The Courier
NEWS
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
August 5, 2020
Vol 44 Num 32
Soldier Mountain Opens New Mountain Bike Park Fire North of Shoshone
The area in and around the Soldier Mountain Ski area has been a poplular place for mountain bikers for many years. This weekend, the area will become even more attractive for those seeking the thrill of speeding down a mountain on two wheels. On Saturday, August 8th, Soldier Mountain will celebrate the grand opening of its new mountain bike park starting at 11:00 a.m. For the early birds, the official opening is Friday, August 7th, at 1:30 p.m. With four brand new trails and almost 8 miles of gravity mountain biking, Soldier Mountain is now one of 11 Idaho Ski resorts offering lift-service mountain biking. The trails are made for all skill levels and consist of easy, intermediate, advanced hand-cut, and extreme machine-cut jump trails. Soldier Mountain plans to add a skills park and a longer, hand-cut intermediate trail. “Having had the opportunity to preview Soldier Mountain’s new trails, I am thrilled with the addition of a new lift-accessed bike park in our region,” Julian Tyo, a Wood River Trails Coalition board member, said. “The progression built within the network is pitch perfect, with a playful, family friendly green trail and a black jump trail that is the real deal. With a blue jump trail currently in the works by Titus Trails, I’m confident the offering the Soldier Mountain team is creating will appeal to bikers of all abilities.” The bike park was designed and built by Hailey-based Titus Trails and Apex Trail Construction from Park City, Utah, with generous help from Southwest Idaho Mountain Bike Association, Wood River Trails Coalition, and other volunteers. Ketchum-based Idaho Cycles will have its mobile bike studio on hand for guests who have bike repair or tune-up needs. The resort will open its restaurant and bar for the Grand Opening from noon to 7 p.m. Entrees will include hand-formed half-pound burgers and pork carnitas street tacos, and Hailey-based Sawtooth Brewery will stage a tap takeover in the bar and provide samples of seasonal favorites. DJ Locomotive will spin some vinyl and guests can enter to win raffle prizes for season passes and swag from Giant Bicycles, Idaho Cycles, and Soldier Mountain. Guests who buy a lift ticket during the grand opening continued on page 6...
Twin Falls District BLM Fire Update The Drops Fire north of Shoshone was reported at approximately 10 a.m. on Friday, July 31st. Shoshone Rural Fire Department (RFD), Gooding RFD, Wendell RFD, Notch Butte Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA), and Twin Falls District BLM resources responded to the blaze. High winds, record high temperatures, and difficult terrain caused the fire to spread quickly. Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs), helicopters, and the Very Large Airtanker (VLAT) work with ground crews to slow the blaze. Crews remain on scene creating containment lines and mopping up hot spots. All rural fire departments and RFPAs have been released. The partnership with these departments makes the difference in being able to catch these fires. The Drops Fire burned aproximately 3900 acres of grass and brush, and was contained on Sunday (8/2) afternoon. No structures were damaged. Cause of this fire is under investigation and appears to be human caused. Hot dry weather is expected to continue. Don't let your summer go up in smoke. Do your part to prevent human caused wildfires.
Lincoln County Election A Recall Election will be held on
August 25, 2020