Kicking off the first event for the Sun Valley Nordic Festival will be the annual Ski the Rails Nordic ski tour on the Wood River Trail system from Ketchum to Hailey. The Blaine County Recreation District and the Hailey Chamber of Commerce encourage everyone to participate in this free Nordic ski event, which welcomes dogs.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30 at Serenade Lane in Ketchum. Skiers may start anywhere along the Wood River Trail, which is groomed for both classic and skate skiing. All the tunnels will be carpeted in snow for the tour.
The Wood River Trail is funded by tax dollars and no trail pass is required to ski on the trail. It is a multi-use trail open to walkers, snowshoers, skiers and dogs. Ski from Ketchum to Hailey and add the kilometers for the 200 km Trails Challenge, a challenge to ski 200 km of the valley's Nordic trails. For details, visit rec district.org or SVNordicFestival.com.
Along the trail four aid stations tended by the Idaho Mountain Express, KSKI 104.7, KECH 95.3, KYZK 107.5, The Community School, Wood River Fire & Rescue and rec district volunteers will provide snacks and beverages to keep skiers energized and warm. Perry's will provide treats at the rec district tent at the start of the tour. In addition, skiers can enjoy several historical signs along the trail that provide interesting facts and knowledge about the Wood River Valley.
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After skiing the rails to Myrtle Street in Hailey, participants can ride the shuttle to the Sun Valley Brewery. The brewery will have live music by Up A Creek at noon as well as food and shopping specials.
Shuttle buses leave from the Sun Valley Brewery in Hailey starting at 9:30 a.m. and a shuttle between Myrtle Street and the brewery starts at 11 a.m. The last bus north departs the brewery at 2:45 p.m. Dogs are allowed on the bus, but they must be on a leash.
Skiers can purchase lunch at the Sun Valley Brewery and enjoy beer specials. Commemorative Ski the Rails T-shirts will be available to buy at the Sun Valley Brewery. For details, call the rec district at 788-2117 or visit www.bcrd.org.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
Nordic skier Kaz Thea heads out from one of the aid stations. Photo by Mountain Express
