Sandpoint Ski resort trailride

We enjoyed the stay at Ponderay, ID just outside of Sandpoint and on Lake Pond Oreille. In the summer the ski slopes and Nordic cross country trails are opend up to mountain bikers, hikers and trailrides. Photo 1 shows a view of the ski resort condo's. It felt really strange walking through all of this and the ski lifts to get to the horses, but there were tourist families and mountain bikers and hikers everywhere. On the drive up the mountain there were many switchbacks, but there were often widened spaces to pull off and usually a car or two were there. We found out that it was huckleberry picking time. In photo 2 we are at the summit and behind us you can see the lake where we went fishing the day after this ride. I am on Shadow, a Tennessee walker, quarter horse cross and she was full of energy, but very obedient and willing. My two riding companions had never been on horses before but were a lot of fun. Occasionally we went through the steep, rugged close wilderness and couldn't see the path for the limbs brushing our legs, but other parts were the wide Nordic cross country trails and we could ride side by side. Scotty, the young boy, even got to lead the ride for awhile because his horse was accustomed to being lead horse. It was a very relaxing and pleasant ride. Photo 3 is of Matt, our guide on Scully, and behind him is a better shot of Lake Pend Oreille and we could see the marina and dock where we would leave for the fishing trip. 4th photo is one of the descending Nordic trails and in the upper background you can see one of the more daring ski slopes. Matt made fun of me when I told him "No way", but we did agree we'd ride up and down it all day on horseback. 5th photo shows our final descent to the corral and shelter which is a domed tent with cattle panels. It is easily removed for winter sports and the gentle slope there is for tubing on the snow. more my speed. The last shot is from the boat on our fishing trip on Lake Pend Oreille and in the center of the mountain you can see the light colors of the ski resort and ski slopes. We rode from there to the right for 3 hours, almost to the summit of that peak.