No matter what is happening in your life there is a place where it all slips away into so much background noise. Galena Lodge and the North Valley trails are both gifts from Mother Nature and the Wood River Valley community's gift to itself. Nestled in the Boulder Mountains, the historic Galena Lodge is a cherished part of the nordic skiing community and the history of the Wood River Valley. The lodge was purchased and renovated in 1994 by the community and is run by the Blaine County Recreation District.
Among the activities offered are snowshoe and cross-country clinics, full moon dinners and the Boulder Mountain Ski Tour.
Organized yearly by the tireless Jenny Busdon, the Galena Benefit Auction is "absolutely necessary because all the proceeds help secure the future of this wonderful historic lodge and the trails surrounding it," she said.
To this day no tax dollars are used to support Galena, which makes it doubly important that people who use it also support it.
"It's due to the great generosity of so many people that we have been able to accomplish so many goals for the lodge and the trail system," she said. "But there are still so many hopes and dreams that we wish to accomplish."
The Blaine County Recreation District and the Galena Trails Advisory Council will hold the 13th annual Galena Winter Dinner and Benefit Auction at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in the Sun Valley Inn's Limelight Room.
After a silent auction and cocktail hour, Larry Flynn will take charge of the live auction. This year some of the items he'll be handling include a trip to a 17th-century chateau in Provence, France, a week stay in a London flat, a nordic skiing getaway in Methow Valley, Wash., a summer adventure package from the Elephant's Perch and much more.
Individual tickets are $85. Special "premier" tables of 10 can be purchased for $1,750; regular tables of 10 are $850; tables of eight are $680. All tickets include a sit-down dinner and wine.
A raffle for a 2010 alpine/nordic season pass will also be held.
Call 788-2117 for tickets, e-mail kstoffer@bcrd.org or stop by the rec district offices at the Community Campus in Hailey.
Emcee Larry Flynn and co-organizer Nappy Neaman work the podium at the Galena benefit last year. Photo by Willy Cook
