The Valley Sun

So, if you are thinking of walking up Baldy as far as the top of the Gondola some beautiful morning, here is a description of the best foot trail going up the front side of the mountain:

First, some details:

The walk is about 4 miles from the River Run Plaza to the Roundhouse. (That’s where the top of the Gondola is) Plan on one hour and 20 minutes of walking time, plus any time you spend resting. Give yourself a good 2 hours, unless you are going to get after it and walk non-stop with purpose.  Then you will be there in about 1 hour 20. There is one water stop, but it is very nearly at the end of your walk, so it won’t help you if you run out of water early on.  Most smart walkers carry at least a small bottle of water for the trip. Also, the Mountain guys warn that you need always to be prepared for bad weather or the possibility that the lift could be closed when you get there due to lightning, or some other situation. In case of lightning, they WILL help you with alternate transportation down the mountain, but it can be cumbersome and sometimes slow, so you may have to be patient.   

Okay, to the walk… You will start out to the left of Pete Lane’s bike shop, walk toward the trees, (not up the mountain, yet)  and look for the big sign at the entrance to the trail. There will be some signage about being responsible in case of bad weather, dogs on the lift(no) and such.  The trail parallels the river here, and climbs slightly away from the valley floor gradually bringing you high enough to get a nice view of town. You will see a row of nice Mcmansions along the river bank with their lawns planted right down to the water. (How can they do that?)

At about 1 mile the trail moves away from the river and through a nice shaded section where you should slow down and listen to the silence. Very calming, a nice sensation. If you look carefully above you, you will see the bottom terminal of the Frenchman’s lift through the trees above. Don’t go there. Then a short hot section out in the sunshine that traverses out to the USFS overlook viewing all of Ketchum, Sun Valley and the Pioneer mountains in the distance. Nice view, great spot for a rest, and not a bad spot to turn back after enjoying the view if you are so inclined.  The trail up goes back across the sunny slope (great flowers here) and at about mile 2.2 will be your first road crossing. Do not be tempted. The shortest route from here is right up the trail to the Gondola.  Go across the road and up the trail into the woods again. You will cross Can-Can, Lower College a few times, Graduate, and Flying Squirrel as the trail swtchbacks up toward the Louis Steur Memorial at 3.5 miles.

The sign says Louis was a gentleman, and he was. He worked for Sun Valley for along time, and enjoyed these mountains as a pilot, a glider pilot, a skier and a climber. He died in the Sawtooths doing what he and most all of us,  love to do.  Think of him as you drink his water and enjoy the shade.  Then stroll 50 yards up to Roundhouse Lane (here it looks like a two-lane road).  Follow the signs down the road to the left about .4 mile or about 10 minutes, and you will see the Roundhouse! Beer, wine, coffee, soda, lunch and a free ride down to River Run. The lift operators will greet you as you arrive. Be sure to say “hi” to Benjy, he’s always  there.

And congratulations on a great walk and a nice climb. You will really appreciate the gondola ride down, and the quiet that descends over you when floating above Exhibition and Sleeping Bear if you just listen to it.

Some day, we can talk about the hike to the Top… But that’s another story…

See you

The mountain guys call it the “Flow Zone”, but it could also be described as a cross between a pump park and a cross country bike trail. It lays in the aspen trees just upstream from the bridge at River Run covering about 2 acres of nice shady turf with trails snaking around and through the trees. Look for the two blue Sun Valley Flags on your right just before you go over the bridge, and follow the track there. You’ll find single track and some double track with bumps, banked turns, pump bumps, and three and four-way intersections with triangle berms in the middle. A great place to polish up your turns and bump skills. I rode there for about 30 minutes the other day, and went and soaked my feet in the river right there by the log. Try this spot, you’ll love it, and then coffee at Jessica’s coffee stand on the Plaza, and you’re ready for Baldy… Now there’s some cross country. More on that later.  See you

The SVSEF Freestyle team celebrates the end of the 2009/2010 season with some fun, turns, and blue sky on Baldy. Thanks to Coach Jeff Page for the video!

Most of our "epic ski days" in this valley come on deep powder days in December or January. Days when we wake up to one, two feet of snow and go to stand in line at the lifts for two hours until the Patrol deems it safe to ski. Then we race with the crowds to the Bowls, to the Lower Bowls, to ungroomed Christmas Ridge, or to International and Exhibition. We share our unbounded joy with fellow Chairlift riders, fellow sick-day claimers, and wear ourselves out for an entire six hours.

Come March, most of us settle into our warm, sunny, casual Spring Skiing Routine. A routine in which we enjoy the slush of the afternoon sun, beers are clinked together at the end of the day, and we no longer worry about the lack of big storms coming our way. This morning was a little different. Today, March 4, we woke up to six inches of fresh snow, with the sticks measuring nine by midday.

It might not have been the biggest dump of the year. It might have not been the best snow of the season. And some of us might not have gotten up there at nine. But somehow, some of us, managed to get an epic ski day out of this powdery March Thursday and were reminded exactly why we live here, in Sun Valley.

No, it wasn’t a huge snowfall of early season proportions. But when you start down Upper River and the clouds part, revealing blue skies above and almost untracked snow below; you smile, hoot and holler, and know that this is a snow day of epic proportions.

Founded in 1988 by Beverly Hay DeChevrieux and sponsored by Thomas Weisel Partners, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Fundraiser, the Janss Pro-Am is back this weekend! An all-weekend event with 22 registered teams, The Janss mixes a “Pro Racer” with four amateur racers, skiers or snowboarders. The teams then compete for racing titles and costume prizes throughout the weekend of parties and on-snow races. Rumors of costume themes from some of this year’s teams include Mardi Gras, School Spirit and White Trash Wedding. Last year’s champion team, the Community School, is back to defend their title. As is last year’s costume winner, Koth Sports. There has even been sightings of “Bad Cops” and “Indian Princesses”, so keep an eye out on the slopes this weekend for troublemakers in costumes zooming around Lower Warm Springs and around town!

2010 Janss Pro-Am events include tonight’s opening celebration Pro Party at Michel’s Christiana, Friday’s Apres-Ski party at Whiskey Jacques, and Saturday’s Award Banquet and Dinner at the Sun Valley Inn’s Limelight Room.  Benefiting the SVSEF’s Nordic, Alpine, Freestyle and Snowboard teams, this weekend’s event is one of the Foundation’s biggest fundraisers of the year. Big thanks to all that participate and sponsor the fun!

Spring is definitely in the air as the sun is shining, the snow is soft, an outdoor bar is set up at Warm Springs Lodge and goggle tans abound.

Sun Valley Resort announced yesterday that Bald Mountain will stay open through Sunday, April 18th. Little brother mountain, Dollar, will remain open through Sunday April 4th.

This leaves all of us die-hard Baldy fans, terrain park fanatics, sun-loving skiers, fair-weather boarders and spring-skiing enthusiasts plenty of time to enjoy the blue skies, snow, sun, and skiing. So rather than wondering “what if?” or lamenting Ullr for not bringing us more snow in March, get out there and make some fun spring turns, grab a seat on a sunny deck, enjoy the company of friends and savor the beauty of this place we are all lucky to call home.

Check out today’s fresh footage from Baldy’s slopes!