Wednesday, June 22, 2005

The hills are alive!

Sun Valley to commence lift service this weekend


By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Sun Valley Resort's River Run and Lookout Express quad chair lifts will whisk fun-seekers to the summit of Bald Mountain all summer long. Photo by Willy Cook

Although the snow on the high peaks surrounding Bald Mountain might suggest otherwise, summer has arrived. And for those needing some reassurance, Sun Valley Resort is providing a sure sign that this year's cool spring has finally subsided.

The resort this weekend will commence daily summer lift service from the River Run base area of Bald Mountain to the ski area's Lookout summit, some 3,000 feet above Ketchum. Lifts will start running the morning of Saturday, June 25, and will run through Monday, Sept. 5, Labor Day.

One ride up the mountain on the River Run and Lookout Express chair lifts costs $15 for adults and $7 for children between the ages of 3 and 12. An all-day lift ticket good for multiple rides costs $20 per adult and $10 per child.

The two lifts in operation will run from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. daily. For general foot traffic, the last ride up the mountain is at 3:15 p.m. and the last ride down the mountain is at 3:45 p.m.

Lift access for bicyclists will commence Friday, July 1. For mountain bikers of all abilities, Bald Mountain offers miles of designated trails that provide spectacular mountain views during the long descent to the Wood River Valley.

For hikers, the mountain offers a challenging hike up or a less-strenuous—but still long—trek down. For those seeking a short walk or merely a meadow with a view for an afternoon picnic, opportunities abound at the summit.

The ride from the base of the mountain to the top takes approximately 10 minutes.

Wally Huffman, Sun Valley Co. general manager, said earlier this month that the company is considering operating the Challenger lift on the Warm Springs side of Bald Mountain in future summers but will not do so this year.

For more information, call the River Run ticket office at 622-6136 or visit www.sunvalley.com.




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