Skiers and snowboarders have something to smile about this week. Sun Valley Co. is opening more runs on Bald and Dollar mountains this weekend.
Bald Mountain, with more than 2,500 feet of elevation on its little brother, Dollar, has received more snow thus far and has provided colder temperatures conducive to snowmaking. According to Sun Valley Co. spokesperson Shannon Besoyan, the resort can now open Upper River Run to go with the previously open Upper College, Mid River Run and Lower River Run on the south side of the mountain.
On the Warm Springs side, Upper Warm Springs, Warm Springs Face, Mid Warm Springs, International, I-80 and Upper Limelight are now open. Previously, only Upper College, Flying Squirrel, Lower Picabo's Street and Lower Warm Springs were open, Besoyan said.
But the start to the winter ski season has not been without its glitches.
The Challenger lift had minor problems with its hydraulic tension system Wednesday, Nov. 29, forcing crews to shut it down for a better part of the day, Besoyan said. The problem has been fixed and the lift is again providing access to Baldy's summit from the Warm Springs side of the mountain.
Dollar Mountain will reopen this Saturday at a discounted rate, Besoyan said. Dollar was open for the Thanksgiving weekend but had to be closed the following Monday to allow additional cover to be created. Lift tickets for Dollar will be $15 for children and $20 for adults.
Only Quarter Dollar and the "magic carpet" lifts will run. Unless more natural snow falls to help the mountain's state-of-the-art snowmaking equipment, "it is looking like Dollar will be open on a weekend basis only until Christmas," Besoyan said.
With snow falling on and off Thursday and a forecast showing potential flurries for the next week, there is reason to be optimistic that both mountains may be tucked in with a fresh, white blanket by Mother Nature.
