So Bogus - Bogus Basin that is and Boise with the Knoxs

Writing this looking out the windows in Pete and Robin Knox's lovely log home and ranchette at horses, cows, a donkey, and one very stinky husky/shepherd dog who thinks he's found the eternal smorgasbord...

Our first day in Boise took Pete and us to Bogus Basin. A big little ski area with loads of double-black steep tree runs to practice our jump turns on. Pete is an excellent telemark skier and pushed us to our max. We loved it. The fog was on us again, but made the day somewhat surreal.

Pete feeding the herd back at the ranchette. They grow their own hay for four cows, a calf, a donkey, and two ponies.

Here's Jack the little ass. He works the petting zoo circuit. Chance would be a good stand-in for him.

Up past Idaho City on Sunday for a XC ski with the whole gang. Caleb tried out skis for the first time and trooped along with an ever-watchful mom.

Oops. Falling is fun.

Blain got to pull the boys, Caleb and Logan, up the hills, but left the downhills for Pete, who had metal edges on his skis for stopping power.

Caleb getting the "cooler carry" treatment. He started calling for more downhills.

Pete showing off a step christy turn to wow the crowd.

The view from the top (and from the rental yurt that we have to go back to one day) was stunning. A grand picnic spot. Click for the whole panorama.

Caleb's first ski video. One of many to come, we're sure.

"Free taters for out of staters" - IDAHO

McCall Idaho.
This little snow town has a lot going for it. Brundage Mtn. just up the road for downhill, Bear Basin and Ponderosa SP for XC skiing 5 minutes away.

Payette Lake in McCall is quite nice, and they've put some money into making the waterfront area nice with walkways, marinas, a sculpture park and amenities.


At Bear Basin we had a great time skiing with Chance. Ski-joring attached to the dog hasn't caught on out in the West like it has in Alaska, so unfortunately, we find very few groomed ski trails that allow dogs. When we do we love them.
Back on the road, we travelled through Nez Perce country and had to stop at a monument called Heart of the Monster National Historical Park. We heard a recording of the Nez Perce creation story of the making of the world's tribes by Coyote after he slayed a great monster that was eating up all the other animals. The monster's heart was left here and became the Nez Perce people. This is the Nez Perce's Eden. The beginning of the universe. Pretty powerful stuff.

On through Devil's Canyon and back into summer for a bit. The Salmon River was dry and beautiful country. Chance got to go swimming, and we got a little Vitamin D.

To Kooksia and a motel with an oddly insect-like caribou on the roof.

And a hugely enjoyable stop at Jerry Johnson's Hot Spring over Lolo Pass - Lewis and Clark Country. A 1.5 mile luge trail in, but we discovered paradise at the end.
The hot springs flow out of the cliff in waterfalls and filled the boulder-lined pools. Soaking amongst the cedar trees was such a treat.

Gorgeous spot. Can't show the "other" photos though... It's that kind of place...
Blain looking for the giant hot springs cave salamanders.

The ski adventure begins

We were invited to J and Krista's cabin in Mazama, WA and arrived just as the snow showed up. It made for some great skiing and a ton of fun hanging out at the cabin.

Chance here enjoying some post-skiing quality time with J.

One condition on our invite was a skate skiing lesson for them. We thoroughly enjoyed watching their progress throughout the week. Here they are looking strong. Note the Angelina Jolie shades. She was hoping that Brad would spot her. Keep skiing like that and he'll take notice, K!

Chance was allowed to ski-jor on one trail called "Cougar Bait". However, he insisted he wasn't the one they were after.

This chocolate concoction (sans eggs) emerged from the oven. We called it "scudge", but it was great.

Blain making friends with a local. Not all of the area residents were this glad to see lycra-clad skiers in their sissyboots. If he had remembered to hand out the pears he got at the store, he might have had a one mulepower ski-jor propulsion.

Great snow the second day. We skied to the Mazama general store. A long day but the Hungarian mushroom soup was worth it.

The fam.

This is Blain in his new snow-camo ski suit. You can hardly see him.

Thank you to J and Krista for opening their home-away-from-home to us. We loved the time with you two. And a link for J and all the other cross-country skiers reading - here's the online Swix Waxing Wizard.

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Off to W Wash and Idaho for a ski roadtrip. We've hit 49 Degrees North, and Schweitzer. Looked at Loup Loup, but not enough mountain for the money. Saw quite a few camoflage snowmobile/ski suits and hunter orange hats, though.

49 Degrees North is near Chewalah, WA. And it's a really fun place. Stay at the Nordlig Motel when you're there for a skier package.

This is the view from Schweitzer Ski Area. We telemarked one day and skate skied the next. The nordic trails have unbelievable views and they interweave with the downhill trails to add some spice. We overheard the impressed kids on the bunny hill chairlift, as we actually skied up the hills, too.

Nice rest at the campfire on the hill at Schweitzer.

Blain and the big tree.

Mo - conquerer of the parking lot berm.

On to Montana and some hot springs, then back to ID for skiing. C'mon snow!