STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

This week’s snow came just in time, as Galena Lodge opens today—Friday, Nov. 22.

The rustic Nordic ski lodge 24 miles north of Ketchum will be open everyday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with lunch served from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

There’s no need for reservations, but you can go online to book a night in one of Galena Lodge’s four yurts, to rent skis and snowshoes, sign up for a ski lesson or make reservations for Full Moon or Holiday Dinners.

Galena Lodge has received more than a dozen inches of snow this week. Groomers began packing the trails earlier this week, and today will open the trails around Galena Lodge, as well as Prairie Creek to Galena Lodge and Prairie Creek Loop. The BCRD has also groomed Durrance Loop and the Harriman from SNRA to Prairie Creek. You can purchase your Nordic pass at a discount right now at https://bcrd.org before the preseason pass sale ends on Nov. 24.

The Vamps and Don are offering a myriad of skate and classic cross country ski clinics on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in December that range from Never Ever to Upper Level. Each clinic meets once a week for three weeks, and they’re a great way to fine tune your skiing at the beginning of the season.

Each class comes with a choice of soups and slice of bread at the end so you can sit down after the clinic and get to know new friends in your clinic.

Private lessons also are available. And, yes, the lodge’s loaner dog Rio, who incidentally has its own Instagram following, will be happy to join all-comers on a snowshoe jaunt.

Galena Lodge is a community-owned facility owned by the Blaine County Recreation District and operated by a concession agreement with Kyle and Chelan Oldemeyer under a permit with the Sawtooth National Forest.

To learn more, go to https://www.galenalodge.com/. Or, call Galena Lodge at 208-726-4010.