Eastern Oregon to Western Idaho

Baker City, OR and Donnelly, ID
Jan. 24 – 31, Wed – Wed
Advanced Intermediate

The McCall/Donnelly/Cascade Lake area of Western Idaho offers some of the best skiing in the Northwest.  Snow is dry and plentiful with blue skies, sunshine and expansive views. Skiers have access to groomed and ungroomed Nordic skiing at a number of ski areas including Ponderosa State Park, Little Bear and Jug Mountain, or downhill and Nordic skiing at Brundage Mountain and Tamarack Resort. 

There is abundant backcountry ski terrain on the nearby Payette and Boise National Forests, and those with advanced skills and the willingness to plan a day trip, can arrange cat skiing at Brundage Mountain.  (Hot springs are also nearby – more below)

We’ll spend five nights in a 3,000 square foot mountain home on Cascade Lake near Donnelly, Idaho and stay two nights in Baker City, Oregon on the way.   Leaving Wednesday, Jan. 24th, our group will carpool to the Oregon Trail Motel in Baker City.   Depending on weather and snow conditions, there may be a chance to ski at Meacham Divide/Mt. Emily Snow Park along the way to Baker City.  On Thursday we’ll go to Anthony Lakes which features excellent snow, small crowds and beautiful scenery, Nordic, backcountry or downhill skiing are all available (lifts and trail passes are free for folks 70 and older). 

Friday morning, we’ll drive approximately 170 miles to our large, comfortable vacation home in Idaho, arriving early enough for an afternoon ski.  For five days, we’ll enjoy the varied skiing the area offers along with visits to local hot springs.  Some are commercial (bring a swimsuit), some are not.  

This trip is best for energetic advanced-intermediate skiers who are willing to carry the 10 essentials, able to read a map, and ski a minimum of 9 miles.    We will be on terrain new to the ONC and will want to be prepared for whatever we encounter.  On some days, the leader will likely downhill ski at Brundage Mountain or Tamarack and both areas also offer Nordic skiing.  

Dinners will be shared and breakfasts, lunch, beverages and appetizers/snacks  are on our own.  Everyone is expected to take turns with after dinner clean up and generally pitch in wherever there’s a need, as typically happens on happy and harmonious ONC trips.

I’ve organized many personal trips with friends, but this will be my first time as an ONC trip leader. My hope is that group members are capable skiers as well as kind, and considerate. A positive spirit always adds to enjoyable group dynamics.  

Trip limit:  8 participants, including trip leader
Cost:  $435 per person for 7 nights lodging.  Participants pay fees at the Nordic centers, commercial hot springs, and meals while traveling.
Carpool miles:  Round trip distance including side trips will be about 1200 miles.  Carpools are encouraged and riders generally contribute per our carpooling guidelines.
Trip leader:   Donna Wiench, dwiench@gmail.com
Co-leader: Mary Ellen Fitzgerald, zigzag21429@msn.com