Tamarack Sidecountry 2015

[2Pole]

I was going through old photos on my phone and I found these photos I took from the side-country of Tamarack Resort in Central Idaho in the Winter/Spring of 2015. I thought it would give you guys and gals the lay of the land down there. I was really fortunate to be in McCall that Winter seeing as it did not snow much in the Inland NW that year (or anywhere) and Mount Spokane was unable to open (Schweitzer had almost nothing as well). McCall was fortunate to at least have had a season. I put in about eighty days and managed to get in about one hundred in the 2015 calendar year by moving back too Spokane after the resorts closed. Brundage is great for in-bounds powder, but the real opportunities for serious out-of-bounds adventures lay at Tamarack in my opinion. I have not been back to that area in the Wintertime since then, but I have heard that Tamarack has been significantly developed in the intermediate time period. That would have been good to see seeing as the lodge was a yurt back then. This terrain is from the Eastern side of the mountain to the North and the South of the top lift. Hike in/hike out... I hope you like!

[mtnjam]

I watched that place go from rags to riches and back to rags and back to riches. I still am not a big fan of that place, the terrain is laid our weird and no consistency to fall lines. Where else in the world do you have to skate uphill to get back to a lift? Jean Pierre can burn in hell for all I care.

[Fishskisurf]

They advertise 2700-2800 ft of vert and it feels like half of that

[mtnjam]

They advertise 2700-2800 ft of vert and it feels like half of that

Yep, somewhat steep to flat to kind of steep back to flat, that's why some people call it Tamaflat

[byates1]

Odd place. Not bad,

That trail Creek hot springs south of there is insanely beautiful.

[m1e6c7]

Indeed it is a great place

[teleturner207]

Have to make it there this winter, any tips?

[2Pole]

Thanks for the feedback, and to everyone else I appreciate the views. It has been a long time since I have been down to McCall in Winter (if you can call 9 years a long time). I am hoping to do so again, and the mountain where I specifically want to spend more time is Tamarack, because I feel like there is a lot more exploring for me to do there from the top life. I have heard that a lot has changed there, for the better if you approve of ski resort development, there was just a yurt when I was there. It's been good to hear how much progress they have made on finishing the resort. Anyways, they have some prime terrain that you can hike to from the top life, and excellent powder.

[2Pole]

https://tamarackidaho.com/ For more info...

[2Pole]

They didn't have this map, info, or lift (Wildwood Express) when I was down there in 2015. https://tamarackidaho.com/about/maps/winter-trails I remember I was mostly skiiing Grouse Bowl, but I also ski'd Wildwood Bowl and hiked out. I arrived right at where the top of that lift is now and I remember telling people how that was the perfect spot for an additional lift. I am glad to see that they got it done. South bowl classic was also pretty nice for a daily ski, but I never made it out to half moon bowl. I would only go that far out with an experienced partner. Banana Bowl would be the dream, but I have also wondered about ski touring off the back-side? Mostly I am just happy that this resort did not go away and that something significant actually happened to it. Consider it for your next trip!

[Fishskisurf]

There appears room to expand both south and north along the Ridgeline, with the north side seemingly steeper.
I recall hearing about a master plan approved for some additional terrain and lifts, be curious to see where those will go as it's somewhat flat terrain and repetitive thru the main two quads (mostly flowy blue groomers with some steeper terrain pitches thru the trees and a couple ridges)

[2Pole]

https://tamarackidaho.com/about/maps

[2Pole]

Although I was sad to leave McCall and the wonderful side-country skiing accessed from Tamarack Ski Resort at the start of Spring in 2015, it was the credibility and skills of 70-80 days of almost daily skiing in McCall from 2014-2015 that allowed me to create what I now call the Eagle Peak Ski Resort: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...eak+Ski+Resort However, it would also take years of living in Spokane and exploring Dishman Hills as well as all of the other areas accessible from here in order to gain the specific knowledge of the area that was necessary to create the information system for you all, even though I was born and had grown up in Spokane on Krell Hill.

[wfs989]

We are waiting for the weather to change and then will head to Tamarack - hopefully a few times before closing. A great smaller mountain with nice side country terrain. Here is a link to the approved expansion - which would open up a lot of additional terrain.

https://d1e1jt2fj4r8r.cloudfront.net...Recreation.pdf

[2Pole]

Please Use The Payette Avalanche Center For Information Regarding Backcountry Conditions Before Heading Out of Bounds at Tamarack: https://payetteavalanche.org/ https://payetteavalanche.org/