FOURTH OF JULY PASS — Just a few snowy feet from the Panhandle Warming Hut at the Fourth of July Pass Recreation Area, Megan Bircher helped her daughter snap into her little cross-country skis.

"This is her second day on snow," said Bircher, of Coeur d'Alene. "She's just learning to ski. We said it’s like hiking, and we hike in the summertime so she’s doing pretty well with that."

A bit bashful, 4-year-old Penny had no comment for the media, but looked up at her mom and smiled.

"Mommy, I’m doing little steps," she said quietly.

"I see that, they are little steps, good job," Megan replied, smiling back.

Megan and Penny had just finished the 5-mile ski trek through the inner loop trail system Saturday during the Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club's 25th annual Best Hand Fun Ski and Snowshoe event. More than 70 people participated, including seasoned snow enthusiasts and those who were fairly new to the scene.

Megan is a former member of the club and said she enjoys getting out to ski whenever she can. She has enjoyed skiing since she was Penny's age.

"I grew up skiing," she said. "I started skiing when I was 4. I always went out with my family. It’s just good to be outside in the wintertime. A lot of people like to stay inside. There’s plenty of stuff to do out there in the winter."

The Best Hand event included opportunities to win prizes while skiing the loop or snowshoeing the trail by collecting playing cards from volunteers at various stations. Once participants had their five cards, they compared their poker-type hands and vied for prizes such as a canoeing trip, jewelry from Bedrock Jewelers, a golf package for two at Avondale Golf Club, two pounds of smoked salmon and more. Participants could also enter a raffle and win prizes including gift certificates to local restaurants and other goodies.

Ellie Emm of Post Falls was eyeing one prize in particular.

"Of course, the No. 1, the overnight canoe trip to Upper Priest Lake," she said. "I’ve never been to Priest Lake."

Emm recently moved to North Idaho from Colorado and is a new member of the Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club, which brings together people who enjoy cross-country and snowshoe outings. Emm said she visited the Fourth of July Pass Recreation Area in the fall to help clean off the trails, but had never seen it laden with snow. This was also her first Best Hand event, where she handed out playing cards at one of the first stations.

"It’s gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous, the trees are beautiful, the snow is wonderful, the company is wonderful," she said. "This is a wonderful welcoming group."

The Best Hand event coincided with Idaho's Free Ski Day, a day when the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation does not require trail and park users to have Park 'n' Ski passes.

"There’s been a lot of people coming up here, even just with the snow, we’ve noticed, the parking lot and along the road, people are really using everything," said Jim McMillen, club president. "We had so much snow up here, we just kind of got the grooming done."

McMillen visited with volunteers and Best Hand participants at the warming hut, where small wood fires warmed hands and toes in the barely 20-degree chill. He explained why people love events like the Best Hand so much.

"All you have to do is look at the trees and the area, how beautiful is this?" he said, tilting his head and gesturing with open arms toward the blue sky. "It’s part of living in North Idaho and enjoying the winter sports that we have. We’ve been able to expand the area; we have up to 25 miles of ski and snowshoe trail. I just think it’s the enjoyment of being outdoors and exercising. We have a lot of winter here so might as well utilize it."

The Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club welcomes new members, who can sign up to lead a day ski or snowshoe excursion, take a ski lesson, participate in volunteer opportunities and enjoy overnight trips, such as the upcoming weekend trip to the Palouse Divide. Dues are $15 per household per year.

The club meets the first Tuesdays of the month from November through April. The next meeting is from 7-8:30 p.m. at Avondale Golf Clubhouse in Hayden Lake. To be on the club roster, new members must be registered by Jan 4 (not at the meeting on the 5th). Those interested can contact Carol via Panhandle Nordic Club, P.O. Box 2583, Hayden, ID 83835. New members can still register after the 4th but their names will not be printed on the membership roster.

Info: www.panhandlenordicclub.com