both wings of the lodge’s main floor. The friendly doormen will point out the way. A cozy dinner in a tall upholstered booth at The Ram, the resort’s oldest restaurant, sets Traditionalists up for a sound sleep before a big day on Bald Mountain. Pianist Larry Harshbarger plays standards most nights and will let you sing along if you’ve got the voice. On the mountain If it’s an epic storm night, powder will demand a quick morning cup and a croissant to arrive at the lifts in time for first tracks. Otherwise, plan on carving the corduroy first thing to capture magic-carpet-ride sensations. The wise Traditionalist knows that Baldy doesn’t close at noon and some of the most inspiring skiing can be found in the afternoon, after the speed demons have spent their energy. Baldy’s high-speed quad lifts provide as much vertical gain as anyone can handle and most days any time is a good time to hit the mountain. The curious can get a look behind Baldy’s curtain by joining a snowmaking tour or booking an evening ride on The Beast at River Run Lodge to see what the night shift does to extend our lives on skis and to make sure
there’s good snow underfoot. Don’t tell the kids, but Baldy is a high-tech miracle, and the masters of “construction snow” have good stories to tell. Traditionalists will revel in romance in an evening ride up the Roundhouse Gondola to the historic Roundhouse Lodge for dinner. On a clear night, watching the lights of Ketchum and Sun Valley recede and give way to the Milky Way’s glittering blanket is worth the price of admission. The crackling wood in the river-rock fireplace welcomes diners to the mountain restaurant whose ceilings, walls and windows were patterned after a railroad building where locomotives were repaired. Bon appetit. Up the road Nordic skiers will want to spend a day at Galena Lodge about 24 miles north of Ketchum. It was saved from the wrecking ball by local activists and the generosity of philanthropist Teresa Heinz Kerry. On the way up state Highway 75, a quick weekday trip through the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Visitor Center will orient the disoriented to the wild places around them. It’s one of the few places around with a Continued on page 18
must-dos for traditionalists
View historic photos at Sun Valley Lodge. S k i/snowb o ard on B aldy. D i n n e r a t B a l d y ’s Roundhouse or take the s l e i g h t o Tr a i l C r e e k C a b i n . Visit the Ski and Heritage Museum in Ketchum. Cocktails and dinner in Ketchum. Nordic ski and soup at Galena Lodge. Ta k e a s n o w m a k i n g t o u r. Wander Ketchum for cof fee, shopping and a good book. Dance at the Duchin Lounge. Hot tub, massage, yoga. Nap. Ibuprofen.
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