Winter in the Wood River Valley provides no shortage of activities for outdoor enthusiasts. From carving down Baldy's bowls to skating on Sun Valley Resort's outdoor ice rink, there is seemingly something for every taste or ability level.
If speed is the need or quick access to the backcountry is desired, snowmobiles, also known by users as sleds or snowmachines, are a perfect solution.
Bryan Baird, a member of the Sawtooth Snowmobile Club and sales and service representative at Woodside Motorsports in Hailey, said the valley has a range of terrain for snowmobiling, though the amount of backcountry greatly outweighs groomed trails.
For the latter, riders can head to Baker Creek, about a dozen miles north of Ketchum. The snowmobile club maintains trails in that area, grooming a loop of about 25 miles on the northeast side of state Highway 75 and a seven-mile strip on the southwest side.
There is also a groomed snowmobile track in Croy Canyon, a few miles west of Hailey.
Smiley Creek, on the north side of Galena Summit, about 35 miles from Ketchum, is another popular snowmobiling spot, with machines available for rent at Smiley Creek Lodge.
Baird said that depending on snow conditions, the snowmobiling season generally starts about the beginning of January, a time that has seen several heavy snowstorms in the past several years.
Baird said that the season can last into May. He said many people consider a snowpack of about 2 feet as the minimum needed to ride.
Like backcountry skiing, snowmobiling requires careful attention and caution regarding avalanche danger.
Janet Kellam, head of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center in Ketchum, said there have been "quite a few" accidents involving snowmobiles and avalanches, especially in the higher elevations around Baker Creek.
"There's a lot of wind loading on the upper slopes and they have to be treated with a lot of respect," Kellam said. "It's important to recognize that on some days steep slopes are safe and on some days they are not."
To help both beginning and experienced snowmobilers understand the danger of avalanches and precautions that can be taken, the avalanche center holds a free Avalanche Basics for Snowmobilers clinic in January.
The course will consist of a classroom session on Thursday, Jan. 14, from 6-8 p.m. at Woodside Motorsports. The session will cover how to recognize avalanche conditions and warning signs, understanding terrain prone to avalanches, backcountry safety techniques and what to do if caught in an avalanche.
For those that attended the classroom session, a field session is offered the following weekend, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The location of the session will be announced during the classroom course and riders must bring their own snowmobiles, with no double riders allowed. Riders also need to bring avalanche beacons, shovels and probes, along with lunch, water and warm clothes.
The field session will be spent looking at the snowpack and avalanche terrain, as well as some short rescue practice off the sleds.
Kellam said snowmobilers are welcome at the other, non-snowmobile-specific avalanche courses taught throughout the winter.
For more information on these classes, call 622-0095 or check out the avalanche center's Web site at www.avalanche.org.
Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com
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A pair of snowmobilers fill up their tanks at the Smiley Creek Lodge, in the Sawtooth Valley north of Ketchum.
