Sun Valley Resort will open top-to-bottom runs on Bald Mountain Thursday, Nov. 23—no thanks to Mother Nature and her unseasonably warm disposition.
Rather, it is man-made snow on the River Run and Warm Springs sides of Baldy that will make it possible for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy their first chair-lift-assisted runs of the season this week.
Over the past few weeks, many local skiers have completed the arduous hike up Baldy and reported that the snow is in good condition.
"College is in wonderful shape," said Brian Webber of Paul Kenny's Ski and Sports in Ketchum. "Mid College had a layer of fresh snow this morning (Tuesday) and was groomed beautifully."
"Our plans are to open at least Lower River Run Lift No. 1, Lookout Express No. 5, and Challenger No. 10," said Sun Valley General Manager Wally Huffman.
Open runs will include Upper College, Roundhouse Lane, and Mid and Lower River Run on the River Run side. On the Warm Springs side, Upper College, Flying Squirrel, Lower Picabo's Street and Lower Warm Springs are scheduled to be open.
The Sun Valley Resort Web site reported a 19-inch snow depth on the top and at middle areas of Bald Mountain and 11 inches at the base on Tuesday.
In addition to open lifts and groomed runs, Sun Valley Co. will open River Run and Warm Springs lodges as well. Both will open at 8 a.m. on Nov. 23 and will remain open throughout the duration of Sun Valley's 71st ski season. Pete Lane's Ski Shop will also open all locations for full service from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
At Dollar Mountain, Sun Valley Co. will open Carol's Dollar Mountain Lodge, Quarter Dollar lift and the Accelerator (moving carpet) lift from Thursday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 26. After that the resort will reassess the mountain's condition, Sun Valley spokesman Jack Sibbach said. Special discount rates will be available for Dollar Mountain during opening weekend.
Parking and shuttle services to and from the bases of River Run and Warm Springs have changed slightly this year. Parking at the base of River Run and Warm Springs will remain the same as in years past; however, the Park & Ride Lot on Saddle Road will not be available for shuttle service due to the YMCA construction project.
Instead, KART will provide shuttle service from the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood parking lot, located at the junction of Warm Springs and Saddle roads. This service is only available on days when there are no church events. KART will also run shuttles from Rotary Park on Warm Springs Road.
Opening by Thanksgiving has been an uphill battle this year. Peter Stearns, Sun Valley director of snowmaking operations, said there were two factors that made this year more difficult than previous winters. First, the unseasonably warm weather and lack of snow hindered efforts to provide ample cover. Second, due to the shift in days of the week from year to year, Thanksgiving came early.
"We lost nearly a week of snowmaking time this year," Stearns said. "But, we will be open and ready by Thanksgiving."
Webber reminded impatient skiers who may find it necessary to complain about the mountain's partial opening that there was a time, before the era of advanced snowmaking technology, when "opening by Thanksgiving was unheard of."
"I have lived in this area for 30 years," he said, "and I remember when the mountain would 'tentatively open by Dec. 15.'"
In light of that reasoning, a Thanksgiving opening in the midst of a warm El Nino year is a testament to modern technology and good, old-fashioned hard work.
Sun Valley Mountain Manager Peter Stearns puts some finishing touches on the Warm Springs side of Bald Mountain. Photo by Willy Cook
