountain which does not offer Nordic Skiing, to steer its clients interested in the Nordic Ski or snowshoe experience to the Fourth of July Area.

Details are below:  For a printable version http://panhandlenordicclub.com/besthand11.pdf

Panhandle Nordic
Ski and Snowshoe Club 

20th Annual

Best Hand Fun Ski and snowshoe Event

In Conjunction with Idaho Free ski day*

Saturday, January 7^th,2012

The Event takes place at 4^th of July recreation area and is a fund raiser to support maintenance of the trails

Check In Time: 10:00 AM until 11:15 AM

EVENT STARTS: 11:30 AM

PRIZES AWARDED: 1:30 PM

Suggested Donation

$7.00- Club Members $10.00-Non-Members $5.00-Youth 13 and under $25.00 per family

Prizes include:

Catered Dinner in Your Home for 8

Idaho Park and Ski Sticker

Overnight Guided Upper Priest Lake Canoe Trip for Two w/Gear, Breakfast & Dinner provided

Guided Hike to a Scenic North Idaho Location with Lunch Provided

Bicycle Ride on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene with Ice Cream Stop in Harrison (Equipment provided if necessary)

Annual Mt. Spokane Groomer Pass

Methow Valley 3-Day Groomer Pass

Panhandle Nordic Club Annual Membership

Cross Country Ski Waxing/Waxing Clinic

Grand Fondo Ride Registration and Bike Tune Up

*Note: A $25 Park and Ski Sticker is normally required to park at 4^th of July Ski Area. Because this event is being held on Idaho Free Ski Day, the parking pass will not be required.

No Snow—It’s Still A Go (We’ll Walk the Trail)

Prizes Donated by Club Members and Area Merchants

Snow has come early again this year but, unlike last year, we are only beginning to build a base at 4th of July.  Last year we got too much snow to build a solid base early in December.  The latest news is  that ski conditions at 4th of July are not good enough for skiing.  However, the railroad grade at Lookout Pass is ready for skiing.  Go to the Idaho end of the parking lot and grooming is being done to the first chair, making a good base for skiing.

We are waiting for the end of hunting season on Dec 1 to begin to place the stoves and extra ski huts around the course. 

The Best Hand Fun Ski will be on Free Ski Day, Saturday, January 7, 2012.  The format has changed.  Ten main prizes will be awarded built around outdoor recreation.  Some of these prizes include trips or events hosted by Nordic Club members.  There is also a change in the rules:  everyone will receive 5 cards, but they will be able to turn in two of their cards and purchase two more cards for $1 each. 

Please spread the news to your friends about Best Hand Fun Ski and the change in date to free ski day. It is our moneymaking event and very important to the club.

Next meeting is Tuesday, December 6 at USFS Fernan Station (drive around back) and this is the cookie exchange meeting. So please bring cookies to be exchanged. If you bring 6 cookies, you can pick out 6 cookies to take home.  Some cookies will probably be brought in just for eating during the meeting.  This meeting is also the meeting at which we exchange our old ski gear.  You can rid yourself of extra gear or pick up some gear at this meeting.

The program will include a short talk by Glen Truscott on the essential gear a cross country skier should be carrying in their pack.  After Glen’s presentation, John Latta of the Stevens Peak Backcountry Coalition will talk concerning this popular and accessible backcountry skiing and snowshoe area.  John is a professional photographer, so we can expect some great views of this highly scenic area on the St. Joe and Bitterroot Divides

Hope to see everyone at the meeting.    

Geoff Harvey

1. Vehicle Permits

This year the state of Washington implemented their Discover Pass for Washington State Parks. There has been some confusion as to whether you need one to cross-country ski, snowshoe or downhill ski on Mt. Spokane as it is a State Park.

You DO NOT need a Discover pass if you are in a Sno Park area – which are the cross-country and snowshoe parking lots. You do not need one for the Downhill ski parking lots. You do need one for elsewhere in the park.

YOU DO NEED a Sno Park permit OR if an Idaho Park N Ski Permit.
YOU DO NEED a Grooming permit for cross-country skiing.

For Washington residents a seasonal Sno Park permit is $40.00
For Idaho residents a Park N Ski Permit is $25.00 or $7.50  for a 3 day pass.

Note these are Per Vehicle.

If you are only going for a one day per year, check the link below – because it is confusing and you are better off carpooling with someone who has the permits.

To Buy Grooming Passes and Washington Sno Park permits online and also get the official word on what you need Click Here 

You can also get them at Fitness Fanatics at 12425 E. Trent, Spokane.  509 922-6080

Park N Ski Permits are currently sold in Coeur d’Alene at  Park N Ski Stickers are available at Vertical Earth, Phil’s Army Navy, Bicycle Sales of Fourth Street, Ski Shack and also at the Rose Lake Store.  They will be available for sale at the December  Panhandle Nordic Club Meeting on Tuesday, December 6th. 

Please designate Area 11 as a portion of these funds come back to the operation and maintenance of the trails at Fourth of July Pass.

Note for Fourth of July Pass:  You need a Park N Ski permit (Or Snow Park permit) to park north of the Interstate, EVEN if you are not near the parking lot.  Both Idaho State Police and the US Forest Service can ane will ticket you.

2. Links to Mt Spokane cross-country area and Other NE Washington Sno Parks

Mt. Spokane x-c grooming is scheduled to start December 1

The Mt. Spokane x-c ski Snow line  is (509) 238-4025

For Maps of Mt. Spokane ski trails Click Here.

Information for Sno Parks in Northeast Washington Click Here

The closest one other than Mt.Spokane is Geophysical which is North of Newport.   This would be a good day trip as the club hasn’t been there for a while.

3. Non-Club Lessons and outings

About the Dec. 4th Skate Ski Lesson at Mt. Spokane, You need to register in advance.  The cost is $41.00 plus an additionsl 2.50 fee.  See http://spokaneparks.org/  The course number is 19255

Spokane Parks and Recreation offers a number of opportunities for outings, classic cross-country ski lessons, snowshoeing, ice skate lessons, etc. 

You can also arrange  your own private or group lessons.  All activities have a fee. 

You can see or download their Fall – Winter schedule  click here  This partiicular brochure ends Dec. 31. Although it does list some Jaunary events.  If you are looking at this late December or early 2012, go to http://spokaneparks.org/  for their latest one.

Post Falls Parks and Recreation has a lesser number or winter activites that include x-country ski lessons, snowshoeing, a winter wagon ride, and tubing.   For a schedule fees, and to register Click Here.

4. Reminder, If you have not changed or added your email address to the new google groups mailing list please do so.  Go to http://panhandlenordicclub.com/about-the-club/getting-email/ 

I will not be mailing out to the other two lists for very much longer. 

If you do not know if you are on that list or not, add you email on the form on the above link and you will find out.

Hilma

 Notice How Long It Is With All the Numbers.  In order to get a shorter name, we need 25 “Likes” according to Facebook rules.

So please, if you have a facebook account, even if you are not a regular Facebook user, please click the above link and Like the page.

If you are a frequent Facebook user and would like to be added as an Administrator, please leave a comment on the Facebook page.  As far as I know there can be LOTS of Administrators.

The Facebook will NOT be the official page for information.  The official page will still be http://panhandlenordicclub.com  And the official email will still be by email.

If you didn’t get the message – we are switching to google groups for our email list.  So if you have not switched over – go to http://panhandlenordicclub.com/about-the-club/getting-email/ and follow the short instructions to get added to the list.

Thanks,
Hilma

You can find them on the menu tab above called “Webcams”.

Also on that same page are links to Webcams in Idaho, Washington and Montana.

Plus the Idaho and Washington links provide reports on road conditions, travel advisories, and weather.

The Palouse Divide was included because they have 20 miles of cross-country ski trails maintained by what appears to be a fairly active club.  The trails are groomed at irregular intervals by volunteers.  A Park N Ski Pass is required.

For information go to http://palousedividenordic.org/

The Palouse Divide Nordic Ski Area lies 39 miles northeast of Moscow, Idaho on Idaho State Highway 6. The area is labeled “North South Ski Area” on some maps.

There is a lodge nearby that is open with advance reservation.  They have group rates,  But no rates are currently posted on their website.  http://www.myidaholodge.com

 Also note:  The preliminary winter calendar is now up.

 Mid-October is upon us and it seems summer is just fading, but the ski season is not that far off.

The Panhandle Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Club will hold its first meeting of the season, Tuesday, November 1^st.

 The meeting is four days prior to the Lookout Ski Patrol’s Ski Swap (Saturday, Nov 5^th) at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds and the Ski Swap at Fitness Fanatics on Trent in the Spokane Valley.  Then on Saturday, Oct 29^th, the Mount Spokane Ski Patrol Swap at the Spokane Fairgrounds.

The club needs your participation to keep the Fourth of July Ski and Snowshoe Area operating. Please attend the meeting, see what you can do to help, and pay up your dues for the 2011-2012 season. If you did not participate last year, we need you this year. If you have friends interested in snowshoeing or skiing, please get them involved. Skiing opportunities in the Coeur d’Alene Area and further afield are created and often identified by the Panhandle Club. Visit our website at http://www.panhandlenordicclub.com/ for maps and to learn more about cross country and skate skiing as well as snowshoe travel. Your participation makes it all happen.

There is a lot new at Fourth of July this year. The Forest Service is allowing us to close FSR 614 and to groom it five miles out to Rose Saddle. This broad corridor will still carry snowshoe and traditional cross country ski traffic, but a broad swath of its center will be groomed for skate skiing. In addition we plan to groom the Eagle Run (FSR 1575) out to the cut across trail and down to Ian’s Hut for both traditional and skate skiing. With the skate routes along Skateaway, High Road, and Elderberry, nearly 10 miles of skate lanes should be available, much of it for the first time. Traditional track setting is planned for the Five Mile Loop, Skateaway, Elderberry, Eagle Run and on Skywalker (FSR 614) between Skateaway and the Eagle Run adding up to over ten miles of track skiing. We plan to have the three warming hut systems up and running, and all the snowshoe trails open for travel.  For maps see: http://panhandlenordicclub.com/maps-brochures/fourth-of-july/

The weathermen are saying predicting a colder winter with more precipitation than usual, so if they are correct and we get your support to run the ski area at this new level, 2011-2012 should be a great year for skiing and snowshoe treks at Fourth of July.

The program for our initial meeting of the year will highlight the ski and snowshoe opportunities in and around the Idaho Panhandle Area. Three veteran skiers and showshoers: Bob Conquergood, Dwight McCain and Jim McMillen, will share ideas of places to ski and snowshoe in the area. These suggestions will run the range from the full lodge overnight accommodation experience to the day ski or snowshoe sack lunch optional.

The Park N Ski stickers have arrived and will be available for purchase. Please bring your the license plate number of the vehicle you plan to use at 4th of July with you as that license plate number must appear on the paperwork that is carried in your car. Park N Ski stickers are $25 for the season and $7.50 for a 3 day pass. Please designate area 11 when you buy your sticker and some of the money comes back to 4th of July Ski Area for improvements to the area. Dues are still $15 per household.

Please join us at 7 PM on Tuesday, November 1^st at the Fernan Ranger Station at 2502 E. Sherman Avenue in Fernan Village. Park at the rear of the building and come downstairs to the basement conference room. Hope to see you there for the beginning of the ski and snowshoe year.

We have reached the final weeks for our petition to save Coeur d’Alene’s dike road trees. With more than 4000 signatures already collected – about half online and half on paper — we are hoping to top 5000 in the next two weeks. We plan on submitting the petition in early November.

We still need your help, however, to get the job done. We need you to spread the word one more time to your family, friends, neighbors, twitter followers, facebook friends, etc. Help us reach our target of 5000 signatures by November 5th.

Here is the link to the online petition. If you want to print a copy and circulate it, download a pdf version here. If you have petitions outstanding, get them back to us as soon as possible. If you need more information or want to stay up to date on new developments, join us on facebook where we will post more frequent updates. Otherwise, give us a call at Kootenai Environmental Alliance, and we will do what we can to help get more signatures.

I will probably nag you a couple more times before we deliver the petitions, but I promise I will also thank you a couple of more times too. We’ve already collected an impressive number of signatures for our relatively small community. With your signature, and with your help, we are very hopeful that our petition will make a difference. So thank you for your signature, and thank you for your help with this final push.

Terry Harris

Kootenai Environmental Alliance