STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Tap your inner Norwegian, your outer Ullr, and come out for the Inga Lami.

It’s a festive ski tour honoring the birthplace of modern skiing and the centuries-old quest by a woman  to save her infant—the prince. And it will be topped off by a potluck.

The Inga Lami will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, on the Nordic ski trails at Quigley Canyon in Hailey. It’s open to everyone—men and women, children, dogs and even your pet alligator, if you have one. It’s not a race, just a fun festive tour around the full 19K perimeter…or, however much you choose to ski.

It’s open to skate skiers and classic skier.

Skiers are encouraged to dress in their finest Norwegian outfits, and that can range from Norwegian sweaters and lederhosen to Viking garb. Prizes donated by The Elephant’s Perch will be awarded the top three costumes.

Then join friends outside the Quigley yurt for a potluck after the ski.

The Inga Lami is a sister race to the Norwegian Birkebeiner. It pays tribute to the story of Norwegian warriors who carried the infant King Haakon Haakonsson to safety on skis.

Organizer Muffy Ritz learned about the Inga Lami, which is held in Lillehammer, Norway, while skiing the legendary Norwegian Birkebeiner. She skied it five times, coming in fourth once.

The Inga Lami originated to get women out skiing and having fun. Lami means “following in the tracks of,” and the Inga Lami honors Inga, the mother of Haakon Hakonsson, an infant prince who was born a few months after his king father died during the middle of a civil war.

Inga handed her infant son off to two Birkebeiner warriors on skis who took the infant prince to safety. She followed behind. To prove her son was the king, she carried a hot iron in her bare hands. When they healed by a miracle attributed to the grace of God, Norwegians accepted that young Haakon was the son of the king. He proved to be a good and king, who reigned over a prosperous time in Norwegian history.

“I just like the story,” said Ritz, who also has skied the American Birkebeiner in Hayward, Wis., 18 times, winning it twice. “We’ll have prizes for best costumes, and the entry fee will go to The Advocates.”

 Registration costs $20 by cash or check with the money going to The Advocates. Those 10 and under ski free. Registration takes place from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

The event is being put on by Galena Lodge, the Galena Trails Advisory Committee and Friends.

Questions? Ask Muffy Ritz at 208-720-3579.