The number of skiers taking to Bald Mountain over the Presidents Day weekend was down by just under 12 percent from the previous year.
Sun Valley spokesman Jack Sibbach said Monday that a total of 10,360 skiers and snowboarders hit the slopes on Saturday and Sunday, compared to 11,692 for the same period in 2008.
Sibbach said the tally from the weekend brings the year-to-date skier count to 194,530. Last winter, from the opening of the season through Feb. 15, the count was 231,854. Not reflected in the count is the fact that Sun Valley opened considerably later this year because of a lack of early-season snow. As well, Horizon Air is flying fewer flights per day from Seattle and canceled its non-stop service from Oakland this winter.
"We're down about 37,000 in the skier count, which isn't too bad," Sibbach said. "It doesn't look like March will be picking up a lot, but hopefully we get some more snow, which will help."
Sibbach said occupancy at Sun Valley resort is down about 10 percent from last year for February and nearly 20 percent for December and January. He said a good portion of that drop was caused by cancellations of corporate meetings, especially in the financial sector, as a result of the national economic downturn.
"I'm worried about small businesses and definitely don't want to see any doors close," Sibbach said. "I'm very concerned about this summer and next winter."
Despite those concerns, Sibbach said the resort is moving ahead with a plan to install a new gondola from the base of River Run to the Roundhouse restaurant.
"We've been building parts for the gondola for a year now and have already made a big financial commitment, so (Sun Valley resort owner) Earl Holding made the decision to move ahead with the project," Sibbach said.
Sibbach said a planned renovation of the Roundhouse restaurant, which was built in 1939, would have to be postponed, however.
Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com
