Good call
Sun Valley Co. made a good call when it decided to keep Bald Mountain open a full week longer this year than originally planned.
The mountain will be open until April 20. And well it should be.
Baldy skiers have experienced fantastic conditions this winter—and it’s not over yet. Skiers and boarders found places to slide on Baldy this winter that haven’t been accessible for many years. Cold weather—morning and overnight temperatures in the teens—has kept the snowpack solid and the mountain well covered.
Spring skiing, with reliable morning corn and afternoon slush, has yet to arrive. Last weekend Mother Nature delivered nearly a foot of fresh powder on top of several days of 6- to 8-inch dustings. The extended season will be more than a bonus for skiers and boarders. It should also help shore up a local economy still recovering from business lost during last August’s Castle Rock Fire and now suffering the fallout and uncertainty created by the national subprime mortgage mess, which has the national economy in an uproar.
An extended ski season will help the valley bridge the gap between summer and winter business. With plenty of snow still on the ground in the north valley, it could be a while before even low-level trails open up for hiking and biking. An extended season will also bolster Sun Valley’s reputation for good snow.
Anyone who has missed this epic winter so far or anyone looking for a little attitude adjustment in these uncertain times needs to get out there before they miss out on one of Baldy’s greatest years.