Pu
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Another free way to play in the dirt is at the pump parks, where kids and adults test dirt bike skills in Ketchum and Hailey. The already popular Ketchum park—located across from Hemingway Elementary School—was expanded last fall. The Hailey park—adjacent to the Blaine County Aquatic Center—boasts a beginners’ area. Both parks were built by the volunteer Wood River Bike Coalition, which is largely responsible for the stewardship of Sun Valley’s 400 continuous miles of world-class single track.
Sun Valley biking is not all about dirt, however. Local outfitters (read “bikeshops”) offer weekly free group rides, including Wednesday night road rides. Meet at The Elephant’s Perch (elephantsperch.com) for a prompt 5 p.m. start.
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The Wood River YMCA (woodriverymca.org) in Ketchum has a 30-foothigh climbing gym with about a dozen belay stations that can help prepare the vertically inclined athlete with a climbing waiver and ambition to tackle the Mountaineers Route on the Elephants Perch in the Sawtooth Mountains or any one of the hundreds of climbs, many pioneered by Wood River Valley climbers, at the City of Rocks down south. The gym charges $3 each for harness and shoe rentals or $5 for both. Staff belays are $5 for two climbs and $10 for five climbs. Check with Sawtooth Mountain Guides (sawtoothguides. com) for climbing guide prices.
boiseweekly | 2011 WOOD RIVER VALLEY SUMMER GUIDE | 5