Visit McCall | Winter 2023-2024 by McCall Area Chamber of Commerce

Winter 2023/24

MAGAZINE

™

Your Regional Visitors Guide for New Meadows, McCall, Donnelly, and Cascade, Idaho

A CHEF’S LIFE. . . . . . . 6

Unique experiences in local cuisine

KEEPING IT FRESH. . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Fun new experiences abound at all three of our local ski areas

SPIRIT UNLEASHED . . . . . . . . . . 66 The Idaho sled dog challenge hits its stride

MCCALL’S WINTER CARNIVAL. . . 90 100 years of tradition

Nature’s

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With over 320” of average annual snowfall, 18,000 acres of cat skiing terrain, and guided snowmobile trips, Brundage is adventure at its peak.

Brundage.com | The Best Snow in Idaho

Photo courtesy Gary Ertter

WHAT’S INSIDE We live by the seasons in the McCall area. Summers seem short and chaotic, fall is a drop in the bucket, and then winter comes barreling in. The season of snow can feel long, but there is something calming about knowing the fast pace of warmer days slows down as the temperature

A CHEF’S LIFE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Resident chefs shape the flavor of local cuisine

EAT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 PLAY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 KEEPING IT FRESH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

drops. It feels like there is more time to breathe. More time to

Fun new experiences at local ski areas

appreciate the details.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 SHOP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

And that is what we wanted to do with this issue – appreciate and explore the details. We invite you to take a closer look at some of the well-loved staples of our mountain town – from restaurants to events – and find some unexpected depth in places you may least expect it.

Cheers to another magical winter here in McCall.

YOUR WINTER BUCKET LIST. . . . . . . . . . . 60

Six must-do activities in Cascade, Idaho

STAY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 SPIRIT UNLEASHED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

The Idaho Sled Dog Challenge hits its stride

LIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 FEATURED ARTIST: BRIAN SCHAFER. . . . . . 76

Creative and innovative by nature

–The Visit McCall team

MC CALL’S WINTER CARNIVAL . . . . . . . . . 90 PLAN AHEAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

It’s never too early to plan your summer adventure

AREA MAP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 PARTING SHOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

visitmccall.org

VISIT McCALL MAGAZINE credits Editor in Chief | McKenzie Kraemer Assistant Editors | April Thomas Whitney, Rachel Morton Contributing Writers | McKenzie Kraemer, April Thomas Whitney Cover photo courtesy Chad Case Visuals

Ad Sales | Megan Davis, Rachel Morton, and Julie Whitescarver Ad Design | Kelly Wilder Layout Design | Dawg Haus, Inc. For information on advertising in this publication, please contact the McCall Chamber office at 208.634.7631

The editorial and photographic content of Visit McCall Magazine is produced in this printed format by Dawg Haus, Inc. on behalf of the McCall Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau who claims all right to the design of the publication. The images and advertisements contained herein are licensed for use by the McCall Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. The licensed content in this published format of Visit McCall Magazine is protected by U.S. and international copyright law and may not be copied, used, reproduced or transmitted, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of the McCall Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

HISTORIC LODGING IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN MCCALL

www.hotelmccall.com

www.glasshousemccall.com

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?

We don’t believe in “too much of a good thing.” We believe in serving unrivaled dining experiences night after night. In having the finest wine selection, with over 450 individual labels from around the globe, swirled and sipped at every table. And in focusing our utmost attention on every detail of every dish, from acquiring the best ingredients to perfecting the presentation. We believe that “too much of a good thing” is just about right.

Open Daily, 5–10pm. For reservations, call 208.630.0203 | ShoreLodge.com 501 West Lake Street | McCall, Idaho 83638

How resident chefs are using their unique experiences to shape the flavor of local cuisine By McKenzie Kraemer

Photo courtesy Tamarack Resort and Sherri Harkin

Photo courtesy Chad Case Visuals sy

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Too often we don’t look beyond the dish in front of us. We don’t dig deeper into the stories behind the flavor combinations, the people behind the kitchen door. And we wanted to change that. We wanted the stories, the zig-zag journeys, the “whys” behind the food. And what we found is a goldmine of unique and fascinating adventures.

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The great, late Anthony Bourdain once said: “The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” This may wax a bit poetic, but to many of us food IS poetry and the experience of dining, the experience of the people, the experience of the environment, and the experience of the flavors can take you on one amazing journey.

Through every twist and turn of these chefs’ paths to and through our little mountain community, it was apparent that there was one thing everyone has in common… a deep appreciation for their art and their industry. It always comes back to the people, the camaraderie, the collaboration, and the community. Take a journey with us as we travel through Valley County and get a glimpse of the men and women behind the apron.

Chef Stacey Kucy | Stacey Cakes The Connecticut Muffin: an unassuming little coffee shop that we all must thank for the delectable creations we can’t live without. Before the ginger snaps and twixters and lemon clouds and salted caramel cheesecakes, there was a girl who thought culinary school wasn’t the cool thing to do right out of high school. Continued page 10

Dinner Tue - Sat 4:30-8:30pm

cheftopple.com/lago

cheftopple.com/bufalodonnelly

cheftopple.com/casca-di-rosa

208-634-4665

208-325-3463

203 E Lake Street McCall, ID 83638

319 Main Street Donnelly, ID 83615

Dinner Tue - Sat 12:00-8:30pm

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

What is your favorite thing to eat at YOUR restaurant? Honestly, I love chocolate chip cookies. They are my classics. I probably have chocolate chip cookie dough every single day. What is your favorite ingredient to cook with? BUTTER. In the summer Stacey Cakes will go through 240 pounds of butter every week. What is something you love to make at home? I like Mexican food a lot, but we did just get a pizza oven, so we have been really experimenting with that and having a lot of fun. What is the first thing you remember cooking? My mom baked all the time, and I was definitely in the kitchen baking with her. The lemon cloud is actually a variation on a recipe my mom used to make. I do remember that one of the first things I baked in culinary school was a cake. I hated the way it turned out so I just threw it in the garbage and started over. I did that a lot in the beginning – it had to be exactly right!

“I went to college in California and struggled and struggled,” Stacy Kucy says. “Finally, after three years I decided it just wasn’t for me and moved back to Connecticut.” Needing a job while she considered her options, she started working at Connecticut Muffin. “It kind of changed everything,” she says. From the coffee shop, Kucy applied to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York and was accepted. Her studies were directed to the baking and pastry program which became a launching point after graduating. “The first job I got after school was to be working underneath a pastry chef,” she says. “But on the first day, there was no chef… it was me. I was the pastry chef.” And while that may appeal to some, Kucy was looking for a learning opportunity and to work within the industry with experienced chefs as she found her footing. That opportunity came with a call to come work in Santa Fe at the Coyote Café. Here she was able to work with and learn from Andrew McLachlan, an author and former pastry chef at Charlie Trotter. It was also here that an aspiring chef named Gary Kucy started frequenting the pastry department. “I am sure he had a pickup line but I honestly don’t remember what it was,” she laughs.

Kucy would spend five years at the Coyote Café before moving with Gary to Jackson Hole. While the opportunity was great, she had another ski town in mind. “I really wanted to move to McCall,” says Kucy. “My family has owned a place on the lake since the 1930s so I have been coming here since I was a baby. It just always felt like home.” At the time, Gary had never been to McCall, but they made the move – only to discover there were not a lot of job prospects at the time. “That first year was crazy,” says Kucy. “I got pregnant with our son and started doing a little pop-up bakery table at the Farmers Market.” What started out as a simple card table with a few gingersnaps quickly grew into a cult following. Fast forward several years and Stacey Cakes had outgrown the Farmers Market. “I had always dreamed of owning my own bakery,” she says, “and it felt like now was the time.” That was twelve years ago, and Stacey Cakes is still baking up a storm. “I feel so fortunate,” she says. “Not only with the support of the community but with the people who I get to work with.” About five years ago, Kucy’s dad shared a letter she had written to them when she had decided that college wasn’t for her. “I basically told them that I was moving back home, I wanted to go to culinary school, and my dream was to live in McCall and own a bakery,” she says. And she did it. Thanks to a kick from a little coffee shop in Connecticut and the courage to follow a dream. Continued page 12

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Be a part of building your future community and become a member today. Community Events & Private Event Space Arts – Education – Community ponderosacenter.org

Learn More Here

Chef Gary Kucy | Rupert’s at Hotel McCall On a bustling Thursday with Thai Night specials racing out of the kitchen or a packed house for a special Winemaker Dinner, you wouldn’t know that Chef Gary Kucy never meant to be here. “This career happened completely by accident,” he says. That fateful, happy accident was the result of a high school job at a pizza place where he absolutely fell in love with the kitchen.

“We moved here with nothing,” Kucy laughs. “No job prospects at all.” Just a desire to live in a smaller community in the mountains – one that Stacey’s family had been coming to since she was a child. During their first winter in town, Kucy started helping out at Tamarack – at the time just a yurt and a lot of Continued page 14

After high school Kucy went to work washing dishes at the Biltmore in Phoenix with the intent of securing an apprenticeship. Three years of work under five global chefs in the apprenticeship program paired with college courses in the evening, and the rest, as they say, is history. With the apprenticeship complete, Kucy was recruited to the

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Coyote Café in Santa Fe, New Mexico under the direction of Chef Mark Miller. Here he honed his culinary skills for eight years – with some stints in Australia and San Francisco. It is also where he met a certain pastry chef (see our section on Stacey Cakes for more) who would eventually be the catalyst for landing in McCall. At that time both were wanting to get back to a smaller town, but Jackson Hole came calling. After a few years in Wyoming, the Kucy’s made the move to McCall. to

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

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FORESTERSMCCALL.COM

DINING + DRINKS IN THE HISTORIC HEART OF DOWNTOWN MCCALL

RUPERTSATHOTELMCCALL.COM

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

What is your favorite thing to eat at YOUR restaurant? The specials! What is your favorite ingredient to cook with? Fish. There is nothing quite like a quality piece of fish. What is something you love to make at home? Working on perfecting homemade pizza with a new pizza oven. What is the first thing you remember cooking? Chicken and dumplings with my mom.

dense forest – and started the Wild Bear Kitchen (located in what is now Frenchies on Third). This led to a full-time position at Tamarack Resort and Kucy was hired as employee number seven. “It was so much fun,” says Kucy, “and amazing exposure to the process of building something from the dirt up.” While Kucy loved being a part of Tamarack experience, he felt that the scope was larger than what he envisioned doing for the long term. When Tamarack closed in the 2008 recession, Kucy found a new home at Rupert’s. “The first summer I actually ran the Clubhouse Restaurant at Jug Mountain Ranch 14

which had just opened,” says Kucy. And come fall, he was brought on to oversee Rupert’s as well. “The restaurant has grown quite a lot,” says Kucy. When he first came on they were serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But Kucy felt that model wasn’t sustainable in the long term. “The vision was to create a cool space where locals would frequent, where the pricing was reasonable, and where you could find great service.” Fast forward fifteen years and Kucy is still making magic at Rupert’s. “The challenge now is consistency,” he says. And while he loves to experiment with new flavors, he says there is a balance that must exist. “A dish has to be approachable,” says Kucy. “The goal is to find ways to elevate a traditional dish without going over the top.” And that focus on tradition is an aspect that keeps Kucy in the kitchen. “I love going back to the basics and focusing on the products,” says Kucy. “There isn’t anything better than a really quality piece of fish or cut of meat.” It is the top-notch ingredients that are so satisfying to work with, but, as Kucy says, are also becoming harder to find. That challenge has also encouraged chefs to stay creative and work with products they do have. It also spurs collaboration. “There is a lot of banter in the kitchen,” says Kucy, “everyone comes up with fun ideas and contributes to the components of a dish.” Which is why Kucy fell in love with the kitchen in the first place. Full circle – just like the pizza that led him to McCall. Continued page 16

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208.634.7394

Chefs Thomas Smith and Janelle Toohey | Frenchies on Third Thomas and Janelle met in Talkeetna, Alaska. “We have both been industry people for a long time,” says Janelle, “despite our parents’ best efforts.” Janelle was already established at the hotel where they worked when Thomas moved from New Orleans after twelve years of running restaurants in the French Quarter. He was working in the kitchen and she was the event manager. “I was the person that would hang the 50 banquet event orders and Thomas was the one to catch them,” Janelle says. “And that’s how we got to know one another. We’ve always worked together. We’ve always worked at a similar pace. And we just have the same way of going about doing things.” Fast forward a few years and Janelle was ready to leave her position at the hotel and Thomas was cooking for a crew on a gold mine. With their winters off, a friend suggested they visit McCall, particularly to see if the food and beverage program at Brundage would be a good fit. “It was an exciting time at Brundage with the food venues changing and the menus getting reworked,” says Janelle. They were swiftly hired on, Thomas as the Chef and Janelle at the resort, eventually moving into the F&B director roll. They would stay with Brundage for four years before getting the bug to open their own restaurant. “There is a difference between a seasonal life here and finding a full-time life here,” says Janelle. So they set about building that full-time life. Both transitioned out of Brundage to run the original Alpine Pantry. The fit wasn’t quite right, so Janelle went to work for Sysco Foods as a marketing associate while Thomas moved to Shore Lodge. “Thomas had already been on the numbers side of a restaurant,” says Janelle, “but for me Sysco was where I learned all of the missing pieces.”

“We looked at each other,” says Janelle, “and we decided the worst-case scenario would be that we live in my mom’s basement. But she is super generous and she’s got a great basement and she’s a good cook.” So, armed with 50-plus drafts of a menu and a dream, Frenchies on Third was born. 16

Photo courtesy Jon Conti Visuals

As they began to plan what a restaurant of their own might look like, a commercial space in McCall opened up. The building had previously been home to many different ventures, but when the pair initially moved to McCall it was Paradise Burger – the first place they ever ate in town. “We have always loved that it was a house,” says Janelle, “it is very New Orleans.” And so, they took a chance.

The restaurant pays homage to Thomas’ time in the French Quarter and a love of genuine southern food. “The joke now is that we are always spending too much time going back to New Orleans to eat,” laughs Janelle. But the trips are worth it. The menu at Frenchies is decidedly southern and welcoming – as is the name. “Sometimes I wish the name was a bit more romantic,” says Janelle, “but I really like the idea of a granny name for a restaurant. It just feels comforting, especially in an old house.” And five years later, Frenchies has been built into a community staple, as has Thomas and Janelle’s creativity in the kitchen. “We truly just wanted it to be a little po boy place with some gumbo and chowder,” says Janelle. But Frenchies has superseded the initial scope. One of the most sought-after social posts of the week is the Blue Plate Specials. “We initially started it to just keep us creative,” says Janelle. “And then it really became something people looked forward to.” While designing five unique specials each week for five years can feel a little daunting at times, both Janelle and Thomas agree that it has helped them stay community centered as well. And it has always been that sense of community that keeps them going. “We love what we do,” says Janelle, “This is somehow in our blood. But I don’t think that this place was ever so much about us as much as who comes through the door. I don’t think we would have made it five months, let alone five years, if it weren’t for this community.” They are also appreciative of the local culinary scene. “Everyone is adapting,” says Janelle. “There have been some pretty hefty challenges in the last few years and I think Continued page 18

319 N 3RD STREET | MCCALL 208.630.6104

Aesthetic Services & IV Therapy

208medspa.com 125 Commerce Street, Suite D (208) 408-0976

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

What is your favorite thing to eat at YOUR restaurant? Thomas: The kids’ cheeseburger if I have time. Janelle: I’m still a shrimp po boy girl – I try to eat at least one a week. What is your favorite ingredient to cook with? Heavy Cream. I always get nervous when a dish isn’t creamy. In the winter we go through about 20 gallons a week.

people are staying creative and not letting anything set them back.” She and Thomas are excited to be a part of a community able to think outside of the box and continue to come up with new, exciting ideas. Perhaps it is a throwback to their days in “The Last Frontier” state, or or maybe it is simply an exceptional work ethic. Either way, we are excited to see what new trails the Toohey/Smith’s blaze as they marry the flavors of the south with the wild west.

What is something you love to make at home? Thomas will still lean towards quite a bit of his Long Island background and make pastas and chicken parmesan and I’ll make meatballs – that’s the way I show I love him. What is the first thing you remember cooking?

Continued page 24

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Thomas: I’ve been cooking French toast since I was probably about five. Janelle also adds: I remember a winter where you started making the craziest egg Benedicts I’ve ever seen. We were working with a television show in Alaska and the hotel only had 25 guests in it at the time. And you just started making these specials and bringing them to me every day and I watched something switch in you at that point.

Janelle: I don’t remember the first thing I cooked, but I do remember the first time somebody told me that they were making a potato salad my whole brain rearranged. I just thought it came from the deli!

3 to 6 days of whitewater rafting on the Snake River, through magnificent Hells Canyon and the beautiful Salmon River. Raft through whitewater rapids, swim and fish in the calm waters in between, and camp riverside with delicious meals, games, and cushy sleeping pads and tents. All from scratch meals, professional rafting guides, rafting, camping, and fishing equipment are all included. This is a truly amazing summer vacation for your family and friends that are looking to get away from it all. A family friendly experience, with private trips available. Now booking 2024 - 2025 Hells Canyon or Salmon River mutli-day rafting trip.

Give us a call today to book your next Hells Canyon or Salmon River multi-day rafting trip. www.hellscanyonraft.com • (208) 634-6366 •

EAT Albertsons

Brunchette on the Lake

Dee’z Squeeze

317 E Lake St., Ste B1 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-849-4040 brunchette.com

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-469-9475 deezsqueeze.com

Café 6 three 4

1003 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5507

500 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4634 cafe6three4@gmail.com

Checkpoint Wine Bar & Tapas at Hotel Nobo

132 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8166 albertsons.com

500 N Main St. Cascade, Idaho 83611 208-382-5621 hotelnobo.com/checkpoint

The Bar at Shore Lodge

Clearwater Coffee Company

501 W Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2244 shorelodge.com/dining

760 Village Drive #102 Tamarack, Idaho 83615 208-325-1017 tamarackidaho.com/dining/clearwater-coffee

Banyans on the Green

The Coffee Shop at Shore Lodge

925 Fairway Dr. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6575 banyansonthegreen.com

501 W Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2244 shorelodge.com/dining

Bistro 45

Cutwater Grill at Shore Lodge 501 W Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2244 shorelodge.com/dining

Frenchie’s on Third 319 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6104 Frenchiesonthird.squarespace.com

Growler’s Pizza Grill 501 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7755 growlerspizza.com

Ice Cream Alley 310 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-4700

The Intersection BBQ

206 Virginia St. New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-347-4499 the-intersection-bbq-bar-grill.business.site

Jug Mountain Ranch Clubhouse Restaurant

13834 Farm to Market Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5072 jugmountainranch.com/clubhouse-restaurant

Photo courtesy Tamarack Resort and Sherri Harkin

1101 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4515 bistro45mccall.com

Fogglifter Café

WHERE BEER LOVERS MIGRATE!

KB’s Burritos

Mountain Java & The Back Room Bar

Award-Winning Hand-Crafted Beer

616 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5500 kbsburrito.com

501 Pine St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2027 idahojavamammas.com/mountainjava/

Lake Fork Café

My Father’s Place

Daily Happy Hour

79 Elkhorn Ranch Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-6464 lakeforkcafe.com

901 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4401 mfpmccall.com

Dine-In/Take-Out

Lardos Grill and Saloon

The Narrows Steakhouse at Shore Lodge

600 W Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8191 lardogrillandsaloon.com

Mile High Marina & Grille

Heated Winter Patio

501 W Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2244 shorelodge.com/dining

Open Memorial Day through Labor Day 1300 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8605 milehighmarina.com

Natural Grocers

The Mill Steak and Spirits 324 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7683

204 Lenora St., Ste. 100 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-4433 northforkcoffeeroasters.com

Miner’s Grab N Go

Palooza Basecamp and Eatery

147 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2004 minersgrabngo.com

Cocktails + full bar

209 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 naturalgrocers.com

North Fork Coffee Roasters

112 N Main St. Cascade, Idaho 83611 208-733-0507 paloozabrands.com

salmonriverbrewery.com

411 Railroad Ave McCall, ID

Photo courtesy The Narrows Steakhouse at Shore Lodge

Payette Dream 314 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2746

Pueblo Lindo 1007 W Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2270

Ragazza Di Bufalo 319 Main St. Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-325-3463 cheftopple.com/bufalodonnelly

Ragazza di Lago Creative Mediterranean Cuisine Cook’s Tools • Home Decor • Gifts Wishes Granted

203 E Lake Street McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4665 cheftopple.com/lago

The Rendezvous Includes El Pueblo Taqueria, Triple B Diner, and Summit Bowls 780 Village Drive #103 Tamarack, Idaho 83615 208-325-1123 tamarackidaho.com/dining

The Reserve 760 Village Drive #101 Tamarack, Idaho 83615 208-325-1014 tamarackidaho.com/dining/menues/the-reserve

Rupert’s at Hotel McCall 1101 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8108 rupertsathotelmccall.com

Salmon River Brewery

Gift Certificates & Gift Wrap

411 Railroad Ave. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4772 salmonriverbrewery.com

Frisky Fresh Fish The Sushi Bar

Smoky’s Bar and Grill at Brundage Mountain Resort

414 Railroad Ave. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7874 sushibarmccall.com

3890 Goose Lake Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4151 brundage.com

Tamarack Resort 311 Village Dr. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-325-1000 tamarackidaho.com

Stacey Cakes 136 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2537 staceycakes.online

Toll Station Pizza

Steamers Steak and Seafood

Get Frisky Fresh Fish Wild Alaskan Seafood

410 Railroad Ave. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7818 tollstationpizza.com

308 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1411 steamersrestaurant.com

Get the best seafood year-round.

Village Market

Subway of McCall 320 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2855 order.subway.com

760 Village Drive #103 Tamarack, Idaho 83615 208-325-1012 tamarackidaho.com/dining/village-market

Subway of New Meadows

Wild River Java 201 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5282 wildriverjava.com

505 Virginia St. New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-347-4000 order.subway.com

Call, text, or email us to schedule a delivery or pickup in McCall, Donnelly, New Meadows, Riggins or anywhere in between. We are proud to source the most sustainably & wild-caught seafood available.

815-739-0394 friskyfreshfishslc@gmail.com www.friskyfreshfishslc.com

Miner’s Grab N Go Sinclair • Local Craft Beer

Miner’s Taco Diner

• Unique Candies and Chocolates

• Fresh, delicious tacos, burritos, bowls, & quesadillas

• Dippin Dots

• Salsa Bar

• Healthy Snacks

• Ice Cream Smoothies

• Grab N Go Breakfast

• Drive Thru

• Ethanol-Free 91 Fuel Available

• Online & Call-In Ordering

• 6am-9pm M-F, 7am-9pm Saturday

• Door Dash Delivery • 11am–7pm M-F

147 N 3rd St. McCall •208-634-2004 www.minersmccall.com

Chef Marcus Stewart | Shore Lodge & Whitetail A nail in the finger was the nail in the coffin for Chef Marcus Stewart’s construction career. Growing up in South Carolina with grandparents who owned a large farm, Stewart always gravitated toward fresh food. Family members who lived nearby raised chickens, pigs and cattle. All that fresh produce and farm-raised livestock left a lasting impression and a love for quality ingredients. So did his father’s involvement with the local Shriner’s club and the delicious southern barbeque plates Stewart helped cook for fundraisers. That, and his grandmother, of course. “Having a southern grandma who cooked for 20 people every Sunday really meant that food was always our focal point, our gathering point,” says Stewart.

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From there, Stewart decided to pursue a more formal culinary education and attended Johnson and Wales University. This led him to work with Chef Frank McMahon at Hank’s Seafood Restaurant in Charlston, named as one of Esquire’s best new restaurants in 1998. He took part in extensive traveling opportunities throughout Germany with McMahan’s brother, which eventually landed him on the Four Seasons team in Houston, Texas. Five years in Houston and two in Atlanta with

After five and a half years with the Four Seasons in Hawaii, Stewart was ready to pursue another challenge. A move to Vail to rebrand three of the Four Seasons restaurants was just the change he had been looking for. It also catapulted him to a lofty goal – becoming the youngest Executive Chef within the Four Seasons company.

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That may have been why the move to the culinary arts was an easy fit following the nail gun experience. After high school, Steward went to work at Landry’s restaurants, first washing dishes then working his way up through the different stations. It was there he fell in love with the kitchen. “Trying to figure out how to make everything happen with 10 other people that you don’t really know on a timeline because people are hungry,” says Stewart. “It’s an adrenaline rush.”

culminated in a move to Hawaii. “I moved to Lanai as a chef tournant and within a year was the Executive Sous Chef overseeing two properties and the pastry department,” says Stewart. He also credits his time in Hawaii as one of the best learning experiences of his career. “The cultural experience there is unsurpassed,” he says. “There is so much exposure to global influences – Filipino cuisine, Pacific Rim cuisine, Japanese and Chinese cuisine.”

Photo courtesy The Narrows Steakhouse at Shore Lodge

the Four Seasons, rebranding and expanding restaurants,

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

And that was when a friend told him about this little mountain town that served as home base for his Middle Fork trips. Curious, Stewart paid his friend a visit in the winter of 2019 – an intense snow year to say least. Undaunted by the towering tunnels of snow to get around town, Stewart found a new opportunity with Shore Lodge and Whitetail. “I was really intrigued by the membership aspect of Whitetail paired with the hotel experience of Shore Lodge,” says Stewart. “It provides a level of connection to the people you are serving that I haven’t found elsewhere.” As the Executive Chef, Stewart oversees nine food and beverage outlets and a staff of 90. And he is thrilled. “It is the people in the kitchen, the chefs that are in place,” says Stewart, “all of us working together really create what the heart and soul of each restaurant is.” Building community, building connections through food; it seems Chef Stewart hasn’t quite given up on his construction career after all.

What is your favorite thing to eat at YOUR restaurant? At the Narrows, the Snake River Farms New York. At the Cutwater, the pizza, chicken or ribs – we have an amazing Yoder Smoker that we use to wood-fire, and it makes the flavor amazing. What is your favorite ingredient to cook with? I love seafood and shellfish. What is something you love to make at home? One of my favorite things is to bring home some of the amazing product we have access to in this industry. A great cut of yellowtail or salmon would be my go-to. What is the first thing you remember cooking? Barbecue. Barbeque is my thing. It is part of where I grew up – going to pick out your pig and processing it from pen to plate.

Continued page 26 25

Chef Steve Topple | Ragazza di Bufalo / Ragazza di Lago / Casa Rossa Originally hailing from Portsmouth on the south coast of England, Chef Steven Topple’s first dream was to be a pilot. At the age of 16 he began flying lessons only to discover that he had a slight color blindness. Knowing how strict major airlines are, he chose to change directions and lean into another favorite… cooking. After attending catering college and finding a love of fine dining, he went to work for a popular TV show in London featuring Brian Turner. This led to an opportunity to work at Cameron House on Loch Lomond in Scotland. “My experience there was absolutely incredible,” says Topple, “but as a kid I had always wanted to move to the States.” He began sending out letters and resumes across the country – from Los Angeles to Chicago to New York. And then one day he got a call from a company in Lake Placid, New York. Aside from the culinary opportunities, Lake Placid made a lasting impression on Topple. “This was where I really fell in love with ski resort towns,” he says. And that love would lead him on a merry journey.

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After crisscrossing the U.S., working in South Carolina in a horse community right next to Augusta, then on to San Francisco with Wolfgang Puck, and then on to Seal Island, Georgia at a five-star diamond resort on the coast, Topple eventually landed back in a little ski town in Colorado called Vail. Here he found a home for twelve years at the top of a mountain. He spent six years as the chef at Beano’s Cabin at Beaver Creek, which requires a gondola ride then a snowcat to get to the front door. He would spend another six at the hotel in Game Creek sitting at 13,000 feet elevation.

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From there, Topple was recruited by a headhunter to work at a lakeside resort in the Pacific Northwest. “I assumed he was talking about someplace like Seattle or a resort town in Montana,” he says. “Then he told me it was Idaho and I was intrigued.” He flew out for an interview and fell in love with McCall and Shore Lodge.

During his time as the Executive Chef at Shore Lodge and Whitetail, Chef Topple lived in Donnelly and drove by a little restaurant every day on his way to and from work. It had been Continued page 28

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sitting empty for three years, but in its heyday had been a wildly popular dinner spot. “One day I finally got the courage to call a real estate agent and ask to take a look at the property,” he says. “I made an offer on it and that was that.” Ragazza di Bufalo was born. Chef Topple’s first restaurant leans toward Italian cuisine and is named for its predecessor, Buffalo Gal. Today, Ragazza di Bufalo is celebrating its fifth anniversary and an expansion with neighboring Casa Rossa, featuring wine and tapas. Chef Topple has also opened a sister restaurant in McCall, Ragazza di Lago, which celebrates the flavors of the Mediterranean. And while Chef Topple may be the reason these restaurants exist, he is quick to note that it is the people around him who have made these restaurants a success. “I honestly couldn’t do any of this without my team,” he says. “You have to cherish everyone… that is what success really looks like.” That sentiment extends beyond his own family of restaurants. Chef Topple is leading the charge on a brand-new culinary apprenticeship program in the area (see page 29). “This area is really growing in terms of the culinary offerings,” he says. “The exciting thing is that we are all trying to elevate one another and contribute to a vibrant local food scene.” That desire to lift one another up, to elevate, is ironically a hallmark of his first dream of becoming a pilot. We can’t wait to see what else takes flight with Chef Topple on the scene. 28

What is your favorite thing to eat at YOUR restaurant? I just put this new venison masala on the menu. It has figs and huckleberries in it, and it’s absolutely incredible. What is your favorite ingredient to cook with? There are too many to pick from, but I tend to lean toward the more Mediterranean flavors. What is something you love to make at home? Very simple, basic stuff. One night I might have a nice steak – a ribeye or New York, and then have a frozen pizza the next night. What is the first thing you remember cooking? Cooking chicken cordon bleu with my parents. We would take a chicken and roll it out, fill it with prosciutto and gouda. No breading. It was my very favorite meal.

Valley County Culinary Apprenticeship This one-year program is a collaboration between local chefs and McCall College. Its mission is to provide an opportunity for culinary education and aims to attract local workforce talent to our rural community. The inaugural class will kick off in September 2024 and consist of six apprentices who will spend one year immersed in the inner workings of a local restaurant. This will be supplemented with weekly classroom work. Apprentices will be paid, and housing will be made available to those accepted into the program. To learn more about this new opportunity in our community visit mccallcollege.org/culinary.

OR DINE IN THE HEART OF TOWN 410 RAILROAD AVE • (208) 634-7818

Continued page 30

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Chef Eric Aldis | Tamarack Resort From chemical engineer to Executive Chef. It may not be the most likely path, but Chef Eric Aldis just couldn’t resist the pull of an entrepreneurial spirit… and legit Texas barbeque.

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Born and raised in Gonzalas, Aldis grew up going to school in football powerhouse Katy, Texas. Even in high school he says he was always the first one to break out the grill. In college he majored in chemical engineering at Texas A&M but just couldn’t stomach the career. So, he went back to what he loved and went to culinary school in Houston.

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What he found was an education that leaned into the business side rather than the food side, and while he knew it was an important piece to the overall puzzle, he missed the kitchen. So he worked for free while he went to school. “I washed dishes, prepped, and cooked wherever I could,” says Aldis. Eventually, this caught the eye of Scott Tycer who helped him get aligned with the Four Seasons. “I really cut my teeth at the Four Seasons,” says Aldis. “After I graduated, I was able to move to management and that opened so many global doors. I would be in Italy one day and France the next day, teaching and training within the Four Seasons company.” And while that experience was invaluable, Aldis was also curious about the competition. He soon moved to the Ritz Carlton and did the same thing, soaking it all in. “I can’t even say I was a sponge at this point,” he laughs, “I was more like a mosquito sucking up as much knowledge as anyone was willing to share and learning from amazing chefs all around the world.” With the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton on his resume, new opportunities began to open up. Aldis spent time working in the Philippines, India, and Thailand before landing back in the United States in Las Vegas at the Bellagio. “At the time I was 22 years old,” he says, “and the Bellagio was the only five-star, five-diamond casino in the world.” But that wasn’t the only draw. “I saw the product that was being used and I saw the army of chefs and the innovation, and I was sold instantly.”

Photo courtesy Tamarack Resort and Evan Cordova

Continued page 32

Golf Course Paths are open for Winter Walking during Snow Season after the course has been closed and prepped. Keep Pets on the Path Clean up after your Pet Keep Right, Pass Left Obey Course Signs Be Kind MCCALLGOLFCLUB.COM

What is your favorite thing to eat at YOUR restaurant? I love the Pork Schnitzel at the Reserve. It’s a 16-ounce tomahawk pork that comes with spaetzle, caramelized onions, and some wild mushrooms. What is your favorite ingredient to cook with? Truffle, caviar, and lobster. What is something you love to make at home? Anything Breakfast. That or just some clean food. I like an easy meal of chicken thighs, couscous, and some herb-up yogurt over the top. What is the first thing you remember cooking? Quesadilla. I learned how to get the nonstick, the butter, the cheese going and once I had that down I started adding every seasoning in the cabinet.

After several years at the Bellagio, Aldis started to turn his focus to learning how to one day open his own restaurants. This led him back to the Ritz to open a property in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and then back to Houston. “At some point I had to own that I am a Texan and I missed my hunting and fishing and barbeque,” he says. Back in Texas, Aldis made the leap from Executive Chef to business owner. “I was really interested in the oil and gas industry and how these companies operated,” says Aldis. He focused on catering for the off-shore rigs and later expanded to include 11 food trucks that served fracking crews on job sites. But, like many industries, the oil and gas market is volatile. “It made me nervous,” Aldis says. So he opted to divest the food trucks and build a foundation of businesses throughout Texas and Tennessee, opening restaurants and bars in Houston, Galveston, and Nashville. Then one day, a headhunter called. “I wasn’t really looking to move,” says Aldis, “but she was persistent! Every morning she would send me something about Idaho this or Idaho that.” And eventually, he had to see it for himself. Once he got to Idaho, he was hooked. What Aldis is loving about leading the culinary team at Tamarack Resort is the people. “You can’t do anything until you find your purpose in life,” he says. “My purpose is to try to positively impact peoples’ lives and the people here are amazing.” The team, the community, the resort customers – finding the right chemistry to bring everyone together is something Aldis is passionate about. Perhaps those chemical engineering days found a purpose in the kitchen – and beyond – after all.

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

Continued page 34

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Chef Josh Stanton | Checkpoint in Hotel Nobo Growing up in Florida, Chef Josh Stanton opted to join the Navy directly out of high school. After being medically discharged, Stanton picked up a job washing dishes… and discovered his true passion. “I fell in love with the camaraderie of the kitchen,” he says. “I knew I had to pursue a culinary profession.” That spark, that momentum of finding a true calling, led him to work for Murphy’s Grill in Florida. “I had the privilege of working with Mr. Larry Murray who shared all of his grandmother’s recipes from Louisiana,” says Stanton. “It was steeped in southern comfort with lots of seafood flair.” The mentorship education he received in those early days was the start of a 13-year culinary journey.

“I worked my way up from humble greasy spoon diners to fine dining establishments,” says Stanton. But it was in the world of fine dining that he found his true calling. “There is a challenge to crafting dishes that harmonize diverse ingredients and flavor profiles,” he says. Stanton’s flavor profiles tend toward the romantic cuisines of France, Italy, and Spain. During his time in Florida, Stanton had the opportunity to work under some world-class chefs including Alan Heckman at Pogo’s Kitchen. Here he was able to take a deep dive into the traditions of French cuisine – and build his love of French food. He also had the unique opportunity to collaborate with Leonardo Batali, utilizing his mother’s cherished starter recipes. This honed his love of all things Italian. Paired with the rich culinary landscape in Florida, influenced by Spanish, Mexican, and Latino flavors, the trifecta was complete. “These experiences and influences left a lasting imprint on my culinary style,” says Stanton.

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As much as his profession has led him to new experiences, so has his family. Chef Stanton’s journey eventually landed him in the McCall area where his wife’s family lives. “We felt the move was timely as we are expecting a son this winter,” says Stanton. “We wanted to be closer to family.”

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With the move to Idaho, the stars aligned for Stanton when he was hired at Hotel Nobo in Cascade. “I was actually hired in a different position to start, but as fate would have it my first day was the chef’s last day,” he says. “It was really a perfect opportunity to take the reins in the kitchen and be a part of something great at Checkpoint.” Continued page 36

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

WOMEN Clothing Jewelry Footwear Accessories GIFTS Bibles Journals Candles Decor Body care YOUNG AT HEART Toys Games Puzzles Craft kits Building sets

1000 N 2nd St. Suite 101

208-634-9966

What is your favorite thing to eat at YOUR restaurant? Definitely the Primavera. It is just such a good, classic dish. What is your favorite ingredient to cook with? I do a lot with tarragon. I just love the licorice flavor and the smell is amazing. What is something you love to make at home? My wife is Italian, so we make a lot of Italian dishes at home. It’s perfect for those rainy or snowy days. I like to keep it kind of simple at home. What is the first thing you remember cooking? My mom taught me to make scrambled eggs when I was six. Yeah. I remember going crazy with garlic salt and this and that – sometimes they were edible, and sometimes they weren’t. When I was 14, I came up with a dish that I affectionately call “preferito di mama” because it is my mom’s favorite. It’s a seared chicken, cut off the bone and cooked with a brick on top so it’s nice and flat and crispy. I serve it with a wheat pasta, sunflower seeds, olive oil, squash or zucchini, and some herbs. It’s a simple dish, but my mom loves it. It is still the one thing she always asks me to make.

The freedom to be creative is something Stanton doesn’t take for granted. “If you could spend a minute in my head,” he laughs, “it is a constant stream of ideas and new things to try.” But his approach starts with the basics. “I like to start with a traditional base and then see how far out of bounds I can go without breaking it.” He also spends a lot of time garnering feedback from guests and the community, asking questions and listening to feedback. “That is really how you grow and keep the momentum going,” he says. “You have to listen to the people around you, be a part of the community.” It is that sense of purpose, that momentum that propelled him down this path in the first place, that will keep us coming back to sample all of Chef Stanton’s delicious ideas.

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

Don’t let your culinary journey in the West Central Mountains end here! We invite you to continue to explore the people behind the plate. There is a wealth of amazing chefs and rich, flavorful food in our mountain region. Stop in, say hello, and enjoy what their journey has brought to the table. Visit our “Eat” section on page 20 for a complete list of member restaurants.

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EVENT AND WEDDING PLANNING Brundage Mountain Catering 3890 Goose Lake Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4151 brundage.com/dining/catering

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McCall Weddings 700 Virginia St., Ste. C New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-634-4567 mccallweddings.com

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MUSIC AND NIGHTLIFE Bistro 45 1101 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4515 bistro45mccall.com

Broken Horn Brewing Company 201 S Mission St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-5472 brokenhornbrewing.com

Brundage Mountain Resort Smoky’s Bar & Grill 3890 Goose Lake Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4151 brundage.com/smokys

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600 W Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8191 lardogrillandsaloon.com

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Mile High Marina & Grille

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Open Memorial Day through Labor Day 1300 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8605 milehighmarina.com

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The Mill Steak and Spirits 324 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7683

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Rupert’s at Hotel McCall

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RECREATION The Activity Barn 141 Moonridge Dr. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3298 Winter Hours 208-634-4151 Year-Round brundage.com/snow-tubing-mccall/

America’s Rafting Company 85 S Superior St. Cambridge, Idaho 83610 208-317-3862 idahooutdoortourscom/americasraftingcompany/

Apex Electric Bike Sales & Rentals 616 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6290 rollapex.com

Backwoods Adventures Open Memorial Day through Labor Day North Beach Boat Launch Warren Wagon Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-469-9067 backwoodsadventuresmccall.com

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Drift West 122 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-6445 www.drift-west.com

Fly Fish McCall Riggins, Idaho 83549 208-628-3862 flyfishmccall.com

Gravity Sports 503 Pine St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8530 gravitysportsidaho.com

Harlow’s McCall 14030 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1089 goharlowsmccall.com

Hells Canyon Adventures 85 N Superior Cambridge, Idaho 208-257-4564 hellscanyonadventures.com

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Little Ski Hill (Payette Lakes Ski Club) 3635 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5691 payettelakesskiclub.org

Manchester Ice and Event Centre 200 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3570 manchestericecenter.com

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McCall Curling Club 200 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 facebook.com/mccallcurlingclub/

McCall Golf Club 925 Fairway Dr. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7200 mccallgolfclub.com

McCall Lake Cruises 203 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5253 mccalllakecruises.com

McCall Mountain Canyon Flying Seminars, LLC 104 S 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1344 mountaincanyonflying.com

MeadowCreek Golf Resort 2975 Kimberland Dr. New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-347-2555 meadowcreekgolfresort.com

Mile High Marina & Grille Open Memorial Day through Labor Day 1300 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8605 milehighmarina.com

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Mountain Meadow Adventure Rentals 2445 W Mountain Rd Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-325-1500 mountainmeadowrentals.com

Mountain River Outfitters 411 Main St. Riggins, Idaho 83549 208-628-3733 idahoriver.com

Payette National Forest 500 N Mission St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-0600 fs.usda.gov/payette

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Payette Powder Guides McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-6793 payettepowderguides.com

Redline Recreational Toys 13876 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-695-2288 redlinerectoys.com

River Adventures Inc. 122 Main St. Riggins, Idaho 83549 1-800-524-9710 hellscanyon.tours

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SALON, SPA, HEALTH AND WELLNESS 208 Med Spa 125 Commerce St., Ste. D McCall, Idaho 83638 208-408-0976 hydrate208.com

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Alpenglow Spa 212 N 3rd St., Suite B McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6585 alpenglowmccall.com

Be Well and Tell 340 Moon Dr. McCall, Idaho 83638 775-544-9578 kristinadobler.arbonne.com

Bespoke Well Spa + Boutique 409 S 3rd St., Ste. 4 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4169 bespokemccall.com

The Cove at Shore Lodge 501 W Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-0280 thecovemccall.com

Emulate Natural Care 165 Main St. Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-854-1067 www.emulatewellness.com

Eye of the Owl Art Tattoo 114 N 3rd St., Unit B McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-2408 eyeoftheowl.art

Isagenix McCall, Idaho 83638 208-850-5273 sybilimel.com

RDH Endurance Training McCall, Idaho 83638 773-575-6040 rdhendurancetraining.com

Simply Be Massage 331 Deinhard Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-0863 www.simplybemassage.com

The Spa at Tamarack 75 Arling Center Ct. Tamarack, Idaho 83615 208-325-1570 www.tamarackidaho.com/spa

Vibrant Med Spa

Photo courtesy Chelsea Tuttle

MANCHESTER ICE AND EVENT CENTER MOUNTAINEERS HOCKEY!

203 E Lake St., Ste. 7 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5729 unwindmccall.com

Whole Mountain Health Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach McCall, Idaho 83638 208-352-3132 wholemountainhealth.com

• Home games: - October 27 & 28 - November 17 & 18 - December 15 & 16 - January 26 & 27 • Doors open at 6:45pm, puck drops at 7:30pm • Tickets available at the rink $15 adult, $5 student, 6 and under free

200 E. Lake St., McCall ID

CARNIVAL ICE SHOW Feb 23 & 24 An Olympic & National Champions Star-Studed Lineup! • Doors open @ 7PM. Performance @ 7:30PM • $32 adult, $12 youth (general bleacher seating) • VIP on-ice seating $60pp • Email us for VIP seating at: wintercarnivaliceshow@gmail.com

208-634-3570 manchestericecenter.com

ORDER ONLINE NOW USING OUR QR CODE OR @ www.wildriverjava.com The Northwest’s Premier Seamless Spray Insulation Contractor

Drive-Thru featuring: *Espresso *Smoothies *Small Bites 201 N. 3rd St. McCall, ID

208-634-SEAL (7325)

208-634-JAVA (5282)

www.energyseal.net info@energyseal.net 14037 Hwy 55

…your local java stop since 1998!

McCall, ID 83638

Photo courtesy Brundage Mountain Resort and John Webster Photography

Fun New Experiences Abound at All Three of Our Local Ski Areas By April Thomas Whitney 45

Photo courtesy Brundage Mountain Resort and Brett Johnson

Brundage Mountain Resort www.brundage.com The buzz around Brundage Mountain Resort this winter is all about the new Centennial Express chairlift – and for good reason. The new Doppelmayr high speed quad cuts the base-to-top ride time from sixteen minutes to just six. Having two high-speed quads on the front side of the mountain is truly a game-changer: skiers and snowboarders alike will enjoy less time on cat tracks and in lift lines, and more time shredding their favorite powder lines. The detachable quad (and slightly relocated base terminal) will also make for a smoother loading process. This is especially true for families with children who will appreciate having a few extra seconds to get their ducks in a row before they’re whisked to the top of the mountain to enjoy 1,920 acres of the Best Snow in Idaho™.

A new point-of-sale system using RFID technology will make it easier to pre-purchase passes and tickets online, so once you’ve picked up your RFID card, you can enjoy straight-to-lift access for years to come. The modern system also allows guests interested in backcountry snowcat trips to complete the entire booking process online and view snowcat availability in real time. This will make it easier for storm chasers to grab a seat on a guided Brundage Snowcat Adventure, which is one of the largest snowcat operations in the United States, with a vast 18,000 acres of terrain to explore. Photo courtesy Brundage Mountain Resort and Brett Johnson

“The investments we’re rolling out this season will make a huge impact on some of the biggest pinch-points we see during our busiest days, and the new lift will boost the fun factor all season long,” says Brundage Mountain General Manager, Ken Rider.

Photo courtesy Brundage Mountain Resort and Chad Case

Photo courtesy McCall Area Chamber

The popular Bear’s Den mid-mountain eatery is scheduled to be open seven days a week this season. In addition, Brundage Mountain’s Bandit food truck will be stationed at the edge of the upper parking lot near the main lodge to provide coffee and savory breakfast items you can grab and enjoy on your way to the lifts or lodge. Some fresh new menu items will be mixed in with classic Brundage favorites at the Main Street Market & Smoky’s Bar & Grill. Away from the slopes, Brundage is working with Mountain Community Transit to expand the free McCall-to-Brundage Mountain shuttle service on the “Blue Line” to be offered seven days a week, allowing more people to leave vehicles in town and keep parking lots less crowded. Continued page 48

Delicious Food. Spectacular Space. The Cutwater on Payette Lake is your year-round destination for delicious meals, incredible views, and good times. What more could you ask for?

For reservations, visit

TheCutwaterMcCall.com or call 208.630.0202

501 West Lake Street, McCall, Idaho 83638

Located within Shore Lodge

Another big change at Brundage Mountain will reveal itself the moment guests drive up to the mountain. Entrance roads and parking lot access have been re-engineered for safety, efficiency, and to pave the way for the Winter 2024-25 opening of the Mountain Adventure Center. Looking ahead: The 17,000 square foot Mountain Adventure Center, located just steps from the BlueBird Express, will provide efficient access to tickets, guest services, reservations, rentals, retail, the Mountain Sports School, restrooms and a coffee shop – all on one level. Crews broke ground on the MAC in spring of 2023 and the thoughtfully laid-out mountain modern building is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2024-25 winter season. Continued page 50

JUGMOUNTAINRANCH.COM

NEW REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITIES COMING 2024

208-634-0017 www.cmbackcountryrentals.com cody@cmbackcountryrentals.com 313 McBride Street • McCall, ID

Winter Snowmobile Rentals Guided Trail Tours Guided Mountain Adventures Beginner or Advanced Riding Clinics Avalanche Awareness Clinics

Summer UTV Rentals & Guided Adventures Jet Ski Rentals Ebike Rentals

Come Experience the Ride!

Kayak Rentals Paddleboard Rentals

Tamarack Resort www.tamarackidaho.com Wax your skis and boards and get ready to explore some new terrain and re-imagined runs at Tamarack Resort! Whether you’re a powder hound, a beginner learning the ropes, or a family looking for some playful adventure, Tamarack has you covered with fresh, fun options and legit new terrain.

Photo courtesy Sherri Harkin

Tamarack gained 150 new acres of terrain by shifting the southern boundary beyond the “After You” run to the very edge of its permitted terrain. Another 65 new acres have been resurrected from the resort’s burn scar. Scorched in a 2020 wildfire, the area once known as “Reasons to Quit” has been completely cleared of burned trees and now features two groomed trails, “Powder Junkie” and “Rehab”. Intermediate powder stashes are interspersed with some steeper pitches accessible from Upper Serenity and Tango off the Summit Express. “We all knew those stashes existed but now they’re going to be more accessible and patrolled,” says Tamarack Vice President of Resort Operations and Marketing, Wolfe Ashcraft.

Photo courtesy Sherri Harkin

Another 5.5 acres of terrain has blossomed between the Discovery Chair and the magic carpet where a junior terrain park has sprouted. The new zone uses purpose-built and gently shaped snow features to naturally control speed and body position, making the learning process less intimidating and more fun. Once your crew has mastered the basics, they can head over to the new, interactive, family-friendly Lumberjack Land zone. This area, off of Waltz near the top of the Buttercup Chair, has

loads of fun features like berms and whoop-di-dos, a teepee you can ski under, and lots of friendly-looking characters you can high-five on your way through. The resort is focused on providing a well-rounded experience for every member of the family, with après ski activities like Karaoke, Trivia, S’mores, live music, and even horse carriage rides planned this winter. Other notable improvements include a 30% increase in snowmaking coverage on runs around the Tamarack Express thanks to the addition of six new TA TT10 automated snow guns (the most efficient in the world) and one mile of new snowmaking pipe.

Photo courtesy Sherri Harkin

Guests will also be excited to find a new Nordic Center located in the Lodge at Osprey Meadows. The facility will offer rentals, retail items and lessons to make it easier for everyone to fully enjoy XC, skate skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking on the 20k+ Nordic trail system just outside the center’s doors. Looking ahead: After a nine-year hiatus and a multi-year restoration, Tamarack’s celebrated Osprey Meadows golf course is set to re-open with 19 holes of play in July of 2024. Tamarack hired the course’s original designer – Robert Trent Jones II – to reconfigure it, improve playability, and maximize views. Continued page 52

Photo courtesy Sherri Harkin

KEEP US WILD NOT FED!

MCCALLWILDLIFE.COM

We kindly request all visitors to refrain from feeding the deer when they explore our beautiful city. Observing these graceful creatures from a respectful distance allows them to maintain their natural behaviors while preserving the delicate balance of our local ecosystem. It is against the law to feed wildlife. Please protect the well-being of our deer population and the unique charm of McCall.

Little Ski Hill (Payette Lakes Ski Club) www.littleskihill.org Local gem, Little Ski Hill, has been going BIG for several years now, and we’re not just talking about their beloved after-school program that has put thousands of local school kids on the slopes over the years.

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography Photo courtesy April Whitney

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

A $2.2 million campaign to improve the infrastructure at the 86-year-old community ski area is wrapping up this year with the addition of lights on the Outback Terrain Park run. Lights were added to the Race Run and base area last season, just two years after the legendary T-Bar and existing lights were upgraded. Completing this project increases skiable terrain at LSH by 150% after dark, making the community’s only night skiing option even more fun (if that’s possible). New this year: a Wednesday evening program for advanced and freestyle youth made possible by the new lights, which will shine on six runs that cover 25 of the ski area’s 50 skiable acres.

“The community vibe at Little Ski Hill is as strong as it’s ever been, and as our youth population grows, it’s important for us to be able to expand what we offer,” says LSH General Manager, Colby Neilsen. “Our non-profit board and our generous supporters feel strongly that no one who grows up here should miss out on the chance to learn to ski or snowboard and make the lasting connections that blossom so naturally here on the hill.” In addition to providing ski and snowboard lessons through the afterschool program and hosting the community’s McCall Winter Sports Club practices and competitions, Little Ski Hill also hosts community race leagues and offers Nordic lesson programs at nearby Bear Basin. This year, the Nordic program is expanding by offering lessons for four different levels of skate skiers and a women’s only session. If you’d like to support the mission of the Payette Lakes Ski Club, it’s not too late to support the “Lift, Lights, Little Hill” improvement campaign. Looking ahead: Good news for those who love to BRUNCH… Little Ski Hill has confirmed that their Saturday - Sunday - Monday brunch will return for Summer 2024. The menu is packed with choices and the flavors are surprisingly refined. With friendly service, convenient parking, and indoor/outdoor seating, it was the sleeper hit of this summer’s culinary scene.

Your Urgent Care Is Now Open Convenient, Affordable Option for McCall

The new St. Luke’s Urgent Care, housed in the Allen-Nokes Center, is now open to serve patients. It’s a great option for those who aren’t experiencing an emergency but can’t wait for an appointment. • Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. • Walk-in facility. • Same-day, affordable treatment. The first clinic of its kind in our area, Urgent Care provides residents and visitors alike the right care, right when they need it. Thank you to our generous donors, McCall Memorial Hospital District and local support. You made it possible!

Building for the future. The right care, right here.

200 Forest Street McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-2590

FEBRUARY

EVENTS

This event calendar represents typical happenings you can find throughout the year in McCall. Please visit each group or business website for specific information on each event.

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Beer & Gear Festival: Brundage Mountain Women with Bait Tournament: Riggins Snowmobile Crab Feed: Warren St. Patrick’s Day Events: Salmon River Brewery & Foresters Spring Break Lunch & a Movie: Shore Lodge Saturday Après DJ Series at Tamarack Bear’s Den Snowcat Dinners: Brundage Mountain

a S a i s P h o t o g r a p hy

APRIL Idaho State Pond Skimming Championships: Tamarack Resort Brundage Mountain Brewlympics, Gelande Quaff & Cardboard Classic Salmon River Jet Boat Races: Riggins Easter Brunch: Shore Lodge & Rupert’s Community Easter Egg Hunts Howdy’s Gas and Grub Annual Fishing Tournament Mountain High Quilt Camp: Quaker Hill

JUNE Donnelly co ur te sy Farmers Sa ma nt h Market every a Sa is Ph o t o g r a p hy Wednesday, 3-6pm McCall Farmer’s Market every Wednesday and Saturday, 11am-1pm McCall Arts and Humanities Creative Campus Series Tuesdays at the Terrace: Ponderosa Center TGIF Summer Concert Series: Brundage Mountain Seven Devils Playwrights Conference Northwest Challenge Bow Shoot: Tamarack Resort Idaho Free Fishing Day Father’s Day Celebrations McCall Public Library Summer Reading Program Summer Operations Begin: Brundage Mountain Sunset Concert Series: Tamarack Resort Kaleidoscope Children’s Art Festival: Central Idaho Historical Museum Cowboy Trade Days: Roseberry Progressive Club Fashion Show Ponderosa Park Run for Payette Lakes Ski Club Northwest Cup Downhill Mountain Bike Race: Tamarack Resort Hells Canyon Jam Riggins Rattle the Canyon o

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MARCH

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations Idaho Gives Summer Operations Begin: Tamarack Resort Mother’s Day Celebrations Riggins Rodeo and Parade GIG Foundation Annual Fundraiser and Silent Auction: Bistro 45 Historic Roseberry Open House and Volunteer Picnic Memorial Day Observance

Payette Children’s Forest Winter Adventure Idaho Free Nordic Ski Day Youth Ice Fishing Day Grom Games: Tamarack Resort McCall Re-Mastered Nordic Race Idaho Sled Dog Challenge Saturday Après DJ Series at Tamarack Bear’s Den Snowcat Dinners: Brundage Mountain IFSA Big Mountain at Tamarack Resort

MAY

JANUARY

Heritage Night: Little Ski Hill Brundage Mountain Diva Days Demo Days: Tamarack Resort Snowmobile Fun Run: McCall Snowmobile Club Valentine’s Day Dinners: Shore Lodge & Rupert’s Bvss Cvmp Festival and Cardboard Box Derby: Tamarack Resort Winter Jamboree: Cascade Meadows Valley Snow Jamboree Women with Bait Tournament: Riggins Cascade Cup Fishing Tournament McCallin’ All Cats Vintage Snowcat Jamboree Destination: Beer Winemaker Dinner: Shore Lodge McCall Winter Carnival: Last weekend in February McCall Starz on Ice Saturday Après DJ Series at Tamarack Bear’s Den Snowcat Dinners: Brundage Mountain

JULY Donnelly Farmers Market every Wednesday, 3-6pm McCall Farmer’s Market every Wednesday and Saturday, 11am-1pm McCall Arts and Humanities Creative Campus Series Tuesdays at the Terrace: Ponderosa Center McCall Public Library Summer Reading Program 4th of July Celebrations and Fireworks: McCall, Donnelly, Cascade & New Meadows 4th of July Music Festival and Summit Cat Track 10k at Brundage Mountain Cruiz’N McCall Car Show Thunder Mountain Days: Cascade Roseberry Arts and Crafts Festival Payette Children’s Forest Take it Outside Event McCall Amateur Golf Tournament Yoga on the Mountain at Brundage Mountain Roseberry Summer Music Festival Dining & Dogs: Tamarack Resort Jump Park Competition: Tamarack Resort McCall MusicFest presented by McCall Music Society Adams County Fair and Rodeo Roseberry Wednesday Night Concert Series TGIF Summer Concert Series: Brundage Mountain Sunset Concert Series: Tamarack Resort Payette Lakes Classic and Wooden Boat Show Riggins Hot Summer Nights

AUGUST Donnelly Farmers Market every Wednesday, 3-6pm McCall Farmer’s Market every Wednesday and Saturday, 11am-1pm McCall Arts and Humanities Creative Campus Series Tuesdays at the Terrace: Ponderosa Center McCall Public Library Summer Reading Program Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival Huckleberry Festival: Donnelly & Tamarack Resort MWSC’s Ski Bum Scramble Long Valley Pioneer Picnic Payette Lakes Fine Art and Craft Fair Cascade Medical Center Foundation Golf Tournament

AUGUST CONTINUED Payette Lakes Ski Club Mountain Triathlon TGIF Summer Concert Series: Brundage Mountain Roseberry Wednesday Night Concert Series Sunset Concert Series: Tamarack Resort Yoga on the Mountain at Brundage Mountain Fosdick Benefit Golf Tournament at MeadowCreek Valley County Fair and Rodeo Chalk on the Walk: Cascade Art in the Courtyard Mountain Brewfest

SEPTEMBER Donnelly Farmers Market every Wednesday, 3-6pm McCall Farmer’s Market every Wednesday and Saturday, 11am-1pm Meadows Valley Days Fun Run benefitting the Shepherd’s Home & Toby’s Place Roseberry’s Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social Bikes, Brews, and Bluegrass Festival: Tamarack Resort Art and Wine Festival: Tamarack Resort Alpha Nursery Fall Harvest Festival Oktoberfest: Tamarack Resort Judge’s Fishing Day: Cascade Payette Lake Run Fall Fest presented by the McCall Chamber

OCTOBER McCall Farmer’s Market every Wednesday and Saturday, 11am-1pm Skate By The Lake Hockey Tournament McCall Curling Club Roktoberspiel Cascade Lake Run McPaws Oktoberfest Payette Lakes Ski Club Ski Swap Light Festival presented by the Ponderosa Center Harvest Fest: Donnelly Elementary Haunted House: Little Ski Hill Halloween in Donnelly Halloween Movie Night: Tamarack Resort Witches and Wizards on the Water Trunk or Treat Halloween Events

NOVEMBER Cascade Holiday Bazaar: Hotel NoBo Thanksgiving 6K Turkey Trot: The Club at Aspen Village McCall Festival of Trees Small Business Saturday Brundage Mountain’s Pray for Snow Party Pray for Snow Preseason Rail Jam: Tamarack Resort Thanksgiving Dinner Specials Community Thanksgiving Dinner: Cascade P ho

DECEMBER

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Shop Local, Shop Late Downtown Tree Lighting: McCall & New Meadows Snow Ball benefiting the Payette Lakes Ski Club Toby’s Place Winter Wonderland Celebration Backcountry Film Festival St. Luke’s McCall Holiday Happenings Cascade Community Center Christmas Craft Fair McCall Music Society Community Carol- Along Breakfast with Santa: Shore Lodge Pictures with Santa: Various Locations Santa Paws Christmas Cookie Decorating: Shore Lodge Christmas Eve Dinner: Rupert’s Christmas Dinner: Shore Lodge Santa Skis: Brundage Mountain & Tamarack Resort Holiday Ice Show: Manchester Ice & Events Center Light Up the Night: Brundage Mountain NYE Fireworks and Torchlight Parade: Tamarack Resort New Year’s Eve Celebrations

55 Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

SHOP

Cascade Mercantile

Krahn’s Home Furnishings

The Christmas House

La Rosa Hat Co.

120 N Main St. Cascade, Idaho 83611 208-428-6342 cascademercantile.com/ 136 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3333 mccallchristmashouse.com

Cross O Meats

5846 Hwy 95 S. Pollock, Idaho 83547 Adventure Floors and Window Coverings 208-628-3868 135 Commerce St. crossomeats.com McCall, Idaho 83638 Fish and Fur Outfitters 208-634-3115 Parma, Idaho 83660 adventurefloors.com 208-936-5180 fishandfuroutfitters.com Albertsons 132 E Lake St. Franklin Building Supply McCall, Idaho 83638 14047 Hwy 55 208-634-8166 McCall, Idaho 83638 albertsons.com 208-634-8111 franklinbuildingsupply.com Allen Malaise, Wildlife in Bronze Artist New Meadows, Idaho 83654 Franz Witte Nursery 208-890-7524 530 Hwy 55 allenmalaise.com McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1001 Backcountry Boutique franzwitte.com/mccall-location 1000 2nd St., Ste. 101 McCall, Idaho 83638 Frisky Fresh Fish 208-634-9966 301 Elk Haven Circle Backcountryboutiquemccall.com Pollock, Idaho 83547 815-739-0394 The Barn Owl Books and Gifts 616 N 3rd St. Gallery Fifty-Five McCall, Idaho 83638 311 E Lake St. 208-634-4440 McCall, Idaho 83638 thebarnowlmccall.com 208-634-6313 galleryfiftyfive.com Bella Kitchen 401 E Railroad St. Granite Mountain Nature Gallery McCall, Idaho 83638 305 E Park St., Ste. A 208-634-4730 McCall, Idaho 83638 bellakitchen.com 208-634-1111 granitemountainng.com Black Pine Deer Farm 13508 Farm to Market Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-325-8886

Bourne Naughty

307 Park St., Ste. 104 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-2064 bournenaughty.com

Brundage Downtown Shop 317 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7772 brundage.com

Builders FirstSource

400 Deinhard Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2234 bldr.com/locations/mccall-lumber/

Gravity Sports

503 Pine St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8530 gravitysportsidaho.com

Home Town Sports

300 E Lenora St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2302 hometownsportsmccall.com

Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store 216 Lenora St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2088 stlukesonline.org

Idaho Barn Wood

502 N 3rd St., Unit 6 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-553-3445 idahobarnwood.com

Idaho Prep Co.

Nampa, Idaho 83651 209-496-5342 idahoprepco.com/

211 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2193 krahnshomefurnishings.com 209 Main St. Donnelly, Idaho 83615 562-522-6905 larosahatco.com

Laketown

200 Lenora St. McCall, Idaho 83638 435-994-2024 shoplaketown.com

Leisure Pool and Spa 611 N. 3RD St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7570 leisuremccall.com

Magnum Floors

114 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6292 magnumfloors.net

McCall Farmers Market

Season: June through October Wednesdays & Saturdays 2nd St. McCall, Idaho 83638

McCall Jewelry Company 207 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4367 mccalljewelrycompany.com

McCall Mattress

13872 Highway 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-7376

McCall Sports

802 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2334 mccallsports.com

The McCall Store

1012 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4581

MCPAWS Thrift Store 301 Lenora St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4434 mcpaws.org/thrift-store

Mile High Marina & Grille

Open Memorial Day through Labor Day 1300 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8605 milehighmarina.com

Mile High Power Sports 13924 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7007 mhpsmccall.com

Miner’s Grab N Go 147 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2004 minersmccall.com

Monkey Love

304 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8268 monkeylove.shop

Browse Relax Read

Mountain Renewal Skincare & Women’s Consignment Boutique 305 Park St., Ste C McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-0762

Natural Grocers 209 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 naturalgrocers.com

Old Town Market 507 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2016

Razzle Dazzle

503 E Pine St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6698 razzledazzlemccall.com

Your indie bookstore in the mountains 208.634.4440 Thebarnowlmccall.com

Alpine Village 616 N. 3rd. St. McCall, ID

Open Daily 11am-5pm Fine Art by Regional Artists Reception on Sharon Herther

First Saturdays 4pm-7pm

Theresa Burkes Margareta Lipinski

Doug Young

Open Daily 11am-5pm · 311 E. Lake Street, Downtown McCall 208-634-6313 · galleryfiftyfive.com · gallery55art@gmail.com

Rustic Outlet McCall

Unique-ARs

110 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4445 rusticoutletmccall.com

McCall, Idaho 83638 888-982-8386 unique-ars.com

Silver Linings Home & Gift Boutique 136 E Lake St., Ste. 6 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3363 mccallchristmashouse.com/silver-linings

Toby’s Place Thrift Shop 506 Pine St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6583 tobysplace.org

Wild Onion

805 N 3rd St., Ste. A McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7788

Works Modern

409 S 3rd St., Suite 2/2 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-469-1106 Worksmodern.com

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Winter

YOUR

BUCKET LIST

#1 SNOWMOBILING With more than 101 inches of snowfall a year and miles of expertly groomed trails to get you to some of the most pristine terrain in the lower 48, snowmobiling makes the top of our list. You can rent sleds or bring your own for a magical day in the mountains. One of our favorite places to ride is on West Mountain. An easy access point to miles of trails that traverse this area is at the intersection of West Mountain Road and Anderson Creek Road. From the parking lot you can ride to the top of four corners and enjoy the West Mountain Warming Hut for a great lunch stop. Trails from this area connect all the way to Tamarack Resort to the north and Wellington Snow Park to the south.

Six Must-Do Activities in Cascade, Idaho You may know Cascade for its charming downtown or for its welcoming hospitality. You may know Cascade for its rich history or for its respect for small town traditions. But have you discovered Cascade for its diverse, family-friendly winter recreation? We rounded up our favorite activities that deserve a place on your winter bucket list this year. Which one will you check off first?

If you prefer to start from the southern end of the valley, we like the easy access of Wellington Snow Park just before Cougar Mountain Lodge. The Warm Lake area also offers great riding if you are up for a scenic drive (approximately 26 miles up Warm Lake road). From Warm Lake you can follow a groomed trail into the Clear Creek area and up to Cougar Rock and into the Clear Creek parking lot – a nice route for a full day’s ride. If you are aiming for a bigger adventure, try a ride into Yellow Pine. Starting from the Warm Lake parking area near the North Shore Lodge, follow the groomed trail into the backcountry. You can choose to head toward Deadwood as a detour, but it is highly recommended avalanche safety training has been completed for this jaunt. Once you reach Yellow Pine, enjoy the Corner Bar or the Tavern, which hosts some wonderful meals as well as beer or wine. The General Store and other businesses have fuel if you are running low. And finally, one of our favorite trails to the north is the No Business Loop Trail. From the Donnelly Snowmobile Hut on West Mountain Road (just north of the intersection at Roseberry and West Mountain Road), you can access hundreds of miles of groomed trails. *Always observe winter snow safety tactics, backcountry safety tactics, and private property.

Limited guide services are available, but you can also get into the ice fishing craze with a fairly simple setup and strike out on your own.

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Perhaps one of Cascade’s worst-kept secrets is its stellar ice fishing. Lake Cascade is gaining traction as one of the most sought-after winter fishing destinations in the country. Record size perch and feisty trout offer some of the most fun catches around.

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#2 ICE FISHING

For the easiest access, start at Lake Cascade. With miles of frozen lake ice to explore, the hunt for that trophy perch is easier than ever. But don’t stop there. We also love Horsetheif Reservoir and Warm Lake for ice fishing. A great way to dip your line is to join in on a tournament weekend. Each year the Idaho Youth Outdoor fishing tournament is held at Horsethief and Warm Lake hosts the popular WTF (Where’s the Fish) tournament. And on Lake Cascade, the largest ice fishing Tournament is Tackle Tom’s “Cascade Cup.”

#3 HOT SPRINGS There’s only one thing that makes soaking in a one of the area’s hot springs even more enjoyable… the crisp, cool winter air. While there are numerous natural hot springs around Cascade, most are difficult to get to in the winter. Two great options when the snow flies are Trail Creek Hot Springs and the Cascade Aquatic and Recreation Center.

Photo courtesy Visit Idaho

First up, Trail Creek hot springs sits at 5,614 feet in elevation and has an average temperature of115 degrees (which can be lowered by adding creek water to the soaking pools through pipes along the river). To get to Trail Creek, take Warm Lake Road approximately 19 miles NE. Watch for a large pullout on your right, 0.4 miles east of milepost 61. Follow a 60-yard path from the west end to the canyon floor and the soaking pools. The hot spring includes two small pools with steep access, and can be very slippery! Our second soaking pick may come as a surprise… the Cascade Aquatic and Recreation Center. This municipal swimming pool is unique in that it is heated with geothermal water. Covered with a dome in the winter, the Center offers an easy way to soak (and swim!) all winter long. Continued page 62 61

Photo courtesy Visit Idaho

#4 SLEDDING Nothing brings back (or makes!) childhood memories quite like sledding. One of the best places to go sledding in Cascade – as well as catch some epic views of Lake Cascade- is the local golf course. The slopes at the Cascade Golf Course paired with the lakefront views make this a haven for this classic winter activity. Another favorite sledding location is the south end of Lake Cascade. At the

South end of the lake there is room for some winter tailgating with space for grilling hot dogs and using snowmobiles to haul sledders to the top of the hill (please note: this is only available at the south end of the lake, not on the golf course!). A perfect day for kids and kids at heart!

#5 NORDIC SKIING

Photo courtesy Chad Case

Idaho may be famous for its ski slopes, but there is just as much excitement to be found on the valley floor. Cascade’s Nordic trails are no exception. From groomed trails for a skate or classic outing to ample open space to crust cruise, there is no shortage of ways to explore. We like to start at Van Wyck State Park. With easy access and the Lakefront Restaurant just steps away, this is a great jumping off point for a ski. We also love exploring the groomed trails at Hasbrouck Ranch. Located off Cabarton Road (approximately 1.2 miles west from Clear Creek Station), the Ranch offers seven kilometers of trails for Nordic, fat biking, and snowshoeing.

#6 EXPLORE CASCADE In between snowmobiling, ice fishing, hot springs soaking, sledding, and Nordic skiing, there is one winter gem that stands ready for any mood or ability… exploring this amazing small town. From our unique shops and boutiques offering a treasure trove of fun items to discover, to our cozy, family-owned restaurants ready to warm you up with delicious homecooked fare, downtown Cascade is an experience all on its own. Stay for the night or stay for the week. Our friendly folks are ready to make this winter one of your best yet. 62

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STAY

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Alpine Village Company 600 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-336-2200 alpinevillagemccall.com

Aspen Timeshares / McCall Area Timeshares 1607 Davis Ave., #149 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7028 aspentimeshares.org

Brundage Bungalows

308 W Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-473-2894 brundagebungalows.com

Brundage Inn 1005 Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2344 brundagevacations.com

Burgdorf Hot Springs

404 French Creek Rd. (FS#246) Burgdorf, Idaho 83638 208-315-6657 burgdorfhotsprings.com

Camp Ida Haven

McCall Vacations

Camp Alice Pittenger 2111 Pilgrim Cove McCall, Idaho 83638 208-377-2011 girlscouts-ssc.org

805 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7056 mccallvacations.com

Glass House McCall

3024 Upper Goodrich Creek Rd. Cambridge, Idaho 83610 208-257-3849 mundohotsprings.com

1410 Mill Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3829 glasshousemccall.com

The Hartland Inn Bed & Breakfast 211 N Norris Ave. New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-347-2114 thehartlandinn.com

Havens Haven Guest House and Bed & Breakfast McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6600 dmhlt@hotmail.com

Hearthstone 1308 Hearthstone Ct. McCall, Idaho 83638 800-574-6377 hearthstonemccall.com

Hotel McCall 1101 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8105 hotelmccall.com

Hotel NoBo 500 N Main St. Cascade, ID 83611 208-382-5621 hotelnobo.com

iTrip Boise – McCall

2595 Eastside Dr. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5922 idahaven.org

Boise, Idaho 83702 208-991-4991 itrip.net/boise-mccall

Creekside RV Park and Campground

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-477-1280 jaskrentals@gmail.com

3278 Hwy 55 New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-315-3080 creeksidervparkandcampground.com

DoneRight Vacation Rentals and Property Management 321 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-0030 donerightmanagement.com

Evergreen Gems

Limited Edition Vacation Property Rentals & Property Management McCall, Idaho 83638 208-631-0576 evergreengems.com

Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Council, Inc.

JASK Management LLC

McCall Idaho Vacation Rentals McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-3333 mccallidahovacationrentals.com

McCall Property Services/McCall Outfitters McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6257 mccalloutfitter.com

McCall RV Resort 200 Scott St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5646 g7resorts.com/rv-park/mccall-rv-resort/

Mundo Hot Springs and RV Park

No Business Lodge 296 Smylie Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-440-5163 nobusinesslodge.com

Nordic Inn 400 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7671 www.nordicinnmccall.com

Palooza Basecamp and Eatery 112 N Main St. Cascade, Idaho 83611 208-733-0507 paloozabrands.com

Paradise Point Episcopal Church Camp 2755 Eastside Dr. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-345-4440 paradisepointcamp.org

Payette National Forest 500 N Mission St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-0600 fs.usda.gov/payette

Pilgrim Cove Camp and Conference Center 1075 Plymouth Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5555 pilgrimcovecamp.org

Ponderosa State Park 1920 Davis Ave. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2164 parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/ ponderosa

Ranch View Venue 3523 South End Rd. New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-469-9029 ranchviewvenue.com

The RV Landing at Carlson Ranch 1526 Big Salmon Rd. Riggins, Idaho 83549 208-628-3132 thervlanging.com

Salmon Rapids Lodge 1010 Main St. Riggins, Idaho 208-628-2743 salmonrapids.com

Scandia Inn 401 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7394 thescandiainn.com

Shore Lodge 501 W Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2244 shorelodge.com

Spiegelman Family Properties Almost Heaven & Annie’s Place info@mccallcabins.com

Tamarack Resort 311 Village Dr. Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-325-1000 tamarackidaho.com

Vacasa 1000 N 2nd St., Apt. 104 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7766 • 800-863-8415 vacasa.com/usa/Idaho/McCall/

WorldMark McCall 805 Sorrel Ct. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2063 worldmark.wyndhamdestinations.com

Spirit Unleashed The Idaho Sled Dog Challenge Hits Its Stride By April Thomas Whitney

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The rugged landscapes of Idaho have long been associated with adventure and exploration. In the heart of the snow-covered West Central Mountains, an extraordinary event unfolds each winter that showcases the remarkable partnership between humans and their canine companions – the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge. The Idaho Sled Dog Challenge (ISDC) is an annual long-distance sled dog race that stretches from Warm Lake and Smiths Ferry to Cascade and New Meadows, challenging participants both physically and mentally as they navigate through some of Idaho’s most breathtaking but demanding landscapes. Now in its sixth year, the ISDC has become a centerpiece of the region’s winter calendar. What started as ten teams and a single, 237-mile race has grown to three races: a 300-mile continuous-format race that serves as a qualifier for the famed Iditarod and the Yukon Quest, a 100-mile race, and the Warm Lake Stage Race. Race organizer Jerry Wortley says they make refinements to the races each year based on feedback from the mushers, and they feel like the event has hit its stride. “This past year, we got A’s across the board from all the mushers,” says Wortley, who adds that the mushers like the trail, the flow of the race and the set up at the checkpoints.

The race now draws about two dozen teams and nearly 1,000 spectators. An impressive 238 volunteers stepped up to help support the event in 2023, and that enthusiastic volunteerism is part of what led to the race’s motto: “Spirit Unleashed”.

Photo courtesy Siri Raitto

“This is so much more than just a dog race,” says Wortley. “It’s about the community coming together, the spirit of the mushers and the spirit of the dogs.” The ISDC is part of the Rocky Mountain Triple Crown, which kicks off the with the 200-mile Eagle Cap Extreme near Joseph, Oregon and ends with the 300-mile Race to Continued page 68

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the Sky in Lincoln, Montana. It’s not unusual for mushers to run the races – which happen about a week apart from late January through mid-February – back to back to back.

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42-year-old musher Jesika “Jes” Reimer competed in the 100-mile race in all three triple crown events last year, taking second place honors across the board. She says the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge is her favorite. “The trail was incredible,” says Reimer, who trains her kennel of twelve dogs in the mountains of Northern California. “We had fresh corduroy all the way to the first checkpoint… the views, the mountains, the terrain, it is all so beautiful. Plus my dogs love charging the hills and hairpin corners.” Reimer also appreciated having the ceremonial start the day before the actual race, so she could share her dogs with the spectators without being distracted by the typical pre-race preparations. “We had all the dogs dropped and the gear down and anyone from the public could come chat with us,” says Reimer. The enthusiasm of the local community is also a big part of what makes the event a favorite of Nicole Lombardi, who took first place in all three 100-mile Triple Crown events last season. “My favorite thing is the community involvement with the kids, getting welcome bags with the kids’ art on it, seeing them line the racecourse and cheering us on,” says Lombardi. Continued page 70

Photo courtesy Melissa Shelby Photography

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An estimated 750 local students braved single-digit temperatures to watch different parts of the 2023 races.

“It’s energizing. It’s meaningful to be able to share with the younger generations, to maybe spark something in them to continue the sport,” says Lombardi.

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Event organizers are looking to build on educational opportunities and youth involvement. This past summer, the ISDC partnered with the Idaho STEM Action Center and had two of the Iditarod’s Teacher on the Trail™ veterans as keynote speakers for the iSTEM Action Center’s Summer Institutes Series. The presentations included sample lessons on how to bring sled dog racing into the classroom through STEM education. An estimated 400-500 Idaho educators had the opportunity to listen to those presentations. The ISDC is currently working with the University of Idaho and the Iditarod Education Department to develop a professional development course as an option for educators to earn CEUs and is planning on hosting the Iditarod’s Summer Teachers Conference in McCall. Youth outreach isn’t the only way organizers are working to get more

people involved in the event: this year, five of the six race checkpoints are road-accessible. Viewing the race from a checkpoint gives a different, more immersive perspective than a spectator gets at the start or finish. “That’s really where they can see the dog care, how it all functions, and talk with the mushers. They’ll get a much better feel for everything that goes into the race by visiting the checkpoints,” says Wortley. While the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge is quickly building a reputation for excellence, it also has a reputation for producing female champions. Women have taken first place honors in eight of the ten races they have staged since the event’s debut in 2018. “I can’t tell you why, but I think it’s pretty cool that they’re dominating this race, because it’s one of the toughest qualifiers,” says Wortley. “I think the beauty of longer distance running is that sex or gender doesn’t matter so much. It’s more about how in tune you are with your dogs, how you’ve trained, what you can bring out from them,” says Reimer. “There are no male and female classes in dog sledding. With mushing it doesn’t matter where you carry your muscle, it’s about how well we’ve trained the dogs because they’re the muscle.” Triple Crown champion Nicole Lombardi pointed out that a lot of the female mushers train in mountainous terrain, so that may help them and their teams show up better prepared for the ISDC course. “I don’t know,” adds Lombardi with a chuckle. “Maybe ask one of the guys.” More info: idahosleddogchallenge.com

805 N Third Street • (208) 634-7788

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ADVERTISING AND PRINTING Idaho Business Review

4696 W Overland Rd., Ste. 180 Boise, Idaho 83705 208-336-3768 idahobusinessreview.com

Mapp Designs

New Meadows, Idaho 83654 303-807-8123 mappwebdesigns.com

Mantra Copy & Marketing 13395 Black Pine Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-7137 jeankeese.com

Micael McKenzie Inc Creative

Web Design, Graphic Design & Marketing McCall, Idaho 83638 208-271-6158 micaelmckenzieinc.com

McCall Mailboxes

411 Deinhard Ln., Ste. 7 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4048

Payette Ink & Embroidery 212 N 3rd St., Ste. C McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6520 Payetteink.com

Rocky Mountain Signs 122 Mission St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2045 rm-signs.com

Sparklight

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-455-5555 877-687-1332 sparklight.com

ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS Buildsmith Construction McCall, Idaho 83638 208-841-5557 Buildsmithnw@gmail.com

Crestline Engineers

323 Deinhard Ln., Ste. C McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4140 crestline-eng.com

Edgewood Log Homes

Glass Pro McCall

Epikos

Lakeview Chevron Service

Falvey’s Earthworks

Les Schwab Tire Center

Franz Witte Landscape Construction

Miner’s Grab N Go

13526 Idaho 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-0055 edgewoodlog.com 303 Colorado St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4540 epikosdesign.com

14059 Burr Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2021 falveysearthworks.com 530 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1001 franzwitte.com/mccall-location

Jug Mountain Builders 409 S 3rd St., Ste. D McCall, Idaho 83638 208-816-9243 208-305-1540 jugmountainbuilders.com

Maupin Homes

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-954-6846 maupinhomes.com

Mountain Element Construction, LLC McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-0256 mountainelementconstruction.com

Mountain Town Homes 215 Commerce St., Unit 2 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-866-3701 mtntownhomes.com

Payette Builders, Inc. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-9477 payettebuilders.net

Pinetop Custom Homes 112 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-0090 pinetopmccall.com

Robnett Properties

616 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3113 robnettpropertiesmccall.com

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES Bruneel Point S

617 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2252 pointstire.com/mccall

CKR USA

Kart Racing Chassis & Components 225 Commerce St., Ste. C McCall, Idaho 83638 208-384-5278 ckr-usa.com

325 Commerce St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5050 glasspromccall@gmail.com 300 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7544 lakeviewchevron.com 500 Deinhard Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-6042 lesschwab.com 147 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2004 minersmccall.com

BANKS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES Alturas Wealth Management & CPA Services McCall, Idaho 83638 208-991-8789

AmeriTitle McCall 507 E Pine St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-6363 amerititle.com

The Brandon Roberts Group 411 Deinhard Ln. #F118 McCall, Idaho 83638 714-585-3230 Brandonroberts360.com

Charity Andersen State Farm Insurance and Financial Services 409 S 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6134 charitysf.com/

Lexi Dean, Guaranteed Rate McCall, Idaho 83638 208-202-7807 rate.com/lexidean

Edward Jones Financial Advisor–Tama Lamm 216 N Third St., Suite 105 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5855 edwardjones.com

Edward Jones–Michael A. Vineyard 616 N 3rd St., Ste 105 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5855 edwardjones.com

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. 331 Deinhard Ln., Ste. A McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-4056 fairwayindependentmc.com

Flying S Title and Escrow 616 N 3rd St., Ste. 101 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4705 gofirstam.com

Idaho First Bank 475 Deinhard Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1000 idahofirstbank.com

McCall Mortgage Company 310 E Lake St., 2nd Floor McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8253 mccallmortgagecompany.com

PrimeLending

114 N 3rd St., Ste 2A McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2200 christine.reino@primelending.com

Signet Mortgage

3060 S Rookery Ln. Boise, Idaho 83706 208-634-2767 signetmortgage.com/boise

TitleOne

1101 W River St., Ste. 201 Boise, Idaho 83702 208-424-8511 titleonecorp.com

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EMERGENCY RESPONSE EMERGENCY RESPONSE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Umpqua Bank

City of Donnelly

900 2nd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8185 umpquabank.com

169 Halferty St. Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-325-8859 cityofdonnelly.org

U.S. Bank Home Mortgage – Dan Margolis

City of McCall

905 N 2nd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-271-1881 mortgage.usbank.com/id-mccall-dan-margolis

MCCALL’S PREMIERE MCCALL’S PREMIERE MCCALL’S PREMIERE RESTORATION RESTORATION RESTORATION CONTRACTOR CONTRACTOR CONTRACTOR

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Wealth Management Associates

873 E State St. Eagle, Idaho 83616 208-344-1900 wealth-mgt.net/idaho/our-team/ron-coate/

CHURCHES Elk Creek Church

14102 Highway 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-631-1938 elkcreekchurch.com

McCall Church of the Nazarene 223 Hewitt St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5775 mccallnazarene.org

McCall Community Congregational Church 901 1st St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5430 mccallucc.org

McCall Seventh-Day Adventist Church 3592 Long View Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-0053 mccallid.adventistchurch.org

Mountain Life Church 14180 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3037 mymlc.org

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church 1001 Gable St. McCall, ID 208-634-2796 Standrewsmccall.org

CITY, COUNTY AND STATE GOVERNMENT Adams County

201 Industrial Ave. Council, Idaho 83612 208-253-4561 co.adams.id.us

City of Cascade

105 S Main St. Cascade, Idaho 83638 208-382-4279 cascadeid.us

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216 E Park St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7142 mccall.id.us

City of New Meadows

401 Virginia St. New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-347-2171 newmeadowsidaho.us

Idaho Department of Labor 550 & 555 Deinhard Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7102 labor.idaho.gov

Valley County

219 S Main St. Cascade, Idaho 83611 208-382-7100 co.valley.id.us

CLEANING SERVICES Disaster Kleenup

701 N Kings Rd. Nampa, Idaho 83687 208-887-0004 iddk.com

Disaster Response of Idaho 13888 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-3100 disasteridaho.com

Done Right Flood & Fire Services 4735 W Chinden Blvd. Garden City, Idaho 83714 208-215-2577 donerightfloodandfire.com

High Mountain Cleaning and Property Services, LLC 208-741-2395 hmcleaningandproperty.com/

Lakeshore Disposal 200 Industrial Loop McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7176

McCall Carpet and Air Duct Cleaning 411 Deinhard Ln., Ste. F233 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-7603 mccallcarpetandair.com

Pim’s Carpet, Rug and Upholstery Cleaners 208-628-4211 pimscarpetcleaners.com

SERVPRO of McCall 907 W Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-849-4095 servpromccallid.com

COMMUNICATION, TV AND CABLE Family Inspirational Radio: KDZY/KUJJ Radio 707 Mission St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3781 kdzy98.com

Mountain Valley Networks McCall, Idaho 83638 208-994-5999 mountainvalleynetworks.com

Sparklight

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-455-5555 877-687-1332 sparklight.com

COMPUTER AND NETWORKING

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Valley Office Systems

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Featured Artist: Brian Schafer Creative & Innovative… by nature

Photo courtesy Heidi Long

By April Thomas Whitney

Nature and art have always enjoyed a close relationship. Nature can be the subject of a work of art, or what inspires the artist to create in the first place. Nowhere is this more evident than in a remote perch above the East Fork South Fork Salmon River. Here, nature provided the motivation, inspiration, and even the raw materials for a work of art that few people will ever lay eyes on... a Glass Forest. This stunning installation had a humble beginning built on the curiosity of 63-year-old master craftsman Brian Schafer. “Even at an early age I took notice of architecture,” says Schafer. “When I saw something in the shape or style of a building that obviously took extra effort, it sparked my curiosity.” Starting in the 1980’s with a log exporting business based in Lewiston, Idaho, Schafer found the spark that would ignite his imagination. His insatiable curiosity about log and timber frame construction led him to explore every aspect of the design and building business. He studied under carpenters, builders, and architects in the Mountain West, and traveled frequently overseas to study under an expert craftsman in Japan. Continued page 78

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“I spent a lot of time in Japan and was exposed to the finest carpentry I’ve ever seen. Incredibly functional and simple at the same time;” says Schafer, “there’s a timelessness in that simplicity.” Perhaps the single most impactful lesson Schafer learned from his time abroad was how to honor the landscape and use the natural features to work with a structure, not against it. “The most important aspect of Japanese architecture is blurring the line between interior and exterior space,” says Schafer. In time, that focus on nature, with Schafer’s artful designs, innovative construction processes, and meticulous execution built his flagship company, Edgewood Log Homes, into one of the most in-demand design/build luxury log home companies in the world. Continued page 80

JACOB MAUPIN 208.954.6846 JACOBMAUPIN@MAUPINHOMES.COM

CUSTOM

HOMES

Photo courtesy Heidi Long

“To me, it’s truly about the art. And I won’t let anything get in the way of it.” – Brian Schafer

Schafer’s dual focus on form and function suggests a modern version of a renaissance man.

“I can be really artistic and have a lot of fun with that, but I find just as much fulfillment from figuring something out from an engineering perspective as I do from being artistic,” says Schafer. “And the blending of the two is a wonderful space to live in.” “If I’m going to design a home that is unique, then I need to go to the forest and I look for the resource first. If I don’t have the right logs to build the home with, I’m not ready to start building.” Schafer hand-picks the trees that will be milled and hand-scraped into the logs used in his homes. His hands on approach and mastery of the entire construction process – start to finish – has resulted in some incredible innovations It was in 1998 that Schafer yearned for a way to build larger, more seamless window features into his log structures. He envisioned a trim-less floor to ceiling window installation that would honor the landscape and help bring the outdoors in. With this in mind, he meticulously designed what is now his signature 80

feature, the Glass Forest® building process. A true work of art that perfectly blends aesthetics and engineering. Motivated and inspired by the success of the Glass Forest®, Schafer continued to explore specialty building technologies that could bring something new to the industry. In 2005, he started Big Cabin Log & Timber, a supplier-based company for his growing repertoire of patented building technologies including Glass Forest®, Thermal Blanket™, SchaferWall™, and Schaferwood™ (learn more at bigcabin.com).

Jim Boley Real Estate “Proven real estate experience in McCall”

� 619-993-3595 � jim@mccallresortproperties.com 🖥🖥 mccallresortproperties.com

Continued page 82

Mountain Community School Public K-8 Charter School

Project-based school that focuses on our place. Personzlied education to meet individual student needs. 208-325-1595 • mtncommunityschool.org

“If we can get more enthusiasm and energy from this next generation of young people into the trades,” says Schafer, “then everybody will be better off for it.” The vision for this type of program is not a new one for Schafer. Over the last decade, Edgewood has hosted a handful of three-week log building workshops and welcomed motivated young people to start learning aspects of log crafting at Edgewood’s Coeur D’Alene log yard. And while Schafer didn’t create these programs with the hope his own son, Van, would follow in his footsteps, it has been a satisfying side effect.

The Next Generation Today Schaefer is turning his attention toward the future. And that future is at a historic sawmill site just south of Lake Fork. This location will act as an experimental, creative space for himself, and as a venue to help generate the craftspeople of the future. This year, Schafer and his long-time colleagues have undertaken writing a curriculum for a two-year apprenticeship program that he plans to launch in McCall in Fall 2025. Sixty percent of the curriculum will focus on log and timber crafting, with the remaining time spent understanding other foundational aspects of construction. Apprentices will finish the program as journeyman log crafters and timber framers, but Schafer hopes his hands-on, top-to-bottom approach will also give participants a broad view of everything that’s possible in the construction industry.

The apprenticeship program and passing along his passion for construction is the next step in what Schafer hopes is the next phase of his professional life… a way to make space for a masterpiece. His vision is for Big Cabin to share his innovations with the rest of the construction world, while Edgewood shifts focus to designing and building one signature project at a time. That will allow him to liberate himself from his grueling travel schedule to spend more time in the woods and immersed in the creative process. “That’s really the next stage of my life, being able to have the free time to create… and give back,” says Schafer. “To me, giving back is a form of creating,” he says. “Creating an environment where quality, intelligent, driven, unselfish, unentitled people are going to learn the value of working with your hands and creating and building something that you can stand back at the end of the day and appreciate.” A true masterpiece.

1424 Mountain Meadow Dr, McCall, ID 2,732 sqft, 3 BD, 2.5 BA

Listed at: $999,000

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Karen Johansen

Agent cell ph#: 208-315-2801 karenkjohansen@gmail.com 980 Pine Terrace Dr, McCall, ID 1,304 sqft, 2 BD, 2 BA Listed at: $699,997 |

MLS#537022

1007 N 3rd St, McCall, ID 83638

9789 Highway 55, Smiths Ferry, ID 1,878 sqft, 2 BD, 2 BA Listed at: $499,000 |

MLS#536809

office: 208-634-1800

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The Local Lens: All About McCall with

Teia Golden

Over 150 videos about McCall!

HEALTHCARE Adams County Health Center 205 N Berkley Ave. Council, Idaho 83612 208-253-4242 achcid.org

McCall Rehabilitation and Care Center 418 Floyde St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2112 mccallrehab.com

Payette Lakes Medical Clinic

Bullseye Blinds

McCall, Idaho 208-315-0459 bullseyeblinds@gmail.com

Conifer Inspections

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-1765 coniferinspections.com

DF Development LLC PO Box 111 Cisco, Texas 76437

Disaster Kleenup

211 Forest St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2225 stlukesonline.org/communities-and-locations/facilities/clinics/ st-lukes-clinic-payette-lakes-family-medicine

701 N Kings Road Nampa, Idaho 83687 208-887-0004 iddk.com

Solace Natural Medicine

13888 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-3100 disasteridaho.com

301 Colorado St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7289 solacemedicine.com

St. Luke’s Hospital – McCall 1000 State St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2221 stlukesonline.org

Trinity Home Care and Resource 106 E Park St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-908-2791 trinityhomecareresource.com

HOME AND CONSTRUCTION A-1 Heating and Air Conditioning 140 Commerce St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1586 a1heating.com

Disaster Response of Idaho

Edgewood Log Homes 13526 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-6632 Edgewoodlog.com

EnergySEAL Air Barrier Systems 14037 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7325 energyseal.net

Falvey’s Earthworks

14059 Burr Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2021 falveysearthworks.com

Franklin Building Supply

14047 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 Adventure Floors and Window Coverings 208-634-8111 franklinbuildingsupply.com 135 Commerce St. McCall, Idaho 83638 Franz Witte Landscape Construction 208-634-3115 530 Hwy 55 adventurefloors.com McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1001 All Seasons Refrigeration franzwitte.com/mccall-location New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-995-5498 Freelon Property Services ASR21AP@gmail.com 13878 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 Americool Heating & Cooling 208-315-0271 707 W Avalon St. freelon-property-services-llc.business.site Kuna, Idaho 83634 208-922-3816 Garage Door Guy LLC. americoolid.com PO Box 4352 McCall, Idaho 83638 Austin Excavating and Tractor Service 208-315-3421 918 Flynn Ln. garagedoorguyidaho.com McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-3431 Glass Pro McCall austinexcavatingandtractor.com 325 Commerce St. McCall, Idaho 83638 Bespoke Properties Idaho 208-634-5050 13 White Swan Ct. glasspromccall@gmail.com Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-614-1025 Hawk, Inc. Construction and Property bespokepropertiesidaho.com

Services

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-4492 hawkestates.com

High Desert Wildlife & Pest Solutions 9495 Galloway Rd. Middleton, Idaho 83644 208-590-3364 highdesertwildpest.com

JT & Company

May Security and Infinite Home Theatre 345 Commerce St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8200 maysecurity.com

Excavations Services and More Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-484-8111

Lakeshore Disposal

Ice Dam Bros

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-469-4446 icedambrosmccall.com/

200 Industrial Loop McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7176 wasteconnections.com/lakeshore-disposal

Idaho Barn Wood

Maddyn Homes LLC

502 N 3rd St., Unit 6 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-553-3445 idahobarnwood.com

Pat’s Glass and Door 301 Railroad McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4442 patsglassanddoor.com

Pine Mountain Builders of McCall

203 E Lake St., #3 Ste B McCall, Idaho 83638 208-996-3355 maddynhomes.com/mccall

13761 Grouse Knoll Pl. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-271-1240 pinemntbuilders.com

Idaho HOA

495 Deinhard Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-8585 idahohoa.com

In House Carpet One Floor & Home 208-591-0756 leigh@discoverinhouse.com

SERVPRO® of McCall

Inland Marine

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2875 inlandmarine.org

208-849-4045

Independently owned and operated

Inventive Renovations 13765 Horizon View Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-871-2359 inventiverenovations.com

We make building easy.

One project, one solution, one conversation at a time.

· Free Estimates Provided · Fast and Safe Delivery · On-Site Door Shop · In-House Credit Department · Experienced Sales Team · Clean and Dry Material

14047 Highway 55 McCall

208.634.8111

www.franklinbuildingsupply.com

MAGNUM FLOORS

Carpet • Tile • LVT/LVP • Hardwood Sales & Installation 114 N 3rd St. Suite 10 McCall, ID 83638 magnumfloors.net

Office: 208-630-6292 Cell: 208-315-1884

Resolute Restoration McCall, Idaho 83638 844-774-3246 resoluterestoration.com

Restoration North 600 River St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-4122 restonorth.com

Revolusun Mountain States LLC 168 Thula St., Unit 4 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-4082 idaho.revolusun.com

RoePaint.com

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-991-0567 roepainting.com

Sawtooth Paint

1061 N Barkvine Ave. Star, Idaho 83669 208-600-5073

Syman, LLC – New Meadows 3121 Hwy 55 New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-287-8420 symancompany.com

Streamline Idaho LLC PO Box 1467 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-2346 streamlineidaho.com

Tates Rents

106 S Mission St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5709 tatesrents.com

Westside Electric Company McCall, Idaho 83638 208-484-5193

INSURANCE, ATTORNEYS AND BUSINESS SERVICES AmeriTitle

507 E Pine St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-6363 ameri-title.com

AW Custom Content McCall, Idaho 83638 awhit208@gmail.com custom-content.net

Benton Insurance

283 Main St. Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-325-3253 farmersagent.com/dbenton

Charity Andersen State Farm Insurance and Financial Services 409 S 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6134 charitysf.com/

Building Homes that Impress & Inspire Custom Home Builders

New Construction • Remodels 208.630.4492 Hardscape • Maintenance & Repairs

info@hawkestates.com www.hawkestates.com

Full Range of Property Services.

208.630.4492

@hawkconstructionandpropertyservices

info@hawkestates.com • www.hawkestates.com

f @hawkconstructionandpropertyservices

Serving McCall for over 20 years!

Sarah Taylor Insurance Group/Individual Health/Life Medicare/Dental/Vision/Travel

LANDSCAPE SERVICES Crawford Landscape

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-2080 crawfordlandscapemccall.com

Falvey’s Earthworks

Office: 208-344-0022 Cell: 208-484-6298

14059 Burr Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2021 falveysearthworks.com

Email: sarah@imaidaho.com Idaho Native–Licensed and serving Idaho since 2000.

Franz Witte Landscape Construction 14047 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8111 franzwitte.com/mccall-location

GroundUp LLC

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-991-4281 GroundUpMulching.com

KozGro Organics LLC 398 Thomason Ln. Cambridge, Idaho 83610 208-718-8771 kozgroorganics.com

MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS

P.O. Box 1066, 706 N. First St., McCall, Idaho 83838 Phone: (208) 634-7641 Website: www.mpmplaw.com Community Hub McCall 114 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-4913 cubmccall.com

Deirdre B. Marketing & Photography 95 N 2nd St. Cambridge, Idaho 83610 208-866-0634 deidrebmarketing.com

Dunn Consulting

Eagle, Idaho 83616 208-298-7282 keithdunnconsulting.com

Elite Mountain Investigations LLC PO Box 378 Council, Idaho 83612 208-315-3896 elitemountaininvestigations.com

Landmark Environmental Consulting LLC McCall, Idaho 83638 208-994-2684 landmark-environmental.com

Michael R. Gurney Agency, Inc. 1607 Davis Ave., Unit 158 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7154 farmersagent.com/mgurney

Millemann Pemberton & Holm LLP Attorneys at Law 706 N 1st St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7641 mpmplaw.com

Preserve McCall

PO Box 4261 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-484-3424 preservemccall.com

Redfish | Bluefish

4696 W Overland Rd., Ste. 180 Boise, Idaho 83705 208-336-3768 idahobusinessreview.com

The Star-News

1000 N First St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2123 mccallstarnews.com

Visit McCall Magazine

The official magazine of the McCall Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau 208-634-7631 info@mccallchamber.org

MINING AND GEOLOGY

Leadership Design & Organizational Development McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-2058 redfishbluefishinc.com

Granite Mountain Nature Gallery

Sarah Taylor Insurance, LLC

Perpetua Resources

1650 S Albright Ln. Boise, Idaho 83709 208-344-0022 imaidaho.com

Women Ignite

10400 Overland Road #122 Boise, Idaho 83709 208-241-8135 paige@womenigniteinternational.com

WorkX

616 N 3rd St., Ste. 103 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-6599 workxhub.com

Idaho Business Review

305 E Park St., Ste. A McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1111 granitemountainng.com 13181 Hwy 55 Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-901-3060 perpetuaresources.com

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AWeSOMe! Adaptive Wilderness Sports of McCall McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-4275 sites.google.com/awesomemccall.org

Cambridge Commercial Club 85 N Superior St. Cambridge, Idaho 86610 208-257-3533

Photo courtesy Melissa Shelby Photography

100 Years of Tradition Winter Carnival. Two words that mean many things to many people here in McCall – and far beyond our local area.

P h o to

Photo courtesy Chad Case and Jon Conti

The original motivation to create a winter festival in McCall dates back 100 years. It came from the hearty local folks, presumably suffering from more than a touch of cabin fever, who devised winter sporting competitions in 1924 to encourage their neighbors to head outdoors and find the fun in the wintery landscapes – and each other’s company.

co u r t e s y C h a d Ca s

nd Jon n Co

The original Winter Sports Carnival ran from 1924 to the early 1940s, then faded out during the WWII era. By the 1960’s the community was starting to transition from its roots as a logging town into one with a more recreation-based economy. That motivated the people of McCall to reimagine Winter Carnival as a way to draw attention to their new ski resort and emerging identity as a winter tourist destination. Over time, McCall’s Winter Carnival has moved around the winter calendar several times, adopted an ongoing “Mardi Gras” theme for the parade, and stretched from a single weekend event into a 10-day extravaganza, again, with the goal of bringing in more people – and more awareness about McCall’s unique blend of winter offerings. 90

Photo courtesy Chad Case and Jon Conti

Fast forward to 2023, and the word is out about McCall. Instead of spending the winter wringing their hands about a lack of business, local hoteliers, restauranteurs, and shopkeepers are hustling hard to keep up with the flood of visitors that now pour into town all year long. In fact, lodging statistics show that visitation during January and February has skyrocketed, rising more than 200% over the past decade. Winter is no longer an off-season, and in recent years, carnival crowds have outpaced the community’s ability to offer them McCall-quality hospitality. The time has come for McCall to reimagine Winter Carnival, once again, to meet the needs of the community and the people who call this magical place home.

MOUNTAIN LAKES REALTY Knowledge And Experience At Your Service!

208.634.7056

rent@mccallvacations.com

Continued page 92

Experts in the McCall Market Connecting you with experienced local knowledge

mccallrealestate.com | 301 E. Lake Street, McCall, Idaho 83638 | (208) 634-2100

Winter Carnival 2024

Redefining Our Community Celebration

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

The COVID era brought a lot of hardship to our local businesses, but it also revealed our resilience in the face of challenges. The Winter of 2021 proved that visitors will continue to spend their precious free time and money in McCall, with or without the trappings of Winter Carnival. Carnival was canceled for safety reasons in 2021, and a survey of our members shows that revenues were actually UP for January and February thanks to the timeless appeal of our winter playground, delightful culinary scene, cozy lodging options and hometown hospitality.

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

That unintentional experiment gave your local Chamber of Commerce, long-time hosts of the Winter Carnival, the confidence we needed to make some necessary changes. This year, we’re inviting the world to enjoy our favorite Winter Carnival traditions from February 23-25, 2024. All the favorite events like the Snow Sculpture Competition, Mardi Gras Parade, Kid’s torchlight parade, Monster Dog Pull, Live Music on the Main Stage and fireworks will remain part of the winter celebration. It will just be a bit shorter, and a bit further removed from the prime spot on the calendar that it held before McCall became a mecca for snowsports enthusiasts in search of our exceptional snow and the community’s friendly, low-key vibe. This year’s theme, Color Outside the Lines, pays homage to the re-imagined event, which is focused on making Winter Carnival meaningful for locals again. It’s also meant to honor our educators, from Council to Cascade, and everywhere in between. Their steadfast presence in our community and dedication to excellence has inspired generations of young people to dream big and chart their own course, even if that means taking risks and throwing (some) traditions to the wind.

WINTER CARNIVAL 2024 Color Outside the Lines

Photo courtesy Melissa Shelby Photography

February 23 - 24 - 25

We invite you to head to our website www.visitmccall.org/events/winter-carnival for more details about Winter Carnival 2024. We hope you’ll join us as we Color Outside the Lines to plot the future of this iconic event and its role in the community we love.

About US High Desert Wildlife & Pest Solutions was established by United States Veterans who have a combined 35+ years of pest control experience. We are your go-to pest control experts in central ID who you can trust. It's our mission to keep pests away from properties in order to preserve the health and well-being of our clients. We care about keeping your living environment safe and wildlife-free. We can also make the necessary damage repairs that a pest infestation can cause. Rely on us to resolve your pest problem quickly and make sure pests don't come back. Schedule your home or commercial pest control today.

Services We Offer General Pest

Rodent Service

Wildlife Exclusion

Our general pest service treats for the common insects found such as ants, spiders, wasps, and more. We offer different programs to maintain the protection around your home.

If you are having a problem with mice around your home we offer a baiting program, maintenance program or rodent exclusion option as well. We want to help you get the pests out and have peace of mind.

Do you have wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, bats, birds, gophers, voles and other wildlife coming on your property? We offer trapping, home exclusions, and other methods to deter wildlife from making a home in your home.

Call us today for an inspection or service! 208-590-3364

https://highdesertwildpest.com

office@highdesertid.com

Cascade Chamber of Commerce 101 S Main St. Cascade, Idaho 83611 208-382-3833 cascadechamber.com

Central Idaho Mountain Bike Association McCall, Idaho 83638 CIMBArides.org

Donnelly Chamber of Commerce 169 Halferty St. Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-325-8859 donnellychamber.com

Educational Theatre of Idaho PO Box 227 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-271-2631 educationaltheatreofidaho.org

Family Advocates

Friends of the Weiser River Trail Weiser, Idaho 208-566-1025 weiserrivertrail.org

Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation 100 S Adkins Way, Ste 104 Meridian, Idaho 83642 208-888-0648 vr.idaho.gov

Idaho Nonprofit Center

5257 W Fairview Ave., Ste. 260 Boise, Idaho 83706 208-424-2229 idahononprofits.org

Idaho Sled Dog Challenge PO Box 1022 McCall, Idaho 83638 907-360-7604 idahosleddogchallenge.com

Ignite Idaho Family Resource Center

3010 W State St. Boise, Idaho 83703 208-345-3344 familyadvocates.org

Friends of the McCall Public Library 1001 State St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5522 mccall.lili.org

106 E Park St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-994-5537 igniteidahofrc.org

Kelly’s Whitewater Park 330 Kelly’s Pkwy. Cascade, Idaho 83611 kellyswhitewaterpark.com

McCall Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau

Photo courtesy Case Conti Visuals

605 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7631 mccallchamber.org

Mountain Living Specialist

McCall Area Snowmobile Club

Let me help you find your special Mountain property!

McCall, Idaho 83638 snowmobilemccall.net

McCall Arts and Humanities Council 208-634-7136 mccallarts.org

Cheri Lawrence, Realtor®

McCall-Donnelly Education Foundation

(208)250-2430 mountainlivingmccall@gmail.com mountainlivingmccall.com

208-634-6333 mdef.org

McCall Farmers Market

At The Activity Barn 141 Moonridge Dr., McCall Wednesday and Saturday, 11am- 1pm June through October

McCall Fire Protection District

201 Deinhard Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7070 mccallfire.com

McCall Folklore Society

Cory Corbet 301 E. Lake Street | Corycorbet.com 208 630-3283 | cory83638@gmail.com Associate Broker & Local Realtor® Since 1998 Professional • Experienced • Hard Working

208-634-9788 thesummermusicfestival.com

McCall Men’s Golf Association, Inc 925 Fairway Dr. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-9770

McCall Music Society McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-0905 mccallmusicsociety.org

Experience With Results McCall Community & Senior Center 701 1st St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5408 mccallsrcenter@gmail.com

McCall Winter Sports Club McCall, Idaho 83638 208-918-0234 mccallwintersportsclub.org

Payette Lakes Progressive Club

•

Payettelakesprogressiveclub.org

Payette Lakes Ski Club/Little Ski Hill 3635 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5691 payettelakesskiclub.org

Payette Land Trust

dreammcall@gmail.com McCall’s

309 E Lake St., #5 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-4999 www.payettelandtrust.org

Real Estate Team

Ponderosa Center – The Ludwig Terrace 1117 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-271-1185 ponderosacenter.org

Rotary of McCall

Meets every Wednesday at 12pm McCall, Idaho 83638 portal.clubrunner.ca/3899

Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation 616 N 3rd St., Ste 103 McCall, Idaho 83638 530-949-4928 selwaybitterroot.org

Seven Devils Playwrights Conference McCall, Idaho 83638 516-319-9089 sevendevils.org

Shepherd’s Home

MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter 831 S 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3647 mcpaws.org

PHOTOGRAPHY Autumn Lynne Photography

309 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1152 shepherds-home.org

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-907-1706 autumnlynnephotography.com

Valley County Pathways

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-780-9219 chasinglightphotographyllc.com/

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-4991 valleycountypathways.org

Village of Yellow Pine Association Yellow Pine, Idaho 83677 yellowpinetimes.wordpress.com yellowpinefestival.org ypescapade.org

Chasing Light Photography LLC

Cimbalik Photography

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-3908 Cimbalikphotography.com

Melissa Shelby Photography/ Mountain Town McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-1294 Melissashelby.com mountaintown.us

White Fox Photo LLC 1324 Eagle Dr. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-794-6823 whitefoxphoto.com

REAL ESTATE Alpine Village Company 600 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-336-2200 alpinevillagemccall.com

Adam Alexander Real Estate

Intimate Adventures Media

PETS

McCall, Idaho 83638 714-714-1027 intimateadventuresmedia.com/

380 W State St. Eagle, Idaho 83616 208-608-8118 adam-alexander.com

McCall Pet Outfitters

Amy Isacson Photography

Amherst Madison Real Estate

411 S 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3440 mccallpet.com

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-907-6593 amyisacson.com

Samantha Sais Photography

204 Lenora St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-6497 2ndhomes.com

McCall, Idaho 83638 520-979-6947 samanthasaisphotography.com

Photo courtesy Case Conti Visuals

Bluebird days have an uncanny ability to remind us of summertime in the McCall area. See what’s in store once the snow melts…

HIT THE LINKS Take on the challenge of our five stunning courses. McCall Municipal Course provides 27 holes in an affable atmosphere for every level of golfer. Jug Mountain Ranch offers gorgeous panoramic views of Jughandle Mountain, the Ranch’s natural wetlands, old growth forests and the rolling hills of the East Valley. The prestigious Whitetail Club and Resort offers an inspiring mountain masterpiece, while MeadowCreek Resort in Meadows Valley brings brilliant play and ample friendliness. And we are thrilled to have Osprey Meadows at Tamarack Resort restored and ready to play for the 2024 season!

MAKE A SPLASH AT THE LAKE Jump in, dive in, or wade in! The West Central Mountains of Idaho are teeming with lakes – more than 300 of them. Our largest lakes, Payette Lake and Lake Cascade, offer swimming, sailing, waterskiing, wakesurfing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. Rentals are available for just about any activity you have in mind. 96

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

DINING The patio is open! One of our favorite things about warm sunny days in McCall is dining al fresco and sampling the delicious fare of our local restaurants, bistros, and pubs. Just about every eatery has a place hy ap to take advantage of the sunshine. Our local og r t o h a is P P h o to co u r t e s y S a m a n t h a S Farmers Markets are also open each summer and provide a great place to find fresh local produce, meat, and baked goods.

ON A ROLL

THRILLING WHITEWATER Idaho is well-known as the Whitewater State and there is certainly no shortage of rapids to satisfy thrillseekers in the McCall area. From the laid back Cabarton Stretch to thrilling multi-day trips on the Main Salmon through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, we have the whitewater you are looking for!

Photo courtesy Samantha Sais Photography

The McCall area has been designated as a Silver Ride Center by the International Mountain Biking Association. Enjoy lift-serviced mountain biking at Brundage Mountain Resort and Tamarack Resort or take advantage of the shuttle service at Jug Mountain Ranch. Looking for a calmer cruise around town? Ride the network of designated bike paths that can get you from one end of town to the other for a leisurely, scenic ride.

TAKE A HIKE Photo courtesy Case Conti Visuals

Photo courtesy Jon Conti

Hiking is hands down one of the most popular activities in McCall. There is a huge variety of trails to explore around the area. Only have an hour? No problem, we have a trail for that. Want to turn a hike into a day-long adventure? We have that covered, too. And the scenery is epic no matter which trail you take.

Jim Boley – the McCall Real Estate Company

301 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2100 ext.1111 mccallrealestate.com/associate/jim-boley/

Brundage Realty

403 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1234 brundagerealty.com

Century 21 Whitewater Clark 1007 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1800 century21.com

Cory Corbet, Realtor®

Shelly DeMoss, Realtor®

Crawford Olson Real Estate 403 E Park St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-1390 crawfordolson.com/shelly-demoss/

McCall Real Estate Company 301 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-3283 corbetproperty.com

Teia Golden – Windermere Real Estate Professionals in McCall

Angie Crow – Homes of Idaho

Jodi Guliuzza Real Estate Company

New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-789-3315 angiecrowhomes.com/

Local Realtors Know Best.

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-616-2646 hwy55realestate.com/ 321 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-271-6334 buyandsellmccall.com

Cara Hipwell, RE/MAX Executives McCall, Idaho 83638 208-204-9554 viewidahohomesforsale.com

Homes and Land of McCall-CascadeDonnelly 208-634-1472 homesandlandofmccall.com

Homes of Idaho: Bowman Group 150 W Roseberry Rd., Ste 1B-2 Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-453-6880 bowmangroup.idhomesearch.net/

Serving Vally, Adams, & Idaho County.

The Housing Company

The Springs Apartments in McCall 565 W Myrtle St., Ste. 250 Boise, Idaho 83702 208-331-4811 thehousingcompany.org

Jessen Real Estate McCall, Idaho 83638 208-890-6369 jessenre.com/

Karen Johansen, Realtor®

n a c e er w

h t e g To

Restore an abandoned mine site

Century 21 Whitewater Clark 1007 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1800 century21whitewaterclark.com

Jennifer Jones Campbell, Realtor® 454 W Roseberry Rd., Ste. 7 Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-440-9400 dirtroadrealtorjjcampbell@gmail.com

Jug Mountain Ranch 13834 Farm to Market Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5072 jugmountainranch.com

Cheri Lawrence Real Estate

Produce the minerals we need

Century 21 PO Box 2586 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-250-2430 mountainlivingmccall.com

Provide local jobs

Amherst Madison

www.PerpetuaResources.com

592 N Benjamin Ln. Boise, Idaho 83704 208-391-2391 amherst-madison.com

through the

LEARN MORE AT: Mountain Community Transit mountaincommunitytransit.com 208-634-0003

RED LINE

This is a FREE public transportation service for the City of McCall. Anyone is welcome to ride. Buses run daily 7:00am–7:00pm

Green LINE

This is a FREE public transportation service between McCall & Cascade. Anyone is welcome to ride.

Buses run Monday–Friday • 6:00am–7:25pm

BLUE LINE

This is a winter service from McCall to Brundage Resort which runs mid-December to mid-April.

Visit Brundage.com for Winter service information.

GOLD LINE

This is a FREE public trasportation service between New Meadows & McCall. Anyone is welcome to ride.

Buses run Monday & Wednesday • 5:45am–6:15pm

Please see website for holiday closures.

McCall Real Estate Company

Verna Vanis, Realtor®

Mountain Central Association of REALTORS

Jo Ellen, Phil and Philip Yribar, Realtors®

301 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2100 mccallrealestate.com

Crawford Olson Real Estate 403 E Park St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-1050 vernavanis.com McCall Real Estate Company 301 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-6494 mccallidrealestate.com

321 N 3rd St., Ste. #204 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7424 mountaincentralrealtors.com

Mountain Lakes Realty 805 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2728 mountainlakesrealty.com

SCHOOLS Cascade School District 209 N School St. Cascade, Idaho 83611 208-630-6057 cascadeschools.org

Northwest Passage Apartments 155 Everett Ln. Donnelly, Idaho 83615 northwestpassage.nwrecc.org

Meadows Valley School K-12

Crawford Olson Real Estate 403 E Park St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-6060 crawfordolson.com

102 N 3rd St. Ste. 200 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-5400 mccallresortrealty.com

Marletta Romero, Real Estate Broker Silvercreek Realty Group 502 N 3rd St., Ste. 4 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-0600 dreammccall.com

Trisha Sears Real Estate/McCall Real Estate 301 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-573-1489 trishasears.com

Joe and Toni Slaymaker, Silvercreek Realty Group LLC 311 E Lake St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-0846 mountainsofexperience.com

Tamarack Realty

850 Village Drive Tamarack, Idaho 83615 208-325-1001 www.tamarackrealty.com

Haden Tanner, McCall Idaho Real Estate 1000 2nd St., Ste. 104 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-2242 mccallidahorealestate.com

Team Reinhard, Keller Williams Realty Bryant & Janice Reinhard McCall, Idaho 83638 208-573-1326 boisemccallrealestate.kw.com

100

Jackson Jet Center 3815 Rickenbacker St. Boise, Idaho 83705 208-383-3300 jacksonjetcenter.com

McCall Aviation/AVCenter 300 Deinhard Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7137 mccallaviation@outlook.com

Mountain Community Transit

208-634-0003 Call to schedule your FREE ride! treasurevalleytransit.com/service-areas/ mountain-community-transit

Prompt Delivery & Taxi Service

McCall College

UTILITIES

McCall-Donnelly Joint School District ®

14030 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1089 goharlowsmccall.com

500 N Miller Ave. New Meadows, Idaho 83654 208-347-2411 mvsd11.org 106 E Park St., #220 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3456 mccallcollege.org

RE/Max Resort Realty

Harlow’s McCall

120 Idaho St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-2161 mdsd.org

Mountain Community School 500 Base Court Rd. Donnelly, Idaho 83615 208-325-1595 mtncommunityschool.org

Roots Forest School 2018 State Park Dr. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-315-0925 rootsforestschool.com

University of Idaho – McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) 1800 University Ln. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-885-1080 mossidaho.org

STORAGE Stor-It Self Storage, Car Wash and U Haul 207 N 3rd St. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7015 stor-it.com

TRANSPORTATION & MOVING SERVICES All in One Moving LLC McCall, Idaho 83638 208-353-2104 allinonemovingllc.com/

McCall, Idaho 83638 208-630-3065

Amerigas

1611 Davis Ave. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-8181 amerigas.com

ASAP Portables Co. 13831 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-0012 asapportables.com

Ed Staub and Sons 13858 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-3833 edstaub.com

Honey Dippers

13950 Nisula Rd. McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-1230 idahohoneydippers.com

Idaho Power

PO Box 70 Boise, Idaho 83707 800-488-6151 idahopower.com

Lakeshore Disposal 200 Industrial Loop McCall, Idaho 83638 208-634-7176

Suburban Propane

11121 Hwy 55 McCall, Idaho 83638 208-382-5330 suburbanpropane.com

TO RIGGINS

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THE SURROUNDING AREAS

NORDIC/SNOWSHOE AREAS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Bear Basin Ponderosa State Park Activity Barn Jug Mountain Ranch Tamarack Resort Lake Cascade State Park Hasbrouck Ranch (off Cabarton Road)

SKI AREAS 8 Brundage Mountain Resort 9 Tamarack Resort 10 Little Ski Hill

GENERAL RECREATION/ ACTIVITY AREAS 11

NEW MEADOWS

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MCCALL ur

Manchester Ice and Event Center

11 3

HOT SPRINGS

12 Burgdorf Hot Springs 13 Gold Fork Hot Springs 14 Zims Hot Springs

LAKE FORK

SNOWMOBILE AREAS/ PARKING LOTS 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

McCALL

Tamarack Falls Parking Lot Anderson Creek Parking Lot Green Gate Parking Lot West Face Parking Lot, across from Bear Creek Lodge Wallace Lane Parking Lot Gordon Titus Parking Lot, near Brundage Francis E. Wallace Parking Lot Clear Creek Parking Area Fall Creek Parking Area

DONNELLY

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LAKE CASCADE Ph

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16 6 CASCADE

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PARTING SHOT

The McCall Version of the Fitness Retreat Trend Takes Solace-Seekers to New Heights Wellness retreats are all the rage among travelers these days as more people look to holistic approaches to health and self-care. The typical wellness retreat offers some combination of yoga, exposure to nature and clean eating as an antidote to the stresses of modern life, but there’s a new kind of guided fitness adventure being offered here in McCall that puts a decidedly rugged and down-to-earth twist on the wellness retreat. 102

A local fitness coach combines a special set of motivational skills, our area’s natural terrain, and the friendly, authentic charm of McCall to offer a unique twist on wellness travel. In the next issue of Visit McCall, we’ll take a closer look at why this low-key retreat is attracting a loyal following among fitness enthusiasts in the Midwest, and why they’re passing up cucumber water and kale for North Fork Coffee and burgers at Salmon River Brewery.

Making memories with you is our favorite thing to do!

We service the Francis Wallace Trailhead leading to Burgdorf Hot Springs, Secesh, and Warren. 4 Hour, 5 Hour, & 7 Hour rentals available. All rentals include the first tank of fuel, winter snow gear, and delivery of equipment to the trailhead.

McCall’s Premier Rental Company Boats · Jet Ski’s · Snowmobiles www.cheapthrillsrentals.com

303 N. 3rd St. McCall

208-634-7472

YOUR TICKET TO... O F F - P I S T E A DV E N T U R E 2,8 0 0 ’ V E R T I C A L D R O P APRÈS-SKI DELIGHTS

THE UNEXPECTED.

AMERICA’S ONLY SKI, GOLF & LAKE RESORT

Visit McCall | Winter 2023-2024

Articles inside

Winter Carnival | 100 Years of Tradition

Featured Artist: Brian Schafer

Slice of Life | Spirit Unleashed

Your Winter Bucket List

Keeping It Fresh

A Chef's Life