STORY BY GEORGE MURRAY

PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK AND GEORGE MURRAY

Bald Mountain officially closed for the winter of 2025/26 on Sunday, April 12, bringing an end to a challenging yet successful season for the Sun Valley Company.

The annual Baldy Bash on Saturday and Sunday drew a crowd in spite of inclement weather and green grass at the bottom of Warm Springs--a testament to the tight bond between Baldy and Ketchum residents.

While the runs on the top half of the mountain skied well, the slopes surrounding them were bare on the last weekend of the season. PHOTO: Karen Bossick

Thanks to the efforts of the multiple departments on the hill, Baldy was able to host a strong winter season, even though it got only half of its average snowpack. It opened on Dec. 3, a week later than its anticipated Thanksgiving opener, but made it through to its targeted ending date in mid-April.

Ski resorts throughout the West suffered with low snowpack throughout the winter. Park City and Deer Valley, two major mountain resorts in Utah, joined a crowd of ski resorts having to delay openings. Vail Resort, Beaver Creek and Aspen Highlands of Colorado were among numerous resorts seeing earlier than usual closing day this season.

Pete Sontagg, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Valley, expressed his excitement over closing weekend: “Snow, rain or shine, we’ll be out there closing the 90th winter season on Baldy. Baldy Bash is a highlight for me every year. While it’s bittersweet to close out the season, it’s a chance for our local community to gather together with live music, friends and family to celebrate everything this season has brought us.

“Whether you’ve been here every weekend or you’re stopping in for the final days, the energy and smiles say it all,” he added.

Despite warm temperatures leading up to the last weekend, Sun Valley Resort made it to its targeted closing date—and skiers turned out in season-ending costumes to acknowledge that fact. PHOTO: Karen Bossick

While Mother Nature often delivered rain at the bottom of Bald Mountain instead of snow, Baldy still had a strong year.

“We were able to open every trail and lift on Baldy this year,” Sonntag said. “I can’t tell you how many guests came up to share how amazing the mountain skied and how impressed they were with the grooming.”

The problem this season was not a lack of precipitation. In fact, precipitation levels were about average throughout this winter. The problem was the record-setting high temperatures all over the West.

Mark Dallon is a hydrologist at the National Weather Service office in Pocatello, which provides broad and point forecasts for much of Central and Eastern Idaho.

The Greyhawk parking lot was full on Sunday, the last day of the season. PHOTO: George Murray

“The 2025-26 winter has been record-breaking throughout Southern and Eastern Idaho,” Dallon said. “When we hear ‘record breaking,’ we often think of precipitation. This year, however, the broken records are for warm temperatures, and those temperatures are the driving force for low snowpacks and early melting.”

“Even with total precipitation that has been fairly normal in many areas, the record warmth prevented snow accumulation below 6,500 feet in elevation, and very low measurements below 8,000’,” Mark said.

The data that Mark shared was obvious to the eyes of any skier who made it to the top of Baldy this spring. With a summit elevation of 9,150’, local skiers saw runs such as Christmas Ridge, a run that famously skis well to the last day, burn out a couple weeks early.

Ethan Davis, an avalanche forecaster with the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, also spoke about the effects of the heat in the region: “There were multiple wet storms in the early winter with snow levels up to 9,000 feet that normally would have produced snow in town.

The weather for Saturday’s Baldy Bash was more favorable than Sunday’s sporadic rain showers, which dampened the enthusiasm for sitting out on the patio. PHOTO: George Murray

“Near and above 9,000’, total precipitation amounts across the forecast area were near or above normal for the majority of the winter. This changed dramatically when we set a string of record-high temperatures in the last half of March. The snowpack began to lose water as it melted. This early runoff was anywhere from three to six weeks ahead of schedule, depending on the region,” he added.

This was a problem for winter recreationalists, although the early runoff will have a greater effect on the summer months in the region, with drought being a potential problem this summer.

“The early melt and extremely warm temperatures have resulted in decreased forecasts for river volume and expected deterioration of drought status for the area,” said Dallon. “The Big Wood River Basin at Hailey (86 percent, Big Wood at Magic Dam (65 percent, and the Little Wood (percent) are all less than previous forecasts for river volumes for the period between April and September.

“Drought status shows 49 percent of Blaine County in moderate drought, 24 percent at abnormally dry and 27 percent with no drought designation,” he added.

The seasonal drought outlook shows “drought development likely” or persisting for all of Blaine County, he said.

Those who skied Baldy this winter said it was still a great winter of skiing.

Longtime Sun Valley Ski Patroller and area local Dave Bell, a recent recipient of the “Heart and Soul” award presented by Sun Valley Resort, made the most of a warmer than normal winter.

“It was an exceptionally adequate season,” he said. “I’ve lived in the valley my whole life-- my first season on Ski Patrol was 1983. My recollection is that dry years tend to outnumber wet years in the valley. However, winters are not as cold as when I was a youngin.’ “

“No cold. No snow. Maybe turning off the heated pavers would help? I hear next year will be a back breaker, shovel wise.”

Bell said the Ski Patrol brought on a fair number of new patrollers this year.

“They expended a lot of effort learning new skills and nursing the mountain along,” he said. “Whatever the weather, patrol workers endure, use their minds and better themselves and each other. I have benefitted from their presence.”

Bell added that low snow years in snow country is not easy on anyone who savors snow.

“But innately, outdoor, activity-oriented communities attract positive and vibrant people and that helps us all,” he said. “Our community finds ways to make some pretty good lemonade.”