Nicole Blanchard
Editor-in-Chief
With the final days of summer gone for good and winter well on its way, outdoor enthusiasts in the Pocatello area may be asking themselves what activity options remain.
The promise of snow might be a damper for some, but for others, including the staff of Idaho State University’s Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC), it promises a myriad of new activities.
“Right now we call it midseason because we don’t have any snow and it’s cold out,” said OAC Director Dana Olson. “But once the snow comes, it’s a winter wonderland and it opens up a whole new environment of winter sports.”
Skiing and snowboarding through local outlets such as Pebble Creek, Pomerelle and Targhee is a given.
“A pretty cool thing is that at Pebble Creek, Friday is ISU Friday,” Olson said, “so there’s a reduced lift ticket during the day. At night they have discounted lift passes and rentals for night skiing.”
Cross-country skiing enthusiasts can take part in trips offered by the OAC, which will take participants to a multitude of local locations, as well as Craters of the Moon and Yellowstone National Park.
“Craters is known for the lava rock, so that’s cool when you’re skiing around through this lava rock and all these old trees,” said Olson.
Cross-country skiers and snowshoers can also put their skills to the test by trekking up to any of the OAC’s five well-known yurts.
The yurts are a series of small wooden structures accessible to outdoor aficionados of varying skill levels. Available by reservation only, the structures are equipped with wood-burning stoves, a stockpile of firewood, Coleman lanterns and pots and pans.
“Once you get there and get the yurt warm, it’s pretty comfortable,” Olson said, adding that the yurts also feature wooden bunks.
The OAC also offers downhill skiing and snowboarding trips at Pebble Creek.
“If there are people who don’t know how to ski, we always spend a little bit of time introducing them to the equipment. We don’t just go off and leave them,” said Olson.
Olson said one common misconception of OAC winter activities is that participants must already be skilled in the activity to be involved.
“This program is for [the students],” she said. “We try to do some trips that pretty much anyone can go on, as long as you have the physical ability to go the distance. I think it’s the biggest challenge we have at times, for students to realize that they don’t have to know how to do everything to walk in this door.”
Olson said another obstacle is convincing potential participants of how pleasant the outdoors is even in colder weather.
“It’s amazing to me when you’re skiing and moving you can stay warmer than you think,” she explained. “A lot of times people think it’s cold and they don’t want to go outside, but in the winter it’s beautiful.”
The OAC also offers rental equipment to aid students and community members in getting out into the beautiful winter weather. Ski, snowboard and ice climbing packages are among the many rentals offered, with prices varying over differing rental durations.
Despite the multitude of supplies offered, the OAC does not rent winter clothing. Olson encouraged students to seek out local businesses for new clothes, and said secondhand shops often carry cheap clothing in good condition.
For Olson, embracing the cold weather is a breeze.
“I don’t care if it’s snowing on me or the sun is out,” she said, “it’s equally as fun because it gives you a different experience.”
