STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
If you can put down the snow shovel for a few hours, you can ski free on the BCRD Nordic trails today.
The Blaine County Recreation District is allowing skiers and snowshoers to enjoy its trails free of charge today—Saturday, Dec. 10.
Galena Lodge will offer free ski and snowshoe rentals for the day. And it will offer free half-hour lessons at 10 and 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. Don’t worry about reservations—just walk in the shop.
There’s plenty of snow out there. While Bald Mountain picked up nearly eight inches of white fluff on Friday, Galena Lodge picked up four to top off a snowpack that’s double the average for this time of year. Billy’s Bridge still has yet to be opened for the season, but Quigley Nordic opened last week and is well covered.
The Lake Creek trails are being used for the Sun Valley Super Tour this weekend. The tour, which features some of North America’s top Nordic racers, will feature a Classic Sprint Qualifier at 9:30 a.m. today, followed by Classic Mass Start Distance Races at 11 and 11L30 a.m., a FIS Super Tour at noon and Junior Girls and boys Sprint Heats at 1:45 p.m.
A FIS Super Tour 10 K will conclude the five-day event at 9 a.m. Sunday.
Additional Ski Free Days will be held Jan. 8, Feb. 25 and March 22.