We hope you enjoy the pictures!

Carol shared her insight and wisdom on equipment, technique and types of dogs that can be used for dog sledding and skijoring, in addition to providing ample entertainment with stories of dog piles and crazy Frenchmen (if you attended, you know what we mean!).

For more information on dog sledding and to learn how to start a team of your own, a great resource is the book by Bella Levorsen, Mush: A Beginner’s Manual of Sled Dog Training.

Skijoring is a very old form of winter transportation. The first mention of it was the Scandinavians hitching up their reindeer, strapping on their skis, and traveling in the snow.

Today skijoring is done with horses, dogs, or snowmobiles pulling a skier. Skijoring competions have developed throughout the Western U.S. using a horse and rider, pulling a skier through a course that includes jumps, slalom through cones, and grabbing rings as they come into the finish line. The competition is fierce at some of the events, with best finishing times winning large purses. You Tube has a number of videos of skijoring competitions. A favorite of ours is Leadville Skijoring.

Out at the River Lodge at Blackhawk on the River, an invitational horse skijoring event gave horses and riders, and local skiers their first experience at this fun event. We would like to thank everyone who came out to watch, and a very big Thank You to our course groomer, Greg Lolly. We hope to continue this winter tradition at Blackhawk next year!

Director of Outdoor Pursuits, Jil Wickander, lent her vast knowledge of the winter flora and fauna at Blackhawk to homeowners on a special “Trees and Tracks” snowshoe hike this past Saturday. Along the way, fox and deer tracks dotted the landscape as we trekked through the trees and along the Payette River.

In addition to animal tracks, we were also able to learn about a number of winter plants. One of the most prevalant plant species we encountered was Wolf Lichen (pictured on the tree above). This green lichen is found on trees throughout the region and seems to be one of those plants you see, but rarely acknowledge, so commonplace is its presence. In fact, this special plant has a long history with the indigenous people of North America. Wolf Lichen was the most widely used dye lichen, used from the Rockies to the Pacific coast, from California to Alaska. Some groups also made paint from it. This lichen is sufficiently poisonous that the Achomawi in Northern California used it, mixed with rattlesnake venom, to make poison arrowheads. The Apache painted wolf-lichen crosses on their feet so they could pass their enemies unseen.

Wolf Lichen also has medicinal applications and is used most commonly as a dermatological aid. Below is a recipe for a salve that can be used on a number of skin conditions.

Wolf Lichen Salve
Pack four cups of fresh Wolf Lichen into a quart jar. Fill the jar with olive oil. Pour mixture into a 2 quart pan, place on stove and heat slowly over low heat, stirring frequently, for 20 to 30 minutes. Strain the oil through a coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth, discarding solids. Add 1½ ounces of finely shaved beeswax to the oil and heat slowly over simmering water. Pour into salve jars and cool completely before applying lid. Use salve for treating eczema and similar skin conditions.

Dashing through the snow until January 2nd! Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to enjoy the beautiful snow-scapes while being pulled along by a horse-drawn sleigh. Wrap yourself in warm blankets and enjoy hot cocoa on this one-of-a-kind tour.

To schedule your sleigh ride, please call Jil at (208) 630-4348.

To celebrate the season, Blackhawk and friends trekked to the Blue Moon Yurt in Ponderosa State Park for an amazing staff retreat. Geared up in snowshoes and skiis, the team followed a torch-light trail to the yurt where a four course Thai dinner awaited. Thanks to the staff at the Yurt who made our annual Christmas party such an memorable (and delicious) event!

For more information on booking the Blue Moon Yurt for your next family adventure, please call (208) 634-3111.

Casting Lessons * Trail Ride through the Meadows * Fly fishing along the Payette River

Blackhawk welcomed members of the Sportsmen Foundation during their 6th annual Sportsmen-Legislator Summit held in McCall, Idaho.

The Sportsmen Foundation’s , headquartered in Washington, DC , sole focus is providing access and a voice for sportsmen in the U.S. Congress, the Administration and federal land management agencies, as well as state legislatures across the country. With support from every major hunting and fishing organization and industry, the Foundation is the leader in promoting sportsmen’s issues with elected officials.

During their day at Blackhawk, Foundation members from across the country gathered to test their fly fishing skills along the Payette River. Casting lessons were provided for those new to the sport (with most hooking their first fish!). For those who wanted a scenic tour of the area, a trail ride through the Blackhawk Meadow provided the perfect afternoon activity.

Blackahwk wants to thank everyone who made it to McCall for this year’s conference - we hope to see you back soon!