Kamiah, January 29, 2024— On January 7, temperatures dropped well below zero across Northern Idaho, but that did not prevent Palouse Divide Nordic Ski Club president Jesse Spohnholz from skiing. He knew that the Palouse Divide gets some of the best snow in the area around Moscow and Pullman. “We get much more and much more reliable snow,” he stated “There is more precipitation at the divide and much of the snow comes from the North and gets caught in the divide. In the population centers when its drizzly and cool, it’s fluffy and can be heavy up at the divide.” So, with heavy snow on the ground, he just waited until the afternoon when temperatures were a comparatively balmy negative 6 degrees. With fresh snow groomed by volunteers from the club he helps manage, the skiing was excellent. And, like all cross-country skiers, the vigorous outdoor activity kept him and the numerous other people braving the cold quite warm.
The Palouse Divide Nordic Club has been an Idaho non-profit since 2011, but its roots go back further. Spohnholz has been involved with the club for more than a decade and knows that “there has been some form of semi-organized ski volunteerism on the Palouse Divide much longer.” The 20+ miles of the Palouse Divide Ski Area straddle two national forests–the Nez Perce-Clearwater and the St. Joe–and without the grooming activities of the club, these areas would not be suitable for cross country skiing without breaking trail. Their work doesn’t only provide recreational opportunities, but because as Spohnholz pointed out, “skiing is a great way to connect with the land,” it also helps the forests to build committed and passionate stewards.
The Palouse Divide Nordic Ski Club also builds community on the landscape. One weekend a year the modest fee to access the ski area is waived for a free ski day. Spohnholz explained what makes those days so special: “On free ski days a local sports store loans us cross country skis and poles and we give lessons to the public. We have a party for new skiers at the warming hut. We have international students, new residents, and old timers come out for this. Former downhill skiers who want to learn cross country come out for this event. Every two weeks after that, we have free ski lessons run by a team of volunteers. We teach lessons to kids with disabilities, international students, scouting groups and all sorts of members of our community. As a club we have been organizing trips to other areas in the inland northwest.”
As well as welcoming new skiers, the club also provides exhilarating activities for experienced skiers. Spohnholz describes his favorite trail, the Big Loop, as “a narrow trail with a feeling of intimacy you get from a dense forest. It has a large, challenging climb in the middle and a fast ski back to your car.”
Off the normal trails, the club sponsors a challenging annual event, the Bald Mountain Loppet–Loppet is a Scandinavian word for non-competitive endurance skiing. Spohnholz said “The Forest Service works with our team to clear the way up to the top of Bald Mountain—9 miles each way from the trailhead and—opens the ladder to the top of the lookout so people can enjoy the views and have soup and refreshments in a place where they can see three states.”
More than anything, the experience that the Palouse Divide Nordic Ski Club offers is about partnership and volunteerism, Spohnholz stressed: “We have about 10 volunteer groomers and three more to be certified. We couldn’t run without volunteer groomers and we’re grateful for the work we do. Our community supports us, providing money, time, and effort. When we were under resourced and needed a new snowmobile 130 people donated over 13,0000 dollars for a new snowmobile. Palouse District recreation staff, Nick Minor and Joe Boehne have also contributed really been working to help get more people out to ski and making sure they get out skiing.”
Palouse District Ranger, Buddie Carroll explained the club’s significance to the forest: “The Palouse Nordic Ski Club is the anchor of our winter non-motorized recreation program. Their dedication to non-motorized winter recreation and the ability to mobilize volunteers is essential to helping us provide this opportunity to the public.”
Want to see the latest conditions or learn more about the Palouse Divide Nordic Ski Club?
Check out their website at this link: https://palousedividenordic.org/
A lovely groomed trail through the woods of the Palouse Divide
Caption: The Palouse Divide provides amazing views and quality ski terrain