STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Fill your belly with homemade soups and chili. And celebrate the magnificence of skiing in the shadow of the Sawtooth Mountains at the 18th annual Sawtooth Ski Festival.
The event, which raises money to groom cross-country ski trails near Stanley, will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8.
It kicks off on Saturday with the Chili Fest and Poker Run at the Park Creek trails seven miles west of Stanley on Highway 21.
Homemade chilis running the gamut from white chicken chili to hot spicy Texan chili and sweet treats will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. And skiers may ski the loops collecting cards for a five-card poker hand. The winning hand will be called at 1:30 p.m.
Spend the afternoon burning off a few more calories because a dinner and auction will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Stanley Community Building. The silent auction will feature arts and crafts, along with ski and fashion accessories.
Come Sunday, the trailside Soup Kitchen Social will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Alturas Lake Ski area 20 miles south of Stanley. A variety of homemade soups will be offered, along with focaccia bread, beer, mimosas and sweet treats.
The soup kitchen is about one mile from the highway, accessible by skis and snowshoes. Donations will be accepted.
Questions? Call Karen Keiski at 208-774-3487.