2018 Road Trip: NASJA Western Winter Summit
Road Trip 2018: January 21-25: NASJA Western Winter Summit at Schweitzer & Whitewater
Sunday, January 21: Heading North to Sandpoint Idaho
Morning came early, especially when one is attempting to sleep on the couch, but another cloudy day with light snow falling in McCall…
We packed up the gear and decided to go the infamous Pancake House for breakfast… This place is a local’s favorite and features Cinnamon Rolls that are so huge, it consumes the entire plate. I did not go for that but for a more traditional eggs, sausage & pancakes breakfast… to which I did not even come close to finishing… http://mccallpancakehouse.com
We hit the road around 8:00am and caught Hwy 95 at New Meadows and headed north to Sandpoint, Idaho, via Coeur d’Alene… This was a long drive but also had great scenery along the way… Skies were somewhat clear and the sun popped out as we drove over Nez Perce Pass…
We stopped short of Coeur d’Alene in Plummer, Idaho, at a Native American gas / smoke / souvenir shop to stretch and grab a cup of coffee… As I was taking a few photos of Hula-Gan at this stop, a guy got out of a vehicle, walking up to the building and said hello, and, “Aren’t you with NASJA”? I took a second look and really didn’t recognize him, but replied, “Yes, and how did you know”? He replied that we had met at a previous NASJA Meeting and a conversation started from there… John Brice was a corporate member of NASJA and I told him, that Dan and I were heading to Schweitzer to attend this year’s Western Winter Summit Meeting… He said, he had let his membership laps, but was returning from making turns at a couple of smaller resorts… This “perhaps” meeting blew me away… middle of nowhere stop and to run into a person who was an acquaintance…
This use to happen more frequently and blow Dan’s mind… Back in the day… early 90 thru late 2000’s, when I hosted the K-MTN TV, morning Mountain Resort Report at Lake Tahoe and then co-hosted and produced the Lake Tahoe Today show with RSN Network… I guess I was considered a celebrity and people would stop me and ask, “Hey, aren’t you Curtis Fong, The Guy From Tahoe”? I recall these situations happening in a restaurant in Aspen, Colorado; as well as in a Safeway Market in Winter Park, Colorado and at a top of a lift at Alta, Utah… As well as many more encounters… The most remote location that blew me away was in 2004 in the airport in Zurich. I was running through the airport to catch a train and was stopped by a gentleman who recognized me… He happened to be Daron Rahlves’ orthopedic surgeon in route to Wengen, where Daron would be competing in the downhill… That year, I was on my way to Grindlewald in the Jungfrau and as a matter of fact, did venture over the mountain to the Wengen side and had the privilege to interview Daron at the top of the course before his run… And, he took a podium finish that day!
We made it Schweitzer at about 4:00pm when skiers & riders were coming off the slopes… It had snowed lightly that day and yes, Hula-Gan delivers again…
We checked into the slope side Selkirk Lodge in their village, got cleaned up and met up with other NASJA members who came from not only all over the west, but also that came from the east… a great gathering of all the usual suspects… long time media associates who also enjoy the passion of skiing and telling their stories… https://www.schweitzer.com/selkirk-lodge/#/room?resultFIlterValue=343
Dig Chismer, Marketing Manager, along with Matt Hoffman, Senior Sales Manager of Schweitzer Mountain Resort were our hosts and they along with their mountain manager welcomed us with open arms and an Idaho Baked Potato Welcome Reception.
Dig Chismer, Hula-Gan & Dan Giesin
Schweitzer Mountain Resort has a top elevation of 6400 feet, just a bit over the level of Lake Tahoe, but offers 2400 vertical… 92 named trails, plus open bowls and tree skiing, all within 2900 acres serviced by 9 Lifts & Tows… It skis really big with both front side, back side and side country… as well as a cross country trails galore… https://www.schweitzer.com
With having driven over 7 hours, feasting on Idaho Baked Potatoes with all the fixins and fresh snow continuing to fall… It was not hard to turn in and dream of making powder turns the next morning…
Monday, January 22: Skiing Schweitzer Mountain Resort
Breakfast was served as a hearty buffet just steps away in the Chimney Rock Restaurant… And, we gathered at the Clock Tower to be split up into groups with guides to explore the mountain. There were a couple of inches that had fallen the day before and overnight and skies were cloudy with chance of more snow falling through out the day… Flat light again being an issue… I have been skiing with an OSBE Helmet that has a goggle or shield incorporated with its design, allowing me to wear my prescription glasses under the goggle or shield… I had Rudy Project make me a special pair of yellow lens prescription glasses, just for flat light days and this day was definitely one to use them…
I decided to go with the “Chargers” group, instead of with the “Cruisers” and hooked up with two pros from their ski school and a hand full of NASJA members including Martin Griff, Bob Cox, Phil Johnson & Dave Sartwell… We rode the
We rode up the Basin Express and then loaded the Lakeview Triple to the top at 6,389 feet… The group traversed the top to the Ridge Run… It was cloudy and snowing and visibility was near nil… And this was a wide run and could not get any definition from any tree line on either side… I casually entered the run and attempted to feel the snow and make short radius turns… Phil attempted to turn with pole plant that that wasn’t there… and just rolled over onto the snow, losing both his helmet, as he forgot to secure the chinstrap, and a ski that traveled about 200 feet below him… Great Start of the day, but he gathered his gear and continued to ski down, cautiously, as did I, to the base of the Village… Phil decided to sit one out and return to the base to clean his goggles and warm up…
The group rode the Great Escape Quad to the top of that side of the mountain where their new Ski House Lodge sits at 6,375 feet… And, skied down the Great Divide… The snow was plentiful and soft and the run was groomed and one could see the texture of the corduroy that made making turns a little easier, but visibility was still an issue… We rode up the Snow Ghost Lift above the Outback Bowl with snow ghosts… snow packed wrapped trees dawning the mountain side… beautiful images if one could see… Skiing down the Snow Ghost Run was much better with good visibility…
We then rode up the Stella Lift a 6-Pack that loads inside a barn like structure… and skied down Vagabond to the base of Snow Ghost and it was time for a break as we rode the Snow Ghost Chair back up to the top to joined our group in the Sky House at the Summit… There were several tables set up for us in The Nest Restaurant & Bar… The main dining was offered in the Red Hawk Café… Several members were already being served when our group arrived, but everyone seemed to be excited over their morning mountain tour and were ready for lunch…
The menu featured such offerings as Firework Shrimp, Risotto, Roasted Curried Cauliflower, Sausage Sliders, Baked Spaghetti and more, including a Vietnamese Spring Roll and Raclette Potatoes… I chose the Baked Onion Soup… https://www.schweitzer.com/the-nest/
After lunch, it was harder to get motivated to hit the slopes, but had to work off the meal, so we ventured out on our own to ski a few more runs off the Stella 6 Pack…
Most of us skied till about 3:00pm… then, headed in to clean up and get ready for a tour and dinner in downtown Sandpoint, Idaho…
Sandpoint is also a great town with an artists kind of vibe and sits on Lake Pend Oreille… It’s located in the northern panhandle of Idaho about 80 miles northeast of Spokane, Washington… Lots of activities are offered, year round, and there is good mountain culture not only with snow sports, but also with mountain biking, hiking and water sports… many art galleries and outdoor art as well as craft beer breweries, very similar to what is happening in Lake Tahoe… http://visitsandpoint.com
Martin Griff, Phil Johnson, Dave Sartwell, Ed Kane & Bob Goligoski
Bob Goligoski, Risa Wyatt, Hula-Gan & Lee Juillerat
A shuttle bus picked up our group and we headed into Sandpoint…
Our first stop was at MickDuff’s Beer Hall & Brewery… I have to admit that since I do not drink alcohol, as a matter of fact, I am allergic to alcohol, that visits to breweries and wineries, as well as distillers of other spirits is not an activity that is on my radar… I do find it interesting why these craft beer breweries and popping up all over and philosophy of what they do to create the endless varieties of beer… The good thing was MickDuff’s also brews or makes it own Root Beer, and I can go for that! https://www.mickduffs.com/#home-1-section
We took a tour of their facilities and those that knew about beer asked all the pertinent questions and those that knew nothing about beer, like me, found myself, preoccupied taking photos and receiving and messaging back to an old friend that happens to live in Sandpoint…
In the mid-70’s when I had the photo concession at Kirkwood in the winters, I would work other jobs in the summer/fall and in the spring of 1976, a low snow, drought year for Kirkwood and the season ended early, I worked for KSFM Earth Radio 102 in Sacramento… KSFM was The Progressive Rock Station in the Sacramento Market and doubled the listenership of the traditional rock station, KZAP… KSFM was also the Concert Presents Station in the market and not only did I do sales & marketing, I also shot backstage photos and promotional photos for the radio station. The mid-morning DJ was a gal by the name of Diane Michaels… (Albeit a radio name) and in the late 70’s, when KSFM went Disco, all the DJ’s moved on, including Diane… She did a stint at KOZZ in Reno, as well as KTHX-FM and then found her way to Sandpoint, Idaho and became an On-Air Personality and Music Director at KPND…
Guess What? We were able to get together for a few minutes, while the brewing tour was going on and it was great to see her in person, as we have stayed friends on Face book for many years… By the way, she continues to do DJ sound tracks for KJIV 89.1fm in Reno and now, also on-air with the web Internet recreation station of KZAP… Oh my, how times change… but, also remain the same… nonetheless, great to meet up and catch up with her in person…
With Diane Michaels
In the 70’s with KSFM: Nick Rhodes, Elvin Bishop & Diane Michaels
We walked up the block and there was some talk about an “Art Alley”… So, we found it and walked through the alley near our dinner stop… Looks like someone started this and it continues to evolve with different artists spinning their own twists in art… Hula-Gan and I like street art and this alley featured many fun and colorful images…
The Back Door was the location for our group dinner… This was next to and below their Baxters On Cedar Restaurant… Micro brews and Meat Loaf Sliders were offered and we were also fortunate to try their Portobello Mushroom Sliders and I had a couple… http://www.baxtersoncedar.com
We had a fun time with lively discussions, plus had the pleasure to talk with Tom Chasse, their President & CEO of Schweitzer… He has led the resort since 2006 and since then has brought the resort two new chairlifts, the Lakeview Triple and the Basin Express Quad, plus installed state of the art snowmaking, plus improvements and expansion of existing facilities and the construction of the Ski House on mountain facility… I met him several years ago, visiting Schweitzer and still remember a quote… He had come from an eastern resort and mentioned, “Back east we use to spend thousands of dollar to make snow… Here at Schweitzer, we have to spend thousands of dollars to clear snow”!
Tuesday, January 23: Skiing Schweitzer, then on to Nelson, BC
Woke up to an inch of fresh snow and yes, Hula-Gan continues to deliver the goods! After another great breakfast buffet in the Chimney Rock, we gather at the Clock Tower to make some runs before heading out to the second destination of the NASJA Western Winter Summit Meeting, over the Canadian boarder and on to Nelson, British Columbia and skiing Whitewater Resort…
Dan, and I rode up the mountain and headed over to the Stella Lift, as yes, again with cloudy skies and flat light, this side of the mountain was easier to see and ski with tree lined runs… After a couple of runs, we stopped at their Outback Hut above the Stella Lift for a warm up cup of half coffee/half hot chocolate… This Hut was adorned with displays of old gear, posters and memorabilia from days past, including the iconic poster of my brother from another mother, Wayne Wong doing a wheelie…
We skied till about 2:00pm, picked up a premade lunch and bus was to load to go north to Nelson at 3:00pm… We packed up our gear in the Subaru, looking to follow the bus… but, we had to stop in Sandpoint to refuel before heading north on Hwy 95… Martin Griff & Dave Sartwell were also driving and they were behind us… We programmed the GPS map in the Subaru and headed out of Sandpoint.
We must have missed a turn just north of Bonners Ferry, below the Canadian border as when we did cross the border at Eastport, the guard at the gate questioned why we drove through this entrance and not the other, as this route took us much further east… Oh Well… the GPS voice kept telling us to go this way…
It was foggy with snow on the road as we made our way to Hwy 3. I was really glad that my mechanics were able to install my front rally bar with the PIAA Fog Lights as I really needed them on this drive. At a Junction, Martin turned left and our GPS said to continue straight on Hwy 3A… So, that’s what we did… after several miles on 3A, we realized this was the alternative route to Nelson that stayed east of the river and lake and when we realized, after 20 miles that there wasn’t much traffic on this road, we decided to continue… I wished we could have seen the scenery on this journey, but it was pitch black, snowing and no real road lights except for a few summer resort properties along this route…
GPS started stating, “Take the Ferry Ahead”… and that’s when the road ended, finding ourselves in a parking lot behind a few lined up vehicles, waiting on the ferry to take us across Kootenay Lake… This was a first! We were already late for dinner and still had to take the ferry and drive about another 20 miles to Nelson… We waited for the ferry to arrive, that unloaded several vehicles and drove onto the main deck, keeping in line with the row of vehicles… this was a weird experience, sitting in your car with engine turned off and no sense of moving, other that catching a glimpse of a light out there in the darkness as we crossed the lake…
Once back on the road, it continued to snow and we finally made it to the Prestige Lakeside Resort in Nelson, BC… http://www.prestigehotelsandresorts.com/locations/nelson-lakeside-resort/overview
We parked the car and attempted to catch up with our group, that were already sitting for dinner in their West Coast Grill… Everyone was already there, including Martin & Dave, as we attempted to explain our tardiness on the GPS Mapping unit in my car, but also told of the adventure in having to take the ferry across Kootenay Lake… By the way, this was a free Ferry ride…
We had to pre-order our dinner several days in advance and the staff at the West Coast Grill was preparing it when we arrived… So, we decided, since the food was not out, yet, that we would go ahead and check in to the room… This was a nice hotel, right on the Lake with back deck view of the marina… at least from what we could see…
Nelson is a small city in the Selkirk Mountains on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. This is also a great mountain culture town with more than 350 preserved heritage buildings and mixing arts & culture, food scene, breweries and tons of outdoor activities including skiing, snow mobile, mountain & road biking, water sports, fishing and more… There is also the heritage of welcoming conscientious objectors and ex-patriots from the late 60’s & early 70’s… Hippies and others that migrated to Canada during the Viet Nam conflict…
We made back to the dinner table and enjoyed the camaraderie of our group. I had ordered the Southwest Romaine Salad and the Fisherman’s Mac & Cheese and it did not disappoint. https://www.westcoastgrill.ca/nelson/nelson-menus/
Wednesday, January 24: Skiing Whitewater Ski Resort
Morning came early, as we decided not to drive and board the bus with the group at 7:15am and head up to Whitewater Ski Resort, just a few miles out of town…
Whitewater is located along the Canada’s famous Powder Highway, above Nelson and they focus on providing good quality snow, fresh in-house made meals, and genuine hospitality. “Humble yet Huge”, the resort receives an average of 40 feet of snowfall each winter… At Whitewater, you will find 4 Lifts serving 82 marked runs offering 1184 acres of lift accessed terrain… Total skiable acres equals 2367 with lots of hike to and side country glades and bowls… https://www.skiwhitewater.com
We visited Whitewater Ski Resort on a road trip in 2012… as a matter of fact, it was just after I was released by Dr. Bannar from having a total hip replacement… So, back then, I did not ski but a few runs on lower angle slopes as the Dr. recommended… So this visit, I was chomping at the bit to get up to the upper mountain to explore the layout…
We met Rebeckah Hornung, their Sales & Marketing Manager and headed up to the Fresh Tracks Café for breakfast, others were directed to their new Whitewater Rental Shop to pick up gear… Whitewater is also known for their quality of food and offerings, but decided to keep it simple with a breakfast sandwich… I couldn’t believe the many skiers & riders that were there on a Wednesday, but they were hosting a series of youth races on the hill and both kids and parents as well as the locals were there to enjoy the Fresh Snow… Did I mention that yes, there was about 4” of fresh snow overnight… Hula-Gan delivered again!
Rebeckah Hornung & Hula-Gan
My group met near the base of the Sliver King Lift with two guides to take us on a tour of the mountain… It continued to snow as we rode up the mountain and yes again, visibility was not good, but did my best to see and ski… The guides led us down Jackpot, then back up and down Silver Ledge… We made it down to the hut at the base of the Glory Ridge Lift, took a dry out, clean the goggles break… before heading up the lift…
The snow was great and the clouds thinned out and became better to see… I still had issues with snow getting inside my goggles and causing my glasses to fog up, but at least I could see…
Larry Turner took a few shots of me skiing this day and he posted them on his Facebook page and tagged me, to which I shared…
We made our way back to the Base Lodge and met in Coal Oil Johnny’s Pub for lunch… thank goodness they reserved a few tables for our group as this was popular bar & restaurant and the place was packed… The menu featured such items as Wraps & Burritos Buckshot Beef Baguette to Burgers & Paninis and more… I had the Mountain Brat with Poutine… Poutine is a Canadian favorite and basically, it’s french fries and fried cheese curds adorned with gravy… yep, and DE-Lish! https://www.skiwhitewater.com/explore/food/coal-oil-johnnys-pub
Bob, Ed, John Naye, Vicki Andersen, Hula-Gan, Dan & Dave
Peter Schroeder, Hula-Gan, Larry Turner & Risa Wyatt
Had to work this meal off and headed back out to make a few more runs before the bus loaded to head back to Nelson…
Snow continued to fall though out the afternoon…
At 6:00pm we walked up the street to the Torchlight Brewery and met up with Dianna Ducs the Director of Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism… http://www.findingawesome.ca
Torchlight Brewery set up a variety of samples for everyone to taste and they also had non alcohol drinks, like Ginger Beer that was more to my liking… The Brewmaster spoke to our group and told us stories of how and when he migrated to Nelson and started the business and like many of us “Came to visit and Liked it… and decided to stay”. http://www.torchlightbrewing.com
So many choices
Dino Vournas & Lee Juillerat sample the goods
Martin Griff acquiring the taste…
We were then given 1 of 3 different colored cards… Each color had a series of 2 different restaurant locations to visit… This was kind of a fun way to do a dine around… Dianna was our groups guide and we walked through Historic Nelson to our next stop at Sage Tapas & Wine Bar… This eatery was intimate, warm, exquisite and their inviting staff was extremely welcoming… Choice of wine or drink and then beautifully prepared dishes that we shared… http://www.sagetapasandwinebar.com
Our next stop was at Yum Son… that featured a “Viet Modern” menu and fair… to which we were treated to their Braised Pork Belly Steamed Buns… they also had a great selection of other items, such as Pho Soups, Noodle Bowls and more. https://www.yumson.ca
Our final destination was back at the Prestige Resort at the West Coast Grill, but in the back sportsbar area called The Vault… Fancy deserts were waiting for us and we wound down the evening of dining and exploration in Nelson… https://www.westcoastgrill.ca/nelson/nelsonvault/
This was the final evening of the NASJA Western Winter Summit Meeting and our associates would be departing, by bus in the morning, back to the US and the Spokane airport and going their ways…
Hula-Gan made friends with Vicki Andersen’s travel mascot..Truffles the Ski Bunny as we hugged our friends to bid them a farewell…
Cheers to a successful NASJA Western Winter Summit media gathering with big thanks to all who made it possible… Bob Cox and Vicki Andersen for coordinating the NASJA WWS meeting, and our Gracious Hosts… Dig Chismer, Matt Hoffman, Tom Chasse, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Selkirk Lodge, Sandpoint DMO, Prestige Lakeside Resort, Rebeckah Hornung, Whitewater Ski Resort, Dianna Duc and Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism.