For the week of December 11 - 17, 2002

County OKs Nordic 
ski trail system in 
Quigley Canyon

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By GREG MOORE
Express Staff Writer

Nordic skiing on groomed trails in Quigley Canyon east of downtown Hailey will begin as soon as snow conditions allow, following approval of the plan by the Blaine County Planning and Zoning Commission last week.

Creation of the 10-kilometer trail system east of Wood River High School is a combined effort of the Blaine County Recreation District and the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. About 20 students from Hailey and Bellevue elementary schools are expected to train there. The ski education foundation concluded that a similar trail system at Lake Creek, north of Ketchum, is too far for south-county kids to travel to after school.

The recreation district also plans to initiate a noon adult training program at Quigley.

The P&Z granted a conditional-use permit for the site, zoned R-5, during a meeting Thursday night at the Old Blaine County Courthouse in Hailey. There was no opposition to the application.

Recreation District Trails Director Shelly Preston said trail grooming by snowmobile would be done at night, since the best results are obtained when temperatures are coldest. She said grooming on the Lake Creek trails, which are closer to houses than are the Quigley trails, has elicited no noise complaints from homeowners.

Sue McAuley, vice president of the Sawtooth Snowmobile Club, pointed out that Quigley Road will continue to be used by snowmobiles. No one raised any issues of potential conflict.

Both the conditional-use permit and the recreation district’s agreement with the property’s owners, Judd Associates, are for one year. Board President Keith Perry said the program will be reevaluated following the first year. Portable toilets that will be installed at the parking lot on Quigley Road will be removed when the ski season ends at the end of March.

The Quigley trails will be part of the North Valley Trails System. Season passes from the REC District are $84 and day passes are $9 for adults and $2 for children.

 

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