For decades I’ve been told time and time again how good the skiing is in Sun Valley, Idaho. How the natural terrain is beyond beautiful—and how so many celebrities own seasonal homes there. The former always piqued my interest, but the later kept me away. Aspen isn’t my scene, so why would Sun Valley be any different? Then last season I had the opportunity to see for myself, under the guidance of legendary local Wyatt Caldwell, a friend of friends, decades-long pro snowboarder, and guide athlete for Northwest outfitter Eddie Bauer.
And let me tell you, all the years I avoided Idaho have been wasted.
Developed by the chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1936, Sun Valley is recognized as both the first destination winter resort in America and home to the first chairlift in the world. But when most refer to “Sun Valley” they’re often speaking more broadly about the neighboring city Ketchum and the Wood River Valley (Sun Valley is the name of the ski resort, not an actual town). This is an important designation. Though the area has been a destination for the rich and the famous—including a favorite and final resting place of Ernest Hemingway—for going on 80 years now, it feels largely less like a fancy resort village and more like a classic mountain town.