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<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe wilderness around McCall offers endless opportunities for winter adventure. The light, soft snow falls in copious amounts, with nearby ski resort Brundage Mountain Resort boasting \u201cThe Best Snow in Idaho\u201d. The resort is but one side of one mountain amongst too many other mountains to count, most of them within the boundaries of state and federally protected public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just south of McCall is Jug Mountain Ranch<\/a>. Here, the Carey family has turned the mountainside property into a four season recreation paradise. On this trip, I took the Mainline Trail to the Alpine Cabin, located next to Jug Mountain Reservoir. This spot was an ideal hideaway to access amazing terrain just out the back door and across the frozen lake. When I arrived, it was snowing hard and didn\u2019t stop all night. Luckily the kind folks at Jug Mountain Ranch had brought in water, dry wood, and kindling by snowmobile to make sure I was cozy for my overnight stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I woke to 12 new inches of the famous McCall snow. It was the perfect way to start a week and a half long trip in the heart of Idaho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That morning, I crossed the reservoir to find a full view of long slopes that led right back to the frozen lake. The climb was easy enough, never lasting more than a half hour, but of course it\u2019s the ride down we all seek. With so much new snow, I could go anywhere in the trees, over rocks, and in big open slopes for a feeling that is as close to floating as is humanly possible. That was just one corner of the reservoir too. I never made it all the way up Jug Mountain because of weather, but even with the cloudy layer, there were still more options than I had time for on this trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jug Mountain Ranch is just one of the backcountry options in the vast wilderness surrounding McCall. If you want to tap into some of the best local knowledge available, check out Payette Powder Guides<\/a>, who can show you around a virtually unlimited amount of terrain for any ability level. If you want to get really deep in the wilderness you can also book a night at their yurt, but be advised this is popular so you\u2019ll want to reserve your stay in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Stanley<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn a map, the distance between McCall and Stanley doesn\u2019t appear too far, as the two towns are only 76 miles apart as the crow flies. As the Wandervan<\/a> drives however, the journey is double that: 156 miles. On this drive, you\u2019ll see some of the most impressive mountain scenery in the entire United States – the Sawtooth National Forest. This area is a nature lover\u2019s fantasy of unspoiled wilderness with some of the most unique looking mountains in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While many may not know about the accessible terrain and light, consistent snow that falls here, one man is an expert on the topic, Chris Lundy. Lundy owns Sawtooth Mountain Guides<\/a> and he\u2019s dedicated to showing people the magic that exists in the mountains. I was fortunate enough to have him show me some of that magic and I\u2019ll say that anyone would be hard-pressed to find a better scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No crowds, light, dry snow, long sustained pitches, and the sun even came out to say hello. This was the type of experience that people pay big money for and here in Idaho, it was accessible from the highway just a few minutes outside of Stanley. The trees were well spaced to allow for some of the finest tree skiing I’ve experienced all season. The terrain was safe enough to accommodate even intermediate skiers, but plenty of advanced terrain could be found if you wanted to go a bit higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We didn\u2019t see another soul all day and had a mountain all to ourselves. In a place where the ski runs outnumber people, you can truly get away from any distractions and learn to love, and even crave, silence and solitude. With so many runs available from the highway, adventurers will have plenty of time to enjoy the day without needing to work too hard to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n