March 5, 2008
"Rest Day" at the
Masters World Cup
By Ron Bergin
Following three days of intense competition, racers at the 2008 Masters World Cup took the day off. The scheduled rest day gave participants the chance to kick back and take in the local sights. And what else? Ski of course.
Inasmuch as the MWC is based in one of the up and coming Nordic hot spots of the mountain West, sampling the area’s plentiful and diverse cross country skiing offerings was a natural. After all, why travel from across the country and the world and only ski on the one racecourse trail.
Fortunately for the 1,200 participants, there’s plenty to choose from. Cross Country Skier magazine featured many of the McCall area trails in the January/February 2008 issue. Whether a participant in the MWC or a visitor to the area, skiing opportunities abound. Let’s take a look at what McCall has to offer.
By now most MWC participants are very familiar with the trails at the host site, Ponderosa State Park. Almost every trail at this heavily wooded peninsula extending into the enormous Payette Lake has been pressed into service for the competition.
Comprised of a combination of park roads and ski-specific trails, the Ponderosa trails have a perfect blend of flat, rolling and gently climbing routes. Nestled among towering Ponderosa Pine trees and other western conifers, it is an idyllic environment in which to ski. The cover photo of the January/February issue, in fact, is a view of the high point of the trail system at the furthest end of the peninsula overlooking the lake. The racecourses don’t actually extend this far, but it is a stunning overlook and a must-do destination while skiing in the park.
Just north of McCall along Highway 55 is Bear Basin Nordic ski area. The Payette Lakes Ski Club runs this 25km trail system. A yurt provides the base of operations for the club-run, Forest Service cooperative trail network. Trails extend in a series of stacked and interconnected loops, traversing meadows and winding back to connect to additional loops that extend further from the trailhead. Lyle’s Loop (named in honor of local skier and former U.S. Biathlon Team member Lyle Nelson) utilizes a pretty meadow linked by a zippy descent and a heart rate raising return climb. There’s plenty of aerobic opportunity to be found as well on the outer reaches of the system with extended climbs on Mack’s Loop and Polar Express. On the whole, however, Bear Basin’s trails are well laid out for the average skier with a good mix of more open areas among the forest.
On the way into McCall from Boise is Tamarack Resort in Donnelley, Idaho, about 10 miles or so south of McCall. About six and a half miles off the main highway, Tamarack is a high-end resort with a 30 km trail system. Trails are groomed everyday, so a quality product is a given. Start out by winding around on rolling golf course trails through groves of aspen, connect to areas of deeper wooded conifers for more intermediate level skiing, and when you’re finally warmed up, head up along the mountain for a good climb and adrenaline fueled descent.
Just south of McCall is Jug Mountain Ranch. New kid on the block, Jug Mountain has transformed its trail system from a year ago. Previously it had been pretty much golf course skiing. All of the trails have now been removed from the golf course and utilize the rolling terrain along and around the creek bottom. From here trails step up to a wooded bench, offering more climbing and challenge. Jug Mountain is a place with great potential and a sure-fire good time. A new clubhouse doubling as Nordic Center was about to open at World Masters time. Keep an eye on this place - it is poised to step up as an equal to the other excellent Nordic venues in McCall.
Finally there’s the Activity Barn. If you’ve got a young family this would make an excellent diversion. Complete with a few K’s of easy ski trails, a tubing hill and other attractions, the activity Barn rounds out the McCall area offerings with something well suited for the youngsters.
Of course there’s downhill skiing too, as many Nords are capable Alpineers also. So on their day off, it’s not unlikely that Masters World Cup competitors, looking for a change of pace, took to the slopes at Tamarack Resort or Brundage Mountain.
While racing may have been their primary reason for heading to McCall, the area’s bountiful recreational skiing opportunities no doubt helped them occupy their down time.
Racing resumes on Wednesday with national team relays.
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