Ski The Great Potato

Around 1970 the State of Idaho Department of Commerce & Tourism (or whatever the name was then) had a great idea on promoting skiing in Idaho.  Not like Idaho isn't known for skiing, Sun Valley was the first destination winter resort in the United States. The world's first chairlifts were built there in 1936.

Over the years, skiing gained popularity and more resorts sprang up around the state.  To capitalize on these winter activities and promote Idaho as a true four season vacation state, a new slogan, Ski the Great Potato, was introduced.

The above photo is of an original promotional poster from that era.  It features Peter Max style artwork of an All-American skier blasting over the Great Potato, representing the many ski resorts in Idaho.

Across the top of the poster are the names Sun Valley, Bogus Basin, Schweitzer, Targhee and Brundage.  In small print across the bottom were Bald Mountain, Bear Gulch, Blizzard Mountain, Caribou, Cottonwood Butte, Hitt Mountain, Jackass Bowl, Kelly Canyon, Lookout Pass, Lost Trail, Magic Mountain, Montpelier,, North South Bowl, Pine Basin, Pomerelle, Rotarun, Skyline, Snohaven, Soldier Mountain, Tamarack and Taylor Mountain.  Forty years on, a number of these ski areas have changed names or gone out of business for one reason or another.

Most notably, Jackass Bowl is now known as Silver Mountain.  North South Bowl is now known as the Palouse Divide Lodge.  Bear Gulch  lost it's USFS permit and the lodge was burned in 1989.  Other names are parts of larger resort areas or are small, family run operations featuring cross country skiing and a couple have become havens for snowmobile.  Locally, a couple that weren't listed on the poster were Signal Point south of Post Falls (defunct prior to 1970) and Holiday Hills just across the state line above Liberty Lake (ill fated 1970's project that never had a chance). 

This wasn't the only Great Potato promotional piece.  Tune in tomorrow and see what bourbon has to do with Idaho's skiing.

When Winter Was Winter

There was a time when almost every winter in North Idaho was winter.  Winter as in cold and snowy.  

It wasn't unusual to have lake families and students cross the ice to go shopping or to school.  It was a lot shorter than driving around the lake.  [And if you think Idaho roads are bad now, imagine them in the first two thirds of the 1900's.]  Remember that the lake was a main transportation route for decades, summer and winter.  Steamboats were constructed specifically to serve as icebreakers to keep the lake open in the winter.

The above photo was taken by Kyle Walker in the early 1950's.  Take a good look before you read the next line and see if you can tell where it was taken.  Got it?  Yup, right off City Beach in Coeur d'Alene.  The trees in City Park are the background and a couple of the great old classic homes on West Lakeshore Drive are clearly visible on the left.  

What a nice guy this was, taking his tractor out on frozen lake Coeur d'Alene to clear an ice skating area.  He had to be Mr. Popular by the looks of all the skaters.  This looks to be perhaps 100 feet from the shoreline.  No telling how much that John Deere weighed but we must assume the ice was thick enough to hold it.

When was the last time you remember lake Coeur d'Alene freezing over to this degree?  In my 54 years, I can only recall a few times it froze at all, let alone getting ice this thick.  Fernan freezing is one thing, but it has to be cold for a long time to close in Coeur d'Alene.

After two record breaking snow winters, this year is a cakewalk.  While I do worry about snow pack up high, I for one don't miss shoveling my driveway this year.  But, winter ain't over yet!

dw

12 Ales of Christmas

The 13th Annual 12 Ales of Christmas is at Capone's CdA this Saturday night. If you enjoy quality beer, don't miss event. Your ticket ($40) gets you a commemerative shirt, plenty of great food, prizes, at least 12 winter specials from noted craft brewers AND a taxi ride home.

If you go, here's a few tips on the eve.

Get your tickets @ Capone's.

These brews are winter warmers for the most part. Darker and deeper malts by nature, some are lighter and occasionaly spiced. These brews are not Bud Light, robust taste and a high ABV is the ticket.

Drink accordingly. Your ticket gets you at least 12 fills of a 4 ounce glass. You'll be drinking 3-4+ pints. Drink water, nibble at all the grub and make sure you can still appreciate #12 as much as #1.

Party like it's Christmas. Dress festive and come with your festive face on.

You'll get a ticket. Listen for your number to win stuff!

A taxi ride in CdA proper is included. Take it or call your Mom, you will not be driving home from this.

See ya there!

'Tis the Season

Turkey, family, football and the thickest newspaper of the year. Yup, it's Thanksgiving week. And that means the official start of the 2009 Holiday Season (even though Xmas decorations have been in the stores since Labor Day and the neighbors down the street have had their tree up for 2 weeks). It also means fireworks.

That's right, fireworks. Friday night, Christmas season really gets kicked off with the annual Coeur d'Alene Downtown Holiday Parade followed by the lighting of the huge Coeur d'Alene Resort display and spectacular fireworks show. Oh, did we mention thousands of your closest friends?

Next to the Independence Day Parade, there will be more people on along Sherman, on Resort property and in City Park than any day of the year. People come from around the Pacific Northwest, Canada and even across America to feel the festive glow of a million points of electric and gunpowdered light.

If you're planning on attending, here's a couple things to keep in mind.

Get there early. Parking is at a premium and you'll find camping chairs in the prime viewing spots by early afternoon. There are plenty of things to do once downtown, all the stores are open (Black Friday!) and there are numerous places to grab a bite or find a toddy to fight the chill.

Speaking of which, dress warmly. Button the kids up and put on those wool socks and winter boots. It's North Idaho where the weather can change with little notice. Be a good scout and be prepared.

Smile. This is the season where we are suposed to feel that peace on earth, goodwill towards men (and women and kids and dogs and..). Too often it becomes a stress filled traffic jam with bodies jostling for position and one finger salutes to the person who cut you off or just grabbed the last one of whatever is the hot gift of the year. So smile, forgive, cut slack and know that even when someone doesn't deserve your kindness, that kindness is still alive in you. Christmas Karma does come back around, make sure it doesn't pass you over.

And the number one thing to remember, hold your family and friends close. Not only because that richness is worth more than gold, but because it's darn easy to lose somebody in the sea of people going "oooohhh" and "aaaahhh" with all the excitement.

Now get out there and feel festive!