Shore Lodge Blog

Don't Forget to 'Stop & Smell the Roses'

A friend and I decided to get up early this past Sunday, rent a canoe and head over to Shore Lodge to enjoy an early latte on the patio.

We rented our canoe from Gravity Sports, zipped up our life jackets and set out from the McCall Marina. About 30 minutes later (mental note, work on upper body strength) we rowed up to the Shore Lodge marina where a marina employee helped us lift our canoe on to the dock and we headed to the coffee shop.

With Starbuck's lattes in hand we were back on the patio in minutes to enjoy the weather and this spectacular view.

 
Sitting in the (extremely) comfortable lounge chairs with my feet up, I for the first time this summer really took a deep breath and 'stopped to smell the roses'.

Summer is busy here and it is our goal to work hard to continually exceed the expectations of our guests at Shore Lodge, but if you're not careful, this special time will pass you by. Whether you're a resident of McCall or wherever you might be,  I remind you to 'stop and smell the roses'... It's amazing how refreshing it can be.

- Jocelyn Kidd, in search of All Seasons Ali's replacement

 

A Fond Farewell to All Seasons Ali

It is a sad time for the Shore Lodge & Whitetail team. This past Friday was All Seasons Ali's, (aka Chris Costa's), last day as a member of our team. She along with her husband and young son have decided to make the move back to Colorado in search of exciting new opporutunities.

Never was there a challenge on the job that she would not tackle head on. Never was there the opportunity to pond skim in the middle of winter that she would not say 'no problem'. Never was there a head-on encounter with a bear on a single-track mountain bike trail that she would not fend off with her mountain bike, ride like the wind back down the hill, and the next day tell the story with a smile on her face.

Overall, a very cool chick. So please all join me in saying a fond farewell to Chris Costa, and wish her well with her new endeavors.

But stay tuned.... We will be back!

SUMMER COMMENCES IN MCCALL...

...with lifted sails and knobby tires

 

Two weeks ago I broke out my mountain bike with crossed fingers, and a perhaps a pipe dream that I’d be getting my bike dirty on dry trails.  I lubed the chain, put the tires at 45 psi and tightened the clips on the soles of my shoes.

 

Then came the rains and it poured on McCall for a week straight.  Creeks swelled and overflowed; mudslides washed away trees and rock; homes, nests and sanctuaries were flooded.  The storm came fast and hit hard.  These were just a few of the rainbows over McCall after the storm passed. 

 

It was just enough to soothe sore eyes and heal hurting hearts.    

Suddenly the sun came out.  The warm days unfolded picnic blankets on the beach, lifted sails on Payette Lake and put mud on mountain bikes.   

 

I chose to celebrate the commencement of summer this past weekend on my bike.  I rode the Bear Basin trails, located 2 miles west of Shore Lodge.  It’s a groovy network of singletrack that can get you an easy 16 miles (20 miles if you ride from Shore Lodge).  It’s got a little bit of everything and a whole lotta bang for your buck.  Bridges cross high creeks and wet lands.  Rolling downhills are smooth for the most part and betwixt wildflowers in the sunny trails and morels off the shady trails. Banked turns and bunny-hoppable jumps make you smile.  Now is a great time to ride these trails.

 

Break out the knobby tires, the beach towels and flip-flops because I think summer has finally arrived in McCall with a bang!   

 

-All Seasons Ali, muddy mountain biker

 

Fear of Flying... Conquered (almost)!

Somewhere during my late teens to early 20's I became scared to fly.
There I've said it! It's out, i've admitted it, I, Jocelyn am afraid to fly... or should I say, I WAS afraid to fly.

For someone in Sales & Marketing for THEE ultimate mountain resort, a fear of flying is one of the most inconvenient fears to have. One of my key responsibilities is to travel and to educate people on why they need to visit beautiful McCall Idaho and stay at the iconic Shore Lodge. Most would find joy in these types of opportunities to travel, but not I. That was the case until about 4 weeks ago.

May 3, 2010
In walks Dan Scott, our newly appointed General Manager for Shore Lodge & Whitetail Club. Not just a community member of McCall for quite sometime but also an experienced pilot as well as the owner & president of McCall Aviation.

May 4, 2010
Dan lets me know that he'll be attending my creative meeting in Boise later that week... And that we'll be flying (Cue sweaty palms, nauseousness and increased heart rate). I express my concern to fly on major airline planes let alone a 6 seater. His response, "A 2 hour commute vs. a 20 minute commute... You'll need to get over it." My response, "Yes sir."

**A side note: It's very common for me to travel to Boise at least once a week, sometimes more. Knowing that it's a 2 hour drive each way, I plan my meetings back to back for that day, and typically I'm back in McCall before the sun sets.**

May 7, 2010
645 am I arrive at McCall Aviation with water bottle and saltine crackers in hand.
700 am I'm sitting shotgun in a King Air with a headset on and a keen eye on where the sick bags are kept. With Dan sitting next to me, he begins going through the (very thorough) checklist. I suggest that we get out one more time just to make sure that the wings are A-OK. He doesn't think I'm funny.
725 am Pilot Dan looks at me, gives me the thumbs up, and through my headset I hear, "here we go", cue extreme panic... But only for a short while.
An interesting thing happened, with the opportunity to see what the pilot is doing, hear what the pilot is saying as well as having the ability to ask the pilot "what the h*ll was that!" with every bump or strange noise that we came across, I noticed a strange feeling that I hadn't felt in a plane for quite some time... I was calm.
I looked out the window and this is what I saw:

20 minutes later, we're landing at the Boise Airport with time to spare.
I had done it, what sense of accomplishment... And we still had time to drive through the McDonald's drive-thru for a little breakfast before our 800 am meeting.

Since that day I've flown on 2 other types of planes, an Islander and a Cessna.

I know that I have not completely cured my fear of flying, but I do know that I now look forward with anticipation (instead of hesitation) to my next opportunity to fly (the now more) friendly skies.

- Jocelyn Kidd, in for All Seasons Ali

PAYETTE LAKE'S MYSTICAL SERPENT IS BACK

It's Sharlie!

The ice cover was probably a half meter at its thickest point in January.  Today the narrow sheet of ice is quickly breaking up and flowing down river.  It’s only a matter of days before Sharlie decides to clear the lake in it's entirety.  Of course Mother Nature plays a part in the ice-thaw, but ultimately it is the mystical serpent of Payette Lake who decides when it is time to end her 4-month winter journey beneath the ice in the deep glacial waters of McCall, Idaho. 

Sharlie is described as 20-40 feet in length whose smooth, rubbery skin shimmers and shines.  Although quite secretive, since the 1940’s she has lured McCallians to watch for her – perhaps as a distraction.  Some say she protects a prehistoric treasure that lies in the deepest part of the lake – although no one knows how deep the lake is. 

Under last night’s bright moon the lake bedazzled.  It was Sharlie sprinkling semi-precious sand over the ice.  By day the sand absorbs the sun’s energy and immediately melts the ice, separating the ice crystals. 

When the skies are dark Sharlie sings.  Her magical song bounces off the ice and echoes in the depths of the lake creating a vibration that makes the ice unstable. 

Her 3-humped back and large, flat-finned tail help her to move gracefully at speeds upward of 25-miles per hour creating movement and pushing the broken ice towards the edges of the lake.

If you look out towards the Narrows today from the Shore Lodge, you won't see much remaining ice, but rather an aqua-marine looking spot in the lake, perhaps that is where Sharlie is hanging out.  

 
 
-All Seasons Ali

A DAY AT THE NATURAL SRINGS

With my Cuban Pirate!

 

You know your baby is Cuban when he is born with a tan line.  This is Salvador at Gold Fork Hot Springs.  He is part Cuban, part pirate and a whole lotta tan belly!

It’s springtime in the Idaho high-country!  The sun quickly melts the snow and heralds people to bare their feet outside – perhaps the perfect time to hot spring it!     

We visited Gold Fork yesterday.  Gold Fork Hot Springs is located 45 minutes south of the Shore Lodge, outside of Donnelly, Idaho.  There are six pools; ranging in temperatures from hot-as-tamales to cool-as-cucumbers.  We planned for a day at the spa - soaking in the warm mineral water, exfoliating our toes and belly with the sand, and working on our tan.    

 

We met up with a couple of Sal’s best buds; Gus and Molly.  The three of them are each very good at chillin’, but when they get together they do it like villian’zzz.  They are smooth and crafty at looting cool pool toys; like the noodle and the boogie board – perfect for a reckless joy ride in the high seas.  They can blow bubbles and sink ships like no other sea dog. And they can attack a spa retreat with belly bombs faster than you can call, “Mayday.”  

 

After our 1-hour-and-30-minute tour of Idaho’s high seas at Gold Fork, we dropped the sail, pointed our vessel home to McCall and caught some zzz’s in the backseat.   

POND SKIMMING LIKE A SUPERHERO

At Brundage Mountain's Crazy Daze 2010

 

I am guessing the population of pond skimmers amongst skiers, riders and superheroes is pretty slim.  The possibility of dunking in 34 degree water is quite daunting even for those who possess extraordinary strength and powers. 

 

The turnout on Saturday for Brundage Mountain’s annual Crazy Daze was a success.  The signature event is the pond skimming contest which has been a celebrated rite of spring across the cosmos perhaps since Spidey first encountered the Green Goblin.  Old Man Winter even showed up for the event a few days early and brought some new snow. Bonus! 

Also up for the challenge were the Crocodile Hunter, Bubble Boy, Elvis and the Mono-Boarding Rastafarian – just to name a few fools besides myself.  We would each put forth our forged powers and liquid courage to combat the unfavorable elements. 

 

The man-made pond wore a layer of ice and slush on top up until about 15 minutes before we were due to drop in.  A veteran pond skimmer offered some advice, “Brace yourself as you hit the water and then just keep your ski tips up.” A rookie pond skimmer provided some amusement as he shivered in nothing but tighty whities waiting his attempt to fly across the pond.  Unfortunately he did not take flight, but rather voyaged underwater – as did many of us. 

 

If only I had the Flash’s super speed, or Ice Man’s cryokinetic powers; then I would have been singing and dancing like my friends and fans on the sidelines. 

 

My first run was glorious!  I kept my ski tips up as advised and sailed 70 feet across the pond.  My second time around was a near miss, but the spotters at the pond’s red carpeted exit leant a hand.  My third run perhaps ended as it should.  It’s what gets the crowd hyped up the most – when wannabe superheroes plunge into hypothermic waters - skis, snowboards and all.   

 
 

 

Afterwards we tailgated amongst friends.  Our identities were no longer a secret.  It was pretty clear who the fools were.  We were the ones with soggy boots and heavy capes hovering over the barbeques in the parking lot.  And the most foolish part of it all is that most of us will probably do it again next spring.   

 

- All Seasons Ali, Wannabe Super Heroine      

SPRING PICNIC AT BEAR BASIN

45 degrees and sunshine, the birds were giddy for spring and the squirrels were full of zip.  The cross-country trails at Bear Basin were sub-hero for classic skiing earlier this week.  The snow was firm enough to stay on top and soft enough for a nice glide.  It’s what makes this time of year so special.  Spring cross-country skiing is the most efficient way to travel through the thick woods.  You can go anywhere, very quickly. 

 

It didn’t take long to find a dry spot with signs of spring beneath a group of old-growth fir and ponderosa trees.  We unfolded a blanket from our backpacks and the wrapping from our sandwiches.  Some enjoyed peanut butter and jelly, others hummus with cucumber.  We each wiped the crumbs from our face in celebration of the Vernal Equinox.

 

Taking the long way back to the car makes the drive back in to McCall more triumphant.  We decided to pony up at the Narrows Lounge.  Some enjoyed chocolate milk and others a cocktail.  We each toasted to spring and enjoyed the sunset over the lake. 

 

Happy Spring! 

-All Seasons Ali

THE ART OF SHARING

On a Powder Day

Carpool up to the Mountain - Share the ride with good friends and good tunes.  We passed the Shore Lodge, started heading up the hill and pumped up the volume to the Grateful Dead in the Suburban.  Four sets of skis rode on top and we were headed for 8 new inches of snow received overnight.  

Share the Chair - By 9:15am Saturday, a lift line was forming at the base of Bluebird.  Come 9:30am, those first in line loaded the chair.  The liftie smiled and told us to have fun, but he certainly did not try to sort out groups of four for the quad express - wise man!  He left that to the skiers and riders stepping on each others’ tails and breathing down their necks, as they are a tough crowd.  Quickest way to get booed is to not fill a chair! 

Save the Super GS Turns for a Another Day - It's been way too long since the last powder day to be wasteful.  The only reason to cross over tracks is if you are lacing up the figure 8's.  Otherwise, as long as we all ski the fall line, make tight turns and lay 'em down side-by-side we'll all benefit and get our share of fresh turns.   

Share the Same Language - By the end of the morning we were speaking Spanish. ¡Vamonos a esquiar Mexico otra vez! The tree skiing in Mexico, Brundage's terrain located skier's-left on the front side of the mountain, is always good for some late, powder day stashes.  ¡Qué divertido!   

Timing is Everything - There was no stopping for lunch.  We'd collectively decided that we'd make up for it at the end of the day with a couple pitchers of beer.  We were thinking something like this...

 

Unfortunately all but my "friend" Andy forgot to pocket a trail bar.  While on the Centennial chair, I asked Andy if I could have a bite.  He said he'd eaten it on the way up the previous chair ride.  I think he strategically rode the chair with strangers so that he didn't have to share - wise man!  After all, there are no friends on a powder day! 

At the end of the day we headed back to McCall and found a sunny deck on which to kick up our feet and boast about our turns to friends who missed out. When you've practiced the art of sharing on a powder day, you've earned the right to brag.  Me, Andy and our two other friends shared the same idea today, we went out and got it and now..."Nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile..."

- All Season Ali

 

PS - Next weekend is Family Weekend at Brundage Mountain and Shore Lodge, during which you DON'T have to share a room with the kids, your friends or whomever.  Book one room and receive 50% off the 2nd room or adjoining room March 19-21.

DIARY OF AN UPHILL SKIER

8:00am – Our climbing skins, beacon, probe, shovel, water, sunglasses, sunscreen and lunch are packed.  We are now departing by snowmobile from the trailhead on Lick Creek; sometimes pronounced Lick Crick.

 

8:35am – The snowmobiles are parked.  R2D2 and Astro, our Yamaha Exciter 470 and Exciter 2 380, sit side-by-side at Lick Creek Pass.  Our climbing skins have been slapped to the bases of our skis and we are headed up to the saddle, between Cly Point and the North Chutes.  Snow is a little crunchy.   

 

8:40am – Hat and goggles are coming off!

8:45am – Top layer is coming off!

 

9:25am – We made it to the saddle and are now climbing the ridge North.  The chutes to our left are steep and always a good time, but Beach Party, the low-angle and south-facing shot ahead is calling out our names. 

 

9:50am -  Our climbing skins are coming off and the 2^nd layer of sunscreen is going on.  It’s about to be a beach party!

 

10:15am – 20 turns to the left, 20 turns to the right and my friends and I are rockin’ out to what were some sweet turns.  Snow is soft! Now we head back uphill.

 

10:35am – Back at the ridge, we scope our lines down the North side. 

10:50am – My line may not have been the most impressive, but definitely the most fun!

 

These are my friends Lolo and YT, they too enjoy the uphill climb– because what goes up, must come down.  And the backcountry terrain off Lick Creek is pretty sweeeeeet! 

 

 

4:00pm – R2D2 and Astro are loaded up on the trailer and we are headed back in to McCall for some thin crust pizzas and beer at the Narrows Lounge.      

 

All Seasons Ali, uphill skier off Lick Creeeeeek with good down-hill turns and correct pronunciation!