Snowshoeing - Moderate

We thought we'd stay close to the area insofar as it's the day after Christmas.  Three Point Mountain is just out I-84, around exit 64, turn north.  Maybe 40 minutes drive from Boise.  Intent is to start with a challenging climb the first half-mile (400 feet of gain), made all the more so due to the fact we hope to be in snowshoes.  4800 ft trailhead elevation: Hope springs eternal.  :)  IF we make it to the ridgeline, the views of the Trinities should be gorgeous.  A short trip from there to the peak.  Fini.  Unless we found the going a lot faster than we thought we would, in which case we'll turn toward Kepros for a mile or two.  Not far.  We should be exhausted already due to the snowshoes.  One dog only.  Must be a club member dog.  Eight people max.

Shall we just call this a doorstopper?  The weather (and snow conditions) are still unknown.  Conditions at the three Idaho City Park 'n Ski areas are equally unknown. 

What we do know is we plan on approximately four miles ("early conditioning").  Breathing hard is to be expected.  One dog max (if the trails permit dogs).  Club member dogs only.  Eight people max.

Sign up now and we'll flesh out the details for this trip as the date gets closer.  :)

Join me Saturday, Mar 05 for a snowshoe hike at Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area. We will snowshoe the Nordic Highway trail, from the Frontier Point Nordic Lodge, to the Superior Chair, and on up to the Shafer Butte Picnic Area.  There we will have lunch, and then head back on the Nordic Highway trail to the subsequent Sapper’s Return trail. The entire loop totals approximately 8 miles. Please call me so that we may arrange logistics and potential carpooling to the trailhead. Please bring $5 for your individual Bogus Basin Snowshoe Trail Ticket. Limit 12, no dogs please. Bring the 10 IMR essentials, plenty of water, and lunch.

It will be around 4 miles with 600 to 800 feet of gain through difficult terrain off the normally used trails through the forest.  I would rate it moderate due to the conditions. No dogs.

Sunday snowshoe -- mid morning departure, return before sunset.  This will be about a 4 mile snowshoe on the east side of the trail to Banner Ridge along parts of the Alpine trail then cross country to the Twister trail the back to the car at Banner Ridge parking lot.  The snow markers are now showing around 40" of snow at Mores Creek and Jackson peaks so the snow should be fantastic and the temperatures are supposed to be in the upper teens to low 20's at Whoop-um-up by Sunday.  No dogs. 

 
I have a park and ski pass on my car and they are now required for the season.

 
 

Join me Saturday, Feb 27 for a snowshoe hike at Ponderosa State Park in McCall, Idaho. We will snowshoe the main snowshoe trails within the spine of the peninsula, attempting to reach Osprey Point Lookout, have lunch, and then return upon Nordic Ski trails along the west coast of the peninsula. The entire loop totals approximately 6 miles. Please bring $4 for your individual Nordic Pass Trail Ticket. Limit 12, no dogs please. Bring the 10 IMR essentials, plenty of water, and lunch.

Let’s hope for clear blue skies just after a huge snowfall for this January trip. The trip will go up Gold Fork’s Moose trail and loop around using the Lodgepole and Double Dip trails with short bursts on the Golf Fork groomed trail (fine for snowshoers; just walk on the edge and stay out of the double track!). Mileage about 4+miles/600’+ total elevation gain. Trip limited to 8 people because we will be on the groomed ski trail for short durations. Inquire about dogs. 75 miles from Boise; Park n Ski Pass on vehicles will be needed; depending on conditions 2WD may be just fine. We’ll leave Boise around 9am, be back around 3pm.

Drive to Banner Ridge. Suit up. Two cars then drive 2 miles down to Gold Fork. Drop off one car. Get a GPS fix on that car. Return in one car to Banner Ridge. Get a GPS fix on that car. Walk some 200-300 yards south on ID 21 to an barred-off, ungroomed road heading east. Hike it. It will (likely) connect with the Park ’n Ski route called Twister. Head south. Eventually fall off the south edge of the Banner Ridge map and enter the north edge of the Gold Fork map. Head for the Gold Fork parking lot. Reverse the automobile logistics discussed above. Head home. Estimated distance 7.2 miles. SNOWSHOES ONLY. NO SKIS. We will not likely break any trail, but if we do, we’ll need all of us to trade the breaking duties. Really, really hard to estimate required time since we don’t know the conditions. Somewhere between 3.6 hours and 5.5 hours.

Standard IMR 10 Essentials, please.

Actual Park ’n Ski area still to be determined. Expect 5 miles and several hundred feet of climb. More info to come. Call with questions or to make a reservation.