Friday, December 14, 2007

Sun Valley to open more terrain

Greyhawk, Half Dollar lifts open Saturday

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Bald Mountain skiing is coming into form as cold weather settles over the Wood River Valley. Sun Valley Co. announced this week that two more lifts will open Saturday, and Seattle Ridge could open as early as Tuesday. Photo by Mountain Express

Natural snowfall in Central Idaho is slightly below average, but that hasn't stopped the largest computerized snowmaking system in the world from cranking out a high-quality blanket on Bald Mountain.

Sun Valley Co. announced Thursday that the Greyhawk lift on Bald Mountain and Half Dollar lift on Dollar Mountain would open Saturday. And that will add potential new trails to the 54 already open on Baldy.

Most of the front side of Dollar Mountain is open, thanks to the addition of new snowmaking in recent years. Short of natural snowfall, Dollar Mountain's Elkhorn side will not open soon.

Trails on Baldy that have man-made snow are firm and fast, and trails like Holiday, Upper River Run and Picabo's Street, where natural snowfall has been sufficient to drop the ropes, are soft but relatively thin.

"The mountain department yesterday didn't want to tell me exactly what they would have open," said resort spokesman Jack Sibbach. He added, however, that Cozy, Hemingway and Greyhawk could be open this weekend, and Seattle Ridge could be open as early as Tuesday, and most certainly by the end of next week.

"We open as much as we can," he said. "We're looking at Seattle Ridge for mid-week next week."

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Sibbach said he hasn't been skiing, but "everyone I've talked with at the Sun Valley Lodge has said it's wonderful."

"The goal is always to get this mountain 100 percent open by Christmas, so we need a little help from Mother Nature, but we still think we can do it," he said. "They're pumping out a lot of snow."

Sun Valley is reporting a 37-inch base at the summit of Bald Mountain and 20 inches at the bottom. The season snowfall total stands at 52 inches.

Moreover, Mother Nature may cooperate this week. Snow is predicted for today, with an ongoing chance for snow each day through the weekend. It will, however, be cold with lows hovering around zero and highs near 20.