When some people think of Sun Valley, it’s any guess what comes to mind, but one image the might catch one unexpectedly by the scruff of the neck, is the very real and very rad young artist community which calls this place home. Forget the image of Golden Girls meets Lawrence Welk in the mountains, we’ve got it going on. Being an artist in Sun Valley sounds about like nirvana, except living here has its challenges, like getting by. Which is the theme of a now in its third installment art show, Death to Day Jobs which is about creating that escape from working the daily grind in paradise. It’s about getting elevated to a higher level of paradise which sounds like a fantasy role playing game… but whatever. The art and artists not to mention super fun group that comes out for this show each year makes it without a doubt the place to be. All cozied up at Ochi Gallery on Lewis Street you will catch a beer buzz and revel in the hum of creativity, ironic eyeglasses, body ink, and people who look like the belong in the city, living life in the rad lane right here in Sun Valley. So be there, tonight, July 3rd at OCHI Gallery on Lewis Street, 7:00 pm sharp!
Its the End of the Season As We Know It: Sawtooth National Gelande Quaffing Championships
Gelandesprung (v): German for a downhill ski jump in the style of Oympic nordic jumping, yet with fixed heels. Quaff (v): to drink rapidly with much vigor The legend of the Gelande Quaff was born back around the time snow was new. On a dark winter evening as the boys huddled for one last round, tipping back cold beers honoring their mastery of the backscratcher into couloirs in tight neon stretchpants, the bar tender slid frosty mugs down the bar to eager hands. It was a normal night until an order was called, the one who ordered got distracted, and the beer slid past only to leap off the end of the bar. Fortunately, stationed at the end of the bar, there stood one lone, alert skier who snatched the beer out of the air, pounded it back and slamming it on the table proclaimed, “Gelandequaffing!!” and the rest was history. As the story goes, a new form of sport drinking was born. It began to catch on in small mountain towns where long winters and poor odds lead to various devices of distraction. Like most new sports, the development of rules and competition formats would follow as well as the kind of innovation that was tracking in freeskiing and snowboarding. And today, after nearly a decade of progression Gelande Quaffing has evolved into a World Championship-level competition. Getting an invite to the said World Champs stands as one of the more coveted mountain town trappings anywhere.
Sleigh Rides
Sleigh Rides are Complete for the 2021-2022 Winter Season Thanks for a Great Winter! We’ll See You Next Season. Embrace winter’s romance with one of our most popular activities: a classic horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snowy hills. Take a day-time sleigh ride and enjoy the scenic views from Bald to Proctor Mountain. For a longer, more memorable night, take the sleigh ride to Trail Creek Cabin for dinner with the family. All sleigh rides are subject to weather. If there is not enough snow to operate sleighs we will not be substituting wagons. Private Sleigh Rides Make your special event even more memorable. Book a private sleigh or wagon for weddings, engagements, anniversaries or any special occasions. For more information please call the Guest Center. recreation@sunvalley.com Call (208) 622-2135 for more information and to book your sleigh ride.
Sun Valley Drops the Rope, Turkeys Take Wings as Opening Weekend Goes Off
In keeping with the time honored tradition of mixing up turkeys and stem christies with a side of gratuitous method grabs, Sun Valley dropped the ropes on both Baldy and Dollar once again commencing its 78th season of keeping it real on Thanksgiving Day. Free ran the pent up beast of the ski season let loose throughout the hallowed pines of Sun Valley region. With cold temps and a little cooperation from Mother Nature supplemented by the world's largest automated snow God, all 3,400 vertical feet of frosted white monolith greeted thousands of skiers to the start of winter 2013-14.
Ketchum Treehouse
Bedrooms: 1 plus loft Bathrooms: 1 Max Occupancy: 4 Sleeps Comfortably: 4 This Alpine Villa townhome is located in the heart of Ketchum, and just one minute from the River Run ski lifts! This darling unit was remodeled in 2013, and offers beautifully updated furnishings, full kitchen, and access to a community hot tub. With a unique three-story layout featuring tucked-away lofts and reading nooks, this cozy getaway is ideal for a couple’s romantic retreat or a small family vacation. Upon entering the town home from the fenced-in courtyard, there is an open living/dining/breakfast area on the ground level. On this level is a very efficient gas stove, a flat screen TV, couch and a breakfast bar (seats two). There is additional seating with a pull-out table with two more matching bar stools. The west-facing French doors bring in ample light and wonderful views of Mt. Baldy and her majestic trails. Up a flight of stairs brings you to a bath with a walk in shower and the master bedroom. The master has a king-size bed and another flat-screen TV. Again, the majestic mountain views are visible from many windows, so you can enjoy the soul-soothing panoramas from the moment you wake up. The …
A Look at Sun Valley Progression – Through the Lens of Tal Roberts
Sun Valley had long been off the radar of the freeski and snowboard movement, the youth and creativity that once defined the original zip code to hang your ski bum shingle had all but evaporated. But then a rumble was felt and slowly the monolith of the past began to awaken. A park was constructed on Dollar Mountain and with that came photographers, athletes, film crews and the few locals who had been living the dream woke up to Christmas. Movements are created out of momentum, one significant event sets the dominos in motion. Which is what is happening in our valley today. We took a moment to sit down with local photographer, Tal Roberts to view this movement through his work as he captures the product of this momentum.
Wine Auction Weekend: Where the Wine Flows Like Beer
For four glorious days here in Sun Valley, the wine flowed like beer, the beautiful women instinctively flocked like the steelhead of Stanley, Idaho and some serious funding to foster future arts and humanities opportunities for the Wood River Valley was raised. The 32nd annual Wine Auction Weekend invited attendees to partake in copious amounts of world renown vino varietals, mouth watering bites from the valley’s finest culinary experts, and boot stomping live entertainment. While the long weekend showcased a wide variety of wine induced events, two major spectacles took center stage. Friday night played host to the Wine Auction Gala where, “high spirits, great wine, superb food, good company, and a little friendly competition” melded together for some serious fund raising.
Searching the Skies
One way to get a spectacular view of Sun Valley and the surrounding mountains is to hike or ride the lifts to the top of Baldy. But an even better way, as we found out, is to run off the top of the mountain with another person strapped to your back as a big beautiful glider rises over your head and takes you soaring out over the valley. Click here for the rest of the story on our blog, Searching for Sun Valley.
Living the Dream
The saying, "my life is your vacation" gets thrown around a lot in ski towns far & wide. Many of us here in the Sun Valley area take that saying to heart on a daily basis. Whether you're here ski bumming it up or a working professional, the outdoor access right here makes it possible to live the dream. From November through April we're fortunate enough to have a winter wonderland playground right out the backdoor. Take your pick from meandering snowshoe paths, corduroy cross country and downhill trails, topped off with four mountain ranges offering up some epic backcountry riding.
Avalanche Country. Predicting a Natural Predator’s Behavior
Sun Valley is in the heart of avalanche country and as more of us venture into the unknown beyond the area boundary, the more important knowing the conditions becomes. The Sawtooth National Avalanche Center works long hours during winter months to provide the backcountry traveler with a base of knowledge as to what to expect.