It was great to see so many familiar faces from the Divide at PCEI yesterday! We kicked off our fundraiser/raffle by raising $1,344. If you were there, you saw the ski package that Hyperspud has generously donated to the winner!
We will be selling raffle tickets until we draw a winner on December 15 -- just in time for the snow to start falling! You can get them wherever we show up with a booth -- farmers markets and gear swaps this autumn -- or you can get them on our new and improved website (Thanks, Andy and Lisa!): https://palousedividenordic.org/. $5 per ticket or 5 for $20! While you’re there, you can also renew your club membership. Soon, you'll be able to see ski reports there too! The most exciting news is that we met the entire match from our anonymous donor with the money raised yesterday! Much thanks to the donor for starting us off with a bang! Even better, dear friends of the club (and long-time members) Scotty and Diane Cornelius have offered to match up to $2,500 of money we raise through October! So every $5 from you, brings $10 toward our new snowmobile! If you already like your skis and don't want raffle tickets, Scotty and Diane's challenge includes all other donations to the club too! More news on plans for the Divide coming soon! Jesse Spohnholz, for the Palouse Divide Nordic Ski Club P.S. As always, if you want to stop receiving notices about the Palouse Divide, just let me know! P.P.S. If you have bought tickets online, you should have received a confirmation email from me. by today. If not, there's something we need to fix!
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We have reserved this historic (built in 1908!!) Guard Station on the Bull River, above the Clark Fork River, on the back edge of the Scotch Peaks Wilderness in the Montana Cabinet Mountains.
For three days we will hike into the Cabinets, float on the river and swim at Bull Lake. If you want to join us for one or more days, please come on up! The guard house sleeps 8 and there are 4 of us, so there will be available beds, or bring your own camping gear and sleep outside on the grounds. Since the weather is hot, bring fans and other cooling devices. Bring swim gear and whatever floaties you like. The Bull River is slow, so we probably won't be paddling much! The fire ban precludes all outdoor fire activities, so most cooking can happen inside in the station kitchen, and there is refrigeration. The station has running water for cleaning, but the water is not potable for consumption or washing eating utensils, so bring lots of your own water. I will include information from the ranger station at the bottom of this notice. We will check-in to the station at 2pm on Sunday, come anytime after that. Please shoot me an email or text to RSVP when you will be with us. If you would rather camp in a campground, the Bad Medicine campground on Bull Lake, about 12 miles north of us, is very nice. For Monday and Tuesday, we plan to hike early at Ross Creek Cedars and Dry Creek, both easy flat walking. Directions: Take Hwy 95 to Sandpoint, then Hwy200 along the Clark Fork River. After you pass the town of Clark Fork about 8 miles, you will cross the Montana border. Continue approximately 12 more miles, then turn north on Montana Hwy 56 toward Troy. About 8 miles up Hwy 56 you will see signs for a right turn to East Fork Bull River Road and the Bull River Guard Station. There you are! If my memory serves right, this drive is about 1.5 to 2 hours long from CDA. Hope to see you there, Greg and Nancy Lewis gnranc@gmail.com 208-451-4649 The Hike at Liberty Lake will be the Loop Trail. It is rated moderately challenging and is good practice for anyone considering harder hikes like the iconic Scotchman Peak. The distance is 8.5 miles (4 hours) with an elevation gain of 1400 feet. There is a nice cedar grove where a turn back would provide a hike of 4.7 miles (2 hours) if anyone desires this. Beyond this point is a waterfall, some good views, and then a Boy Scout built cabin at the top. This was initially proposed for next Tuesday, but with temperatures to reach 103, I thought Saturday with a forecast of afternoon high of 92 would be better. Plan on meeting at the Southwest corner of Coeur d'Alene Lowes parking lot at 7:30 so we are finished around noon. There is a park charge of $2.00 per person. I suggest we plan on eating near Liberty Lake after the hike. Pryor's East Farms Drive-Inn may be good. Has anyone been there? An RSVP would help in planning and get you notified if this is canceled.
John Lee jleederby@aol.com 208 772 8410 home 208 818 8059 cell Leader: Geoff Harvey 208-762-1246
August 5 and 6, 2023 Meet August 5th at Super 1 in Hayden at 7 AM This is a trip in to the much less visited north end of the Scotchmans Peak Wild Area. Given the distance into the area via Bonners Ferry and then to Troy Montana, it makes the most since to stay overnight at the Forest Service’s Spar Lake Campground allowing time for two hikes. The first hike is up the Spar Creek trail to Little Spar Lake in the designated wild area. The hike boasts the least gradient of any hike in the Scotchmans Peak Area. The more ambitious may want to venture further up the trail to a spectacular overlook that views the lake from above and up to Scotchmans 2 the peak directly north of Scotchmans Peak. The group would camp overnight at the Spar Lake Campground. The facility requires the typical Forest Service campground charge with a seniors discount if you have a Golden Eagle Pass. Since Spar Lake Campground is not on the Forest Services Reservation system (reservations.gov), it appears that it is first come first serve campground. The second day hike will be up Spar Peak. The trail climbs from near the campground up Spar Peak. The top provides spectacular views into the Scotchmans Peak Area and down on Spar Lake. Participants are welcome one or both days, but will need to meet us at the campground on the second day. Let me know if you are planning to participate at Whitefish48@Yahoo.com The next PNC summer activity is scheduled for Saturday, July 22 and will be a float trip down the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River. For those of you who have never done this trip, it's an outing on a leisurely section of the river - no whitewater or white knuckle adventure, just some fun on the water. Mike Zagar is organizing the activity. Here's what you need to know:
LOCATION We will meet up at Cherry Hill Park for a 9 AM departure to Kingston, ID. where we exit the freeway and head up-river to Hooks Landing Resort where we will begin/end our water activity. We have used the services of this resort (for parking vehicles, using their shuttle service,renting tubes, etc) several times in the past and if you've done this event with me before you will recognize the setting. It is now under new ownership, hence the new name. Our target is to be in the water by 10:30 AM. DIRECTIONS Take I-90 to exit 43, cross back over the freeway and head towards Enaville (think the Snake Pit restaurant). From the freeway travel along CDA River Road for 5.3 miles to the Bumblebee Cutoff road which crosses the river and is also known as the Little No. Fork Rd. Turn right once having crossed the bridge and drive about 2 more miles to the Hooks Landing Resort - their sign is very obvious. WEATHER & STUFF Forecast shows a temp of 92 degrees and sunny with SSE winds at 5-10 mph for next Saturday - ideal for getting wet! There is no dress code other than to refrain from bringing any glass items in the river and wear water shoes or old tennys to protect your feet from slipping on wet stones. Don't forget the sunscreen! FLOAT TRIP The resort offers two float distances, a 2 mile and a 4 mile trip. The 2 mile takes about 1-1/2 hours and the 4 mile about 3 hours. Water levels are down and with a slow current these times might be under estimates so keep that in mind. We can verify float times with the resort. The resort rents tubes for $5.00 a piece if you don't already own one. Keep in mind floating is not limited to a tube - other floating devices are allowable.They also have equipment to inflate tubes as well. If you have an air pump, bring it along, it will speed things up as we prepare. The shuttle service is $5.00 per person and parking is $10.00 per vehicle. FOOD AND BEVERAGE You can picnic along the river as you float but remember to pack out whatever you brought in. The lodge has a bar/restaurant that will be open after 11 AM so you can eat lunch there if you wish. We had a late lunch when we made arrangements earlier this week and the food was good and the portions were plentiful. Restrooms will be available while we are preparing even tho' the restaurant isn't officially open. FOLLOW UP I need to confirm the size of our group to the resort this week. Please reply to me by no later than Thursday, July 20, 3 PM if you're going to attend. Use my email address: zagar659@gmail.com The next club activity is a bike ride from Heyburn Park to Harrison for ice cream at the Harrison Creamery and Fudge Factory and back. Total of 16 miles. We will start at the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene parking lot at the end of Chatcolet Rd by the marina within Heyburn State Park. There is some work being done on Chatcolet Rd which may delay people for 5 - 10 minutes at a stop light. Entrance fee is $7 unless you have the Idaho State Park sticker on your vehicle.
We will leave from Cherry Hill parking lot at 8:30 am, July 8, for the drive south on 95 to Plummer, and then east on 5 towards St. Maries, turning into Heyburn Park at the park headquarters (Chatcolet Rd). Plan on starting the ride about 10 am so we arrive for the opening of the Harrison Creamery. Those who wish to stay longer and enjoy lunch at a restaurant may do so. People can also bring their own lunch and eat in the city park down the street from the Creamery. The weather is forecast to be warm, and there is little shade on the trail, so lather up with sunblock. If the 16-mile roundtrip ride to Harrison isn't long enough for some people, feel free to add the 7 miles up to Plummer (and back for a total of 14 more miles) on the trail. That part of the trail is shadier, and the incline isn't bad (former railroad). Apparently, there is some work being done on the bridge over Northwest Blvd on 95. Not sure how to get around that...drive south on Northwest and go up the onramp to 95 south? FARRAGUT PARK TRAILS RIDE, HIKE, OR JUST HANGOUT JULY1, 2023 Join us at our private campground, Little Bear Ranch(LBR), on the border of Farragut State Park. There is an easy trail entrance to the park from our property area. Farragut Park has over 45 miles of trails with a wide variety of surfaces and difficulties. Nancy Lewis will lead an 8-mile medium-difficulty bike ride through the center of the park, for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, to familiarize riders with the trail junction system out there. A trail bike is all that is needed. If persons want to try the 14.5 mile perimeter bike ride, a mountain bike will be needed. There are nice hiking trails also, if that's more your speed. Meet at Super One parking lot in Hayden in front of the Ace hardware store at 8:15am to arrange carpool rides. We will leave at 8:30 for the short 20 minute drive to LBR. If you want to drive yourself, the address is 31577 Caravelle Rd., Athol. There is plenty of parking space at LBR. We will leave by 9:30 for our rides and hikes. Return to LBR around noon for a meal and hangout on the lawn at LBR. Bring chairs, eating utensils, drinks, a dish to share and your meat choice to grill, in a cooler, for a potluck bonfire meal after the rides and hikes. If weather is inclement, we will retire to covered areas in LBR. Come on out!! Greg and Nancy Lewis gnranc@gmail.com 208-451-4649
Leader: Geoff Harvey 208-762-1246
June 24, 2023 Meeting at 8:30 AM at Cherry Hill Park A trip down the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene and Coeur d’Alene River from the Bumblebee Bridge to the Cataldo Boat Ramp . The river over this reach is constantly losing gradient and has only moderate riffles that decrease in number. The float takes roughly three hours and will require leaving a vehicle(s) at the Boat Ramp to shuttle participants back to the Honeysuckle Bridge to pick up the vehicles left there. Participants should bring a craft, paddles, lunch and have a life vest. I can furnish an additional canoe on first come basis, if requested. This Nordic Club event is a pleasant nearby Kayak/Canoe paddle up Wolf Lodge Creek to near Wolf Lodge Inn. We will start at a pull off on the west side of Highway 97 which is 1/3 of a mile south after you exit I-90 (Exit 22) at the Wolf Lodge Exit. Since this location is nearby, plan to meet at the launch site at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Jun 16, for a 2 to 2 1/2 hour excursion. In the past we have seen moose, snakes, muskrats, osprey, eagles, Great Blue Herons, cows plus many multifarious birds. As an evening event hopefully, someone can attend after work.
An RSVP would help in receiving a notification if there is a cancellation due to weather. Rain is a possibility and if canceled we will attempt to try this on Saturday. Remember to have a current Invasive Species decal. Super-One and North-40 sell the decals. John and Susan Lee jleederby@aol.com John's cell 208 818 8059 Susan's Cell Wolf Lodge Bay Area,
Jun 16,2024 Kayak/Canoe CDA River Kayak/Canoe float Jun 24, 2023 from BB Bridge to Cataldo Bike Ride, Farragut & BBQ\Bike Ride, July 1, 2023 Bike Ride Harrison to Hayburn State Park July 8 2023 Bike Astronomy, Palouse Divide July 14 & 15 2023 (Can stay overnight @ the resort) Float the CDA River, July 22, 2023 Tubes/Kayaks/Canoes (whatever works) Hike, Little Spar Lake, Aug 5 & 6 2023 Near Scotchman’s Peak. (Option to Campout) Hike, Liberty Lake Trails Aug 15, 2023 Kayak Bull River (near Clark Fork, MT) & Hike Ross Creer Cedars. Aug 21 22 2023 (Option to campout & share Historic F.S. Guard Station being rented by the Lewis’s) Sep 23, 2023 Hike up Canfield from Crestwood Ct. Details to come closer to the activity Aida & Rob Patterson *** WATCH FOR Sign up announcements and/or sheets from event leaders via club email (i.e. pnc12 @emaildodo.com) or announcements on the WEB site prior to the schedule date shown. |
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August 2023
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