BY KAREN BOSSICK
Seems like you can’t go anywhere this week and next without a detour!
Detours on Main Street precipitated by long-needed pothole fixes are being joined by detours on Bald Mountain.
Sun Valley Resort will close the Cold Springs Trail and a few short trails on the front side of Bald Mountain over the next couple weeks as it thins tree as part of its Healthy Forests Initiative.
“We’ll get some healthier forests and more gladed skiing, as a result,” said Kelli Lusk, communications manager for Sun Valley Resort.
Sun Valley Resort, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of land Management are coordinating three forest health projects the weeks of Aug. 19, Aug. 26 and Sept. 1. The tree thinning work will improve glade skiing, reduce fuels and remove diseased trees.
- On Aug. 19 work will begin on 22 acres in the Cold Springs area. Part of the Bald Mountain Expansion, the glading will allow for better skiing terrain in the area where the new Cold Springs chairlift will be installed next summer. The Cold Springs Trail will be closed for the duration of the project.
- On Aug. 26, work will begin on 17 acres on the slopes between Can-Can and French Dip ski runs. It is expected to take two weeks.
- On Sept. 1 work will begin between the Can-Can and Graduate ski runs. The work is expected to take two weeks.
For the safety of guests and employees, the Traverse Trail, French Connection and the Roundhouse Connector will be restricted for four weeks starting on Aug. 26. The five-mile Bald Mountain Trail will also have some reroutes, adding a small amount of mileage to the path that runs from the base of River Run to the top at lookout.
Alternative routes include the Warm Springs Trail and all of the lift-served mountain biking trails—Lupine, Saddle Up, River Run, Mindbender and Pale Rider. The Roundhouse Express gondola and Christmas lift will continue to run daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the last day of the summer season on Sunday, Sept. 8.
Bald Mountain Trail will also be closed on Aug. 24 for the discrete Cirque Series running event and on Sept. 6 and 7 for the Full Tilt Enduro mountain bike race.