Places · Idaho, USA
SUN VALLEY
Bald Mountain over Ketchum: thermals, cloud base and the Wood River Valley
The place
Sun Valley opened in December 1936 with the world's first chairlifts. In summer Baldy's thermals carry paragliders a long way: on 15 July 2013 Gavin McClurg launched from it and flew 240 miles (387 km) to Canyon Ferry Lake in Montana, a US foot-launch record, and on 9 July 2024 Galen Kirkpatrick set the US FAI triangle record from its top.
Is it legal? Paragliding is legal for USHPA P3 pilots under the Sun Valley Paragliding Club's rules; the club allows no speed flying from Baldy.
- 3exits to start
- 2more to find
- 15cross-country goals
- 3race tasks
The exits and launches
3 exits you know from the start. 2 more are out there for whoever walks the rim and looks.
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Limelight
■■■■■One of the club's winter launches, at the head of the Limelight run on the north side, 2,587 m: down the run's lane between the firs, then 800 m of air over Ketchum.
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Christmas Ridge
■■■■■A summer launch off the top of the Christmas Ridge run, 2,740 m, facing the morning sun over the valley.
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Warm Springs Face
■■■■■The head of the Warm Springs runs at the lift tops, 2,745 m: down the Face, Mid and Lower Warm Springs, 950 m to the creek in 3 km, with forest either side of the run.
Cross-country goals
Baldy to Dollar Mountain · Baldy to Griffin Butte · Baldy to Proctor Mountain · Dollar Mountain and back · Baldy to Johnstone Peak · Baldy to Boulder Peak · Baldy to Hyndman Peak · The Wood River triangle · Baldy to Hailey (Carbonate Mountain) · Baldy to Kent Peak · Baldy to Easley Peak, up the Boulders · Baldy to Buttercup Mountain · Baldy to Galena Summit · Hailey and back · The length of the Wood River: Galena Summit to Hailey
