XC - Ski Snow Shoe Event

Jan 3rd 2026

Registration Begins 10:30 am
Raffle Prize Drawings 1:30 pm

4th July Pass Winter Sports Area-Exit 28 off I-90 (Free Ski Day for State of Idaho, no parking passes needed)

$12(adult)/$5(under 13)/$25(family) cash or check only Ski or snowshoe to collect 5 cards for a Poker hand Raffle prizes donated by local businesses & club members

Sponsored by Panhandle Nordic Club

All proceeds support maintenance and ski trail grooming of 4th July Pass Winter Sports Area

Hope you all are ready for a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday.
Since our last meeting, a solid crew of folks have cleared trails and prepared all of our temporary shelters across 4th July Pass trail system.  We are grateful for everyone that participated.  We are ready to kick-off the season just as soon as we get that first big snow.      
Our next club meeting will be held on Tuesday December 2nd at the CDA United Methodist Church [7 PM].  This meeting will include a social gathering with Christmas cookies and hot chocolate.  Attendees are requested to bring a dozen or two Christmas cookies to share with the group. All leftover cookies will be donated to our IDOT friends who plow our parking lot at the 4th of July Ski & Snowshoe Trails.
Our annual Best Hand fundraiser event will be held on January 3rd, 2026.  This event will need volunteers to help set-up & tear-down, staff our card distribution stations, and keep the fire going, etc.   I will have a sign-up sheet available at the upcoming meeting for volunteers.  We would greatly appreciate you taking a shift at the event and helping us out.
The Club Board is in the process of gathering prizes for the event from local businesses including: Trek Bike Store, Sport & Ski Haus, Trader Joes, Super #1, Pilgrims Market, Starbucks, Two Wheeler Dealer, Ski Shack, Gear Garage, Moontime, Vantage Point Brewery, Post Falls Brewery, Daft Badger Brewery.  We would welcome efforts by any club members to solicit donations from other stores or even donate an item of your own.
A preliminary draft copy of our Panhandle Nordic Club-Events Calendar is included with this newsletter.  We will finalize the events schedule as part of our December Meeting.  I will email our final schedule soon thereafter in addition to posting on our website and FaceBook page.  The Trip Leader will send out the details for their trip at least 4 weeks prior to the event with details on how to sign-up.
I have also attached a digital copy of our YA-I-DU-SKI LOG-25-26 Season blank form so you can start logging your km's ASAP.
Do not forget to obtain your annual Park N Ski sticker at any participating retail outlet or order online. 
Also please join or renew your membership electronically via our club website at:  www.panhandlenordicclub.com.
Our guest speakers for the December meeting will be Nancy and Greg Lewis presenting the highights of their recent trip to the Azores.
I look forward to seeing you all on December 2nd for cookies and hot chocolate and holiday cheer!     
​

​The Panhandle Nordic Club has a XC-Ski trip planned to the Winthrop/Methow Valley Area for February 20 thru 22, 2026.  Travel time to Winthrop is ~4 hrs from CDA.  This trial system is a very popular ski destination with one of the largest groomed trail systems in the USA.  Winthrop is also a very nice Old Western looking town with many different shops, bars, and eateries

Anyone wishing to participate please email [email protected] and include the names of everyone in your party and a contact phone number.      

Participants will be responsible for making their own lodging arrangements and purchase of ski trail passes.  If you are planning to come on the trip, I would highly recommend making your lodging reservations ASAP (I have already booked my room at the Abby Creek Inn). 
  

Itinerary

1. Friday February 20
   1. Travel to Winthrop, WA (leaving at 7 AM from CDA)
   2. Afternoon Ski session ~2.0 hrs (If you Wish)
   3. Group Meet-up for Supper @ 6 PM ( Location TBD)
   4. Develop Group Plan for Ski Sessions for next day
2. Saturday February 21
   1. Morning Skis Session-location tbd
   2. Lunch
   3. Afternoon Ski Session-location tbd
   4. Group Meet-up for Supper @ 6 PM ( Location TBD)
   5. Develop Group Plan for morning Ski Sessions for next day

1.   Sunday February 22
   1. Early Morning Ski Session (for those that wish to participate)
   2. Lunch in Winthrop Area
   3. Travel Home to CDA-Late Afternoon

Lodging Options (Winthrop, WA)

1. Abby Creek Inn
2. Winthrop Inn
3. Virginian Resort

Ski Passes
Cross country ski trail passes can be purchased at Winthrop Mountain Sports in downtown Winthrop at 257 Riverside Ave, from 9:30 am to 6 pm or online from https://methowtrails.org/ where you will also find a wealth of information on the trail system.  

Trail passes options include single day pass and 3-consecutive day pass.  There are three different major trail system areas including: Sun Mountain, Winthrop Valley, and the Mazama trail system.