Winter Storms Bring Great Skiing

Well we have finally dug out from the last 10 days of snow, snow and more snow. We have received about 5 -6 feet of new snow since Christmas Day and the trails couldn't be better. Hopefully everyone had a great holiday and are getting excited for some great Nordic and Backcountry skiing! As the holidays wind down, now is a great time to spend some quiet time up at Galena Lodge. We are open daily and serving the best lunches in the valley.

Make your Full Moon Dinner reservations now. Dinner is Friday Jan 9, Saturday Jan 10 and Sunday Jan 11. 6:30pm seating. Give us a call and we hope to see you soon.

Happy Holidays From Galena Lodge

Well Mother Nature has provided a winter wonderland for us once again. This last storm brought in about 18 inches of new snow and enabled us to open up most of our Nordic Ski trails here at the lodge. We are expecting about a foot tonight and a busy holiday weekend. The snowshoe and ski trails are in great shape right now and it is shaping up to be a fantastic winter. 

Holiday Dinners at Galena Lodge. We are hosting dinner tonight through New Years Eve with wonderful food and holiday cheer. If you haven't come up to Galena for dinner now is a great time. Enjoy a day of skiing or snowshoeing and then cozy up next to the fire until dinner is ready. It is a great way to spend a day (or a lifetime). Call now for reservations or for more information. We will be open every day over the holidays, serving lunch from 11:30-3:30. Oh and make sure to come up and try Karin's homemade holiday eggnog.

The Galena Benefit is January 24 and tickets are on sale now! This is one of the biggest fundraisers that the BCRD puts on over the year and is a great way to show your support and love for the lodge and the trails. Galena Lodge is maintained by donations and pass sales (no tax dollars) so it is very important to help protect and preserve this special place. Call the BCRD at 208-788-2117 for more information or to purchase your tickets.

Dumping Snow!!!

8 new inches of snow last night. 12 inches in the last 24 hours. More later, we have to go shovel and groom some trails!

Winter Solstice

Winter comes in with bang. Today is the first day of winter and boy does it feel like winter out there. With the beginning of a pretty big storm, we have received just over an inch of snow. We are hoping Santa's visit today will bring us about a foot of fresh new powder for our winter time fun. This holiday week, bring your family and friends up to Galena for a fantastic experience. Snowshoeing, skiing, sledding, great food and some of the best homemade eggnog you will ever have await you in this winter wonderland. If you can't seem to make it up for the day, Galena will be hosting Holiday Dinners from Christmas Eve through New Years Eve. Reservations are required as space fills quickly. We hope to see you up here.

Don't forget today is Free Learn to Ski Day with Skate Clinics at 1 pm and Classic Clinics at 2:30 pm. Santa will be visiting the lodge from 12-2pm today as well.

Happy Holiday!

Time to get up to Galena

If you haven't been up to Galena lately it is time. After receiving about 9 inches of new snow last week we have been able to open up some Nordic ski trails and snowshoe trails. Even with the limited amount of snow at the lodge we have some great conditions for skiing and snowshoeing. Just this last night I went on Titus loop and Northwood on my classic skis. Even though it has not been groomed yet, the skiing is awesome out there. We had a blast cruising through the fresh powder and setting a track. So wether you want to ski the Harriman down to Prairie Creek and back, go off on an ungroomed trail or go for a snowshoe adventure Galena has it all right now. Remember though that the conditions are early season so bring your older ski and a sense of adventure and you wont go away disappointed. Don't forget to book your yurt stay and Holiday Dinner reservations.

And Finally....Snow!!!

Well we have all been waiting for it and Mother Nature finally delivered. Last night Galena received 8 inches of new snow and more is expected today. It is beautiful out there. The BCRD is out with the snowmobiles right now grooming down to Prairie Creek and back and then coverage permitting hitting some more trails. The weather is cold and snowing right now with light flurries. So grab your classic skis (maybe not your race skis) and head on up to get your ski on. There are no classic tracks yet and the trails are very soft so please leave your dogs at home or take them for a hike on our snowshoe trails but lets try to keep them off the ski trails until there is a little more snow. See you soon!

Let it snow--but...

Let it snow. Folks in the Wood River Valley and from what I've heard throughout most of the West must be saying and hoping and praying these three words more earnestly than ever as the warm dry weather continues. Indeed the view from the Titus ridge over the Sawtooth Valley does seem dismal (at least the snow situation, that valley is always lovely).



But... the lovely terrain of central Idaho is still here and there is always an appropriate activity for any time of year and any level of snow. Little did I expect when I took a job at Galena that I would still have time to do plenty of mountaineering on peaks that are usually too unsafe this time of year. So while I did expect to ski pretty soon after arriving, I certainly am not getting the fall version of cabin fever.

So get out to the mountains. Even remote steep mountains, ones I usually choose to do in high summer, are still available for at least a touch longer (yes, only the slightest touch longer we all hope). Head up to Trail Creek summit and walk up Summit Creek. Climb a peak near the lodge such as Galena or Gladiator. Perfect Peak near Alturas Lake lake was a sublime climb on Monday. Don and Erin are still giving their two-wheeled steeds plenty of exercise. Several trails close to town are dry so there really is no excuse for the outdoor inclined. And as always, Galena Lodge is there for good food and good gear and good times. We are open on weekends and hopefully full time soon enough.

Let it snow, but... get out today!
--Mark

Alpenglow on Pioneer Range from Pioneer Cabin
Alice Lake from Perfect Peak
Castle Peak and the White Clouds from Galena Peak
Pioneer Range from the ridge above Summit Creek; Devil's Bedstead on the left

Snow

Thanksgiving at Galena

It's Turkey Day at Galena Lodge and we are open! The trails have some snow but unfortunately not enough to ski. Though there are some areas to go snowshoeing, hiking and even mountain biking right around the lodge. We would be glad to point you in the right direction. The days have been incredible so who can complain about the lack of snow. We have much to be thankful for! So if you are looking for something to do this weekend Galena Lodge will be open Thursday through Sunday from 9-5 and serve lunch from 11:30-3:30. If it doesn't snow we will close Monday until Friday. So grab your bike and your hiking shoes and hit the trails. Keep an eye on the blog or give us a call to find out when the snow comes. See you soon.

Galena Lodge Opens Saturday November 22

Who needs snow to have fun?

The trails are great for a hike or an early morning bike ride. There is even enough snow up on the pass to go for a snowshoe adventure!

Galena Lodge will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9-5. We will be serving lunch 11:30-3:30.

We will close Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and reopen on Thanksgiving day and remain open thru the weekend.

Thanksgiving Dinner is full but we are offering dinner on Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 28 at 6:30pm. Call now to book your reservations.

The yurts are booking up for the winter so make your plans and call now to reserve.

We hope to see you soon.

Erin and Don

Winter Yurt and Dinner Reservations

Hey Everyone. Now is a great time to book your winter yurt and dinner reservations. Christmas Parties, Holiday Dinners and Yurt Stays at one of our 3 yurts are all incredible and unique ways to spend winter nights at Galena Lodge. Check out our calendar for a list of dinners, upcoming events and yurt availability. Ski season is right around the corner so get your calendar and call your friends, now is the time to book your winter adventures!

The Final Outdoor Trail Report For '08

Hi this is Don Shepler from Galena Lodge on Friday the 26th with my final outdoor trail report for the season. Fall is definitely here, surprisingly, the fall colors are still blazing away. The best colors that I have seen are in the Stanley basin so I would recommend making a trip over the pass this weekend and hitting a ride that gives you some chances to look around. Elk Meadows is a great option for beginners and offers great scenery from the giant meadow that you ride through. This ride starts and ends at Stanley lake and can be done in either direction. If you are planning on camping this weekend expect overnight temps to be well into the 20’s so be prepared. Also remember that Bow season is in full swing so leave your antlers at home and expect to see some guys dressed like trees out there. Good luck to everyone in the Baldy Hill climb this weekend, and I’ll see you when the snow flies at Galena Lodge.

Boulder Bike Tour a Big Success

Thank you to everyone who participated in or sponsored this year's Boulder Mountain Bike Tour. It was a beautiful day and the turnout was great. Don and I enjoyed seeing everyone one last time for the summer season. We'll see you again in November. Thanks again for riding up to Galena Lodge.

Get Ready for the Boulder Mountain Bike Tour

We are excited to celebrate the Boulder Bike tour on Sunday the 14th. Live Music, a great outdoor BBQ, Beer from River Bend Brewing, Bikes and Good Friends, what better way to wrap up the summer season at Galena Lodge. Road and Mountain Bikers can both participate, Roadies meet at 10 in the Ketchum Town Square, Mountain Bikers can meet at 9 at the SNRA parking lot to ride up the Harriman Trail. Sag Wagons will be available and there will be an Aid Station at Baker Creek. We'll be hosting a fantastic BBQ for $12.50 with live music by Bruce Innes followed by the Middle Income House Band. Come join us on Sunday for our end of summer bash and the Boulder Bike Tour.

Don's Friday Outdoor Report

Hi this is Don Shepler from Galena Lodge bringing you another Friday outdoor report for the 5th of September. This week the chill of fall is in the air and the first bit of snow has touched the high country. One great local area to ride and hike that often gets overshadowed is the Boulder White Clouds. However you feel about the proposed wilderness bill for this area, I am encouraging you to get out and explore the White Clouds now. There are lots of great bike ride options and even more hikes to explore. The unfortunate thing is that there is not much beginner terrain, most loops are intermediate to advanced based on either fitness or technical skill, but any way you slice it a day in the white clouds is a rewarding experience. There are many trailheads for accessing the White Clouds, Pole Creek. Fourth of July Creek and Fisher Creek are all between Ketchum and Stanley. When you are heading up to the White Clouds, don’t forget to stop by Galena for something to drink or a Don-Bar to get you through your adventure. Have a great weekend.

Sept 14th, Boulder Mountain Bike Tour

Get ready for the Boulder Mountain Bike Tour to be held on Sunday, September 14th.
Click on the image below to enlarge the photo and read all the details.

Don's Friday Outdoor Report

Hi, this is Don Shepler from Galena Lodge with your Friday Outdoor Trail Report. By this point in the summer you’ve probably ridden all of you favorite rides and done your favorite hikes and it’s starting to sound good to sit back and wait for the snow to fly. Luckily in this area there are almost endless opportunities to explore the mountains. This is a great time of year to spread the map out on the table and let your imagination go, then get out there this weekend and check it out on the ground. Now might be the time to explore the fork on the trail that you never take, or go to find that hidden lake. If you normally ride around Ketchum, try some of the rides further north or south. If you typically hike on trail, pick out an off-trail excursion. Usually what you’ll find is only the tip of the iceberg and it should get your enthusiasm up again. And if you haven’t already, come explore the trails around Galena Lodge and have a great weekend!

CLOSED MONDAY AUGUST 25

Galena Lodge will be closed the entire day of Monday, August 25th for a team event.

We will re-open on Tuesday, August 26th.

Apologies for any inconvenience. Thank you.

Thank You Sawtooth Society

Thank you to the Sawtooth Society for hosting their recent meeting at Galena Lodge. The group enjoyed a sunset dinner by Chef Don Shepler on the deck. Then the group rode to Senate Meadow in a horse drawn wagon for a fireside sing-along by a cowboy poet. As the group rode back to the lodge a bright, full moon rose over Galena Peak casting moonbeams across the meadow to light the way.
Galena Lodge is the perfect place for families and groups to escape and enjoy themselves away from life's constant distractions. If you are seeking a rustic, gourmet experience please call to plan your event.

Make Reservations for Friday, August 22 Summer Dining

We are pleased to announce the menu for Galena Lodge's Summer Dining on Friday, August 22nd. Please call to reserve your place at our table.

Appetizers Served on the Deck

Soup or Salad
Chilled Cucumber Gazpacho
or
Wood River Greens with citrus vinaigrette and summer tomatoes, goat cheese crostinis and balsamic syrup

Entrée
Pan-seared Idaho trout with wild rice pilaf, summer vegetable succotash with a creole style aioli
or
Pepper-crusted Flat Iron steak with béarnaise sauce, summer vegetable succotash and mashed Idaho potatoes

Dessert
Peach shortcake with summer berry reduction and whipped cream

$45/person - alcohol, tax, and gratuity not included

Our Next Summer Dinner is Sunday, September 7th

Congratulations Sarah and Zach

Congratulations to Sarah and Zach. They tied the knot on another beautiful Galena day. Their sun-drenched ceremony was held in Senate Meadow. The reception featured home-made pies freshly cooled on the window sill. Live-music and dancing continued as a bright moon rose over the party. Congrats Sarah and Zach and best wishes for your life together from all your friends at Galena Lodge.

Don's Friday Outdoor Report

Hi, this is Don Shepler with your Outdoor Trail Report for Friday August the 15th.

Summer is more than half-way over but there is still lots of riding through October. Hopefully everyone has been getting out and enjoying all of the great trails around us and making the most of summer. I’ve been looking around on some recent rides with friends and seeing some well used equipment.

After a long summer of riding it’s getting to be about time for a lot of us, myself included, to give our equipment some TLC. All those creaks and grinding missed shifts aren’t good for your bike and can leave you walking out of the woods when something fails. Now that you’re in shape, this point in the summer is a great time to spend some time and maybe a little coin to get your bike back in shape. Some things to consider are new cables and housing, chain and cogs, and new tires always make a huge difference in the way your bike rides.

If you need some help taking care of these things stop by and talk to Kurt in the shop at Galena Lodge and he’ll get you dialed in and riding again. Have a great weekend and we’ll se you at Galena Lodge.

Don's Friday Outdoor Report

Hi, this is Don Shepler bringing you another Ooutdoor Trail Report for Friday, August the 8th. Late this week we are seeing a few scattered showers that will be knocking down some of the dust and keeping things green just a little longer. Let¹s just hope for no lightning.

This week, I¹m recommending an advanced trail a little bit off of the beaten path. The Placer and Castle loop is about 10 miles out Warm Springs Road and offers a challenging climb and a descent that starts a little hairy and then turns into rolling single track following the creek. There are some sheep in the area so this IS NOT a good ride for dogs. You also have to make sure not to miss the turn onto the single track at the beginning of the climb since I have heard of numerous rides ending up in a completely different area. To make this ride into an all day epic, start at the Baker Lake trailhead and climb over from Lost Shirt Gulch and then come back over to finish. Enjoy your weekend and we will see you at Galena Lodge.

Galena Grinder Retrospective

Thanks again to everyone who raced, volunteered, or sponsored the 2008 Whit Henry Memorial Galena Grinder.

Titus Lake Trail

Recently, some of the Galena Lodge staff rode up the old toll road to Titus Lake then back down to Galena Lodge.

With a camera stuck to a helmet.

And a song stuck in their heads.

Congratulations Nicole & Nat

If you see Nicole and Nat tell them congratulations. They picked a beautiful day to get married at Galena Lodge, surrounded by their friends and family. Their ceremony was held in Senate Meadow with a beautiful backdrop of big mountains, blue skies, and white puffy clouds. The wedding party moved back to the lodge where the reception and festivities ran late into the night. Congrats Nicole and Nat and best wishes from all your friends at Galena Lodge.

A Priairie Creek Companion

A big thanks to Carter and Adam for dropping by Galena Lodge while on vacation from Virginia. Above is Carter on the descent from Minor Lake on Prairie Creek. Carter and Adam have vacationed in the Wood River Valley for the last three years, sampling the fine singletrack, food, and festivities abundant in the valley. Carter and Adam, thanks again and see you next year!

Two More Weeks of Kids Camp Available

Each week the Galena Lodge Kids Camp spends a night camping out. This week, once the campfire burned out, the kids made the most of the dark to practice their scariest faces.

Be afraid, very afraid.

If you are interested in attending one of the last two weeks of Kids Camp please give us a call. There are a few spots remaining. Thanks!

Hot Enough For You?

Summer's heating up. Escape to Galena Lodge where the altitude means it's cooler than town.

Local Talent Makes Good

Congrats to India Wysong and Sean McLaughlin on their Galena Grinder performances. Results and photos will be posted once we have them.

Grinder Champs

Congratulations to the podium finishers in Saturday's Galena Grinder. Stay tuned for more information and photos - we'll post them as they become available.

Galena Grinder Aftermath

Thanks to all of the racers, volunteers, and sponsors for making this year's Whit Henry Memorial Galena Grinder a big success. Stay tuned throughout the week for more details and photos.

Wine Aution Vintner's Dinner

Thank you to the Murphys for hosting the Wells Fargo Private Bank/Plump Jack Winery/Woodward Canyon Winery Wine Auction Vinter's Dinner last evening in support of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. The food, wine, and hospitality were all outstanding.

Don's Friday Outdoor Report

This is Don from Galena Lodge with Friday’s Outdoor Report for July 25th. Well it’s finally here. In less than 24 hours the Whit Henry Memorial Galena Grinder bike race will be kicking off at Galena Lodge. Whether you’ve never raced before or you are a crafty veteran there is a division and distance for you.
The Grinder isn’t just for the hardcores. If you’ve been out riding some of the local trails regularly then you should be ready to enjoy this fun, local cycling tradition. The course is actually not super technical, and we got some rain this week so the dust should be minimized. You can still register the morning of the race.
One day licenses are available for beginner, sport and double XC riders, expert racers must have or purchase a NORBA License. We’ve routed the course a little differently this year to make it more spectator friendly so you can bring some friends to cheer you on. There’s almost always something to do as a volunteer as well.
Most racers will be starting at 10:30 AM.
Double XC racers start at 9:00 AM.
And best of all when you’re done racing, we’ll even feed you.
I’ll see you up at Galena this Saturday for the Galena Grinder.

Grinder Gearing Up

Over the last few days, an increased number of mountain bikers have been witnessed on the Galena trail system. Coincidence? Or crafty veterans looking for an edge for Saturday's Galena Grinder? Either way, everyone on the course will get an eyeful of wildflowers. They're blooming all over the course.



And while you're here, why not enjoy a quick video.

Funny, It Doesn't Look Steep From Here

This is the view from the top of the Galena Grinder climb. It's relatively downhill from here with lots of flowing singletrack. Galena got a double dose of rain in the past few days and now the course is firm and tacky.


Don't forget to pick up your Galena wool jerseys. Long and short sleeve in all sizes available in the bike shop at Galena Lodge.

Galena Got Rain

Galena got soaked last night. Trail conditions are much improved with the added moisture. Some people showed up early this morning to get a pre-ride and inspect the wholesome goodness.











Thanks again to Greg "Chopper" Randolph for speaking to the Mountain Bike Monday group last night. Greg covered several topics including race preparation, strategy, and nutrition. The group ride was followed by dinner of baked rosemary chicken, three salads, cold beers, and a big plate of brownies and chocolate chip cookies.