STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK
PHOTOS BY MAIJA EERKES AND KAREN BOSSICK
When the Harriman Trail was built two decades ago, it provided Wood River Valley residents and visitors an 18-mile path to ski, bike or walk past scenic backdrops of the Boulder Mountains and the red cliffs south of Galena Lodge.
Now, it’s helping to formulate plans for everything from a new trail east of Hailey to the Aquatic Center at the Community Campus.
“The creation of the trail was very visionary, and it’s humbling to me to be able to shepherd the Harriman Trail,” Blaine County Recreation Director Jim Keating told those attending the 2019 Harriman Tea this past week.
“It’s so inclusive, open to skiers, hikers, bikers of all abilities—all enjoying the outdoors. And they’re forever stopping to chat with one another so the trail connects us to friends and community. The Quigley Loop, which we opened this year in Hailey, was inspired by the Harriman Trail. And the trail is something we’ve considered as we expand the Aquatic Center. The Harriman Trial continues to be what inspires us at the BCRD.”
Several dozen women dug summer dresses out of mothballs, picked out delicately worn hats from their hat boxes and donned white gloves to take part in the fundraiser for the trail held in Carey Dondero’s expansive patio and lovely yard along the Big Wood River south of Ketchum.
It would have, perhaps, been more fitting to wear hiking boots and skate ski boots. But founder Barbara Thrasher, who had just moved to Sun Valley from Seattle 20 years ago, thought it would be fun to go fancy in a town where casual wear is the norm.
The women nibbled on toast topped with cream cheese and blueberries, meatball kabobs, tiny peppers stuffed with shrimp salad and tiny tarts, each boasting a strawberry smashed into the whipped cream, as they admired one another’s hats.
Carrie Morrow sported a pillbox hat that she had bought at a vintage shop.
“I love the 50s—the style of clothing, the rest,” she said, pulling out a tiny vintage purse with pearls on it.
She and Maija Eerkes compared notes, expressing their appreciation for the way the Harriman and other trails are groomed for winter snowshoeing and skiing.
And they discussed how it would be nice to take a lesson, too-–perhaps from the Vamps—to increase their enjoyment even more.
“Debbie and Bob Gilbert took us out skate skiing. And we thought they were going to kill us! But we did have fun!”
This year’s hostesses were Carey Dondero, Kelly Allison, Jenny Busdon, Cindy Dondero, Courtney Hamilton, Brooke Hovey, Jean Latham, Linda McClatchy, Esther Ochsman, Muffy Ritz, Barbara Thrasher and Gina Wolcott.