Happy Trails Heavy Snowfall Creates Perfect Conditions On The Doorsteps Of Spokane Cross-Country Skiers

Lured by pristine snow glistening under the clearest blue sky, families schussed to neighborhood parks and city golf courses for Christmas Day skiing.

Ted Idlof of north Spokane donned his skis at his front door for an hour of cross-country, starting in Woodridge and gliding to an open field near Pacific Park.

“It was a picture-postcard day. The sun was out, it was gorgeous,” he said. “I needed some exercise after a big brunch. It’s not often you get to ski right outside the house. I went right out the front door. I was breaking trails.”

From Indian Trail to Manito Park to Coeur d’Alene, the sentiment was the same: a pair of skis, a field of snow, and thou.

At Downriver Municipal Golf Course, crowds of skiers, sledders and snowboarders came and went throughout the day in a steady stream.

Some carried just-out-of-the-box skis, others dragged green or purple plastic sleds. They wore sweatshirts and jeans, or the latest Nordic-wear.

Expert skiers mixed with first-timers, shouting good-natured advice and encouragement.

Beginner Taryn Plank, 12, looked like a lanky fawn learning to walk on her uncooperative skis.

Uncle Matt Tinkelenberg, just in from Guam and still acclimating, offered encouragement and support.

It wasn’t long before Plank was cruising down the hill on her own.

“It’s a blast!” she exclaimed.

Nearby, Brian Erickson, a racer with the Northern Michigan University ski team, was flying off the tee box before touching lightly onto the snow.

“I’ve skied here a lot. This is just fun,” he said, before launching another run.

Mark Machacek was scouting out Downriver before bringing his 6-year-old daughter and her new skis.

“I want her to see other little kids ski,” he said. “This is just the greatest … and it’s so close to home.”

And so it was for the Karnes family, breaking trail around the city golf course in Coeur d’Alene.

“Oh, Kali, this is not going to be pretty,” Gary Karnes joked with his daughter.

“This is my first time,” Kali Karnes explained. “He’s never asked me to go.”

And dad hadn’t been skiing for at least a couple of years.

After wrestling bindings, the pair glided off, looking as if they were born to ski as they disappeared into the trees.

Matt Adams and Greg Faucher weren’t far behind. To them, the new snow was a great treasure.

“Living on the West Coast, you like to come over and enjoy the snow as much as possible,” said Adams, who grew up in Coeur d’Alene. He’s been living in the land of endless rain - Seattle - and “that’s why it’s awesome here.”

Adams had borrowed his sister’s snowshoes for this outing. Brother-in-law Faucher, however, was taking his Christmas present from his parents, a pair of new blue Karhus, out for a ski.

“It’s an opportunity to be one with nature after enjoying time with family,” Faucher explained.

And, like Idlof in Indian Trail working off his Christmas brunch, “It’s exercise,” said Faucher.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 color photos

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WHERE TO SKI In the city of Spokane, Downriver and Indian Canyon golf courses are open for skiing and trails are groomed regularly. Skiing is not allowed at any of the Spokane County golf courses.