Take a Picture Tuesday--Kellogg Peak and Haystack Peak

This picture was taken on one of the last morning walks I had with NR before she had surgery. She is doing well, and we hope to get back to our morning routine soon.

The highest peak in the picture is Kellogg Peak, and is part of Silver Mountain, the local ski resort in town. The lower peak is Haystack Peak. There is a big sign with a K on it on top of Haystack Peak. Sometimes my girls like to hike up to Haystack Peak when the weather is nice. But about two years ago, when some of their cousins and friends were here visiting at the end of April, they hiked up there, and, when they returned home, they all had ticks in their hair. So I don't think they have ventured up on that hike since.

In this morning's Shoshone News-Press, the local paper, there was a big article on how Silver Mountain was disappointed that their business is slowing down, even when the snow conditions are great up on the mountain.

But an accompanying article said they have had record attendance this year.

They said they think people are just sick of winter.

I drive by Silver Mountain's parking lot every day on my way to and from work, and I don't even notic any more if the parking lot is full or not. It seems like there are always skiers coming or going to get on the gondola.

I think Silver Mountain can be pretty happy with their season this year. And they anticipate being open, at least on the weekends, through April.

In fact, they anticipate having a little trouble clearing the trails in time for the Memorial Day opening of the mountain bike trails, because of all the snow.

Oh, and the snow just keeps on coming. The last two days we have had snow falling.

At least it is covering up the ugly dirty piles of snow.

Thinking Back Thursday--My First Silver Valley Skiing Experience

Each Thursday will now be Think Back Thursday. I will think back and share either some history of the Silver Valley, or a story I remember from growing up here.

All this snow coming down reminds me of my first two tries at downhill skiing. I think I was in third grade. A family friend, Joyce Snyder, invited myself and another kid RR to go skiing at both local ski areas.

One trip was to Lookout Ski Area. The other was to Jackass Ski Bowl.

Yes, that was the name before it was Silver Mountain. Before it was Silverhorn. The original name was Jackass Ski Bowl.

The drive up to Jackass was quite interesting...as you traveled through Wardner, then drove the winding road up the mountain. And the steep dropoff on the side of the road also made it quite an interesting trip.

From all my memories, it was a very terrifying experience. I had no lessons. I think it was basically, here are your skis, now go ski.

I remember going up to the top of the little hill, and probably sliding my way down on my bottom for most of the way. I remember you skied right toward the lodge, which seemed very daunting. And it seems as if there was some large ski equipment by the lodge that I knew I was going to run into if I kept going. Then probably most of my day was then just spent in the lodge.

The rope tow is what stands out the most in my mind on my trip to Lookout Pass. I'm sure I was just as terrified then.

I was very greatful for the two ski trips, but I don't think I got a whole lot out of them. RR seemed to have a lot of fun.

I didn't ski again until my senior year in high school. Again, at Lookout Ski Area, and it was night skiing, very icy, and not very fun.

While living in Montana, I took up cross country skiing. That was not terrifying. It was fun. Especially the two times we traveled to Yellowstone National Park to ski. That was unbelievable.

I have faced the mountain as an adult, up on Silver Mountain, and actually enjoyed it. I'm not that great at it, but I do manage to have fun.

Totally Tubular, Man

One day these tubes just suddenly appeared across the street from Kellogg Middle School where I work.And these blue pieces showed up as well. Well, it looks as if Silver Mountain is making progress on the construction of the indoor water park.

If you look across the track and field, you see the framework of the indoor water park rising up in front of the Morning Star Lodge. I kind of looks like a large erector set at this point.

According to the Silver Mountain website:

The new Silver Rapids waterpark will include thrilling swirl pools, body and tube slides, a lazy river, family raft slide, kid’s activity lagoon, and the ultimate in aquatic attractions – a FlowRider Surf Wave. In just 10 seconds, 10.000 gallons of surging water is released into the FlowRider’s wave box, combining the thrills of surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding all in a wet, wild, and – best of all – safe environment. The FlowRider is one ride that will never be the same twice and is destined to become one of the favorite thrills at Silver Rapids.
Open year-round, Silver Rapids not only will provide endless aquatic fun, it also makes Silver Mountain Resort an even more attractive multi-season destination resort. As one of the most unique amenities at any mountain resort, the new waterpark is scheduled to open in early 2008.

To find out more about what fun things will be at the waterpark, go here.

The Condo Explosion

The Silver Valley is experiencing growth, as least in construction. I am daily reminded of it as I look out my front window, and my landscape has changed from viewing the hills around Kellogg to now having an up close and personal view of Phase III of the condominiums at the Morning Star Lodge at Silver Mountain. Workers seem to be working around the clock to finish the construction on this phase.

Now, I'm not praising or blasting this growth. I wouldn't be in the lovely home I live in now if it weren't for the new developement. Our former home was bought out by condo builders to tear down so condo's could be built. I think it is just the newness of it all.

As I left Kellogg yesterday, heading to Pinehurst to pick up middle daughter, Z2, I glanced to my right toward McDonalds, and the sign on the building that used to say "Taco Express" now says something like "Alpine Village Resort Condominium Sales". In the paper this morning, the front page news is about a grand opening being held today for the sales of theses condos. These are located uptown on Ohio Avenue, I think behind the also being remodeled McConnel Hotel (which houses one of the coolest coffee shops in uptown Kellogg. As a child, the McConnel Hotel always kind of scared me, because it always looked run down, and the people who hung out there were scary looking. It is nice to see this building get a new face lift.)

When I arrived in Pinehurst, I was quite surprised by the new building that has risen up at the old KOA Campground. This one does pull at my heartstrings a bit, because the KOA has done a wonderful job since the summer we moved back here in 2000, hosting a 4th of July celebration and fireworks show. It had become a family tradition. Now, the beautiful campground is being changed. And the building is right up against the park, too. Well, it caught me off guard, and I'm not sure I like it.

The new Bee Hive Homes on the main street in Pinehurst look beautiful.

Z2 was at her friend's home in Pinehurst working on their upcoming History Day project. Her friend's aunt was a friend of mine in grade school, and I remember going to this house when I was younger, because her grandparents lived in this house. As soon as I drove down the street and spotted the house, I remembered. It is funny, but one vivid memory from that time at this house was watching Elton John and Kiki Dee singing "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" on TV.

Okay, back to the new construction. Another development from the paper this week is Shoshone County putting an emergency moratorium on any development in the county (not including inside city limits) so they can take some time to review county ordinances that have not been updated in over 20 years. One of the county commisioners launching this moratorium is newly elected commissioner Vince Rinaldi. I have know Vince my whole life, and he is now a neighbor. I have talked to him in the past regarding growth in the Silver Valley, and I believe he has a nice, balanced approach to the situation, and has good ideas to help the county plan and manage growth.

What blows my thinking about all of this is the plans Silver Mountain is planning around the new golf course and up on the mountain. Will people really come and fill up all those proposed houses, condos and hotels? I guess only time will tell. But it boggles the mind!!