Memorial Day weekend activities greet summer
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
The Wood River Valley isn’t lacking for Memorial Day
weekend activities.
Between Magic Reservoir boating, Sawtooth National Forest
camping and Hailey’s Springfest, to name a few planned activities, you’ll
probably be able to find something to do this weekend.
Veterans in American Legion uniforms will honor deceased
service men and women. There are over 125 veterans buried in the Ketchum
Cemetery. Following prayers and a short speech there will be a
three-volley Rifle Salute and Taps will be played. The public is invited
and seating is provided.
The parade and subsequent picnic are sponsored by the West
magic Lake Recreation Club. At noon, bring a boat and join in at the West
Magic docks. Memorial services begin at 2:30 at the monument in the park.
At 3 p.m., join the barbecue on the club deck.
Low water, a Magic boater reported, shouldn’t be a
problem.
Preserve staff will be discuss Silver Creek’s unique
ecosystem and the conservancy’s history of community-based conservation
works in the valley. Fishing information will also be available and
fly-tying demonstrations will be presented throughout the weekend.
The visitors center will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
each day through Labor Day weekend.
While many of the campgrounds are open, some water systems
are not yet working, so campers should bring their own water.
Additionally, visitors will be asked to take their trash home as contracts
for garbage hauling in several areas are not yet in effect.
Trail users will find some trails blocked by fallen trees.
Crews are just beginning summer maintenance.
On the Ketchum Ranger District, all lower elevation roads
and trails are open. Some trails remain closed at high elevations.
On the Sawtooth national Recreation Area (SNRA), Redfish
Lake area campgrounds are open and offering full services. Forest workers
are working in the Redfish Lake area to halt the spread of mountain pine
beetles, so expect logging in the area through the end of may.
Inlet and Stanley Lake campgrounds at Stanley Lake are
also open with full services. A few campgrounds along the Salmon River
downstream from Stanley will also be open, including Salmon River and
Riverside campgrounds.
Pettit Lake, Smokey Bear, Caribou and Wood River
campgrounds are open without services.
Many of the roads on the SNRA are open, but travelers can
expect wet, soft areas and snowdrifts at higher elevations.
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Following are a few more activities planned this weekend:
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Each day, Friday through May 28, the Sun Valley
Mountain Wellness Festival—a celebration of wellness sponsored by
the Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber of Commerce—will occur at Elkhorn
Resort. Over 70 programs, keynote presentations and displays will be
part of the festival.
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A 4-mile running race and 2-mile walking race will be
held Saturday morning as part of the Sun Valley Mountain Wellness
Festival. Registration is at 7 a.m. at the Elkhorn resort plaza. The
race starts at 8 a.m. Registration is $18.
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Hailey’s Springfest celebration—barbecue, fun and
games—will be on Saturday and Sunday at Roberta McKercher Park.
For more information on the weekend’s activities, see
the Calendar of Events on page C13 of the printed version of the Idaho
Mountain Express.
