Little Ski Hill
Encyclopedia
The Little Ski Hill is a modest ski area in west central Idaho
, two miles west of McCall
. Located on Highway 55
, immediately west of the county line in Adams County
, it was formerly known as the "Payette Lakes Ski Area."
Built in 1937 as a winter diversion for local forest workers, the Little Ski Hill has served the region's youth and skiing community for over 70 years. The small but action-packed facility has an alpine
hill served by a T-bar
surface lift, providing 405 vertical feet (123 m) of terrain on the only lighted ski area in the vicinity. It has a summit elevation
of 5600 feet (1706 m) above sea level; the slopes face north and west.
The ski area also has 18.6 miles (30 km) of groomed cross-country ski
trails and a biathlon
range.
Ski legend and 50-year McCall resident Corey Engen
taught at the hill for years before developing the nearby Brundage Mountain
in 1961.
The area formerly had a 50-60 meter Nordic ski jump
on its lower north slope, near the bend in the highway
. The aging jump was destroyed by a microburst
wind in the 1990s.
A 25-30 meter Nordic ski jump
is still in use.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, two miles west of McCall
McCall, Idaho
McCall is a resort town on the western edge of Valley County, Idaho, United States. Named after its founder, Tom McCall, it is situated on the southern shore of Payette Lake, near the center of the Payette National Forest...
. Located on Highway 55
Idaho State Highway 55
State Highway 55 is an Idaho highway from Marsing to New Meadows, connecting with US-95 at both ends.From Marsing it travels east to Nampa, Meridian, and Eagle, then north to Horseshoe Bend. SH-55 then climbs the Payette River to Banks, then its north fork to the Long Valley, through the towns of...
, immediately west of the county line in Adams County
Adams County, Idaho
Adams County is a rural county located in the state of Idaho. As of the 2010 census the county had a population of 3,976. The county seat and largest city is Council.Adams County was established in 1911 and was named in honor of President John Adams...
, it was formerly known as the "Payette Lakes Ski Area."
Built in 1937 as a winter diversion for local forest workers, the Little Ski Hill has served the region's youth and skiing community for over 70 years. The small but action-packed facility has an alpine
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
hill served by a T-bar
T-bar lift
A T-bar lift, also called T-bar, is a mechanised system for transporting skiers and snowboarders uphill, along the surface of the slope...
surface lift, providing 405 vertical feet (123 m) of terrain on the only lighted ski area in the vicinity. It has a summit elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 5600 feet (1706 m) above sea level; the slopes face north and west.
The ski area also has 18.6 miles (30 km) of groomed cross-country ski
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
trails and a biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
range.
Ski legend and 50-year McCall resident Corey Engen
Corey Engen
Corey Engen was the captain of the U.S. Nordic ski team at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. He was the youngest of the three Engen brothers that pioneered and popularized alpine skiing in the intermountain west, primarily in Utah and Idaho.-Biography:Corey was a ski jumper...
taught at the hill for years before developing the nearby Brundage Mountain
Brundage Mountain
Brundage Mountain Resort is an alpine ski area in west central Idaho, in the Payette National Forest. Brundage first opened in November 1961 and is 8 miles northwest of McCall, a twenty minute drive in average winter conditions....
in 1961.
The area formerly had a 50-60 meter Nordic ski jump
Ski jumping
Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
on its lower north slope, near the bend in the highway
Idaho State Highway 55
State Highway 55 is an Idaho highway from Marsing to New Meadows, connecting with US-95 at both ends.From Marsing it travels east to Nampa, Meridian, and Eagle, then north to Horseshoe Bend. SH-55 then climbs the Payette River to Banks, then its north fork to the Long Valley, through the towns of...
. The aging jump was destroyed by a microburst
Microburst
A microburst is a very localized column of sinking air, producing damaging divergent and straight-line winds at the surface that are similar to, but distinguishable from, tornadoes, which generally have convergent damage. There are two types of microbursts: wet microbursts and dry microbursts...
wind in the 1990s.
A 25-30 meter Nordic ski jump
Ski jumping
Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
is still in use.
External links
- The Little Ski Hill - official site
- TerraServer USA.com - USGS topo map & aerial photo