Cross-Country Skiing at Homestake Lodge

February 24, 2008

Today Rigby, Diesel, Anders and I headed west to Homestake Pass. That's about 10 miles east of Butte for you non-Montanans. My friends Mandy and Chris bought land there last summer and quickly whipped it into a Nordic center with 20 kilometers of ski trails, a warming hut/yurt and beautiful scenery. By next winter Homestake Lodge will have an actual lodge that sleep 16 hostel-style.

It is a huge undertaking (they built themselves a house there, too) and it has turned out great. There are even about 8 kilometers of trail that dogs are allowed on--pretty unusual for a groomed area.

Whiskey Gulch trail junction

Rigby on the trail

The dogs got to play outside the yurt for about 1/2 hour when we got there and another 45 minutes before we left while I caught up with Mandy and Chris. Diesel had fun romping with Mandy and Chris' dog, Izzie, and Rigby rolled around in the snow and explored. Plus, they got to run around on the trails with me for a couple hours.

Rigby is cute

The trails were beautifully groomed. Here is a hill that was much steeper than it looks--or maybe it just feels that way when you're herringboning with 30-40 pounds pulling you backwards.

The steep hill

Anders in the Chariot

After the ski we hung out in the lodge, had a snack and chatted. Plus, Anders finally got to move around--after two hours in the car and a couple hours in the Chariot.