T
he ski season kicked off at maximum stoke for Mt. Spokane General Manager Jim van Löben Sels. Day One on the slopes arrived complete with sun, blaring music and all seven of the mountain s lifts spinning. Even limited skier numbers and a late-hour declaration from Gov. Jay Inslee that shuttered the resort s indoor dining spaces couldn t detract from the vibe that winter was finally, officially here. There was so much energy, and people were so excited that we were open, Löben Sels says. I think that will stick with me. As idyllic as that opening was, it didn t take long for the challenges to arise. Over the Christmas holiday, both of Mt. Spokane s base lifts broke down on the same day, cutting off summit access for any riders not lucky enough to already be shredding the backside. Moisture fried the circuitry in a set of new outdoor lockers installed in direct response to the pandemic, rendering the lockers useless. And Löben Sels found himself having to address the
Oh Chute: Sun Valley turns “back country” on; Big bucks Utah terrain coming next season
8th February 2021 | Craig Altschul
Sun Valley adds new steeps Copyright: Sun Valley Resort photo
Get started on 380 acres of new steep and deep terrain right now at Sun Valley Resort in Idaho. Then next season, if your bank account is seriously overflowing, enjoy your own slice of heaven on skis as the uber-private Wasatch Ranch Club cranks up its opening salvo for skiers.
We’re only at the mid-point of the season, so you have plenty of time to explore the long-awaited Sunrise Ski Zone, 380 acres of “ski it if you can” expert terrain on the southern flank of Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain. It opened last week following a dump of 51 inches of new snow the previous seven days.
Native Women Lead
April Tinhorn and her daughter Zoey with New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland.
Today on Colorado Edition: New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland is poised to become the nation’s first Indigenous cabinet secretary. We explore why her historic nomination may signal a shift in the relationship between tribes and the federal government. We look at the impact of recent deaths among young people in several Eastern Plains communities, and how they are responding with calls for action. We hear how farmers along the Colorado River are working to help downstream neighbors by modernizing their irrigation methods. And we discuss how ski areas in our state are adapting to climate change and why it’s so important.