breaking
A Montana man died in an avalanche near Smiley Creek Friday afternoon, according to the Sawtooth Avalanche Center and Blaine County Coroner Ru… Read more
featured
The National Forest Foundation on Tuesday announced a new five-year partnership with the Sawtooth National Forest that will direct around $1.6… Read more
There will be no charge for skiing or snowshoeing on the Blaine County Recreation District’s winter trails system on Saturday, Feb. 20. A free… Read more
featured
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 323 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the total to 166… Read more
featured
In a long-awaited move, Sun Valley Resort on Wednesday opened its Sunrise expansion, a vast, new section of expert terrain on the southern sid… Read more
featured
COVID-19 and quarantine thinned the ranks of the Sun Valley Ski Patrol last month, pulling 13 people—about a fifth of the roster—off the mount… Read more
Already under new ownership for the 2020-21 season, Soldier Mountain is now on a new pass. Read more
featured
Today, the Sun Valley Resort opened its Sunrise expansion, a vast, new section of expert terrain on the southern side of Bald Mountain. Read more
The Sun Valley Resort shut down Bald Mountain early on Friday, as the first major storm of the season left conditions too dangerous to continue. Read more
The weekend death of a Hailey resident on Bald Mountain will be ruled an accident after an autopsy found that Gregory Plowman died of asphyxia… Read more
featured
A plan to develop housing on part of the 78-acre Warm Springs Ranch in Ketchum—and to protect a vast swath of the property as a park—has been … Read more
A split Hailey City Council moved closer to building a campground out Croy Canyon on Monday night, with Mayor Martha Burke casting the tie-bre… Read more
featured
On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a backcountry avalanche warning after Tuesday’s Pacific storm system added between 7 and 12 … Read more
featured
The Hailey City Council on Monday approved Mayor Martha Burke’s signature on a $500,000 grant application to the Idaho Department of Parks and… Read more
A man in his 50s died on Sunday, Dec. 20, after sustaining fatal injuries on Baldy’s Cut Off ski run, Blaine County Coroner Russ Mikel confirm… Read more
featured
Following two weekend slides, the Sawtooth Avalanche Center and National Weather Service on Monday issued a backcountry avalanche warning for … Read more
featured
For the city of Sun Valley and Sun Valley Resort, 2020 brought some glimpses of the future. Read more
featured
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game held a virtual open house last Monday to introduce its proposed moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat h… Read more
Unexpected Christmas-weekend snow is contributing to "considerable" avalanche risk in the backcountry around the Wood River and Sawtooth valle… Read more
Guests occupied 29 percent fewer hotel rooms in the Sun Valley destination last month compared to November 2019, according to data from travel… Read more
The Sawtooth Avalanche Center on Monday issued an avalanche warning for the Banner Summit Area and Sawtooth and Western Smoky Mountain Zones l… Read more
Soldier Mountain near Fairfield, about 60 miles from Ketchum, opened on Dec. 19 and is now open daily for the holiday season from Dec. 22 thro… Read more
Stanley photographer Gary Gadwa captured this ermine peeping out of the snow last week in the Sawtooth Valley’s Fourth of July Creek drainage.… Read more
featured
Two more Blaine County residents have died of COVID-19-related illness, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The local dea… Read more
For many years, backcountry skiers and snowmobilers, as well as Nordic skiers, have used unofficial parking areas and turnouts on state Highwa… Read more
Blaine County will not be allowed to make any physical changes to Lee’s Gulch Road before a decision is made by the court on whether to uphold the county’s determination that the road is public, a judge ruled on Wednesday, though the property owners who claim the road is private must continu…
featured
Four inches of fresh snow overnight Wednesday was enough for Sun Valley to open the bowls on Baldy Thursday morning. The resort dropped the ropes on Lookout, Mayday, Lefty and Kaitlin’s Bowls—all black diamonds—as well as Sigi’s Bowl, a blue, and Broadway Face, the easiest of the top. In all…
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 1,582 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the total since March to 119,610. Of those, officials continue to monitor an estimated 72,648 active cases.
featured
Sun Valley Resort officials previewed the public launch of the resort’s new Broadway chairlift on Bald Mountain on Thursday morning, with a small-scale ribbon-cutting at the lift’s base in the ski area’s Cold Springs canyon.
featured
Rotarun—the “little mountain with a big heart” near Hailey—is primed for the coming winter and will open to the public for its 80th season on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m.
The Silver Creek Preserve visitors center cabin is set to get a major upgrade following approvals from Blaine County in November.
Ketchum’s Director of Recreation John Kearney was hard at work Tuesday morning building up a layer of ice to form a rink in Atkinson Park. Five city employees plus some volunteers helped out on what was at that point the fifth day of spraying. After running the Zamboni across the foot-thick …
featured
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 2,298 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 today, registering a new record single-day increase for the second day in a row. Today's surge brings the total to 116,203, of which health officials continue to monitor an estimated 70,289…
featured
Skiers and snowboarders will be able to ride a new chairlift and get a glimpse of new terrain on Saturday, when Sun Valley Resort begins the first phase of opening a long-awaited expansion in the Cold Springs area of Bald Mountain.
The BCRD board on Nov. 20 fleshed out a contingency plan for the Recreation District’s HUB after-school program at the Community Campus in case the Blaine County School District goes to “Plan C,” or online learning.
As this week’s trend of generally dry, mild weather continues, the Sawtooth Avalanche Center is waiting on one more winter storm system before issuing its daily avalanche forecasts.
featured
With the sun shining and an Idaho nip in the air, skiers and snowboarders last weekend let go of some of the travails of 2020 and enjoyed a fresh start—to a new ski season, that is.
featured
Skiers and snowboarders who saw their seasons cut short last winter because of coronavirus-related shutdowns are likely chomping at the bit to get back on the slopes. As they are welcomed back to Sun Valley for the ski resort’s 85th winter season, they will find a variety of changes, with so…
featured
For Dollar Mountain Manager Corey Allen, producing high-quality powder isn’t just an art—it’s a commitment to skiers and boarders that Sun Valley’s slopes will stay open no matter what Mother Nature has up her sleeve.
featured
On the heels of an abbreviated 2019-20 ski season, Sun Valley Resort is preparing to kick off its 85th winter season on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26.
The Wood River Valley is a renowned destination for Nordic skiing thanks to the Blaine County Recreation District and Sun Valley Resort. This year both are gearing up for a busy season as the coronavirus pandemic has people setting their sights on outdoor activities where social distancing is easy.
featured
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 1,543 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the state's total to 87,978. Of those, health officials continue to monitor an estimated 50,312 active cases.
featured
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 1,310 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the grand total to 86,435. Of those, health officials continue to monitor an estimated 49,284 active cases.
With autumn snow blanketing Bald Mountain and snowmaking machinery churning away, recreationists who like to ski or hike up the ski area’s trails in the winter are testing their gear. But, Sun Valley Resort is reminding uphill travelers that they will have to follow specific regulations and …
Galena Lodge will open for the winter season on Friday, Nov. 20, with lodge hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and lunch served daily from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
featured
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported a new record daily increase in COVID-19 cases today: 1,781 confirmed and probable statewide. Today's jump brought the grand total to 85,125, of which health officials continue to monitor an estimated 48,797.
featured
Residents of the Wood River Valley who have been feeling cooped-up lately now have something to smile about: Recent snow storms have led to the opening of more than 100 kilometers of groomed Nordic ski trails.
featured
Skiers and snowboarders will be asked to adapt to new safety protocols at Sun Valley Resort’s two ski areas this winter, as the resort implements coronavirus mitigation measures that range from mandatory mask wearing and social distancing to changes in food service.
The Wood River Land Trust’s newly acquired 118-acre Simons Bauer Preserve could be open to the public within the year, Lands Program Manager Keri York said Thursday morning.
With now less than two weeks to go until opening day on Bald Mountain, a wintry turn from Mother Nature has helped Sun Valley Resort’s snow guns lay the groundwork for a successful start to the 2020/21 ski and snowboard season. As per tradition, Sun Valley plans to open Baldy on Thanksgiving…
Sun Valley isn’t the only local ski area prepping for a big winter (see Page 1). Rotarun Ski Area in Hailey is well underway, too, with snowmaking, grooming and—among this year’s improvements— a new rope tow to ferry skiers of all ages up the slope. Will Mayo (right), owner and engineer behi…
featured
After lackluster snowpack last winter and a troubling water year in the Wood River Valley, a moderately strong La Niña system could bring cooler, wetter winter weather this time around, forecasters say.
featured
Sun Valley Resort has released a new trails map for Bald Mountain that reveals some of the names of new skiing and snowboarding terrain being opened this winter as part of the Cold Springs expansion on Baldy (See Fig. 1 on the map). The long-awaited expansion adds 380 acres of new terrain—bo…
Commented