Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club Minutes from November 14, 2006 Meeting

United States Forest Service

Fernan Ranger Station

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

7 pm

The meeting was called to order by President Geoff Harvey.  Old members and newcomers were welcomed. The treasurer’s report was given.   Club officers who were present, were introduced.  Some of the new expansion efforts at the 4^th of July Ski And Snowshoe area were outlined.  The new snowshoe trail will be 15 miles long.  Ski trails have been extended out Road 1575 and 614 to Skateaway and will be groomed.   It’s not flat, however.  The Parks and Recreation Department has requested that the club provide a detailed map.  Geoff and Glenn will be working on GPS for the area and creating a new and more accurate map.

There is a new shelter A frame 2.5 miles beyond the new outhouse.  It was built by Ian Truscott with help his fellow scouts.  We are currently looking for a new, very small wood stove to serve this shelter.  Next year, the club would like to build a porch shelter so that the door will always open when the snow is deep.

Someone sawed off the gates leading to the ski area.  This is a serious crime involving federal property and the USFS is taking this seriously.  Other USFS gates in other areas were also cut.  The club’s wood stove was stolen over the summer and Don St. George has made a new one for the original warming hut.  From now on, the stove will be removed at the end of ski season.

More work has been done removing berms alongside the ski trails.  Work day went well, although the turnout was light. 

The USFS Access Trail plan is still in planning stages.  Until a plan is adopted by the USFS, the club probably won’t receive a final decision on expansion for the 4^th of July area into more non-motorized trails.

Park and Rec’s Leo Hennessey informed Geoff that all the recreation areas have an advisory and that the Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club is the advisory group for 4^th of July. Therefore, votes must be taken and notes must be kept as to decisions affecting the ski and snowshoe area.

Roberta Ricb made a motion to purchase a stove for the new hut.  Jackie McNamara seconded the motion; the motion passed.

Dwight McCain made a motion to place signs on the ski and snowshoe area.  Betty Schneider seconded the motion; the motion passed.

Vera Taggart suggested the club color code the signs or use a symbol to direct people to the various trails so that skiers and snowshoers can tell if they are on the correct trail.  Glenn Truscott and Van will think this suggestion through and report back to the club at a future meeting.

Van Bennett said that there are plans to build a bridge for the gap on the snowshoe trail.  Judy Waring made a motion to purchase lumber for the bridge.  Roberta Rich seconded the motion; the motion passed.

Jackie McNamara made a motion to raise the dues to $15 per household per year.  Dwight McCain seconded the motion; the motion passed.

Geoff reminded the membership to be sure to designate Area 11 on their Park n Ski permits.  That way, the money comes back to the club for improvement of the  4^th of July Ski and Snowshoe area.

Some early trips are planned:  Lost Trail near Darby, Montana is planned for the three day Martin Luther King weekend, January 13-15.  That area has both cross country and downhill ski areas.  There is a little cabin-motel where club members could stay.   There is a sign up sheet for this trip on the table. Old and new members were encouraged to bring trip suggestions to the next meeting and sign up sheets.

Geoff would also like to do a day trip ski to Frater Lake in NE Washington State near Usk.

The Ya I Du Ski program was explained and the prizes were displayed.  200 kilometers (k’s) for a mug, 500 k’s for a bigger  mug, 1000 k’s for a tee shirt, and 2000 k’s for a vest.  The members explained to the newcomers that one need not ski the entire number of  k’s in one season; k’s were cumulative from season to season.

The December meeting includes the cookie exchange.  Members and visitors are encouraged to bring cookies to exchange. If you bring 12 cookies, you may take 12 cookies brought by someone else.  However, the club encourages members and guests to bring extra cookies. These cookies are collected for the Idaho Transportation Department snowplow crew.  They plow our parking lot at 4^th of July for us and they are much appreciated. The club likes to put together a gift basket each year.  Jackie Beery delivers the basket.

Club special events were outlined:

January 6 is Free Ski Day and the public can ski at 4^th of  July Ski and Snowshoe area without a park and ski sticker. Also other areas, such as Farragut, are included in this Free Ski Day.  The club hopes to have some ski instruction for beginners.  Many club members are experienced skiers and would like to teach others to enjoy the sport.

Feb 3 is Rock Soup.  Members and guests bring a can of something to put in the soup or bring bread or cookies or hot chocolate. One club member is appointed to bring soup stock and someone stays to watch over the soup while everyone else skis out and meets at dusk back at the warming hut for soup, bread cookies and hot (or cold) drinks. 

Best Hand Fun Ski is February 24.  This is the biggest money making project of the year for the club. This project funds many club activities and helps to maintain the ski area and to improve it.  People pay to get their poker hand. Members pay less than non members.  The event is well advertised and the turnout is usually very good if the weather is good.  Participants ski around the course and receive a card at each stop.  The best hands get to pick the top three prizes.  Usually everyone goes home with a prize. The club members either donate prizes or solicit prizes from local businesses.  Some past prizes were skis, a night at a bed and breakfast, a gift certificate to a resort, outdoor equipment of all sorts or clothing.  Other prizes include dinner certificates, gourmet foods, winter hats, gloves, free ski waxing, health club passes, and many other types of prizes usually related to outdoor activities.

Hiking meeting:  The April meeting is the meeting that is held to decide which hikes the club members will do over the summer.  Some members only hike; they don’t ski.  Everyone is encouraged to participate and to bring their ideas for hikes to the meeting. Proposals are listed on the board and the members decide by consensus which hikes they will do.  Besides hiking, the club also plans canoe and bike trips, or a combination of hiking, biking, and canoe trips.  Hikes can range from a short hike of 3 miles to overnight weekend or longer backpacking trips into wilderness areas and anything in between.

The meeting was adjourned.