by Wally Morton

I skied at Sun Valley during the week of 26 February to 5 March. The Pacific Northwest was experiencing an exceptional drought while Southern California was sliding into the ocean from exceptionally heavy rains. The last significant snow at Sun Valley prior to my trip was 31 December - 1 January, when they had three feet.

So how was the skiing eight weeks after the last significant snow fall? GOOD. We had four crystal clear sunny days and two days with scattered clouds and a couple of snow flurries. Basically all of the runs were open. Some of the black runs, which are never groomed, had limited skiable parts, but there were plenty of mogul runs for the hardy. The blue and green runs were very hardpacked. They groom them every night, so the first morning runs were on fresh corduroy and the afternoons were back to hardpack. Sort of like our week at Breckenridge. Of course there was no powder. So this year, the snow was better earlier.

Conclusion: There is no way guess when it is going to snow. You just have to make plans and hope for snow. It is a total crap shoot.

Lodging recommendations: Some of you have been there before and have preferences. The bus stop to both Ketchum and Baldy is in the center of the Sun Valley Resort. Both Sun Valley Lodge and Sun Valley Inn are about one block away. Both have two beds in each room and a small refrigerator. If you want to cook, then the Deluxe Lodge Apartments (Condos) are two to three blocks away. I would not consider anything outside the Sun Valley Resort area.

This page is hosted by Get your own Free Home Page