Skiing » Just 5 More Minutes

{McCall, ID} Part 5: A Day at Tamarack Resort ♥

Idaho, McCall, McCall Accomodations, Skiing 6 Responses »

Mar 152013

set 1

{ Written by Jeff & Monica }

By Jeff

You cannot visit McCall without snowboarding/skiing at Tamarack Resort. Located near Donnelly, Idaho and about 30 minutes from McCall we arrive and are excited for our day ahead.

Tamarack enjoys a 2,800 vertical drop that is filled with open bowls, glades, challenging back country and high speed corduroy groomers and the views are nothing short of spectacular.

Monica, B and I arrived at Tamarack Resort early Thursday morning. The Sports Dome was bustling with guests signing up for lessons, a modest line for rental equipment and a great espresso bar that served us up some of the best coffee, ever.

Outside the temperature was a perfect 19 degrees F, no wind, crystal clear skies and four inches of new snow.

Monica signed B up for a private ski class while I joined ski legend Wolfe Ashcroft for a guided tour through the trails and trees of Tamarack. Wolfe led me in a game of cat and mouse through the variable mountain terrain. I was no match for this world class skier. Short hikes from the summit rewarded us with uncountable turns in untracked powder.

From the base, two high-speed quads whisked us back up to the top in minutes. Lift lines are nonexistent and the snow sports staff and locals treated us as close friends.

Tamarack’s terrain, quality of snow and breathtaking views are a recipe for success.

It was an epic day and B is still asking

“When can we go back to ski Tamarack daddy?”

Shots from the top (click to enlarge)

By Monica

What hubby forgot to mention was that on this morning, when we stepped out of the Airstream and climbed into the truck it was – 7 degrees outside! We had no inkling it was that cold outside seeing how warm and toasty we were inside the Airstream. I cooked a breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes while hubby showered and B got dressed.

Time and time again we are so thankful to have our Airstream. Even in these extreme temperatures we are able to enjoy ourselves glamping!

When we arrived at Tamarack Resort I was completely taken with the beauty here. The mountains and the clear blue skies just took my breath away. I signed B up for private lessons while hubby took off to ski the mountain and check things out.

I took a walk down around the base of the mountain and through the village to take some photographs to share with you :)

If you thought Tamarack Resort was part of skiing history, think again. The resort is open along with lift upgrades, snow making machines and groomers to ensure corduroy runs for all to enjoy. I was thoroughly impressed with the shopping experience in the sports dome to the many dining options from Morels in the Lodge as Osprey Meadows to the Canoe Grill, Seven Devils Pub and Hot Shots Espresso that served us an amazing coffee.

{ B with his private ski instructor }

Inside the Sports Dome things were busy with gear fitting, rentals, lift ticket purchases, etc.

It was definitely very, very cold outside and I had Oliver with me, in my pack and well, he was getting cold too. We decided to head over to the Lodge as Osprey Meadows and check things out over there.

The Lodge at Osprey Meadows is elegantly perched above Osprey Meadows golf course and Lake Cascade. Wood beams, native stone, hardwoods, and hand-wrought iron complement the lodge’s interior furnishings. The Lodge Hotel Rooms, Studios and Condominiums feature the latest in design and look out on to magnificent views of the outdoors so this would be a great place to stay if you wanted to ski Tamarack exclusively, if of course, you didn’t have your mobile ski lodge :)

View from the deck of the lodge. Beautiful wouldn’t you say?

As we drove back to the Airstream at the end of the day we couldn’t help but reflect back on how beautiful our experience at Tamarack truly was. People who live here, truly love living here. They tell me they wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world.

And do you know what? I am beginning to feel the same. This piece of the world is truly such an amazingly beautiful place.

We arrived back at the Airstream to freshen up before heading to our Apres-Ski dinner reservations at Rupert’s.

That post, coming next :)

McCall Trip Roundup:

Part 1: Arriving ♥
Part 2: McCall Town Guide ♥
Part 3: Skiing Brundage Mountain and Apres-Ski at the Shore Lodge ♥
Part 4: A Snowmobile Adventure to the Burgdorf Hot Springs and Beyond ♥
Part 5: A Day at Tamarack Resort ♥
Part 6: Apres-Ski at Rupert’s in Historic Hotel McCall ♥
Part 7: A Culinary Adventure in the Forest ♥
Part 8: Brundage Cat Skiing Adventures & Apres-Ski at the Pancake House ♥

{McCall, ID} Part 3: Skiing Brundage Mountain and Apres-Ski at the Shore Lodge ♥

Great Restaurants, Idaho, McCall, McCall Dining, Skiing 4 Responses »

Mar 092013

{ Written by Jeff & Monica }

By Jeff:

It is day two and we are cozily settled into our campsite at McCall RV Resort & Northfork Lodge. While my better half explores downtown McCall village with our pup Oliver, Bradley (“B”) and I eagerly set our next way point to Brundage Mountain Ski Resort. We are filled with excitement as our truck winds up the mountain road to the base area that sits at 5,800 feet elevation. It is a blue bird day. Freshly groomed corduroy awaits us on piste while the glades yield endless powder stache treasures.

We join up with our host and guide April Russell, director of communications at 9 AM sharp at the aptly named Blue Bird express. This state of the art high speed quad rises 1556 vertical feet in seven minutes. Experiencing absolutely no lift lines I will let you do the math on the number of untracked laps of powder runs you can pack in a morning. This gives you plenty of time to relax on the peak and absorb the panoramic breath taking views.

April gives us a great tour of the mountain and B quickly catalogs his favorite runs on the “Front Side.”

B asks us excitedly - “What trails do you want to ski this time? Main Street? North? Alpine? 45th Parallel?”

Quite frankly it was even hard to make the choice myself.

Before we ran out of breath, Lakeview bowl and it’s adjoining backside runs were next on our list. Talk about well spaced trees and open bowls — Lakeview had it all. Along with the backside trails, B loved their names featured from logging lingo such as Kickback, Springboard, Hotshot and Dropline.

We had an incredible day and B could hardly wait to tell mommy all bout The Brundage adventure and his new favorite ski resort.

In the coming days, Brundage lived up to its reputation of not only the best snow in Idaho but some of the best snow in The Northwest.

If you are intrigued by Brundage Mountain’s inbounds snow sports experience, stay tuned for a ride on one of their cats into 19,000 acres of backcountry paradise.

Cheers,
Jeff

By Monica:

The day after Oliver and I explored downtown McCall we decided to head up to Brundage Mountain with Hubby and B on their second day of skiing to meet April Russell and do some exploring there. I’ve heard a lot about Brundage Mountain from fellow friends in the Seattle area as well as in the town of McCall the other day so I was pretty curious to check it out.

“Ah, you’ll love Brundage Monica. It’s so close that you’ll find people leaving work on their lunch hour to take a couple of runs. It is really awesome!” one of the locals in the Foglifter coffee shop tells me the day prior.

In the car on the way up B was excited to see April again and was hoping to ski with her one more time.

“Do you think we can ski with April again daddy?”

I could tell this kid adored April and upon meeting her, I knew exactly why. Not only super sweet, out-going and funny – she was an awesome host and tour guide and she knew this mountain like no other. When B found out he could ski with her again he was over the moon.

“Yay!” he shouted :)

I took Oliver on the chair lift with me (in his pack complete with warming blanket) to the top of the mountain and boy, did we get a lot of attention! I had my camera and I had a puppy strapped to the front of my body in a carrier. I am sure we were quite the sight to see as everyone who skied past us either smiled, gave us a thumbs up or just stopped in their tracks to say hello and pet Oliver.

“Excuse me? Could you take a picture of my group? asked a lady who was there with her family and friends.

“But of course!” I snapped their picture and gave her my card. The next day I received an email from “Charlotte” who was the lady who asked me to take the picture. She apologized because she thought I was a paid photographer who would take pictures of the skiers as they unloaded from the chair against the backdrop of the sweeping views of the mountains and lakes. Once she looked up J5MM online and read about who I am, and what I do – she realized that I was not a paid photographer as she thought. But it made sense that she did think that because at other ski resorts, you will find photographers at the top of the lift.

I am happy to report that Charlotte and I are now pen-pals :) I love everything about her spirit and her outlook on life. She tells me, “I wish I would have asked you to join us in the lodge for an apres-ski glass of wine. Life is an adventure!” We both agree to meet up in the future and go camping together as she and her family/friends love to travel with their trailers, just like us.

Walking around the top of Brundage Mountain was an exhilarating experience. The views from the top are breathtaking. I spent a good two hours just walking around and taking as many pictures as I could.

Hubby took this shot of B during one of their days skiing Brundage. He was so excited to tell me all about his day and how much he loved it here. He also declared that he loves skiing powder.

“It’s my favorite snow to ski” he tells me :)

A big thank you to April Rusell for showing us around the mountain and capturing the heart of our son B. He loved skiing with you so much!!

If you didn’t happen to fuel up at the The Bear’s Den (which is the perfect mid-mountain pit stop located at the top of the Bear Chair) where you can get a hot drink or a satisfying lunch you can head down to the Lodge for lunch, like we did.

On the third floor in the main lodge cafeteria is where we enjoyed the lunch I packed for us. If you don’t bring a lunch you can enjoy a locally grown RR Ranch burger served with a signature sauce on a stone-ground bun. Fresh made deli sandwiches and salads are the perfect compliment to a house-made soup that you can order in the cafeteria.

A second option for dining is located in the center of the third floor of the lodge, The SideStash serves the finest Dawson Taylor coffee and espresso drinks along with draft beer and wine. It’s also a convenient stop for a signature venison stew, hot soup of the day, sandwiches and salads. Quick snacks are available here; grab a breakfast burrito (they go FAST), some tasty Stacey Cakes baked goods (!!), chips, candy or soda.

Lastly there is Smoky’s, a full service restaurant. Enjoy their housemade jambalaya and venison stew that compliments featured entree items from street tacos, a slider sampler plate and a smoked trout club sandwich. The bar features nine different beers on tap and an upgraded wine list, so carve out some time to enjoy a tasty treat!

Brundage Mountain is capable of stealing any snow lover’s heart from its powder-stuffed glades to luxuriously wide groomed runs, it’s a given you’ll keep coming back for more. Whether you’re just getting started in your snow sports experience, or are a seasoned slider searching for “the best day ever,” Brundage Mountain has something unique to offer.

We fell in love with Brundage Mountain and we know that you will too. Brundage Mountain = Heaven on Earth!!

It was still light outside when we arrived at the Shore Lodge for an apres-ski dining experience we have been looking forward to. Shore Lodge has been a beloved lakeside resort in Idaho since 1948. As we entered the lodge we were greeted with a warm, inviting décor featuring huge pine logs, river rock, wood floors and polished marble accents that harken back to McCall’s history as a timber and mining town. Floor- to-ceiling windows in its public areas make the most of its setting by offering breathtaking views of Payette Lake and Payette National Forest.

Just take a look at the view that we were greeted with upon entering the award-winning “The Narrows,” restaurant. Absolutely stunning wouldn’t you agree? Snow covered Lake Payette in all it’s glory . . . wow. I think we stood there for what seemed like eternity just gazing through the windows at the lake. So beautiful.

apres1

The Narrows menu was difficult to choose from as everything sounded divine. The mouth watering menu is accompanied by an extensive collection of wines, dessert wines, ports and artisan cheeses. A gourmet foodie’s dream come true no doubt. This evening we chose to begin with the Narrows signature salad of poached pears/candied hazelnuts/maytag blue cheese / champagne honey vinaigrette/port wine reduction followed by fried Puget Sound oysters (a little bit of home for us!). For our main entree was a dry aged filet mignon with lobster and oh my heavens, I will tell you this meal was one to remember. The filet was “melt in your mouth,” literally. Perfectly cooked and incredibly tender and the finish of smoked Fleur de sel on top was the magical finishing touch. Incredible. The lobster was surprisingly succulent and came with a clarified butter garlic dipping sauce that was so full of flavor it took the lobster even more over the top. On the side was something I have always dreamed of tasting but never had the opportunity until now. Duck fat roasted potatoes with crispy bacon and caramelized onions. As I type this I find myself beginning to crave this once more . . .

Main Entry at the Shore Lodge

Should you come to McCall and are seeking accommodations, the Shore Lodge offers guest rooms and suites ranging from cozy Garden View rooms to a variety of spacious suites with separate sitting areas or living rooms, and private balconies or patios offering views to Payette Lake. Specialty suites offer fireplaces, private dining rooms, and separate office space. For the ultimate in luxury, guests can enjoy the new Lake Cottage, which features three suites, a state-of-the-art kitchen, hot tub, private dock and approximately 150 feet of beachfront. All of Shore Lodge’s guest rooms and suites offer deluxe room amenities including spacious bathrooms with marble countertops, separate soaking tubs and glass showers, guest robes, flat-screen HD satellite TV, an in-room refrigerator, wireless Internet access.

Maybe next time we’ll leave the Airstream at home :)

Maybe :)

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What a fun filled day from skiing and exploring the Brundage Mountain Ski Resort to dining at the inviting Shore Lodge for a mouth watering – memorable apres-ski dinner we will never forget.

As our mid winter vacation in McCall continues, we are completely taken with the areas wonderful outdoor winter activities and one of a kind dining experiences.

Thank you McCall!! We love you!

McCall Trip Roundup:

Non-Stop Outdoor Adventures and Culinary Cuisine in McCall, Idaho

art galleries, bakeries, Great Restaurants, Great RV Resorts, Hotels, Markets, McCall, Skiing, snowshoeing 10 Responses »

Feb 182013

We woke up early this past Saturday morning and hit the road with Airstream in tow with a b-line in mind to the town of McCall in stunning Idaho.

I have never been to Idaho. Hubby has been telling me for years how beautiful the state is and when we arrived, I was in complete awe. The scenery here is just something that if you have not had the opportunity to experience, should be added to your bucket list.

The mountains, the rivers, the wide open spaces and how they all come together is completely breathtaking.

We are staying at the McCall RV Resort and the amenities here are perfect! Full hookups and they refill your propane tanks for you! There is an indoor pool with hot tub and full work out facility right at our Airstream’s door steps. Nice and so convenient!

Since Saturday we have experienced skiing at Brundage Mountain Resort and have met some of the nicest people around. Everyone here in McCall is very proud of this town and they are happy to share their love for it with anyone who will listen.

I look forward to sharing with you more of our adventures in depth here on J5MM but in the meantime if you would like you can follow our updates on J5MM’s facebook page and click like if you too would like to experience what we have so far { http://www.facebook.com/J5MMAirstream }.

Tomorrow we are experiencing a snowmobiling adventure to hot springs! We had to take Oliver to the “Happy Dog Inn” where he is surely being pampered beyond belief by wonderful Auntie Barbara. I did try and figure out the logistics of bringing him along on the snowmobile but since I have never snowmobiled before and since it is FREEZING cold while you are underway I opted for Ollie to stay in a warm cozy home. Ugh, we miss him. Especially B.

We also have a lot of fine dining, brewery tours and art galleries along with other outdoor winter adventures to share with you that the town of McCall offers.

I also look forward to strolling the town and taking as many pictures as I can to help you get a sense of how it truly is here. Magical!

Thank you for following and I hope you like what we are up to because it is our mission to share with you what this wonderful town has to offer so if you do come to McCall, you’ll have a great sense of places to go and things to do!

McCall Trip Roundup:

Ski In and Ski Out ★ The Summit at Snoqualmie

Alpental, Skiing, Washington Destinations, Western Washington 6 Responses »

Feb 062013

If you are a regular reader of J5MM you may have heard me mention that wintertime is my ♥ favorite time to be with my Airstream. Spending our days outdoors in the snow to retreat into our warm and cozy trailer at the end of the day is something hubby, B and I enjoy. Once we get settled in, the boys either read or play games while I’m whipping up our apres-ski dinner menu. Then after dinner we typically pull down the shades and watch a movie together. This time it was especially enjoyable since we had our little pup Oliver with us. He fits into our “wolf pack” Airstreaming family just perfectly!

Just this past weekend we brought the Airstream up to our local ski area called The Summit at Snoqualmie. The Summit happens to be a pleasant (and scenic) 45 minute drive from our home. We specifically stay at Alpental which is one out of the four ski areas located here at the Summit. I have been coming to ski Alpental for quite some time. Hubby since he was a kid and same with B. Not only does The Summit offer up some fantastic skiing, you can also cross country ski or snow shoe here as well. A true winter wonderland!

To secure an RV spot here, the key is to leave early on Friday since all spaces are first come – first serve. You can see us in the picture below — we think it’s the best spot! Do you see those skiers walking next to our Airstream? Well that little hill right in front of them is where the skiing begins. It is all downhill from there. So convenient and we had a great view of the slopes too. We were happy to be here ♥ !

I was especially happy to be here because I was looking forward to cooking in my tiny kitchen. Inspiration for dinner this weekend came from my favorite CSA (Full Circle Farms). They created a beautiful and {FREE} Apres-Ski recipe eBook (download here ) where I found their recipe for a White Bean and Kale stew. There was also a molten chocolate lava cake I would make that comes highly recommended by my friend Lori :) {Details at the end of the post}

Since I could not stop thinking about that molten chocolate lava cake, I decided to just go for it and make it ahead so it would be ready to pop in the oven in the evening. So the next morning when the boys headed out to ski, I prepared the cake before catching up with them.

Children, children everywhere! The Summit at Snoqualmie offers up some talented ski instructors to teach little ones (and adults too!) how to ski or snowboard.

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Here is the beautiful Alpental Lodge where you can cozy up inside with some hot food and beverages while watching the skiers come down the mountain.

Back in the Airstream:
So for a long time I have been struggling with this sink. Ugh. Like another reader friend of mine mentioned — it is a definite love/hate relationship she has with hers. I couldn’t agree more. But during this trip I think I am finally okay with it. I solved a solution to extend my counter space (there seems to be less counter space on this Airstream compared to my last one) by purchasing this {awesome} cutting board complete with a silicone collapsible strainer (that can be removed). I tried it once and knew immediately it was a keeper. Look how perfect the faucet lines up with the strainer. You can also chop your veggies and easily slide them into the strainer. Very handy!

It’s a lot of fun here in the RV parking lot ♥ The sun was shining and people were in high spirits!!

Back to the sink:
The second issue I have had with this sink is that it is a single sink and washing dishes was something I fretted over because I just could not come up with a system that worked. I either ended up using way too much water or making a watery mess all over my counter top. Needless to say, I was used to my double sink in my prior Airstream. But I think I’m okay with it now thanks to finally figuring out a system for washing dishes.

Here’s what I came up with:

How I Wash Dishes in my Airstream

STEP ONE
Set the stage: Dish drainer from Umbra I found at the Container Store. The bottom is on a slant so the water will pour out of a small opening. In my sink is a collapsible tub also found at the Container Store. The tub is filled with just enough hot water and soap so that I am able to dip my scrubbing brush into it to give the dishes a good wash.

STEP TWO
Then I boil some water that I use as my rinse. I found this stainless steel measuring bowl thingy at Goodwill. It has a spout which helps direct the water where I will eventually want it to go. The beauty of using boiling water as your rinse is that it heats up your dishes so they practically dry themselves (after waiting a few minutes). I was pretty surprised to discover that.

STEP THREE
While my water is coming to a boil, I use napkins left over from dinner and use them to “wipe” off any food left on the plates. I then scrub the dishes and place them with their soapy suds into the dish drainer.

STEP FOUR
Next I take my dish drainer and place it atop the tub which will allow the water from the rinse to empty into the tub. I then carefully pour the hot water over the dishes to rinse them. I then give the dishes a flip and rinse them again on their opposite sides.

STEP FIVE
Lastly I place the dish drainer with dishes and all over the stove top and allow it to sit for a few minutes. The dishes are hot and a lot of the water left on the dishes from the rinse will begin to evaporate.

★ I dispose of the water into the black tank (it holds more than the grey tank). I once heard that if enough food goes down your grey tank scum will build up causing your sensors to work inaccurately. Not sure how true that is but for me, this system seems to work. ★

Below is a shot of a snow groomer. While everyone was fast asleep that evening, I could hear the faint “Rrrrrr” sound of the groomers combing the mountains during the wee hours of the morning. I peeked out of the window and could see them waaaaaay up on top of the mountain, so tiny, with their bright spotlights guiding them through the dark. That was a cozy feeling and something you couldn’t experience if you weren’t staying in your rv/trailer at the base of the mountain.

Where B learned to ski. The magic carpet! Now he is officially ski racing and had his first Giant Slalom on Sunday. We are very proud of B!

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Back in the Airstream:
Cast iron is my favorite way to cook. I cook at home with it and I cook on the Airstream with it. I love my pans dearly and always tell B that one day, these pans will be his and by then they will be perfect!

I plan on writing a post all about cast iron care and how I go about it, but in the meantime I can show you how I store my pans. With cast iron its important to keep them nice and oiled in between usage. So when I am finished cleaning them, I wipe them with oil, place paper plates in between them and keep them in the bottom of my oven. Just three pans: griddle and two skillets. The paper plates serve to keep the bottom of the pans oil free.

Where the molten cake came from:

For a few months now I have been listening to my sweet friend Lori talk about how “good for you” Wildtree products are. Knowing she only feeds herself and her family all natural goodness, takes care of herself by working out religiously and enjoys life to the fullest — I trusted her. “Monica, Wildtree has ZERO additives, preservatives, MSG, food dyes, irradiation, GMOs, high fructose corn syrup and trans fats! In 2013 Wildtree will be certified organic.” Okay, I was sold {and intrigued}

I placed an order for products that I thought would do well in my Airstream kitchen like some unique grapeseed oil blends, bread and spice mixes. Things I could use to help me make dinner quickly when I wasn’t in the mood to cook (like whole wheat pizza dough where you just add water and maybe garlic flavored grapeseed oil?!) .

The Wildtree molten lava cake was ridiculously simple to make! Here is a link to Lori’s Wildtree site where you can find the mix and also see the other unique products they offer :)

*In hindsight, it was totally unnecessary to make this ahead of time. It literally takes seven minutes to prepare with five of those minutes being time where you are allowing the mixture to cool before adding two eggs and baking it off. Too easy.

How I made the Hearty Tomato, Spinach & White Bean Stew

So first of all, it has become a ritual for me to forget to pack important things on our trips. Usually it’s the phone charger, or the flash drive or any other number of items. This time it was one of the main ingredients for dinner — the kale (!!) but luckily hubby packed a bag of spinach so relief set in and I got busy.

I took my cast iron skillet and sauteed half of an onion that I diced. To that I added a can of crushed tomatoes, chopped garlic (to taste) a pinch of red pepper flakes and one vegetable bouillon cube that I crushed with my fingers and sprinkled in. I let some of the liquids evaporate before I put in one can of white beans with their liquid, a big huge handful of spinach along with some S&P. I let the liquids cook down again until I was able to make little spaces in the stew to poach some eggs in. I then covered the skillet with my flat cast iron griddle (doubles as a lid) and let the eggs cook until they were the way we liked them. While the ~~griddle~~ lid was on I turned on the back burner and toasted up some English muffins (I just put them straightaway on top of the burners on low and fliped often). Then I served dinner up like you see in the picture above.

Nothing warms you up better than a hot drink. A couple years ago I made the best Mexican hot chocolate in the Airstream after a day of skiing. You can find the recipe for that here

{THANK YOU} Summit at Snoqualmie for such a wonderful ski experience! Year after year we continue to come back in order to create more memories that B will carry on into his life and hopefully one day will bring his children here. We are especially happy that we can glamp with our Airstream because we think it makes the experience much richer ♥

A Winter Wonderland

Skiing 6 Responses »

Jan 152013

“Mommy, I think we should put some of those snowflakes on the top of the Airstreams.” B tells me as we complete our edible diorama over the weekend.

This was a fun project making Meringue and piping it into letters and other fun shapes to be included in our final project. I should also mention the simple and delicious chocolate pudding we made as the centerpiece with sugar mountain cookies in the background.

Skiing and our “mobile ski lodge” was the theme and while we worked away we talked about all of the places we have skied with our Airstream. And we talked about the places we are going.

“Will I go to ski class on Brundage Mountain” he asks me.

Brundage Mountain Resort in Idaho near the town of McCall is our next big ski trip. 10 days of skiing, cooking, shopping, dining, exploring ~ we are really looking forward to it all. A little over one month away, B is especially looking forward since I was able to give him a “yes” to his question. There is nothing more than skiing and meeting new friends that he loves to do more (except, well — playing with his new puppy Oliver).

Here we were at the Summit of Snoqualmie ~ specifically Alpental in Washington. This is where you can find us most weekends as hubby teaches and B takes classes. This year B becomes an official “Buddy Werner Kid” and we are pretty proud of him.

In addition to skiing and enjoying the beautiful outdoors, cooking is my favorite thing to do in my Airstream. Below are just some of the “B and hubby approved” apres ski meals I have made over the last year while visiting different ski resorts. If you would like, most of these recipes can be found under “Culinary Delights” in J5MM’s navigation bar.

Caramelized Onion and Parmesan Cheese Tarts at Red Mountain Resort in Rossland, British Columbia. The lower left picture is from our visit to Riverside RV Resort in Whistler, British Columbia just this past Thanksgiving.

soup

When you travel to Canada with your trailer, it’s a good idea to call the border patrol to find out what fruits and veggies are or are not allowed if you want to bring some along. These veggies came with me from my Full Circle CSA Box and luckily everything in it was allowed.

It snowed a lot and skiing was awesome. There is nothing like retreating back into your Airstream while settling in and making an easy dinner all while watching the snow fall outside. Beautiful.

Eric Skiing

Eric Skiing3

oprahsfavorite

This combination may sound a little strange, but oh my — it is addicting. Be warned ♥

That was a super huge icicle that B pulled off our Airstream one morning. Sadly, it didn’t survive in our freezer. B was hoping to keep it frozen forever.

Chocolate pudding recipe here and the meringue recipe here.

When I wasn’t in the mood to cook on our past ski trips, we enjoyed some fabulous apres ski dining in the ski villages. Below are pictures from Gabriellas and Gypsy at Red both located at the base of Red Mountain. The dining was amazing and we will never forget it.

Apres-Dining

Here is to a new 2013 full of new adventures and culinary experiences!

Photography by Monica Bennett

Ski Action Shots by Matt Small

Whistler Blackcomb Traditions

British Columbia, Canadian Destinations, Skiing, Whistler 12 Responses »

Dec 032012

Photo Credit Randy Lincks

{Written By Hubby}

Having visited Whistler and Blackcomb for decades, traditions amongst friends and family at this ultimate recreation resort have become firmly rooted. From the Peak to Valley and Sudan Coular Extreme Races, summer backpacking in Whistler’s back country and of course celebrating the American Thanksgiving holiday at North Americas top rated ski resort have been nothing short of amazing.

Whistler is always the first ski operation to open and has the most and best quality snow in the early season. On Thanksgiving morning we knew we were going to have a lot to be thankful for. Awoken by the thunder of avalanche control explosive detonations alerted us to an over night accumulation of 22 cm of new fluff and it was opening day for Blackcomb Mountain. Had I died and gone to heaven? Nope — I just woke up at Whistler Resort.

I met up with a couple visitors from Silver Star and Revelstoke (or “Revy” as some like to call it). We skied the seemingly bottomless powder until our legs turned to jello. Throughout the weekend, other families and friends from the Seattle area joined us and the kids had a blast! They loved the Jersey Cream chair the best. Last Chair ride was Crystal lift. The four of them raced down Zig Zag Run to the bottom of Excalibur.

The kids downloaded on the Blackcomb Gondola to the village where nachos and hot chocolate awaited them. After that they enjoyed a playful swim in the Pan Pacific pool.

What more could you ask for (except to do it again tomorrow)?

Photo Credit Randy Lincks
Photo Credit Justa Jeskova Photo Credit Bruce Rowles

A Walk into Whistler Village from Riverside RV Resort

British Columbia, Canadian Destinations, Skiing, Whistler 12 Responses »

Nov 232012

Here we are at the Riverside RV Resort in Whistler, British Columbia. This post is coming to you via the Whistler Public Library (a fateful glass of water ended the life of my laptop) and for that I am forever grateful as I have been eager to share with you where we are, what we have been doing and what we will be up to.

We left Seattle around 2 pm and arrived in Whistler around 8 pm a couple days ago. We made our way straight to Riverside RV Resort where we had reservations waiting for us. It was completely, absolutely pitch black outside and we could hardly see a thing but luckily the resort is well marked and the sites are easy to find. Other than that, we had no idea what was around us until the next morning.

When we awoke we opened the curtains and we were welcomed with a beautiful setting. Our site is directly across from the Riverside Green Putting Course and our view was nothing short of peaceful and very beautiful. On our first day the resort and village were snowless; however, fast forward to day two and it literally dumped. It was soooooo beautiful with all of the snow and everyone was out hitting the slopes of Whistler and Blackcomb.

Riverside RV resort is honestly such a wonderful place to stay be it with your RV or in one of their cozy cabins Not only does Riverside offer up free wifi, free showers, dvd rentals and dining, they also have a shuttle service to and from Whistler village. Don’t feel like shuttling it? No worries, I was happy to hear that the village was a pleasant 20 minute walk away. And I did I mention that everyone here is incredibly helpful and sooooo nice??

On our second day, Hubby and friend Todd (who is an amazing ski photographer), took B skiing on Blackcomb Mountain and they were all very excited to get going. For me I decided to head into Whistler Village and get a sense of how things are here in Whistler. Twenty minutes later and here I was . . .

The village was alive with people everywhere. Shops and art galleries GALORE. Restaurants beyond your imagination. I was overwhelmed yet so excited to be here . . .

I was also excited to be here because this afternoon is when we are going to watch the World Cup Bobsleigh and Skeleton races at the Sliding Center here in Whistler. I spied a few of the particpants from Russia taking a walk through the village. I was tempted to ask them for a photograph but I was too shy (need to work on that).

Fall colors are everywhere here in Whistler Village and it was a beautiful sight. It was the long Thanksgiving weekend holiday afterall and I was thankful to be here with hubby and B. We celebrated Thanksgiving in the Airstream, just the three of us. I went grocery shopping at the local market and it was obvious we were not the only Americans celebrating the holiday here in Whistler. I was perplexed however as so many ~~skiers~~ people were buying huge turkeys and it was already 6 pm. As for me I picked up two turkey breasts and cooked them up in the cast iron skillet with some stuffing in the Airstream. It was cozy and peaceful and a tradition we are getting used to.

Stay tuned for more Whistler stories coming soon!

An Airstream Winter Skiing Adventure Begins

Skiing 6 Responses »

Nov 212012

Last year you may recall our Airstream ski trip to beautiful Rossland in British Columbia. Home to Red Mountain Resort and Big Red Cats we spent our days cat skiing and in the evenings we indulged in some of the finest cuisine that Red Mountain had to offer.

This season we are looking forward to taking our ~~Airstream~~ Mobile Ski Lodge with us to a few more ski resorts. I have come to realize that the winter ski season is a great time to Airstream. You have your home with you. You can wake up early (or not), step out your front door and there you are right at the mountain ready for a day of skiing.

This Thanksgiving weekend we begin the ski season with a trip to none other than Whistler Blackcomb and we couldn’t be more excited. If you have never been to Whistler Blackcomb we are excited to share with you our story. Please tune in and watch how our trip unfolds!

In the meantime, we are wishing all of our American readers a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Jeff, Monica & B

The Good Life at Crystal Mountain in Washington with Nathan and Katie and their 1968 Vintage Airstream

Crystal Mountain, Skiing, Washington Destinations, Western Washington 3 Responses »

Apr 052012

This post is written and beautifully photographed by J5MM guest writer Matt Small. Check out his site: MattSmall.com for amazing photography!

Talk about living the good life.

If you ski or ride at Crystal Mountain here in Washington State with any frequency, you are bound to see a refurbished 26′ 1968 Airstream “Land Yacht,” planted firmly in the parking lot with smoke billowing out of its custom chimney. This is a curious oddity for strangers and a welcoming clubhouse to friends and family of the owners, Nathan and Katie.

Nathan originally bought the Airstream from a fellow ski buddy two years ago and rehabbed it to his liking complete with reclaimed wood and a beautiful, vintage wood burning side stove that came from a metal scrap collector — a true find!

During the winter, Nathan and Katie tow their Airstream to and from suburbia with their 3/4 ton Chevy Silverado where they enjoy their days skiing, riding and hanging with friends while cooking up gourmet meals inside of their cozy Airstream on their efficient wood burning stove.

The engaged couple are always graciously hosting people and their canine friends before, during and after a day on the slopes.

I consider myself lucky to have spent time with a great group of people that congregate in the cozy Airstream as well as on the steeps of Crystal Mountain.

Here at Crystal it is typical to finish off a beautiful day and stop by the Airstream to make yourself comfortable while being handed a cold beer along with a hot and piping meal that Nathan and Katie have prepared.

On the day I took some photographs, Nathan left kalbi chicken thighs coated with basil and garlic along with a stack of smoked pastrami. Beautiful peppers were left to slow cook on the stove top while the gang and I went out and skied some of Crystal’s famous March powder.

We cheered the day and enjoyed a scrumptious meal together when we came back to the Airstream.

Another great day for the record books!

Thank you Nathan and Katie (and all the locals) for your love of the mountains and the camaraderie you consistently promote, keep up the good work!

Matt Small
Matt Small Photography

More from Matt on J5MM:

Reflections of a Big Red Cat Ski Trip with Comforting Celeriac Basil Seed Soup and Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

British Columbia, Canadian Destinations, For Dinner, Rossland, Skiing, Uncategorized 6 Responses »

Mar 072012

Celeriac Soup

Seven days at Red Mountain in Rossland, British Columbia and it was time to head back home. One more day of skiing and one more night in the Airstream.

Then back to reality.

I wasn’t ready to leave. But then again, I am really not ever ready to leave on our vacations. I sometimes have it in my head that I would love to stay forever. Then hubby brings me back down to reality.

Not possible.

But first before I start thinking about leaving, I enjoy reflecting on our most wonderful trip. Paula and Kieran who run Big Red Cats were so nice and so accommodating. Thank you both so much. We all truly had an incredible time and thank you especially to Ian at the Red Shutter Inn who helped us all with accommodations.

Dining at Gypsy’s and Gabriella’s was incredible. If you ever come to Red Mountain, these two restaurants are sure to please. Cozy and inviting and the food? Well, you can judge for yourself here and here. Incredible and gourmet.

**Read about why J5MM chose to visit Big Red Cats at Red Mountain here and see for yourself why this is a skier’s paradise**

Also a big thank you to Matt Small and Kenny Blum, our ESPN Photographers who joined us on our trip.

The following ski shots (and Big Red Kitty shot) are from Matt Small, thank you Matt!

Big Red Cats and Big Red Kitty in Rossland, B.C.

The boys went skiing everyday and came back hungry. It was up to me to figure out what to prepare for them. I knew I wanted to make soup and also a nice sweet treat for B. This was the day to do it. It was our last day and I had some beautiful veggies in my box from Full Circle Farms that needed to be used.

Celeriac. Have you ever heard of this? It is also called celery root and when it is sliced open the most crisp and bright smell awakens your senses. I peeled and sliced up (into very small pieces so they would all cook quickly and evenly) my celery root along with a few carrots and an onion. Oh, and also red potatoes. All from Full Circle Farms.

Into my cast iron dutch oven went the veggies, covered them almost to the top with stock (I used veggie stock), covered with a lid and simmered for about 30 minutes on the stove top until I could easily pierce through the pieces easily with the tines of my fork.

You can easily eat this soup as it is or you can take your immersion blender and blend until smooth. Either way, the flavors are fresh and bright. If you do blend the soup, I suggest adding some watercress for garnish and a sprinkling of basil seeds. You can find basil seeds at your local Asian market. I love basil seeds. Did you know when they are submerged in a liquid they form a jelly coating on the outside? The end result is a chewy little seed that pops in your mouth when you bite into them. The taste you are greeted with is that of an ever so slight basil flavor. It’s really interesting how these little seeds change their texture.

Kenny Blum Skiing - Photos Courtesy of Matt Small :) !!

You can also top with this beautiful golden colored soup with a dollop of Greek yogurt and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Carrot tops are a beautiful garnish as well.

This soup was the perfect ending to a great day of powder skiing for the boys. Nothing like a warm bowl of soup to warm yourself up!

Skiing with Big Red Cats -- Photos Courtesy of Matt Small!

When we awoke the next morning we looked out of the window and discovered that Red Mountain had received a lot of snow over night. Our Airstream was covered in snow and icicles. B pulled an icicle off and couldn’t wait to show me how big it was! He wanted to keep it so we put it (very carefully) into the Airstream’s freezer.

We now have this icicle in our freezer at home – B wants to save it for summertime to show his friends when it is hot outside.

Family Airstream Ski Trip to Red Mountain Resort, B.C.