7,000 feet , with larger |
and tour guide of Adventure Sport Rentals , |
sightings are common , including many |
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peaks scattered about . |
and he arrived with his nephew and co- |
stately moose that inhabit the area and |
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The landscape is |
worker Mark Omdal plus Jerry Siel , a |
rely on the groomed trails for easier |
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saturated in forest green |
retired Los Angeles police officer . |
transportation than trudging the deep |
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as far as the eyes can see . |
We loaded up and drove up narrow |
snow pack off the trail . |
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A cold rain fell from |
mountain roads to the network of trails |
On our way to a lunch destination on |
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gray skies as I drove |
east of the city . Rain turned to rapidly |
the trail , we took several opportunities to |
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in from the airport in |
accumulating snow and , suddenly , |
bounce off the trail and enjoy some low- |
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neighboring Spokane , |
it seemed like the perfect day for a |
speed boondocking through the trees . |
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Washington . The |
snowmobile ride , if a bit moist . |
With the winter of our visit being one of |
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ground was soaked |
Already up to a significant elevation |
the snowiest in recent memory out West , |
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with snowmelt and rain , |
at the Fernan Saddle trailhead , the |
our short-tracked , fan-cooled machines |
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but the hills along 1-90 |
trails were immediately awesome as we |
struggled through the deep snow while all |
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remained snow-covered |
motored out of the parking lot . |
four riders enjoyed the physical challenge |
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and inviting . |
It ’ s pure remote backcountry from |
of leaning far off the seats , hanging on |
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I arrived at the |
the first mile , and Idaho ’ s tree-covered |
and manhandling our machines through |
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posh Coeur d ’ Alene |
terrain is a beautiful sight to explore by |
the twists of the clearing . |
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Resort , which is the |
snowmobile . The woods are filled with |
Getting stuck was a frequent |
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tallest building in the |
landmarks like Monument and Grizzly |
occurrence , and the sticky , set-up |
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region , and features |
mountains , Steamboat , Spyglass and |
snow provided heart-pumping aerobic |
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an impressive complex |
Boundary peaks , and the Coeur d ’ Alene |
workouts and set the stage for an |
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of shops , restaurants , |
River winds through the resulting valley |
essential break at one of the many |
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a spa , swanky hotel |
floors . Routes run along exposed ridge |
warming huts along the trails . We lit |
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rooms and a marina on |
lines with stunning views in the valleys |
a roaring fire and recharged with cold |
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the lake . Not the typical |
dotted by infinite snow-coated pines . |
candy bars and water while our sweaty |
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barrenness of parts of northern Nevada and the eastern Oregon ’ s high deserts , much of Idaho is a lush , pine-covered paradise with scenic towns amid stunning mountain ranges running through the state . While the state contains vast areas of protected wilderness , it also has a massive public trail system . Where we rode in Kootenai and Shoshone counties , we found hundreds of miles of maintained trails that are accessible to all types of riders , yet occasionally challenging enough for the deep-snow experts , too . Out here , elevations generally range from 3,000 to |
snowmobile ’ s haven , the CDA Resort was quiet and comfortable while giving a sense of the classy appeal that brings West Coasters here in droves during summer months . At the epicenter of downtown , the resort was also a convenient meeting point for my local guides . Yog ’ Naresh is the owner |
The trails are exceptionally wide , yet the change in elevation can be steep and significant along the way .
Take in the scene , look for wildlife , and round the next switchback corner as the trail dives back into the woods below a dark canopy of trees . While the land is rough and rugged , trails in this immediate area are smooth , well signed and impeccably maintained .
Due to the expanse of undeveloped forest , birds of prey and large animal
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gear dried near the big iron stove .
Several miles farther down the trail , the sight of a distant lake on the cloudy , rolling horizon caused us all to stop in our tracks and stare . The color of its dark blue waters reflected the hovering clouds above . We were hungry and back on the gas toward our lunch stop – the Happy Hermit Resort near Lake Pend Oreille . Inside , we found two happy hermits : the owner and one of his most regular customers .
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