Snowshoeing through the forest to a Mongolian-style yurt for a gourmet dinner or hopping on an “edible” hay bale at the back of a sleigh in search of wild—and hungry—elk aren’t the usual off-property diversions you might expect to find in Idaho. Yet Whitetail Club and Resort isn’t your typical property. Along with outdoor group excursions like fishing, rafting, horseback riding, and skiing, the idyllic lakefront retreat, surrounded by mountains in the small town of McCall, has unexpected adventures down to a T.
Groups gathering in the upscale sportsmen’s lodge-like setting of Whitetail, which bills itself as “A Club for All Seasons,” are in for a true wilderness treat in nearby Ponderosa State Park during the winter.
Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing into the thick forest, groups of up to 30 people are escorted along a one-mile trail illuminated by the sparkling stars above and flickering tiki torches pitched into the ground. With the moon shining over Payette Lake, they arrive at their final destination: the remote Blue Moon Yurt, where proprietor Lisa Whisnant dishes out haute cuisine and great times.
“This is our little sanctuary in this old-growth ponderosa pine forest,” Whisnant says. “The whole idea behind the yurt is to mingle over good food and good conversation, and at the end of the evening, we like to say everyone waddles out of here, finding it hard to bend over to put on their snowshoes.”
Guests step out of the cold and into the cozy, tent-like yurt, warmed by soft candlelight and hot mulled wine, followed by a feast that’s skied in daily by workers towing sleds and prepared on-site in Dutch ovens. Warm brie with mango chutney and Cornish hen with pasilla pepper and pomegranate sauce are two of the courses served.
Open during the winter, the yurt accommodates up to 30 people and can be bought out for private events.
On another unique wintertime adventure, Whitetail takes groups to the little valley town of Donnelly, where Hap and Florence Points Ranch sits on 500 acres of land that has been in the Points family since the 1800s.
Groups are invited to jump onboard a horse-drawn sleigh and get comfy on a hay bale as Lyle Points takes the reins and recounts colorful stories of his family, the land and the wild elk that have peacefully roamed the territory for decades.
Today, there are roughly 150 elk in the herd, and when they spot Lyle, the curious onlookers and the hay bales they’re sitting on, the giant animals—antlers and all—are anything but shy about approaching the sleigh en masse and munching on everyone’s seat. The entire experience is a unique way to feed the elk, as well as spot other wildlife and enjoy the pretty countryside blanketed in snow along the way.
The Hap and Florence Points Ranch sleigh rides, available during the winter, last approximately one hour, and the sleighs accommodate about 15 people each.
For More Info
Whitetail Club and Resort 208.634.2244 www.whitetailclub.com
