Maui Ski Bus

Yes. No. Both go in a direction, opposite they may be, but they go, move, definite in their own way. Maybe. Middle of the road. Standing still. Not going anywhere. Not forward or backwards. Living a life in a constant ”maybe mode” may lead one to be a bit lost. To find they way, the trail, a direction, sooner or later movement must happen. MauiSkiBus moves. Ski a resort, share some stories, walk/run the dogs, find a hotspot for web work, and then move. Drive at night, maybe late, a watchful eye for critters on the side, headway must be made, forward progress. A goal is in sight. A focus at hand.

Team Snowboard MauiSkiBus at Lost Trail, Idaho/Montana

The Idaho/Montana mountain border follows the continental divide and has a curvy  in and out north/south direction. At one of these more prominent curves is a small ski resort that has a direction, knows what it is and where it is going. The trail is well worn by handfuls of non-lost local skiers and vibrant youth have a firm future direction in sight. This is an area that should add “non” to the beginning of  Lost Trail.

More lift operators should take pride in their shacks like this one at Lost Trail.

A forest re-birth is happening here, a growth of new trees on the old forest fire scars. Nature burns in its own cycle and nature grows again. Lost Trail, a Montana/Idaho ski resort has new life on the slopes and new life in the marketing trails, with Chris Johnson, in firm control of  future goals. Custom Lost Trails snowboards rule here, drops from cliffs delight many looking up, and untracked trails abound from slope to slope. The crew of  Lost Trail Ladies nearly ambushed MauiSkiBus, with phrases of, “Take me”, “No, you should take me, back to Maui!”

A ski resort is a business and must make a profit. Otherwise an “Out of Business” sign will be hung and all that beautiful snow will not be enjoyed by many. Keeping those lifts running, making sure that access roads and parking lots are clear, getting the rental shops and stores fully stocked, food must be delivered on time, getting quality employees that show up on days of two feet of fresh powder, getting advertisement out to the public, dealing with  pass holders that forgot this and that, and the list goes on and on. Like a farms, ski resorts are at the mercy of Mother Nature. This has been a tough year for the resorts. Hopefully they all can hang in there and hang up a sign at the end of this year that says, “See you all on opening day for 2012/2013!

MauiSkiBus skied and participated in a post ski day sweep with the ski patrol.

Some resorts have terrain for all levels of skiers, some lean on the beginner side, and some lean on the expert side. This bowl of snow that MauiSkiBus found leans on the latter and what a day was had. In the western heart of Montana is a mountain bowl of snow that will create, mold, fine tune, and develope good skiers. In fact, when MauiSkiBus visited the ski patrol hut on top, an invite was given to ski with the patrol and find some secret stash. Steep and deep was the tune of the day skis heard and the patrollers heard wild Maui sailing songs uttered their way.

Awesome rocking chair at the Montana Snowbowl lodge.

Point the rocker tip down to the bottom of these expert slopes, where one will find a rocking lodge, with a rocking chair, awaiting you in front of the rock solid fireplace, and make sure that you pay for that whiskey on the rocks. Montana deals justice the Montana way and Montana Snow Bowl deals skiing the expert skiers way. Brad and Andy, have a bowl full of running this ski show high above the Missoula basin. When you drive up here with your dears, be aware of the deers, as curious critters they are.

No mess up in Montana.

www.montanasnowbowl.com

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I know you believe that you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure that you realize that what you think you heard is not really what I meant. The side that is over there  is really the opposite side that you were on and then the other side is the side that is over there if you are over here. Just keeping looking and you will find out what you may pass.

The apex of three sides leads to this ski patrol hut.

The mid-size ski mountains of the west do not get as much publicity as the big ski resorts. With that being said, sometimes the resorts that are just big enough can offer a different experiance. Take this as an example. Your over 40. Easy to look back to the twentys and thirtys, dread going to the fiftys and sixtys. If you are already there, how about a quarter of Benjamin lift ticket? Confused? Just pay it on the Boomer Fridays and you are set. $75 bucks still in your pocket. Look Out, this is not one to Pass, but you may be in Idaho on one slope and then the next slope it will be Montana. Or the option to get a two for one ticket. Pass Out, you Looker!

I-90, is on one side, Idaho another, and Montana on the third of a delightful resort called Lookout Pass. Why Lookout? At least Look Up at the array of icicles hanging, slowly getting closer to the tops of  the mohawk ski hats. Whether you are on one side or the other two, you will always return to the same top spot, where a relic hut full of ski patrollers will share a tale or two. Snow makes a pit stop here, as in piles and piles of the white winter delight, to refuel that last pass you had just made. If you can be still, be quiet, you’ll be the lookout, for it can be heard, far down the pass, that sound, the sound of steps, of the Hiawatha, the route of old, the route of the pass.

A Benjamin is a bill, a Jennings is a marketing DR, and is also a Bill. Creative is the motto for this Lookout of the ID./MT. pass, a brand will be left, as openess runs deep here and skiers leave with rose colored cheeks. Bosses they are not, as owners of the Lookout Pass love all and cherish their dogs. MauiSkiBus.com was right front row and center, brillant yellow on the white background of that deep snow. A return here is EZ, just a simper idle from the I-90, the current cement route of the Hiawatha, the route of those steps. Silence will be the must, as padded steps can be heard by the lookout, high up the pass.

www.skilookout.com

Contact MauiSkiBus.com at mauistyl@maui.net

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Hoku in Hawaiian means “star” and the ancient Hawaiian navigators used a particular star they named Hokulea as their main navigational star they used when sailing north from Tahiti. This is an easy star to find, as the english nickname term is, “follow the arc to Arcturus”. The handle of the Big Dipper has an arc to it, so follow the radius and the first bright star is Arcturus or Hokulea in Hawaiian. This star is approximately 21 degrees north of the celestrial equator and Hawaii is approximately 21 degrees north of Earth’s equator. The idea at sea is to sail north from Tahiti until Hokulea is directly above and this is the same east/west latitude of Hawaii. 21 degrees north is the latitude of Hawaii and the sum of the above is resort #61.

This shrine is a really neat addition to the assets of 49 Degrees North.

MauiSkiBus arrived at #61 late at night to a welcome of fellow winter campers in the form of top of the line RVs. Electric was supplied and Gykaiya and Franklin had heat for their late night doggie naps. Franklin loves the warmth and stands in front of the  electric heater. Of course the 49 Degrees North ski patrol loved Franklin, as he pulled an injured ski patrol in thier rescue sled for all to see. A first for the patrol and a start of a new career for Franklin with the ski patrol.

Up on the mountain, 49 Degrees has placed a shrine for a fallen patroller killed in Afghanistan, bird houses scattered around the slopes, and a ski/snowboard test to ring Swiss cowbells hanging from tree limbs. A new lift up to a copper dusted Angel will add some fantastic tree skiing and more views of the beautiful northeast Washington landscape. Ladies of the patrol here, Donna, Sarah, and Miss Jill greeted MauiSkiBus with smiles and a warmth to ward away any winter chills. Fantastic follow-up was done by Eric, 49 Degrees North PR manager, an asset that all resorts need.

Sarah was proud to write on 49 Degrees North as #61 resort this season.

This is a no frills, get out and ski, ski resort. The Indians and settlers of the west survived winter camping and the EZ access to the RV area here should be experianced by all that have an RV. A night or two winter camping at 49 Degrees will add a twist to family bonding or a warm cuddle of romance to a couple. Seeing the stars above you and finding Hokulea, while enjoying a winter BBQ, will add some delight to your winter life. Try it, you’ll like it.

At 49 degrees north this is a weekend common sight.

www. ski49n.com

Contact MauiSkiBus.com at mauistyl@maui.net

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Exposure. Without proper attire in the winter, one can die or at least get serious frostbite. Exposure. A business offering a product or service to the public can die or at least suffer a business wound. One form of exposure needs to be covered up and the other form of exposure needs to be opened up. Exposure in the winter has an outlay cost and exposure for a business also has an outlay cost. What if the business had no outlay cost, but recieved public exposure in return? Would this be a good business decision?

One of the advatanges of skiing all of these different resorts is meeting people on the chairlifts. From couples traveling from as far away as Europe, former racers from Chile, to teens that rip down the slopes, MauiSkiBus has shared stories and given out stickers. At one white mountain in the northlands of Idaho, I met a nice lady that represents real estate in the area. We discussed business decisions and proper exposure for resorts areas and agreed that some had better public exposure policies than others. When no dollar is spent and exposure is given, that is a good business decision in the world of instant exposure on social media.

Sandpoint Idaho has a resort looming overhead called Schweitzer Mountain and a lodge area that is scattered around its small base. Large is what can be used to describe the slope area and getting lost here is easy. Skires right will lead one to trees that are spaced apart perfectly, as if Mother Nature knew that this was to be a ski resort someday. Keeping a watchful eye on slope direction, will return you to your starting point or may lead you to a barn. A barn in the woods was built, antique relics were added, a name of Stella was given, and a lift carrying a six pac of skiers/snowboarders will deliver you to the top.

Contact MauiSkiBus.com at mauistyl@maui.net

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Silver Mt., Idaho offers surfing at the Silver Rapids Poolpark.

It is said that there are no two snowflakes that are the same. The same is said of fingerprints. MauiSkiBus wants to make it known that there are no two popcorn kernals that are the same. Whether you pop your own, contact Sir Orville, use it Jiffy style, or fake butter overload it at the flick theatre, no two kernals will look the same. Due to a sliver of a stumble by a jackass, a Kellogg dude of silver would never be the same.

Silver Mt. has the water park at the base of th e gondola and the slopes at the top.

Once upon a time, there lived this little breakfast town of Kellogg, that had three letters overlooking it an E, be P, an A, from the US Gov. that mandated that it would not be the same. The silver would stop, the lead was to leave, the trees were to return, and the slopes would be white. The first name was Jackass, named after the animal that found the silver, then changed to Silverhorn, to honor the metal, then changed again without the horn to Silver. Two mountains to ski, both claiming to be the best, and the town of Kellogg, never to be the same, had its re-birth in the form of Silver Mountain.

A gondola from the silver source, three miles in length, delivers all to the start of the flakes of snow, high above the ceral flakes of Kellogg. Some greens can be found, adding in some blues, but this Silver of mountains is mainly the color black. Beginners will cringe, average will desire, the experts can excel, enjoying glades alone. Slopes go here to there, lifts are new and old, just like the trees, new and old. In fact the tunnels below these slopes hold the roots of 3,000,000 seedlings, planted above, to reach high into the skies delivering snow.

Scissors, rocks, paper. How did that game come to be? Instead of a bet, just settle the score with scissors, rocks, and paper. Lose the first one, hey best two out of three. You buy, I fly. Who wins on this one? Calling shotgun, you get to ride bitch. Is your butte holding the shotgun in the front seat? If so, the pen may be the place you’ll settle before you get to play with the cotton and wood.

Make sure that you do not make a wrong turn.

Is this the sign for Cottonwood Butte or Get Out of Jail?

In what may seem out in the middle of nowhere in Idaho is local mountain called Cottonwood Butte.  With a thousand feet of vertical, this large mountain to Midwest standards, has great stating slopes for the youth in the area. getting involved with skiing/snowboarding at an early age will hopefully keep the same from visiting the pen down the street. Instead of “Get out of jail”, “Stay out of Jail”.

Franklin and Gykaiya towed my skis up this hill with ease, as MauiSkiBus.com visited on a day they happened to be closed. Presents were left at the top of the lift and for the ski patrol to let them know that MauiSkiBus.com was there. A response was sent and is posted below.

Love this. A must to read.

Contact MauiSkiBus.com at mauistyl@maui.net

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Escape to Cottonwood Butte;

Sorry we missed you at Cottonwood Butte. I am sure that you would be impressed with the quality and variety of terrain on out little hill. If you get a chance to return I will give you a little tour. This season we are only open on Sundays due to a lack of people to help run the lifts. A call to 208- 962-36xx prior to coming up would let you know if it is open and what the conditions are. Check out our Facebook page and we have a new video on You-tube. Cottonwoodbutteskiing2012.

Pat Hylton

Cottonwood Butte Ski Patrol

MauiSkiBus at Little Ski Hill, Idaho.

Cold, clean crisp air inhaled, freezing nostrils. Warm breath exhaled, freezing as soon as it comes in contact with sub-zero temperatures. Northern artic wind biting at any exposed skin. Eyes blinded by blowing snow, stingy as if they were ice needles. Chills trying to generate warmth coming from deep within your core. Hiking uphill, easy to loose footing on the icy slopes. Having to pull someone else’s skis uphill, even though there are four feet below.

When I decided to do MauiSkiBus.com, I only was going to bring Gykaiya{black Lab mix}. Carolyn wanted the bring Franklin{She left MauiSkiBus.com two weeks ago for a nursing assignment in Alaska} and Franklin has been more of a stud than I expected. Some of the ski destinations that I visit are not open during the week or are so small that I hike up with the dogs. Since both dogs get plenty of sleep when I am skiing at the bigger resorts, I decided to make them work a bit harder when they hike up. A simple line tied to their collar and the other end to my skis, and magic, I get my skis up hills by dogpower! They are now figuring out to stay away from each other so their skis that they are pulling do not get tangled. A Little extra work up the Hill, so I can Ski down.

Franklin and Gykaiya enjoyed the bubblebath at Western Mountain Lodge, McCall, Idaho

A stones throw outside of McCall, is the second oldest ski hill in Idaho, Little Ski Hill. Open nights for the local’s after school program, Gykaiya and Franklin did their magic tow up on a wind whipped night. In fact, the slopes were abandoned, as all of the kids found it too cold to ski. Some fun was had on these famous slopes that produced Olympians and the dogs got a bit more exercise to help them sleep in MauiSkiBus.

Little Ski Hill is right off of route 55, the too fast speed drivers use going by this nice local hill. Colby, the local lad of nice smiles, set MauiSkiBus up with some electric and some fantastic hospitality. His gang of dudes all had the nice attitude that is very contagious here, including Colby’s nice speaking dog. Tim Cogdill and his son, Colby, were impressed with MauiSkiBus and Colby got many photos to share with his friends. Tim was over the top, as he set MauiSkiBus with a comp suite at the Western Mountain Lodge in McCall.

Franklin and Gykaiya towing skis uphill at Little Ski Hill, McCall, Idaho

Little Ski Hill is cuter than the name and is a fun family place to go to after a day off from a larger resort. Sleep in, have brunch, let the kids play in the pool, and save some cash by going to Little Ski Hill at night. Simple can be so easy and delightful, simple is Little Ski Hill, Idaho.

www.littleskihill.com

Contact MauiSkiBus.com at mauistyl@maui.net

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Brundage Mountain just north of McCall, Idaho. Make sure you sign up in advance for the snowcat skiing to access 19,000 acres.The wild side od Hidden Valley, Brundage Mountain, Idaho.

Snowcats are a vital part of all ski resorts, especially this light snowfall year. There is a science of maintaining snow, delivering the perfect groomed slope, moving snow to form terrain parks,and all of this must be done with a snowcat. Mainly a nocturnal diesel powered creature, snowcats have an intimidating sound and look, almost as if it was a machine out of a winter sci-fi movie. What if this creature of the winter cold, could deliver 19,000 pounds of untracked powder? Would you call it your snow baby?

When the word Idaho is spoken, the next word is usually potato. When you look at a map of Idaho, the next thought will be “lack of roads”. Wilderness area is common here and more of the state is still wild than dedicated to that over eaten spud. The McCall area of Idaho has one road in and one road out. The out will lead to that 19,000 pounds of snow baby delivered by the snowcat mother .

Brundage Ski Resort is a resort to ski. To really ski. The lodge is not, just get that ticket, and ski. Trees to ski under. Numerous snow drift bumps to ski over. Stashes of powder to ski. Natural terrain park just to ski. Views of Payette Lake while you ski. Get lost in Hidden Bowl and ski. Feel you have skied it all? Get that snowcat on your side to deliver that 19,000 pound baby and you will be the one nursing. 19,000 acres of skiing an area only resrved for the snowcat babies. See you next week.

The wild side of Brundage Mt., Hidden Valley.

MauiSkiBus visited Brundage Mountain in Feburary, but April was the lady of the month at Brundage. The Paul Bunyon look alike Cory, showed excellant slope skills and a fast paced tour of his mountain. Sidekick Scott and his rockin lad Josiah, were the darting duo of Brundage. Add in a non-subway Jared, and MauiSkiBus experianced top to bottom thrill of a ski roller coaster. Needless to say, the road out of McCall leads to the road to a real ski resort lacking non-essential thrills. Brundage.

www.brundage.com

Contact MauiSkiBus.com at mauistyl@maui.net

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Colors of Tamarack's lift add some distinction to the white snow and the green pines.

Europe on a bike is EZ, welcomed, and there are numerous riders all over the place. One cycling trip I did with a mountain bike had me along the French Riviera, between Nice and Monaco. I met some French mountain bikers and they showed me the trails along the French coastline along the Med. When we got in the vicinity of the Royal Palace in Monaco, I was told to ride fast and do not stop. Soon we had the guards chasing us, as we darted across the manicured lawns and prisitine gardens. Crazy French mountain bikers followed by a crazy Fish from Maui.

We did not ride 55, nor does Sammy Hagar, a regular on Maui, but there is something about 55. It involves  a bush on a bike, like G.W., a pres that mountain biked at an open/closed/open resort off of route 55, in Donnaly, Idaho. A helicopter at a ski resort brings a thought of heli-skiing purrfect powder, however this heli that dropped in on Tamarack, had a logo from DC.

Jocelyn of the Ice Bar at Tamarack is warm enough to melt snow and ice.Cascade Lake is right at the base of Tamarack Mountain.