Alpine Village Blog

Brundage Announces Bonus Ski Weekend

This spring has been one of the best on record for late season snow in McCall, Idaho. Brundage Mountain is celebrating with a bonus ski weekend on April 18th and 19th. And there may be more weekends added as weather forecasters are calling for snow showers in the mountains the rest of this week.

Plus, don't miss the annual Crazy Daze spring skiing extravaganza this weekend, April 11th and 12th. On Saturday, join in on events including a costume contest, treasure hunt, poker run and a tray race. At noon, watch skiers and snowboarders glide on the water in the pond skimming contest. Come to the slopes Sunday for an Easter egg hunt and the Brundage Mountain Marathon. And guests of season pass holders ski free and Bogus Basin holders get half off lift tickets. 

Great Ski Deals and New Snow at Brundage

Sure, spring is officially just two days away, but there are plenty of reasons to come up to McCall, Idaho for a ski vacation at Brundage Mountain.  Earlier this week they got a fresh 15 inches of snow, making excellent conditions for groomed and backcountry skiing.

What is even more excellent are the long list of deals and events Brundage has lined up this month and into April.  Their March Madness promotion is in full swing, including discounted 2009/10 season passes until April 30th - and ski free the rest of the season if you buy one.  For the remainder of the month, Bogus Basin and Tamarack pass holders get $10 off adult lift tickets Fridays - Sunday, and Mondays - Thursdays get $20 off.  Oh yeah, and Sun Valley pass holders get $5 off daily lift tickets. If this isn't enough, Sunday, March 29th is "Gimme a Break Day" when kids under 17 get a free day on the slopes.

This weekend, come cheer on up and coming talent on the slalom and giant slalom courses at the J-3 Junior Olympics for 13 - 14 year old skiers from the Western Region.  Participate in some madcap ski challenges at the family-friendly O-Wimp-Ic Games Saturday, April 4th.  And head up on the weekend of April 11th and 12th for the pond skimming contest and the ski marathon. For all the latest event schedules and further details on discounts, go to www.brundage.com.

Great Times at the 2009 McCall Winter Carnival

The Winter Carnival has been in full swing all week, with one of the largest turnouts in the festival's history for last weekend. Attendees came in droves to view the impressive ice sculptures and attend the full slate of community, arts and sporting events throughout town.

Alpine Village was a popular stop throughout the weekend. The party tent was  set up at the entrance to the pedestrian plaza with City Market selling tasty treats and lunch items and offering complementary hot cocoa and coffee. Cory gave numerous tours of the Firetower Building, set for occupancy on June 1st.

Lively crowds gathered during the Mardi Gras parade and came by to see our award-winning "Fantasy Forest" snow sculpture. Cool weather all week has kept all the sculptures in town looking amazing, so stop by and see this impressive display of icy art if you are coming up to McCall this weekend.

Highlights this weekend include snowbike racing at the McCall Golf Course, live music at Depot Park, the kid's snowman building contest and closing ceremony fireworks.  Our information center is open all weekend, so come by and say hello.

Check out plenty of photos from the weekend on the new Alpine Village Facebook page.

Lining the Streets for the McCall Winter Carnival Parade

Here are some photos from last year's McCall Winter Carnival Mardi Gras Parade. Hundreds of people lined the streets to see the floats and enjoy the bright sunny day. Expect more of the same this year on Saturday, January 31 starting at noon. Stop by Alpine Village at 3rd Street and Washington and enjoy the parade from our heated tent. City Market will be selling scrumptious lunch items and cookies and we will be serving complimentary coffee and hot cocoa. We will be here both Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Get Ready for the McCall Winter Carnival

It’s Winter Carnival time once again, and this year Alpine Village will be joining in 44^th annual celebration of fun, food and snow that is so uniquely McCall.

This year’s festivities promise a wide array of events, including the renowned Idaho Snow Sculpting Championships that has become a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Friday, January 30, kicks off the Carnival with a neon light parade followed by fireworks over Payette Lake.

Saturday is when the Winter Carnival gets into full swing with the illustrious Mardi Gras Parade through the heart of downtown McCall starting at noon. This year Alpine Village will be one of the best locales to watch the procession. We will have a heated tent set up on the street side of our pedestrian plaza for your viewing pleasure.  Hot cocoa and coffee will be served along with snacks and goodies to keep you warm on a brisk winter’s day. Stop by and visit us at the Alpine Village tent between 10 and 6 on Saturday and Sunday.

Of course, Saturday night will inevitably bring you to Depot Park for live music on the main stage. Food and craft vendors will be on hand to during the shows. On Sunday, take the snow sculpture bus tour, a great way to see all the contest entries, including “Fantasy Forest”, the Alpine Village sculpture located next to the sales office at 3^rd and Washington. Be sure and stop by our tent for some warm refreshments before you check out the sculpture.

For more information and a full list of all the great events happening all week, go to mccallwintercarnival.com or give us a call at 888-634-3430.

Celebrate Winter Trails Day in McCall

Tomorrow is Winter Trails Day, a national event that celebrates outdoor recreation and gives you a chance to learn a new sport. And McCall, Idaho is a great place join in on the fun. Ponderosa State Park is waiving entrance fees and offering free rentals to snowshoers between 11 am and 2:30 pm. Nordic ski equipment will also be available for rental. In addition, Tamarack is giving free cross country ski lessons to beginners and has snowshoe tours planned. Free equipment rentals and day passes are also included.

For more information, check out www.wintertrails.org. See you out there!

McCall 2008-09 Winter Skiing Preview

When we started putting this McCall-area ski resort preview a couple weeks ago, it looked like ski season was canceled this year.  Poles and skis were still propped up in the garage and just a thin layer of dusty snow adorned the uppermost peaks.  Well, all that is an afterthought now that several lively winter storms have made their way across Idaho.  Hence, it's time to check out what's new at the downhill and Nordic ski resorts around McCall.

Brundage Resort - Officially opened on December 20th, Brundage averages 320 inches of powdery snow a year, and 400 inches is not uncommon. New glades and groomers recently opened on the south side of the mountain has expanded lift-served terrain to 1,500 acres.  Add on 19,000 acres of backcountry cat skiing and you have yourself an adventure. Warm up between runs at the new Bear' Den located at the top of Bear Chair. Also, check out the range of affordable ski and stay packages at the new Shore Lodge.

Tamarack Resort - Despite their financial troubles in the news of late, Tamarack is proceeding with business as usual this winter. Since they have the only snowmaking equipment in the valley,  it gave them the honor of first resort to open in the McCall area this season. As of today, there are three lifts open and portions of the terrain park are open. And 13 kilometers of rolling Nordic trails are groomed on packed powder. More will likely open this week as storms continue to roll in. The mountain is essentially the same as last year, with no new runs or additional amenities added during the off season.  Still, Tamarack boasts 2,800 of vertical, 1,100 acres of lift accessible terrain and over 5,000 acres of backcountry terrain. Visit www.tamarackidaho.com for more info.

Little Ski Hill - A family favorite since 1937, this wee resort is the ideal place to for kids and adults to learn downhill skiing. It also is home to Bear Basin, one of the best set of Nordic trails in the valley at 30K. Plus, they are the only ski area offering lighted runs at night. With numerous downhill, snowboarding and cross country races and events throughout the year, don't miss a visit to the Little Ski Hill.  Click here to visit their official homepage.

Nordic Skiing -  McCall is one of the most diverse and beautiful places to cross country and skate ski in the northwest. Along with all the groomed trails at Tamarack and the Little Ski Hill, you can ski among some of the area's oldest trees and take in awesome Payette Lake views at Ponderosa State Park.  Or head to Jug Mountain Ranch and ski their spectacular open-air trails. Conditions are great so head on up for some great winter fun.

Still Some Winter Left in McCall - Come On Up!

Well, it’s official! The Alpine Village construction crew has begun digging phase one out of the mounds of powder we got this year. The crew has made tremendous progress in the past couple of days and building is set to begin as soon as they are done. But in the meantime, there are still a few more weeks of winter left here in McCall, leaving plenty of opportunity to get some beautiful spring skiing in at Tamarack, Brundage and the Little Ski Hill. 

However, if you are looking for some other fun things to do while you’re in town, you might want to check out McCall’s famous Blue Moon Yurt, located in the heart of Ponderosa Park, adjacent to Payette Lake. Ski or snowshoe through the park at sunset and find yourself at the cozy yurt where owners, Lisa and Bruce, and their colorful crew, serve a 4-course gourmet dinner, complete with warm spiced wine. The relaxed atmosphere makes it a great place to meet new people, while enjoying an epicurean delight – a truly unique McCall experience. 

Still, if you’re looking for a more relaxing form of recreation, the Gold Fork Hot Springs are a must this time of year. Located just south of Donnelly and 30 minutes from Alpine Village, Gold Fork offers a variety of mineral pools – all temperatures. Nestled in a remote setting with views of the mountains, the hot springs are a perfect place to unwind, especially in this cold mountain air. Kids are welcome, and always have a good time. Feel free to bring a beverage of your choice, the only rule is no glass (for obvious reasons). Fun for the whole family!