Ketchum, Idaho and the Beauty of Bald Mountain

Today I am returning from Sun Valley, Idaho and, as promised, I wanted to share a travel blog on this amazing place. This is the first of two blogs and will focus on the town of Ketchum. With only 3,873 residents, the town is the quintessential Western town with friendly people and an outdoor culture. There are an array of great restaurants, shops, and bars for skiers retiring from a day on the slopes. Located in Wood River Valley, the town contains the popular ski slopes at Bald Mountain. When I arrived, the final competition of the  U.S. Alpine Ski Championship was still being held.

Arriving in Sun Valley is itself an adventure as you descend into a valley surrounded by the Pioneer, Boulder, and Sawtooth mountains.

I stayed at the Limelight hotel on Main Street and recommend it. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. The hotel looks at the snow-capped mountains and has a great bar and lounge. They serve a great complimentary breakfast to give skiers and others a hearty start to the day.

Located next to Sun Valley, Ketchum and the surrounding areas have become a draw for the famous and wealthy, including celebrities like Tom Hanks. Locals call them “COWs” for California, Oregon, and Washington emigres. That draw is evident from the line of private jets that you pass on the tarmac of the tiny airport.

There is a surprising number of bars and restaurants in this small town, including signature bars like the Pioneer saloon (shown here) and Whiskey’s on Main Street. I also enjoyed meals at Enoteca with a great wine list from California and Oregon. One night we ate at the Ketchum Grill and had their signature meatloaf. It was so good that I returned the next night for a repeat.

On my second day, I went to the top of Bald Mountain. After crossing a small creek, you find a great lounge and bar at the base of the mountain with indoor and outdoor fireplaces. The staff cannot be more informative or helpful. You will need lift tickets so reservations are helpful. I spoke to a number of locals who were taking their regular runs on the slopes. Because there was less snow this winter, they were relying on their snow machines before the close for the season.

To get to the top of the mountain, you take the gondola to the Roundhouse Restaurant near the top.  It has a great view from its deck and serves food and drinks at 7,700 feet of elevation on Bald Mountain. It was built in 1939 and has that genuine rustic feel.

You can then take the ski lift to the top of the mountain by taking the “Christmas lift (#3).  It is not for those who do not like heights (though it helps if you are smarter than your host and realize that there is a pull down safety bar).

I was able to achieve a uniquely degrading landing at the top. I do not ski so this was my first lift experience. I made it memorable. When we reached the top,  I thought the lift had stopped and jumped off. The chair lift then hit me and sent me sprawling forward in a face plant in the snow as the next chair pushed me down again. Small children looked on in disgust as one of the ski staff ran over and complimented me on a spectacular fall and roll. What can I say, it is a skill.

To make my disgrace complete, the watchful staff waited for me when I returned to go back down in order to stop the lift for me. I left without a modicum of dignity and heavily laden with self-disgust.

However, between my moments of self-degradation, I was able to take a few snaps of the surrounding mountains. Usually you can see as far as Salt Lake City on a clear day, but there was snow coming in. It was still an unforgettable view.

There are a variety of ski runs, including the competitive runs used by top skiers. Despite the cold, I would have lingered longer but I had to give a talk on free speech at the beautiful Argyros center. It is a ten minute walk back to Main Street.

While skiing is a big draw, the summer months also pull many to the town for people interested in fly fishing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. The local rivers are favorites for those eager to catch trout, salmon, and other fish. There are also many moose (who sometimes venture into town), elk, bear and other wildlife.

The next day I was scheduled to drive to the mountains for snowmobile excursion. More to come…