It’s the New Year. The holiday storm is over. It is again possible to find a parking place in town and get dinner at a local restaurant. There’s not a 20-person line-up in the express lane at Atkinson’s and you can actually get your skis tuned in a timely manner. The slopes are at a pleasurable, near-empty capacity. And now it is snowing. But after a few weeks of parties, visitors, family, dinners, shopping, barhopping, and skiing paired with working harder than you do the rest of the year, as most locals do during the Christmas season, you are sick. Flakes are falling outside your window and your voice can barely be heard through the telephone when your ski buddy calls at 8:45 am to see if you are in the lift line yet.
Well, we thought we would ease your pain with our list of a few of the “Finer Things of Skiing”. Seemingly little things that those who don’t ski or snowboard don’t understand putting up with, things that make skiing seem difficult but things that once we make a wide, sweeping turn on a freshly groomed run or take the first couple powder turns of the season, are completely forgotten. Things that don’t matter in the life of a skier or snowboarder, but make the stay-at-home-because-you-are-sick-and-miss-the-new-snow you feel just a little better about being at home.
1. Core shots from toy truck-sized rocks in the base of your brand new skis.
2. Losing toenails from too many days in your boots.
3. The excruciatingly painful pleasure of taking your boots off at the end of the day.
4. Figuring out just how to carry all your stuff.
5. Inevitably losing some of your gear.
6. Frostbite on your face from a cold, windy day and then having to cover it up for weeks after.
7. Digging your pass out from under your jacket on the coldest of days.
8. Flat light on Warm Springs at 10 am.
9. The walk from the River Run parking lot always seeming so much longer and more difficult at the end of the day.
10. Never being able to actually take a good solo run because inevitably you run into someone you know on the chair or in the lift line.
What do you think? What little things comfort you when you can’t make it up the mountain?
(And don’t worry, by tomorrow we’ll all forget about these trivial things and be right up there with you.)
Check out our pics of some these “Finer Things of Skiing” that really aren’t that bad….
Merry Christmas!
Christmas in Sun Valley is a time full of parties,shopping, ice shows, fireworks, dinners, dancing, drinking, sleeping, opening presents during a leisurely breakfast and then skiing. Unfortunately for 17,000 people in Southern Idaho, Christmas in Sun Valley this year was a little different….
A blackout caused by a break in a power line somewhere in the desert around Picabo, possibly the result of an overload (read: too many Christmas lights!), commenced at 10:30 pm on Christmas Eve. A cold, cold night with temperatures dropping ensued and the power was not restored until around 2:00 pm Christmas Day and the lifts on Baldy never even got rolling. (read: no Christmas skiing!) But we think, just maybe, this was a blessing in disguise.
Dinners were finished by candlelight. Restaurant staffs merrily gathered in darkened booths drinking wine, and ringing in Christmas together. The Pioneer was hopping late into Christmas Eve as their generators proudly ran. Mistletoe above doorsteps was a little more romantic. Presents couldn’t be opened at the crack of dawn and anxious kids were forced to allow their parents a few more hours of sleep. Coffee was made on stovetops with a french press. No one was watching tv. No one was on their computer. There was no rush to get up on the mountain, or anywhere else for that matter. Transistor radios played Christmas tunes from stations in Twin Falls. There was a little extra cuddling overnight. Baldy saw quite a bit more uphill traffic as skiers and boarders enjoyed the bluebird day by hiking up. There were more walks taken and more people nordic skiing. Time seemed to slow down and everyone huddled together.
We may not have gone skiing on Christmas but this year, we all may be a little more grateful for what we do have in our lives; the ease, the convience, all we have been blessed with, and the ones we love with whom we can share it all.
Christmas is only a week away and things around town are definitely starting to pick up. The mountain is busier. Drinks at the Duchin Room and at Averell’s Bar are flowing in a traditional holiday style. Dollar’s new terrain park and tubing park are opening this Saturday. The SuperPipe on Lower Warm Springs is set to open Saturday as well. Snow guns are running all over the mountain in hopes to open more terrain as soon as possible. Christmas trees are decorated, candles are lit, and everyone is preparing to eat at least one piece of Grandma’s fruitcake.
But in downtown Ketchum there is another event locals and tourists have been hotly anticipating… the reopening of the legendary Whiskey Jacques. After a fire raised the building over a year ago construction crews have been working hard on the bar’s rebuild and everyone in town, of any age and any dancing ability, has been chomping at the bit to get their favorite bar back. A staple in the Sun Valley nightlife for over 25 years, Whiskey’s is a classic wild western saloon right on Main Street in the classic ski town of Ketchum. Whiskey Jacques is reopening with a bang this Friday, December 18. They will be showcasing local band, The Bobo’s, on Friday and more live music will continue throughout the winter with acts like the Gourds, Mickey and the Motorcars, and New Year’s Eve guests, Marmalade Hill.
Other things happening this week around town, new bar and restaurant, Sego, is opening on Washington Street (928-7878 for reservations), at Dollar’s new terrain park on Friday morning some of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Freestyle and Snowboard teams will be testing the new features, and the nexStage and Laughing Stock Theatres are presenting “A Christmas Carol” on Friday and Saturday nights (726-4857 for more info). Also happening is Sun Valley’s Christmas Tree Lighting Festival will take place in the Sun Valley Village on Saturday at 5:00 with performances by the Sun Valley Carolers and live music and drinks at the Boiler Room to follow.
So whether you are tearing it up on the slopes, strapping on your dancing shoes, or helping the community get ready for the Holidays, we’ll see you around town as the countdown to Christmas continues.
John Mauldin, Sun Valley’s Director of Entertainment, discusses all of the exciting entertainment planned for this holiday season.
Wednesday, December 24 through Tuesday, December 30
Evening Playschool activities for children ages 18 months to 5 years.
Evening care will be available from 6-11pm. Snacks provided.
Advanced reservations required: 622-2288
Evening Care Rate: $15 per hour/per child.
Day-care and baby sitting are also available at different rates.
Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve Festival
Sun Valley Lodge Terrace/Outdoor Ice Rink
Carolers begin about 5:30 pm, Free Hot Chocolate & Cookies
Followed by a free performance of Sun Valley Nutcracker on Ice,
Torchlight Parade, Santa, Fireworks and Free Ice Skating after the show
