STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK
VIDEO BY COOPER MORTON/SUN VALLEY RESORT
The skier couldn’t contain her excitement as she plopped down on the Lookout Express chair.
“Sun Valley Resort has been hinting it has a surprise for us today,” she said. “I bet they’re opening the Sunrise Expansion.”
Her hunch was correct. Soon, a line formed at the entry into the newly named Sunrise Bowl.
And, with that, the resort debuted 380 acres of new terrain with expert level chutes, glades and bowls on the southern flank of the mountain east of Seattle Ridge Lodge.
The expansion came after Bald Mountain got a record-breaking 51 inches of snowfall over a few days last week. Skiers and riders flocked to the site, emerging at the bottom near the new Broadway high-speed quad chairlift, which took them 1,582 vertical feet back up to Roundhouse in just over a mile.
No more need to ski to the highway and thumb a ride back to the resort as they did in the days when Sunrise was called Turkey Bowl and the area was out of bounds.
“There were a lot of people wanting to dip in. But the area’s so big they soon spread out,” said one skier.
The expert terrain, which increases Sun Valley’s terrain by 20 percent, features a playground of hidden powder stashes, steep chutes and glades.
Skiers say it’s the most challenging terrain on the mountain. In response, Sun Valley is offering a private lesson for advanced skiers and riders looking to experience it.
The Sunrise Alpine Experience is four hours long and includes expert tips and instruction. Call 208-622-2289 or email snowsports@sunvalley.com to book it. A maximum of three guests per lesson are allowed.
“Sun Valley Resort has been working on the Sunrise construction expansion for over three years, and we are elated to open up the fruits of our labor to our community, pass holders and guests,” said Tim Silva, president and general manager of Sun Valley Resort. “Between the hardworking snow safety and operations teams at the resort and at Doppelmayr, this endeavor was truly a team effort and showcases the ongoing investment by the Holding family, and the dedication to innovation by our entire management team.”
Check out today's video by Sun Valley Resort featuring Banks Gilberti, a local pro skier.