I arrived in McCall, Idaho about 8PM Saturday, a day ahead of the organized NASJA pre-trip. McCall is reminiscent of Sandpoint and Whitefish, summer oriented vacation areas with nice lakes: Payette Lake at McCall, also Cascade Lake a few miles down the road near Donnelly. Brundage shares the open tree skiing topography of Schweitzer and Big Mountain with a mostly consistent intermediate pitch. It's not as large as those places yet, but it's more off the beaten track and delightfully uncrowded with about 130K skier visits per season, mostly from metro Boise. Brundage also might get more snow (300+), and I'm awaiting some data to possibly confirm that. Elevation range of 5,800 - 7,600 is higher, particularly at the base. Predominant NW exposure is also more favorable. There is a south facing backside Lakeview chair of about 800 vertical.
Sunday was a continuation of the previous few days conditions, confined to groomers as the off-trail was solidly frozen. It wasn't that cold (low 30's) but completely overcast and it started snowing when I went in for a late lunch about 1:45. Illustrative scattered trees on Sunday:
Brundage is so uncrowded that its longest lift Centennial that I'm riding here is only open Friday-Sunday.
Midweek a nearby beginner lift takes you high enough to reach the high speed chair coming out of the base lodge area.
Here's the view south to Payette Lake and McCall.
We were staying at the Shore Lodge on the lake, a nicely restored 50-year old hotel, highly recommended.
I was very tired and took just one run after lunch as the storm picked up. Here's the view of the base area as I departed.
I took a 3+ hour nap at Shore Lodge. The NASJA pre-trip group of ~25 or so people arrived late afternoon and I woke up about 20 minutes late into our reception.
Sunday was a continuation of the previous few days conditions, confined to groomers as the off-trail was solidly frozen. It wasn't that cold (low 30's) but completely overcast and it started snowing when I went in for a late lunch about 1:45. Illustrative scattered trees on Sunday:
Brundage is so uncrowded that its longest lift Centennial that I'm riding here is only open Friday-Sunday.
Midweek a nearby beginner lift takes you high enough to reach the high speed chair coming out of the base lodge area.
Here's the view south to Payette Lake and McCall.
We were staying at the Shore Lodge on the lake, a nicely restored 50-year old hotel, highly recommended.
I was very tired and took just one run after lunch as the storm picked up. Here's the view of the base area as I departed.
I took a 3+ hour nap at Shore Lodge. The NASJA pre-trip group of ~25 or so people arrived late afternoon and I woke up about 20 minutes late into our reception.