By Shari Hogshead
A group of 17 CONC skiers headed to Ketchum/Sun Valley, Idaho, in February for a week of Nordic skiing on the many kilometers of trails there.
A big snowstorm had moved through the two days before the group’s arrival, and Ketchum was awash in snow – sort of like Bend is now. In anticipation of our group’s arrival, a huge contingent of snow-moving equipment converged on Ketchum and caught up with the snow in one frenzied day. The rest of the week saw truck after truck being filled with snow and transported out of town, as there was nowhere in town to put it.
Our group consisted of 12 Bend CONC members, four Seattle area members and one member from Eugene. Many of us had traveled together previously – in Austria, Italy’s Dolomites and Norway.
Our ski days found us on the multitude of ski trails radiating from Galena Lodge, on the Harriman Trail from Galena to the Sawtooth National Recreation Association headquarters, on the Sun Valley Nordic trails, and even across the Galena Summit into the fantastically beautiful Sawtooth Valley. Our trails also included those radiating off the Harriman Trail, such as the Prairie Creek, Billy’s Bridge and North Fork.
Temperatures were cold but mornings were sunny, with some clouds moving in each afternoon. Tracks were perfectly groomed for both classic and skate skiing. On most days, accommodations could be made for any length of ski day.
Each evening we walked to a different village restaurant to give us a sampling of what Ketchum has to offer. Some in the group even attended an evening guitar concert by Larry Carlton in the Sun Valley opera house.
Our accommodation in a modern log lodge, with a swimming pool and hot tub, was well located and comfortable. A breakfast voucher for the small restaurant next door saw us well fed as we started our ski days. Several lunches were enjoyed at the rustic Galena Lodge, with one lunch at the Sun Valley clubhouse.
All too soon, it was time to depart and head back to Bend – just in time for our big winter blast. It was truly a competent and fun group of skiers, and we all enjoyed a great time together. The perfect holiday – spent with a congenial group of ski-loving friends. Thanks to all from Shari and Paul for joining us once again in winter 2019.
(Photos by Shari Hogshead, Al Matson and Char Newman)
