STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Ski and snowshoe the BCRD trails on Saturday.

Blaine County Recreation District is offering free use of its trails on Saturday, Dec. 14—one of four Ski Free Days it will offer this winter.

In addition, Galena Lodge instructors will offer free half-hour beginner ski lessons at 10 and 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. The lodge will also offer free rentals that day for both skate and classic, for both kids and adults.

No need to register—just show up.

Those who want to try out the latest ski gear are in luck, as well, as multiple shops and manufacturers will have demo Nordic equipment available for people to try out on the Galena trail system that day free of charge.

All the North Valley trails are open with the exception of Billy’s Bridge, the Lake Creek trails and the trail behind SNRA headquarters. Quigley Nordic awaits more snow, as well.

The trails north of Ketchum picked up an eighth of an inch of snow early Saturday morning followed by a couple inches later at Galena Lodge and a half-inch at Prairie Creek.

Trails heading from Cathedral Pines north are in fabulous shape, whereas the doggie trails around SNRA are being groomed by snowmobile and are a little hard.

But the National Weather Service is making a little noise about some possible snow coming our way over the weekend, and one forecast is predicting as much as three to five inches. You never know, but you can always hope.

And, just remember, they didn’t even begin grooming the trails until Dec. 15 last year!

Want to hone your classic or skate skiing technique? Or learn to do it.

The DONS and VAMPS are gearing up for group classes in January and February. Learn more at https://www.galenalodge.com/vamps--dons-ski-clinics.html.