Shore Lodge Blog

THESE LADIES GOT GAME

It's the Game of Bridge!

 

What is a contract without a declaration, and what is a social without a conversation?  Without these two key components, most would pass on the game of bridge.  Alas, these ladies are doubling the bid and just getting the party started.  

 

 
The opening lead on Wednesday was the 2 of hearts.  

Thirteen tricks on the table and a teaspoon of sugar in the coffee later, the first contract was fulfilled for Pat Bloom and her partner.  Pat was the hostess this week for the ladies bridge group.  Every other week 8 girlfriends from McCall, Donnelly and New Meadows gather at the Shore Lodge for cards, coffee, lunch at the Lake Grill and conversation. Some have been playing bridge together for as long as 23 years!  Needless to say they've got moves and style!

 

-All Seasons Ali, Novice Bridge Player

ICE HOCKEY IN MCCALL

Against the Boards & Between the Pipes!

 

My body is bruised from falling on the ice, banging against the boards and crashing between the goal’s pipes. I spent 3 minutes in the penalty box last league night and even my rosemary-mint Aveda lotion won’t rid my hands from the scent of hockey gloves.  I love the game!  Its ice hockey and it happens year-round in McCall.

 

When asked about his approach to the big game, Ryan Miller - US Men’s goaltender and Olympic Hockey Tournament MVP – said this,”Just going to go out and hopefully tie my skates on the right way and play a hockey game... I’m just going to try and have fun with it.”  Similar are the thoughts of those with whom I spent last weekend.

 

It was drop-in hockey at the Manchester Ice & Event Centre.  The short-benched rosters included players of all levels; including those who had once played at the collegiate level and those who just recently picked up hockey in McCall.  On Saturday we played dark versus light-colored jerseys.

 

This is Pavla, she wore a white jersey that day.  You can always count on her to rally in front of the net. 

 

Before the puck even dropped on Sunday in Vancouver, history was already in the makings.  The perhaps greatest hockey game EVER was about to begin!  Some who watched the culmination to the Winter Olympic Games happening at Hockey Place fell in love with hockey again, others fell in love for the first time, and all were EVER-inspired.  In the books, the US team took silver and on the ice they played their hearts out.   

 

Be it the Idaho Junior Steelheads, Thursday night adult league, the Mites or the Squirts – McCallians too are tying their skates and getting their hockey game on.  As a local, hockey supporter the Shore Lodge applauds all those headed to tournaments, the playoffs, and on the ice. 

 

-All Seasons Ali, McCall Osprey’s Hockey Team Member

 

 

IF YOU'RE LAST DOWN AND RIDING SOLO UP...

...It May Be Time to Wax Your Ride

Now that the skies are clear and the temperatures are dropping again in McCall, your skis or snowboard are probably due for a wax job. Break out the blue-colored wax and lay it on!  Here's a few tips, besides renting your wax kit and using the tune room at the Shore Lodge.

1-Your skis should be free of dirt and at room temperature.  If they've been on your car or in the garage, warm them up first!

2-It is best to clamp your skis to a work bench so that they sit flat and still.  Use rubber bands to keep the brake arms up and out of the way.   

3-Press the wax to the heated iron and hold 2-4" over the ski.  Allow the wax to drip from the iron on to the ski, drizzling the base area. 

4-Don't smoke the wax!  If the iron is too hot, the wax and chemicals will change into gas.  You don't want to breathe the gas.  You may also risk scorching the bases of your skis!

  

5-Iron the wax into the base until you have a uniform coat.  Keep the iron moving with the grain of the ski.

6-Allow the wax to dry for about 15 minutes.

7-Use the plastic scraper to remove excess wax.  Place the scraper on the base of the ski at a 45 degree angle and pull from the tip to the tail with long, fluid strokes.

8-When base is smooth to the touch, buff with a brush.  Work to create friction and heat so the wax gets pushed into the pores of the board.

9-Return the rental wax kit; complete with iron, wax, rubber bands, scrapers and brushes; to the Shore Lodge front desk.

 

10-Ride the chair with your friends, be first down the mountain and repeat!

-All Seasons Ali 
 

LACE UP AND CRUISE

Vroom, Vroom!

This past weekend gold medals were won by 1/100 of a second and life-long dreams came true by just 21 inches.  At the rink in McCall Salvador skated five times around the ice with a bucket in front, mom behind and just 20 minutes on the clock. 

This is Salvador.  He is about five stacked-buckets tall and celebrating his first day on skates.  We joined other shufflers, sliders and skaters at the Manchester Ice and Event Centre this weekend.  In the end - and perhaps the best part of it all - Sal's lap time improved with his feet out in front, the pedal to the ice and cruising in the back seat.  "Vroom, Vroom," cheered Sal.

If you haven't been to the Manchester ice rink yet, check it out - even if only for a hot chocolate on the bleachers with a spectacular view of Payette Lake.  OR lace up as part of the Shore Lodge's Winter Wonderland Package and combine it with snow tubing or elk viewing for a glimpse at what makes McCall so magical. 

See you on the ice!

All Seasons Ali

PEACE IN THE MOUNTAINS

Even During Winter Carnival

 

Amidst the carnival-goers in McCall there still remains a calm that can be found just 2 minutes from downtown.  This is what makes McCall the perfect mountain town. 

 

This weekend I joined neighbors and out-of-town visitors for Winter Carnival festivities at the ice rink, outdoor stage, tubing hill and golf course.  I wore my mardis gras beads and danced all weekend-long to live music until I found another harmony on the slopes – that’s when I also gave up my beads to the adorned-tree found shortly after tower 10 on Centennial Lift at Brundage.  There’s something about the green pines and blue skies in the mountains that bear peace – and another when there’s a board or skis beneath your feet.   

 

Check out a few fishermen finding their own peace on the brilliant blue ice of Payette Lake with hooks and rods.  Behind them lies McCall on the final day of Winter Carnival 2010. 

 

This photo was taken from the Shore Lodge; just 2 minutes from downtown McCall, Idaho and a short walk or drive to ice fishing, skiing and riding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing.       

 

Best, All Seasons Ali

GROUNDHOG DAY

Six More Weeks of Winter!

This morning the groundhog saw its shadow and I woke up to morning glory in McCall.  Those who complain we are doomed with 6 more weeks of winter are the unfortunate ones.  Fortunately for me & my friends we have access to skiing, riding, snowmobiling and other winter splendors in the backyard. Old Man Winter is welcome in McCall! 

For winter lodging packages and specials, call Shore Lodge Reservations at (208) 634-2244.  

Definitely NOT Business as Usual in McCall

Winter Carnival 2010 is here!

 

I could tell by the tone of my friend's voice over the phone that it was going to be a strictly-business kind of day - he was out of breath.  I had just loaded the Bluebird Chair and was wondering where he was at. We met up, nodded hello and pointed our skis to the shady side of Meadow Bowl. We kept each other in our peripheral sight and I'm pretty sure I was breathing.  We hustled, non-stop to maximize our turns at Brundage Mountain before we had to head back to the office. 

 

After a few quick runs we headed down the hill. We helped landscape the snow sculpture out front the Shore Lodge, decorated the float bound for the parade Saturday morning, collected mardi gras beads and polished our cowboy boots for the struttin' and boot scootin' planned for Saturday night's Winter Dance happening at the Shore Lodge.  Now I'm clocking out and heading to the Winter Carnival festivities!

 

For the McCall Winter Carnival 2010 Calendar of Events visit the McCall Winter Carnival website.

 

There are 37 snow sculptures in McCall!  Begin your tour at the Shore Lodge.  Check out the squirrel skiing by fish and a tow, it's named "Chain Reaction." Stop by the Shore Lodge Front Desk for a Winter Carnival program and snow sculpture tour map.  

 

Signed, All Seasons Ali  

 

 

Racer Ready

In 20 days the torch will arrive in Vancouver and then under the following sun, the Winter Olympic Games will begin.  The 2010 Olympic excitement is building across all nations. 

 

Closer to home - in just 4 days the lights will shine on a Tuesday night at Little Ski Hill in McCall, Idaho.  It's the T-Bar Challenge Local Cup Race Series.  I'll be wearing my Shore Lodge race bib and participating in the local camaraderie, friendly competition and hopefully accomplishing a few of my own athletic feats.

 

The Little Ski Hill is located just 3 miles from the Shore Lodge.  A single T-bar services 405 vertical feet...the training grounds for a few, past Olympic athletes in fact.  Besides the Tuesday league night, night skiing happens every Friday and Saturday.   

 

If you're not on a roster for Tuesday, check out the Little Ski Hill on a weekend.  And for those of you who are on a team roster, I'll see you then!  Go USA!

 

- All Seasons Ali, Ski Racer

SKIS AND SNOWBOARDS WANTED!

Tune in & up!

Coming soon to the Shore Lodge is a tuning and ski storage room.   Just in time too, as my skis feel like their bases are carpeted.  

The past couple of days at Brundage have been good.  I ventured North of BlueBird, over the bumpy traverse to Hidden Valley and down some deep steeps and powder-stashed glades.  As the recent snowfall was pretty wet, my skis could have used some help…particularly more speed.    

Today I’ll be product testing the Shore Lodge’s newest guest amenity.  I’m going to check-out the ski tuning kit; equipped with iron, wax, scraper & brush; from the Front Desk and head over to the Tuning Room with my skis.  Tomorrow I'll catch the 8:30am shuttle to Brundage, the 9:30am chair lift ride to the top of the mountain and fast turns down LakeView Bowl. 

Check out the view of LakeView Bowl from the Shore Lodge and stay tuned for the Tuning and Ski Storage room’s opening! 

4 Weeks & Goal to Superbowl, 4-6pm Happy Hour EVERY DAY!

My game-day warm up this morning was 45 minutes on the trails at Bear Basin.  My skis were waxed for the fairly cold temps. I skated 15k including the Meadows, Lyles and Just Right Loops. 

This afternoon, I'll be hanging out at the Lounge in the Shore Lodge.  The Shore Lodge team is huddling up with some soul in the kitchen, specials at the bar, new items on the menu and football on the 50" screen.  The countdown to the Superbowl kicks off in Cincinnati today and happy hour starts at 4:00pm (as it does EVERY day) in the Lounge.  The Bengals, Jets, Cowboys, Eagles, Ravens, Patriots, Packers and Cardinals are at Shore Lodge-McCall, Idaho this weekend.  Play-offs are happening in the Lounge with house-made potato chips, popcorn prawns and you-name-it-on the rocks.    

I'll probably do it all again tomorrow.  The Bear Basin trailhead is just 10-minutes away or a free shuttle ride from the Shore Lodge.   

More about The Lounge...It's been a favorite hangout amongst the locals and regulars for a long-time now. Happy hour is every day from 4-6pm.  Call 208.634.2244 for more information.  Or check out the Lounge menu at www.shorelodgemccall.com.