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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCougar Mountain LodgeStatesman Feb 6, 1995 Page 1 of 3 Cross-country heaven By Karen Bossick The Idaho Statesman I? /d /C51-),)411 Cross- country There's a new playground for Idaho's cross - country skiers. The area — the first new Nordic area to open in southern Idaho in the past dozen years — is in the heart of snowmobiling coun- try, about halfway between Boise and McCall. The new Cougar Mountain Nor- dic Ski Area sports about 18 miles of ski trails groomed for both tradi- tional and skate skiers. The trails meander along the banks of the North Fork of the Payette River as it flows through the Smiths Ferry area. Then the trails arch up and over Cougar Mountain on some off - the- beaten -path logging roads. "This area, for some reason, usu- ally gets as much snow as McCall. And it's an hour closer than Mc- Call and the ski trails at Ponderosa State Park," says Kevin Ward, who developed the new ski area. The cross - country trails actually are part of a four -year plan by Kevin's uncle, Jerry Ward, to turn the 57- year -old Cougar Mountain Lodge into a destination resort. The landmark lodge, cut out Qf dark brown logs and green shin- gles, once was used by loggers and people traveling back and forth be- tween McCall and Boise on bus% ness when the journey took a lot longer than it does today. Jerry Ward, a 60- year -old retired Air Force man who grew up near Garden Valley, bought it last March. He'd like to open up the eight rooms sitting above the restaurant and grocery for lodging. He also would like to develop a recreation- al- vehicle site along 2,500 feet of river frontage just north of the lodge and put a couple hot tubs down by the riverside. And he'd like to put in a crafts store featur- ing crafts by local artists — after he takes care of a few necessities, like a new septic system. Last summer Ward began work- ing with the Bureau of Land Management to set up a take- out for kayakers and rafters floating the Payette River from Cabarton. He started remodel- ing the lodge, which sports his- toric photos of the area and cou- gar and bear skins on its knotty pine walls. This summer, he aims to decorate the exterior in alpine style, with shutters and window boxes. "I have lots of plans for the old place, lots of them," he says. "Our plan is to make it into a little resort where people can come and spend a week to hike and bike and just take in the beauty of the area." Kevin Ward, on the other hand, is a lab manager at Valley County Hospital and a longtime cross- country ski enthusiast who used to help the Idaho Park 'N' Ski program groom trails in the Cascade area. When his uncle bought the lodge, he saw the opportunity to expand the options open to Nor- dic skiers along the highway, which stretches 100 miles be- tween Boise and McCall. The trail he designed loops around in an open flat meadow area on state land just south of the lodge. Local resident foxes that visit the lodge for table scraps every night have left tiny indentations in the fresh snow. Just before the southernmost point of the loop, the trail cross- es Idaho 55 and heads up and around the 5,500- foot -tall Cou- gar Mountain. Snow deposited the night be- fore drops from stands of Doug- las fir and ponderosa pine as storm clouds give way to blue sky and bright sunshine bathes the lodge below. As the skiers wind around the side of the hill, which sits a thousand feet above the lodge, they pause to watch a train stacked with lumber thread fe ) d,/gg5 Pd e I of 3 Cougar Mountain Lodge, which boasts the first new Nordic ski area in southern Idaho in more than a decade, could become_ a destination . resort one day, through the valley. In the dis- tance, the Payette River sits qui- etly, as if in hibernation, cov- ered with snow. The rumble of logging trucks grinding up and down Idaho 55 fades away as the skiers glide around the mountain. The steep jaunt behind, the trail lopes off in roller- coaster fashion, dipping into a pine -cov- ered area that seems far re- moved from any hint of civili- zation. Statesman Feb 6, 1995 Page 2 of 3 From here, skiers can choose a variety of loops of varvine difficulties on Boise Cascade land. "The trail system's pretty' good for a beginning - intermedi ate skier," says Brian Frasure, of Boise. "The steep hill got my heart beating. "I usually ski at Idaho City, but I think I will add this to my itinerary. It's a pretty gorgeous place, although I'd like it better if it were part of the Park 'N' Ski system so I didn't have to pay extra for another pass." The area has long been popu- lar with snowmobilers who of- ten use Cougar Mountain Lodge as a jumping -off point to Sage - hen Reservoir several miles to the west and Terrace Lakes about 20 miles to the southeast. But Ward says the cross - country ski tracks cross land that was rarely used by snowmobilers. Ward speaks with the satisfac- tion of a man who's done what he set out to do. "This makes a nice place to come and hang out and stay a few days. The ski trails have something to offer people of all skills." But Ward isn't finished. He's examining ways he can level out some of the steeper portions of the trail next winter. He's study- ing the possibility of erecting a yurt where skiers can spend the night. And he's trying to talk some folks at Cascade into helping him put together a trail extend- ing from Cascade to Cougar Mountain. "Such trails have proved ex- tremely popular in places like Washington," he says. "People could use them for hiking and biking in the summer and skiing in the winter. What a great way to make use of what we have to offer around here." �'fid1esvilah Feb b, 1995 Pale p of 3 Eighteen miles of trail wander along the North Fork of the Payette before climbing up Cougar Mountain for views of the lodge and meadows. If you go What: Cougar Mountain Nordic Ski Area When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Where: 55 miles north of Boise along Idaho 55 at Smith's Ferry Cost: Trail passes cost $6 for a ful I day and $4 for a half day, available at the Cougar Mountain Lodge. Children 12 and under ski for free. Three -day passes cost $15; season passes are $85 for an individual and $160 for a family. Information: 382 -4464 Statesman Feb 6, 1995 Page 3 of 3 Photos by Katherine Jones /The Idaho Statesman Kevin Ward — who developed the new Cougar Mountain Nordic Ski Area — skis up a trail.