Craters in the Fog

Sunshine and blue skies this morning, even the Tetons were clearly visible (pic). After a tightly packed and interesting day yesterday, we experienced some disappointments today. We drove from our great lodge in Victor back to Idaho Falls and since we were early, we wanted to peak into the Museum of Idaho, but they didn't accept our official letter of recommendation from ID State. Well, instead, we had breakfast at Great Harvest Bread Company - with the bakery on property: excellent breads, cake breads, scones, cinnemon rolls and other sweets. Nobody should argue anymore, that the U.S. don't have good baking goods (same, BTW, with coffee and beer)! The falls for which the city was named, are not very high, but wide. Note in the background of the picture the huge mormon temple.

Dark clouds were approaching again, and on the drive on Hwy. 20 - "Peaks to Craters Scenic Bwy." - west we had snow flurries. Skies turned blue again and we stopped at E.B.R. I (the Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1) - the first atomic reactor worldwide. Arco, the town nearby, calls itself the "First City in the World to be lit by Atomic Power". Approaching the Craters' visitor center, visibility was almost gone completely, clouds hanging on the surface.

In addition, the scenic loop in the National Monument, which we planned to drive, was closed for the season. The park ranger offered snowshoes for rent, but, considering the weather and our time we skipped the thought. "Craters of the Moon" formed during eight major eruptive periods between 15,000 and 2000 years ago. Lava erupted and huge lava field grew to cover 618 square miles (1600 qkm).We saw at least some of the black stone fields on our way out.

Stopping at Ketchum's Botanical Garden briefly to buy some hardy Idaho seed (they didn't have much), we arrived to Sun Valley and the city of Ketchum (ca. 1.500 population, about 6000 ft. high). Nearly 80 years ago, Sun Valley Resort and the Sun Valley Lodge opened to acclaim: Hollywood stars, international jet-setters, politicians, business people and ski enthusiasts turned a remote outpost in Idaho into one of the country's most famous vacation retreats. It's one of the U.S's top destinations for alpine skiing and snowboarding and the U.S. Alpine Championships will take place here in two weeks. The town is surrounded by mountains and snow was still piling up. Main ski mountain with best runs and most lifts is the Bald Mountain, or "Baldy".

In the late afternoon we checked in the famous Sun Valley Lodge, part of a luxury ski resort which also includes an inn, cabins, a theater, two golf courses, ice rink, stables, tennis courts, pools, spa and a "village". The lodge features five “Celebrity Suites”, named after some of the stars who have frequented the resort over the years, including “The Marilyn Monroe Suite,” “The Eastwood Suite” named after actor Clint Eastwood as well as the Hemingway Suite.

The location was chosen by Austrian Felix Schaffgotsch, who was commissioned by Averell Harriman, a democrat politician and chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad. His plan was to to increase ridership on U.P. passenger trains in the West, and he was looking for the perfect place to build a ski resort. Harriman purchased the land that would become Sun Valley and in winter of 1936 the resort opened and became an instant success. Gary Cooper. Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Marilyn Monroe, and the Kennedy family stayed here and Sun Valley was promoted in movies and TV series. Still nowadays it's popular with personalities like Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffett, Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey, Justin Timberlake or Bill Gates. Photos of all the rich and famous are on display in the hallways and lobby of the lodge.

In the evening we continued our Idaho "brewery research", having dinner at Sawtooth Brewing. Burger, bison bratwurst and different IPA's (which we both prefer) were delicious and the atmosphere in the newly opened pub was great!