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[oldsalempost-blog]

The Old Salem Post

                   Our  Local Tamassee-Salem SC Area News each Monday except holidays                                          Contact: theoldsalempost@gmail.com                              Distributed to local businesses, town hall, library.                            Volume 7 Issue 18                                                                                                  Week of April 15 2024                https://www.tumblr.com/settings/blog/oldsalempost-blog                                                         Lynne Martin Publishing

EDITOR: A new resident to Oconee said her family moved here to get away from the overdevelopment.  “ There are not many places like this left, ” she said.   Shouldn’t that be a message to us all that we need to protect what we love?   People love community and the rural way of life.   I say to leaders and developers who want to destroy our Oconee County life—you move!  Move to the overdeveloped destroyed areas and cities.  Sell your home to the people who want to come here to get back to real living.  “There are not many places like this left.” Let’s keep it!  LRMartin

TOWN of SALEM: 5 Park Avenue * Visit the Downtown Market every Sat, Winter hours 9am-1pm. Town of Salem Clean up day– April 27th meet at 8AM at the Calvary Baptist Church– Invite your friends, neighbors, civic groups, and anyone interested in coming together for the good of our community.                  Salem Beautification Committee is a group of volunteers who support the Town of Salem by maintaining the gardens and decorating some areas for the holidays. If you are interested in volunteering or donating please call Vickie Towe 864-6229 or Ethel Cameron 864-280-4040                                                                                            SALEM LIBRARY:  5B Park Avenue.  Hours Monday 10am-6pm. Tues-Friday 9am-5pm. Closed 12-1 for lunch.                    

Jottings from Miz Jeannie  by Jeannie Barnwell.    Walhalla HS Plant Sale  Plan to visit the greenhouse area of WHS off HWY 11 and shop for hardy blooms at a reasonable price.  Instructor Josh McCall's green thumbed  students will carry your tray while you select from Zinnias, Okra, Daisies, Latana, Ferns and Hostas, just to name a few.  These high school students will educate you while you make your choices.  Then they cheerfully carry the buds and blossoms out to your car. I want to thank the students who planted  and tended the seeds and prepared them for the sale. They are Aiden Wallace, Reagan Smith, Kristen Winland, Hudson Smith and Jackson Medlin I told these young entrepreneurs that YOU WOULD BE STOPPING BY!  LOVE YA!!! Miz Jeannie                                                                                              ASHTON RECALLS    by Ashton Hester                               SALEM SCHOOL NEWS, APRIL 1, 1964 continued from last week -  The following are some more items from the "Salem School News" column, written by Mrs. Nelle Rochester, in the April 1, 1964 Keowee Courier. . . BETTY CROCKER SEARCH. . .Our senior girls did very well on The Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow contest. . .Ruth Lusk and Sharon Rankin both received "excellent" ratings. Ruth had Salem's highest score but Sharon was only one point behind. We had nine girls that received "good" ratings, and three received "fair" ratings. None of our students received "poor" ratings. . .LEAP-YEAR CARNIVAL. . .The juniors did real well on their Leap-Year Carnival. They had a net profit of $309.74. Thanks to all of the merchants, parents, students and teachers who contributed to the success. . .ILLNESSES STILL ABUNDANT. . .We are still plagued with a variety of illnesses. Mumps seems to be taking the greatest toll while measles and chicken pox are also still prevalent. Ruth Lusk, Sue Murphree and Larry Jones are a few that have had mumps recently. . .DONKEY BASKETBALL GAME. . .The juniors are sponsoring a donkey basketball game on April 2, Thursday, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $1.00, 60c. for students and 25c. for children.                                              

JOCASSEE VALLEY BREWING COMPANY,(JVBC) & COFFEE SHOP* 13412 N Hwy 11 Open Wed–Sat 9am-9pm and Sunday 12pm-7pm   Events this week:  Wed: Blue Grass Jam  6:30PM  Wings and more by Blue Ridge Grill starting at 4PM.  Thursday: Trail Talk Thursday at 6:00PM  Food: Kodesh BBQ Blue Ridge Grill  Fri:  Music: Scott Low ( Appalachian Blues Singer-Songwriter)  at 6:30pm Food:   Sat– Music: Conservation Theory ( Americana Mountain Folk Singer-Songwriters)  at 6:30pm Food: Just a Smile Caribbean   Sun:  12pm-7pm  Food:  El Charro  Music:  11 North with Chad Rawlings 4PM  More info 864-873-0048    April Book Club meeting on Wednesday, April 17th at 10AM to discuss The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose.                      COMBAT VETERANS MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION SC 34-2:  7th Annual Veteran Benefit Ride April 27th 2024  Register 0900 at Harley Davidson of Greenville, 30 Chrome Drive 29615  All vehicles welcomed.  **   These riders will be stopping at the  Jocassee Valley Brewing Company around noon.   JVBC is proud to be a host stop-off.   

Carolina Hemlock Festival:   April 20th  11AM-4PM  at the Mountain Rest Hillbilly Grounds. Music, Conservation Groups &more!     

2024 UPCOMING EVENTS           Check out our website Eaglesnestartcenter.org as future events are added.                                                                                                                                    April 20th 7pm– The War Cry Band will host a benefit for Ralph Turpin medical expenses at the ENAC venue.                              April 26th, 7 PM Friday Evening Wellness Event:  Reclaiming Our Inalienable Wellness  Doors open at 6:30 PM  Free event hosted by ENAC featuring speaker Meredith Orlowski, AFMC, INHC.  Bring your friends and family along. Gain Energy, Lose Weight, Feel Happy, & Save the World While Doing it!       Call 864-280-1258 for more information                                                                                                         Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea on Saturday, May 4th  from 2PM-4 PM:   Join us for a special afternoon and treat yourself to delicious goodies, hot tea, and a guest speaker!  Our youngest guests will enjoy manicures and a craft!  $10 per guest.  All funds will be donated to support the Eagles Nest Art Center.  There are also opportunities to sponsor a table for the event.   To RSVP or find more information:  Kayla or Emma Lusk at 864-903-0681                                                                                                               Oconee Mountain Opry:  May 18th at 7PM.   Jef Wilson, West End String Band, Mystery guests, comedy and more.  

June 3-7  ENAC hosts  Art Camp for children 6-12 years old.  9AM-12PM  Call 864-280-1258   $50 fee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        EAGLES NEST ART CENTER                                      

The Eagles Nest Treasure Store is open every Saturday morning 9AM-12PM.  Will accept donations also or call 864-557-2462.

Information on sponsorships, events, volunteering, donations, or rentals call 864-280-1258 or email at eaglesnestartcenter@gmail.com. 

Interested in becoming a YOUNG APPALACHIAN MUSICIAN?   For ages 3rd grade through adult.     Call 864-280-1258                                                       

           CHURCH NEWS                                                           Bethel Presbyterian Church (PCUSA),  580 Bethel Church Rd Walhalla, 29691. Worship at 10:30 a.m.   Come visit us. All are welcomed!   April 29, 2024, Mel Davis will give the message.                                                                                 Boones Creek Baptist Church, 264 Boones Creek Road, Salem invites you to join us for regular worship service on Sunday morning with Sunday School at 10am and followed by worship at 11am.

Salem Methodist Church: 520 Church Street, Salem.  9AM for breakfast, 9:30AM for Sunday School, and 10:30AM for Worship.  You may tune in to our live service on Facebook or view it later on our website.  All are welcomed!

Calvary Baptist Church in downtown Salem is inviting you to attend a special Bluegrass Gospel Singing featuring, "The Tugaloo Holler Band" on Saturday, May 11th at 6 PM. You will be blessed! Come worship God with us through singing and fellowshipping with believers.

News:  On April 9th from 5PM-7PM the Jocassee Valley Brewing Company was the host site of the OPUS Trust unique wine tasting event featuring rare California Napa Valley wines provided by a donor family, and matched funding from another generous family patron.  The tables were set up with white table cloths and fresh flowers.  The wine tastings were from 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.  Paring these delicious rare tastes with local farm products created a unique palate pleasure. The Reed Homestead owners David and Casey Thornton presented herbed flatbreads, pickled watermelon rind, pepper jellies, chocolates, spiced pecans and more. The  Split Creek goat farm provided 3 types of tantalizing cheeses.  The McPhail Angus Farm  was the featured farm for a delicious cut for smoked beef.  This proved to be quite a social event for our Salem area with these fine tastings from local farms and this special stock from California Napa Valley wines.  You may purchase from our local farms on the Clemson Area Food Exchange online farmer’s market.   Check out CLEMSONAREAFOODEXCHANGE.COM.                                                                                                                                             

Love & Blessings to you!  LRM    

[foxyspaz]

2/2. TMS and session with A. Going to start with another person soon. Really like talking to A. Went to McCall winter carnival for lunch pictures

[luxebeat]

Embrace the season at one of these winter festivals in the Pacific Northwest

Embrace the season at one of these winter festivals in the Pacific Northwest

Outdoor cold weather festivals have been popular for eons. Created to relieve the tedium of winter, such events can be found throughout the country in places where temps drop and the snow falls. Instead of hunkering down at home, people gather together outside to celebrate all things winter.  Here in the Pacific Northwest, winter-fests abound during the months of January and February, and feature…

[scottbcrowley2]

McCall Winter Carnival cancelled due to pandemic - Thu, 10 Dec 2020 PST

Due to increasing COVID-19 case counts and positivity rates, diminished hospital capacity, and tighter restrictions on public and private gatherings, the McCall Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau has decided to cancel the 2021 McCall Winter Carnival. McCall Winter Carnival cancelled due to pandemic - Thu, 10 Dec 2020 PST

[aowanders-blog]

Official McCall Winter Carnival Guide

Official McCall Winter Carnival Guide

Your Complete Guide to The McCall Winter Carnival

Carnivals and Festivals happen all over the world, and whatever the reason, every month for many different reasons, you’ll find people descending on a location to celebrate ritualize and share in a common experience. 

On the last weekend of January to the end of the first weekend in Feburary, McCall hosts the iconic Idaho event known as the

[blondepassionwriter]

This iconic Idaho event dating back to 1924 is a local favorite renowned for its snow sculpture competition, and fireworks show over Payette Lake, but this festival in celebration of all things winter also includes a parade, Monster Dog Pull, concerts, and more.

[vapingv1k1n6]

Going to McCall for the winter carnival!! @steamcraveofficial @flawlessvapeshop @lightningvapes #steamcrave #vape #vapelife #vapenation #vapeporn #vapeon #vapelyfe #vapefam #vapecommunity #vapedaily #vapestagram #vapelove #vapers #vaping #vaper #vapetricks #vapepics #instavape #vapesociety (at Cascade, Idaho) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7wC7vqAimT/?igshid=lwbujw4vougv

[wheredidhiseyebrowsgo]

You guys are incredible! Could you add more creature stiles stories 💚

Creatures galore, coming right up!   -Emmy

Trampolines are Distracting by kungfunurse 

(1,345 I Not Rated I Complete)  *sterek, fox!stiles

What it says on the tin.

The Kit ( Series) by TriDom 

(1,980 I General I Series WIP)  *petopher, fox!Stiles

While hunting, Chris and Peter find a fox kit in one of their traps.

Son of the Sea by cheshirecat101

(3,326 I Not Rated I Complete) *sterek, selkie!Stiles

Derek knows for sure that Stiles isn’t human. The problem starts when he finds out what he is.

Treetop View by ya3ani 

(3,347 I Explicit I Complete)   *sterek & laura, weresquirrel!stiles

While running through the forest Derek captures a creature the likes of which he’s never seen before. He takes his find back to the cabin he shares with his sister.

They have a lot of fun with their new toy.

(ie “the one where weresquirrel!Stiles gets fucked.”)

Chase Me Through The Trees, Mister Wolf by MissDizzyD 

(3,418 I General I Complete)  *sterek, fox!stiles

“Stiles was… happy. Really happy. Happy in a way that had the forest singing to him, urging him to go and play and frolic and let his fox have some fun for once.”

All the Movements of the Stars by skoosiepants 

(3,578 I Teen I Complete)  *sterek, otter!stiles

Stiles says, “Derek,” and his voice is hoarse, like he’s still unsure how to use his vocal chords even after all this time. They have no idea how long Stiles was stuck as an otter, let alone trapped in that cage.  According to Dr. Martin, Stiles doesn’t even know.

Derek doesn’t say anything.

After a few minutes, Stiles sighs and gets up. There’s a rustle of clothing, and Derek grits his teeth against the image of Stiles wearing his things, and Derek doesn’t relax until he hears the door open and close.

Tale of a Little Nut by morganrules

(3,646 I General I Complete)  *sterek, squirrel!Stiles

Stiles Squirrelinski would never pass the oportunity for a new adventure!

Safe and Warm by TriscuitsandSoup

(5,574 I General I Complete)  *steter, squirrel!Stiles

 As a squirrel Stiles was always on the lookout for the safest, warmest place in a room; and right now what looked to be the safest, warmest place was a long, black, coat, belonging to Peter Hale.

Stiles X Peters Coat. Very short.

A Rose Petal of White Stained by Red by paintedwolfdragon 

(5,879 I Mature I WIP)  *maze runner fusion, erica/boyd, sterek, rape, mpreg, fox!stiles

After being possessed by the nogitsune stiles is quickly dispatched from the Hale pack. Having no one he can turn to for trust or to listen. He faces raising his new day old cubs alone in the woods in the middle of winter. With four territorial packs of weres fighting over the land that is his and his cubs call home. And how do the fur hunters who follow no rules  come into play?

Fish Don’t Have Legs by MadnessofVoid

(8,934 I Teen I Complete)  *sterek, merman!stiles, fisherman!derek

Finally, the net broke. Derek sighed with relief, rising to his feet and grunting at how stiff he felt. The boy continued to sit there a moment longer, staring still. Derek was about to attempt interrogating this boy again when he saw something that about made him check in to a mental hospital.Instead of legs…there was a glistening, blinding, orange tail.A fucking tail!orDerek is a reluctant fisherman in order to pay off his parents’ debt and he caught one hell of a, well, catch

Fox Tails by AwesomeSterekUniverse 

(9,179 I Not Rated I Complete)   *sterek, fox!stiles

Stiles knew something wasn’t right after the Nogitsune was killed. He still didn’t feel human. When he wakes up later with glowing eyes and a tail, he flees, not wanting to still be possessed and with a desire to show who is in control. Months pass while the pack search for him and when they finally do they find him feral and with no idea who he is. Can they get him back?

“Stiles?” The dark haired wolf with the glowing red eyes says. Stiles knows his name, but he doesn’t know who this wolf is or why he knows his name.

He runs.

The Weathered Shell by trilliath 

(14,356 I Explicit I Complete)   *sterek, selkie!stiles

The young man is standing with an arm casually thrown up to lean against the door frame, displaying his bare torso to advantage, his powerful swimmer’s shoulders and lean body pale with moonlight. His cocky grin, however, is fading quickly into a look of shock and confusion. Other than a pelt shaped into a sloppy kilt, his legs are bare too, despite the chill winds coming in off the ocean.

“You’re not a girl,” he says in a gently lilting accent that’s like an odd blend of all the coastal voices Derek’s ever heard, squinting at Derek like his eyes might somehow be deceiving him.

Unlikely, given his dark beard and broad, well-muscled shoulders, let alone what he’s got under his kilt.

Love on the Lake by TheBiPenguin 

(15,634 I Not Rated I Complete)   *sterek, merman!stiles

Derek just has to get through one more week of school and he’s free. After that, he has no idea where his life will take him.

That’s until a near drowning experience opens his eyes to a whole new world, one too alluring to turn away from.

Trees are Always a Relief When Dealing With People (Except When They Aren’t) by ravelqueen 

(15,889 I Mature I Complete)  *sterek, nymph!stiles

Derek Hale decides to become a hermit before he reaches 25. Too bad he picked Beacon Hills as his retirement home.

(Or the one where Stiles is a wood nymph/pixie/human hybrid who falls in love with his new grumpy werewolf neighbour)

Alone Together by asocialfauxpas (fuzzytomato) 

(16,277 I Explicit I Complete)  *sterek, kidnapped, mermaid!stiles

Derek has lost his pack. Stiles has lost his pod. They find each other on the high seas.

Anteocularis by Aravis 

(19,393 I Explicit I Complete)  *sterek, weredeer!stiles

Allison meets a strange deer in the forest. Derek may have found someone who can match his level of bullshit. Stiles is running from a murderer. Pack-feels and cross-species bonding.

Derek Only Speaks to His Cat by grimmfairy 

(19,751 I Not Rated I WIP)   *sterek, cat!stiles

Derek has a cat, and his cat is the only one that doesn't look at him differently after Kate tries to burn his family. Years after the fire, Derek returns to Beacon Hills to be near his pack, which has begun to take on new members that are all teenagers. Derek is still lonely though, and keeps his family at arm's length out of guilt even as they strive to get closer to him.

Derek rescues a mysterious stranger from being mugged in an alley one night and he's told he get's one wish.

Then suddenly there's a naked, cuddly teenager in his loft that doesn't speak english or know how to walk on two legs, and his cat is missing. All Derek wanted was someone to talk to.

Captive Hart by road_of_ruin 

(23,236 I Mature I WIP)   *sterek, Hart!Stiles

There is a werewolf on the Argent throne. The war is over, the lands united, and peace has been declared between werewolves and hunters.

On the eve of the peace treaty signing, Lord Derek of House Hale is presented with a Stag shifter by the very woman who started the war. Decorum demands he accept, despite his misgivings on the matter, and thus a red Hart joins the ranks of its mortal enemy.

Derek learned long ago that Kate was never to be trusted again. If Stiles is her gift, then he must be watched. He keeps up a firm wall between them, even as society forces them together, a Lord and his pet, and readies himself for anything.

Though there's really no defense against Stiles.

---

(Game of Thrones/Captive Prince fusion)

Fox Fire by Decemberangel

(37,950 I Mature I Complete)  *sterek, fox!stiles, rape

After nineteen years of experimentation and abuse, Stiles and Isaac are left to die in their enclosures. Abandoned by the only woman they ever depended on and loved, Melissa McCall. Or so they thought. When she comes back with them, she brings the pack and together, they bring the two home and struggle to get through to the broken teens. But there's another problem, the pack aren't the only one's who want the two for themselves.

In the Woods Somewhere by ME (what WHAT)

(44,958 I Explicit I Complete)   *sterek, stiles/peter noncon, fox!stiles, feral!derek, wolf!derek

Peter travels with various carnivals, showcasing a massive black wolf he parades as a man-eating beast.  In his caravan he keeps Stiles, his most precious possession who is much more special than he may outwardly appear.  Stiles feels a kinship with the creature through their mutual captivity, so when he makes his escape he frees the wolf as well.  Like Stiles though, the wolf is also more than he appears.

Pure as the Driven Snow by RenSweets

(54,996 I Explicit I WIP)   *steter, fox!stiles

It was a stroke of Luck Peter found him.

It is Stiles lack of Luck that continues to harm him.

[sassyprobinsyana]

Enjoying McCall’s Winter Carnival! #mccallidaho #winter #snow #frozenlake (at McCall, Idaho) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtPi6RBHtn2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1oorvlare3uwp

[theonewherewegraduate-blog]

slowly crossing things off my to do list

At the beginning of this semester, I made a to do list of all the things I wanted to accomplish before graduation. One of the things on that list was going to the McCall Winter Carnival. I was able to check this off my list on February 4th. McCall is always amazing to visit, but I just never seemed to have the time or couldn’t plan a trip up their fast enough in the two weeks that is happening in the previous years, but this year I was determined.

During the drive to McCall, I quickly realized that the amount of snow we got in Boise was nothing compared to the amount they had closer to McCall. We started the trip off by going to get lunch at Incahoots BBQ in McCall because it was advertised under the events schedule for the carnival. The BBQ was amazing and we were full and ready to see what else the carnival had to offer. We parked closer to the beginning of town so after lunch we walked a little and saw some of the sculptures. It was amazing to see what people can make out of just snow, and how the sculptures remained standing after being up for weeks.

After lunch and some sculpture viewing, we headed down to the frozen lake to take some pictures. I couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy about walking on a frozen lake, but I figured they wouldn’t let this amount of people walk on it if it wasn’t safe. We headed out and stopped when there started to be puddles of water because we were not sure if that was a good sign or not so we decided it was better to be safe than sorry.

Next on the events schedule was a beer garden. I was determined to find one but did not know my way around. After getting off the lake I saw a tent that said “where beer lovers migrate,” and I was sure that is where we needed to go. When we arrived at the tent we quickly realized it was a “beer garden” for people to wait at while they were waiting for their table at the Salmon River Brewery. We didn’t know where the beer garden was, but we all knew we wanted a beer and to warm up. There were fire pits outside, so we decided to stay and relax for a little.

After a drink and some time by the fire, we decided to that our day had to come to an end and drove back to Boise before it got dark. We walked through the food vendors to see if anything caught our eye for a snack on the way home, but instead stopped at little shops through town on our way back up to the car. 

The McCall Winter Carnival was an Idaho experience, and I was happy to start slowly crossing things off my to do list. I would recommend anyone living in Idaho to go and experience it at least once. I have attached the link of the carnival that gives the dates for the upcoming years-- so now you have no excuse but to reserve one of those weekends to make the trip up there.

http://mccallchamber.org/winter-carnival/event-schedule/

[andyrifflez]

Another Winter Carnival in the books! Love and miss my McCall friends and Family already. 😘 (at Manchester Ice & Event Centre)

[wanderingkeri]

Brundage Mountain Ski Patrol entry for McCall’s winter carnival #topofthemountain #getoutside #intheclouds (at Brundage Mountain Resort)

[localfreshies]

New Post has been published on Local Freshies | Be a local wherever you go

New Post has been published on http://localfreshies.com/knee-deep-powder-at-brundage-ski-resort/

Knee Deep Powder at Brundage Ski Resort

Yesterday’s Burgdorf Hot Springs adventure was amazing, but a ski trip isn’t a ski trip unless you actually go skiing. Today, our plan is simple. Brundage is our destination. Making sure we get first chair, a quick bite at THE Local’s spot is the perfect idea. We asked around town to see where people snag breakfast before riding. The resounding answer was the gas station. The Gas station?!? Seriously? Always taking the locals’ tips earnestly, gas station here we come!

Your Grandma’s gas station

Your Grandma’s station – Old Town Cafe

In any regular town when you go snowboarding or skiing, you’re forced to stop and get gas, go somewhere else to grab a bite to eat, and then head to another shop for a good cup of coffee. McCall isn’t that type of place. Here, you pull into the local Shell station and gas up, purchase some snacks, grab a cup of coffee, do some laundry if you need, and of course, have an amazing breakfast! Talk about efficiency. It reminded me of stories my grandmother would tell about gas stations on Route 66.

“All Aboard” the Gravy Train

Moose Toast and Ben’s Gravy Train burrito in the background

In the back corner of the gas station, there sits a little counter where a sweet older lady takes our order with a smile. “So, what’s a Local favorite on the menu?” With no hesitation, she says “Ben’s gravy train is the most popular.” A breakfast burrito filled with eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage and… GRAVY? First, the hash browns aren’t the store-bought kind. They’re made from scratch and are more like home fries than hash browns. Second, the sausage gravy is what combines all the flavors together making it delicious. If that’s too much for you, then go for the Moose Toast. It’s a breakfast sandwich flanked by Texas toast with two eggs, bacon, and cheese.

Local Freshies® Tip: Lifts at Brundage don’t start until 9:30 am

While enjoying breakfast, I check out the lift schedule. Looks like the lifts don’t start running until 9:30 am. Why? Brundage is only 40 minutes from the Pacific Timezone so the sun tends to sleep in a little later than most places. Don’t worry! You don’t lose 30 minutes of ski time if you’re a bell-to-bell type of person. Last chair pushes to 4:30 pm as well so you’ll get your fill. With extra time this morning, we decided to check out some local ski & snowboard shops.

McCall Sports Exchange

McCall Sports Exchange – Your spot for affordable outdoor gear

First up is the McCall Sports Exchange. Owner Scott Jackson, originally from the Midwest, traveled to Colorado to find bigger mountains and better snow. Looking to get away from the crowds and find more summertime water access, Scott found McCall. If you’re looking for affordable outdoor gear, then this spot is a great option. From high quality, lightly used products to overstock closeout items, you can find something you need at a VERY affordable price. Also, since the area doesn’t have a dedicated snowboard shop, he’s become a Rome & High Society dealer as well. Pretty cool in a small ski town.

Home Town Sports – An Olympian��s “Home”

Eric, Patty’s son, giving us a personalized tour

On our way out to Brundage, our last stop was at Home Town Sports. Founded by former Olympian Patty Boydstun, this place is a ski shop and museum in one. Eric, Patty’s son, gives us a personalized tour of this world class shop. While highlighting their gear, he makes sure to point out all the memorabilia from his Mom’s time as a competitive skier. How awesome to display all those memories so the rest of us can enjoy them too!

Why is Home Town Sports a world class shop?

One of the largest certified boot fitting teams in the country

They use one of the most advanced canting/boot modification systems available

Normally stores use plastic canting diagnosing shins. Not this shop. Home Town Sports uses custom milled aluminum to ensure your boot fit is even more comfortable.

All tuning is by hand on a Reichman machine, based on World Cup Standards

The clock struck 9:00 am and Brundage is calling. Time to head out and get first chair. Thanking Eric for his time, the whole team sends us off with big smiles and says “Enjoy Brundage!”

Brundage, a place of surprises

We make the same trek as yesterday and park in the lot below the ski lodge. It looked like Mother Nature only provided an inch of fresh so our initial perception was we’d be riding groomers all day. Boy were we surprised…. In a good way. We gear up fast and are on our way. Whisked away by the High Speed chair, we survey the terrain below. The open front face is reminiscent of Grand Targhee WY. There is a few clumps of trees here and there but overall, it’s a big bowl-of-fun with a nice moderate pitch.

Decapitating the Conductor

Winner of the snow sculpture contest for the Winter Carnvial

Off-loading the chair, the winner of the snow sculpture contest greets us. Each year in January, McCall hosts a Winter Carnival and one of the events is snow sculpting. Large pieces of snow art decorate the entire town from the ski resort to the shops downtown. The winner and sculpture at Brundage is a massive logging train complete with a conductor. As Ski Patrol removes the fresh snow from the carving, we overhear one of them talking about how the conductor’s attire had a rope tied on it, helping give extra dimension. A few days ago when again cleaning off the snow, too quickly that time, they accidentally decapitated him by snagging the rope. Fortunately, they quickly fixed him and the snowman engineer is still living his life to the fullest on display.

“French Toast” snow

The snow is soft on the bottom like the toast but with a coating of powdered sugar to make it extra tasty!

Quickly strapping in, we drop into one of the many groomers from the top. We carved easily over the snow. My mind instantly thought of eating French Toast. I know, it sounds weird but imagine… The snow is soft on the bottom like the toast but with a coating of powdered sugar to make it extra tasty! It rode exactly like that. Perfect, fun, AND a treat!

Lakeview – A Powderhound’s secret

Deep, billowy powder knee deep in spots off of Lakeview Chair

After a few laps on the front side, we know Brundage has more in store for us. Riding over to Lakeview, we are greeted by some amazing conditions. Deep, billowy powder knee deep in spots, is ALL UNTRACKED. If this is what 1″ looks like,  4″ of fresh snow must be to your armpits! Talk about under-promising and over-delivering. So, why is there so much more snow in this part of the mountain? The only reason we could think of is that the terrain is only open from 10 am – 3 pm and lift access is via a fixed grip chair meaning the snow stays longer. Whatever the reason, we found entire slopes FILLED with untracked pow that no one had ridden. It was tough to leave, but we are meeting up with April & Jared, the Marketing geniuses behind Brundage, to show us some of their favorite stashes.

A Secret in Central America

Meeting up with our special guides, we hop onto the main lift. On our way up, Jared tells us he is originally from Auburn CA, which is just outside of Lake Tahoe and he is just as passionate about skiing as us. This is one of the reasons he made Brundage his home. Deep snow, uncrowded slopes, and a relaxed atmosphere are difficult to argue with. April’s path is a bit different as she grew up near the slopes on Mt. Hood but her love of Brundage is the same.

Jared Montague showing us where the good snow is

Zipping off the lift, we head to one of their favorites – A run named after a Central American country. Much like the surfing culture, we can’t divulge exactly the name of this spot or its location, but if your lucky enough to befriend a Local that’s in-the-know, perhaps they will share. It was beyond amazing! A bit steeper than the other zones we’d been riding AND still untracked. We hit this terrain a few more times before April headed back to the office. With a big wave goodbye, she is off. Jared decided to stick around for a bit longer and treat us to a few more secrets.

Turn up the heat!

With Lakeview shutting down, it’s time to check out another part of the ski area. We meet up with Scott, another fine employee at Brundage, and this guy RIPS. He grew up in the area but left for a few years to chase-the-snow. During his journey, he learned just how magical this part of the country really is. With Jared and Scott at the helm, we aimed straight for some serious, steep terrain. First up, the Northwest Passage. Steep, craggy & bumpy, this trail is fun to blast through while getting a few little airs along the way. Brundage may look tame, but if you know where to search, you’ll find slopes that will get your heart pumping.

Hidden Valley – The Zone for Steep

NW Passage is located in what is called the Hidden Valley. This IS the zone where all the serious terrain lives. From mandatory airs to chutes and cliffs, it can get dicey if you don’t know where you’re going. We can’t tell you exactly where to go but let’s just say when you do find it, you’ll know ’cause it’s off the chain! As we said earlier, put in a little effort and make some new friends. The Locals that know this mountain will open your eyes to a different Brundage experience and you don’t want to leave without it.

Brundage is as close to the Bay as Mt Bachelor

Did you know that McCall ID and Brundage are just a tad further from the Bay Area as Mt Bachelor is in Bend OR? We didn’t until we drove it. With little to no crowds, affordable lodging, amazing food, and steep fun terrain, this is the time to hit up this gem before people start finding out about McCall. We’re definitely coming back and enjoying this mountain next winter.

Get Forked!

After slapping high fives with Jared & Scott from our amazing day on the mountain, we head back to McCall. On our ride down, we get a text from Corinne, the owner of North Fork Coffee Roasters. She asks if we’d like to drop by and see her roastery. I seriously can drink coffee from sun up to sun down. Being it’s my favorite beverage, we are on our way to the roastery!

A grungy garage not fit for your car… But it’s love at first sight

Inspiration to start North Fork Coffee Roasters began four years ago for Corinne. She is a purist at heart and loves to make everything on her own. From tortilla breads to condiments, Corinne’s new love is coffee. Roasting first began on a stove in a Whirly Pop. Her coffee was so amazing, her friends began asking for it. Spending the next two years looking for her roastery’s home, a grungy garage tucked away behind a building caught her eye and it was perfect. With a deep clean, a bunch of renovations and Corinne’s decorating touch, the roastery was born.

Great Coffee inspired by nature

We sampled a few of her most notable coffees and boy are they amazing! Our favorite is the Costa Rican. It has dark, cherry notes with a buttery texture and an aroma that reminds you of those butter cookies you find in tins at the holidays.

Noticing her labels, we realized each one is a bird and asked if they meant anything special. Her company is named after the North Fork of the Payette River and each of these river birds she chose can be seen flying around overhead. Each bird is paired with the coffee closest in

Each coffee is named after the river birds on the North Fork of the Payette River

personality. Corinne explained the King Fisher is a super energetic, spunky, and fun bird translating to a coffee that gives you a little bit more pep-in-your-step. On the other hand, the decaf is a Damsel Fly, technically not a bird (and also technically not caffeinated) but still lives on the river. Her explanation of each was a perfect match and we learned a few new facts about the area. Now all caffeinated and hungry, it was time to head to our final stop of the day – Salmon River Brewing.

Drinking in an old train station

A funky artistic sign with three salmon illuminates the way to the entrance of Salmon River Brewery, aka SRB. Located in an old train station, it’s interior has that deep colored wood you would see in one of those nice railroad stations back in the early 1900’s. SRB kicks it up a notch and combines the deep colors with other reclaimed pieces for a bright atmosphere.

Salmon River Brewery is located in an old train station

When a keg blows… A whistle blows!

Tonight we’re meeting McKenzie Christensen, with the McCall Chamber of Commerce, to get the inside scoop on McCall and the surrounding area. Like any great small town, people can tell when you’re not a Local. As soon as we stepped through the door, McKenzie waves at us and says, “Are you Local Freshies®?” We make a big nod and smile. It’s nice to feel so welcomed everywhere we go. Grabbing a stool, we begin chatting up like good friends. All of a sudden, a loud whistle blows – inside! What is happening?!? McKenzie laughs and tells us every time a keg blows, they blow a real train-like whistle. How cool! After the excitement, our server takes our order.

Passion is how you become a Ski-town Local

McKenzie is originally from Idaho but like so many Locals, she spent a lot of time in the summers visiting McCall and fell in love with it. After college, she was looking for a unique place to call home and McCall really called out to her. You can tell she’s driven and a natural leader so heading out on her own made total sense. The decision was easy. The lake access in the summer and amazing skiing in the winter made staying in McCall a given. From helping us find the Local spots to sharing a bit of history of the town, she is invaluable. A fun fact we learned is that McCall is where the official Christmas Tree, known as the “People’s Tree” in Washington DC, came from last year. What an honor!

From Hoppy to Sour to Coffee, there’s a beer for everyone

Meanwhile, our beer sampler arrives and if you’re a fan of hoppy beers then SRB is your go-to spot when in McCall. The names of the beers are worth mentioning too. From a Personal Flotation Device, or PFD Ale to Udaho Golden Ale and even a Buzz Buzz Chocolate Stout, you’ll be chuckling your way through the beer menu. There wasn’t a bad beer on the list, but here’s a few our standouts:

With names like Personal Flotation Device to Udaho you’ll be chuckling your way through the beer menu

Gose Sour – We’re not big sour beer fans but when they’re done right, they are downright amazing. This is one of those amazing beers. It has a slight tinge of melon that isn’t too sweet or too tart. The flavor is almost like a delicious tasting apple cider vinegar without the vinegar harshness. Definitely a must try.

Buzz Buzz Coffee Stout – It’s winter so we naturally gravitate toward darker beers. The aroma starts with dark coffee notes and as you take a sip that image continues into a full bodied french roast. It made me think of breakfast. How perfect this beer would have been at Brundage after my French Toast snow run!

Best Elk Burger Ever!

Best Elk Burger EVER!

As we finish the sampler, our food arrives. Let me preface that Elk burgers are typically dry and not cooked correctly. I’ve had many bad experiences with burgers made out of game meats. It takes a very talented chef to make a stellar game burger. Taking McKenzie’s guidance, we ordered it and shockingly, it was perfect! Juicy, spicy, and most of all downright awesome. If you’re a burger person, you must put this on your list to try when in McCall.

Fries are just better in Idaho

It could be the placebo effect, but it seems when you visit Idaho, every item made from potatoes, including french fries, just taste better here. That is especially true at SRB. Their french fries have the consistency of a waffle fry but the length of a steak fry. It gives them a texture that I’ve never seen anywhere else.

Loaded Mac ‘n Cheese

The ooey, gooey goodness of the Loaded Mac ‘n Cheese

If you aren’t a burger person, it’s OK.  The menu is big and there are a ton of other items just as good. The loaded mac ‘n cheese comes out in a French Onion Soup-style bowl and is sizzling hot. The ooey, gooey notes of the fresh cheese plus large chunks of chicken are just to die for. It ranks right in line with the elk burger and for anyone that loves cheesy things, this is a winner.

Finishing up our meal, we say good bye to McKenzie. Tomorrow we take on Tamarack and will check out one of the Locals’ favorite restaurants, Ruperts.

This leg of the trip is sponsored by:

[walksinmountains-blog]

Like a Phoenix

Cold, windy and icy those were my first revelations when skiing at Tamarack Resort near the subzero town of Donnelly. I was around 14 years old when I laid my first tracks down Tamarack. The weather was not ideal, but never the less Tamarack left its mark on me. Being able to ski at Tamarack before its demise was, to find the right word, monumental. I landed my first 540 and slid my first urban rail in their awesome terrain park. All I could think is ‘this mountain is amazing’, and then BANG! Tamarack closed and the mountain shut down. I thought I would never return. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the mountain partially reopened in 2011. When I moved to Boise the first thing I did was look into where I could go to ski and one of the places that popped up was good ole Tamarack and all of the sudden my great memories of the mountain returned. I bought a pass to Tamarack and have not looked back since. Tamarack, which seemed like a ghost town for a while is now finally starting to see a steady flow of life return to mountainside. The more I ski Tamarack the more I fall in love with the mountain and all it has to offer.

Tamarack has a variety of groomed runs available and powder that seems to last all season. It can get pretty cold at Tamarack, but I have found that is not always the case and even on the extremely cold days it’s a fun place to ride. Its terrain park is not what it used to be, but is still fun with their large variety of rails and a few small kickers. When I go to Tamarack I am not focused on going through the terrain park, I am more looking forward to the steep powder runs, all the cliffs and powder pillows that are available. There are many places on the mountain that most people do not venture down for fear of getting stuck. Though getting stuck is a risk in many of these places, it is unlikely and I’ve never seen or heard of it happening. There are places where you could get stuck and if you are snowboarding then that risk is a lot higher. Due to the impressive amount of skiable acreage, getting fresh tracks on what seems like a tracked out day is not impossible. Skiing out of bounds at Tamarack is also easily accessible. A 10 minute walk left or right of the resort will get you out of bounds to more untracked snow then you can handle. The walk out and the trek back can be daunting the fourth or fifth time you hike out there, but it always seems worth it when it’s over.

There are four places where you can find food at the resort with the first being the main lodge and the food court, along with the bar, this is most highly trafficked place. There is also the food station in the ticket office and the convenience store located at the top of the parking lot. Tamarack also has its own restaurant called Seven Devils Pub which has great food but at little higher prices.

One of the great deals about Tamarack is the price of a season pass. It is pretty inexpensive for anyone to buy a pass there, but you can’t beat the college pass deal which is $95-$99 depending on when you buy it. The drive from Boise is about 2 hours and depending on traffic could be a little longer or shorter. Be prepared for a longer drive the weekends of the Winter Carnival in McCall. It is always worth the drive and I am rarely, if ever disappointed. TAMARACK!!!

[evanandviolet]

McCall Winter Carnival

[broncop3t3]

I says...

McCall Winter Carnival opens this weekend. https://t.co/levWGSVkVQ http://pic.twitter.com/sIgT3sVCLS

— Idaho Statesman (@IdahoStatesman) January 26, 2017

from Twitter https://twitter.com/BroncoP3t3_ January 26, 2017 at 08:33AM via IFTTT