Longing to be Out

The second major snow storm series is hitting the central Idaho mountains as I write and I've got an incredible urge to be out in the mountains again breathing and reconnecting. Perhaps a family trip to Jughandle Hut is in the cards during the week after Christmas, or even just a weekday tour near Idaho City would be a fix if I can steal away from work.

Jughandle Hut is a privately owned and operated backcountry ski hut on the side of Juhhandle Mountain that looks over Long Valley above McCall. Friends and acquaintances can stay at the hut and have excellent access to killer ski terrain. It's actually an old grain silo that's been retrofitted with insulation, a stove and bunk beds.

There used to be a canvas tent at the site for years, but it wasn't maintained well. Jughandle is some of the best backcountry skiing within easy access of McCall.