MN Native, 1st trip west, Spokane, WA Area, Need HELP!

[xrated]

Veiw from up top

Like I said it's the going down that gets you. This is what it looked like looking back towards the bottom. Even though I knew the hill didn't just drop off, I took 15 plus minutes convincing myself that the hill didn't give way.

this is the hill from the bottom

Aww damnit man now you really got me wanting to go back.

 

[cjos12]

For $246 round trip from MPLS, it makes it pretty easy!

What are the rentals like out there, are you riding a rental?

 

[xrated]

For $246 round trip from MPLS, it makes it pretty easy!

What are the rentals like out there, are you riding a rental?

that one I don't know, I was on BBs wifes sled...she's super nice!!!

Preistlakermk may know more about the rental fleet.

 

[SpokaneRMK]

Trust me you will want to go up the hill until you see it....then you will still want to but you won't want to. Then you finally will and it will be a huge rush. Then you realize you have to come down and that's even scarier, and a bigger rush then going up.

This is the first hill they took me to play on. and sight of my first stuck.

X, where is this hill you speak of, looks pretty flat to me. If your gonna ride priest and all you want is trails, and some little play areas then the west side is where u want to be, check into hills resort, great lodging, food, and nightlife. U can ride right from the front door, rentals are just down the road. If you want to see some hills, then Cavanaugh bay is were you want to be. Trent has sleds to rent and you also leave from the front door, good lodging right at the bar and good food. If your on this side of the lake and you wonder up into the hills find a guide, there are some real scetchy areas
that can get a person into trouble real quick, not trying to scare ya but it happens every year were my buddies get called out at 9 at night for a search and rescue. Priest is a gourgeous place and if you know where to go, can b a very safe place to ride and have fun.

 

[Environmentalist]

I would agree with staying at Cavanaughs on the East side. The west side has a great trail system, but limited off trail opportunities. The East side also has a good trail system, but it has everything from wild to mild. The resort has a good restaurant, sled rentals and the trail is right outside your door. Cabins are perfect for sledders....fire place, kitchen and beds...perfect! I've stayed there several times with the family and love the place.

Like said above, you will want to hook up with some locals to show you around so you don't have spend the night spooning with your buddies in the middle of the woods.

 

[Environmentalist]

BTW....Here was the view from our cabin the last time we stayed at Cavanaugh's....not too bad.

 

[xrated]

X, where is this hill you speak of, looks pretty flat to me. If your gonna ride priest and all you want is trails, and some little play areas then the west side is where u want to be, check into hills resort, great lodging, food, and nightlife. U can ride right from the front door, rentals are just down the road. If you want to see some hills, then Cavanaugh bay is were you want to be. Trent has sleds to rent and you also leave from the front door, good lodging right at the bar and good food. If your on this side of the lake and you wonder up into the hills find a guide, there are some real scetchy areas
that can get a person into trouble real quick, not trying to scare ya but it happens every year were my buddies get called out at 9 at night for a search and rescue. Priest is a gourgeous place and if you know where to go, can b a very safe place to ride and have fun.

Had you shown up you might know....or it could be off the road on the way back to Moose.

 

[xrated]

BTW....Here was the view from our cabin the last time we stayed at Cavanaugh's....not too bad.

waking up to that would be worth the flight and rental alone, let alone the sledding. You make your reservations yet my flatland brother?

 

[SpokaneRMK]

Had you shown up you might know....or it could be off the road on the way back to Moose.

Woulda been there but already had a trip to mccall planned.

I would suggest making your reservations for the end of feb., first part of march, usually the best snow conditions of the year.

 

[cjos12]

No reservations yet, my buddy works for Polaris so he's working his connections for geting us sleds, the sled rental is what kills the deal. We could end up driving to a destination depending upon where we could get sleds, it's still a mess right now. People committed to going, just not committed enough to throw down the money for the flight out there just yet. Looks like about a 21 hour drive if we went that route.

I know this is an Idaho forum, but locations in Montana, Colorado, etc could still be an option for us. For people that have sled in northern Idaho and beyond, any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Environmentalist- The view out your cabin window would be phenominal...

 

[dpearse]

If you "tag team" drive and go straight through, you can make it in 20 hours or a hair under...assuming you don't hit bad weather.

I'm from Mankato (actually from New Ulm, but most folks don't know where that is...) and moved to Cda/Spokane 9 years ago and make the round trip driving at least once per year...I make it in under 30 hours with my wife and four kids and we stop to sleep in Buffalo, WY every time.

The nice thing in my opinion with riding around the CdA area is that there is some great riding that isn't too extreme for "mountain beginners". Avy danger around CdA, while still present, isn't as extreme as many locations in the west.

Shoot me a PM if you make it out our way...I'd be happy to show you around!

Dan

 

[cjos12]

Dan,

Thanks a lot for the information man, much appreciated. The thing I worry about most is the drive through ND, the wind picks up even a small bit with some snow and your stuck in the water. Southwest has a special for tickets to Spokane, WA for $246 round trip through tonight at midnight. Have you seen flights for less then that and for this area I heard late Feb you have the best snow, I really have to take the trip in January, will snow levels be sufficient then?

 

[Spiced Wafer]

snow good in january....

if you are looking for just trail riding, then the north, and west side of the lake is better....the east side has a good trail system, it just takes you up into the alpine...

the west side is more trails, deep woods, and tree'd hill sides...the east side is more of the "bowls" and the big mtns...

this is chimney rock...one of the cool features up in the priest area....

this is looking down on priest lake from echo bowl (east side of lake, there is a warming hut at the base of echo bowl)

more of the east side....this is called the pencil/or the finger shoot...depending on who you talk to

east side again....great mtn riding here

priest lake again from echo bowl

echo bowl

these pics were taken on memorial day of 2009
sorry don't have any pics of the west side...it looks like mn

 

[Spiced Wafer]

spkrmk....x got stuck at the back side of moose lake up trestle creek.

 

[cjos12]

Thanks for the pics Spiced Wafer!