Life At The Smoky Mountain Lodge
The most recent of two atmospheric river events landed in central Idaho this past week. After a few days spent wiggling through the backcountry with friends, we were reminded of just how sweet backcountry adventures can be when spent in good company. With fresh snow on the ground, it’s easy to be excited for what is yet to come this winter. Among the things we are looking forward to most is more time in our most remote terrain.
This January a special group of people walked through the doors of the Smoky Mountain Lodge (SML). It started just like any other ski day– folks loaded into the Gun Club (pronounced Fun Club) for their weigh-ins and orientation. After a big day of hitting the slopes, the group was flown to the lodge for après snacks and a chance to kick up their feet and cozy up for an evening of quality rest before doing it all again the next day! What made this trip so special was the roster of guests– from our previous owners to well-seasoned guides– totaling 120+ years of combined experience at Sun Valley Heli Ski (SVHS). “Being there with so many people with so much history and legacy at Sun Valley Heli… and getting to see them enjoy a trip when they’re usually the ones providing the product was really special” says co-manager of the lodge, Dylan Peterson.
Following a low tide start to the season, the first lodge trip of the year was a milestone we eagerly looked forward to. There is a mountain of logistics that goes into these trips that often boils down to weather. While a storm cut this trip from three days down to two, the skiing did not suffer. This group of all-stars packed three days of runs into the two-day weather window and got the goods!
Part of what makes the Smoky Mountain Lodge so special is its status as the only backcountry non road-access fly-in heli ski lodge in the Lower 48– try saying that three times fast! What that means for our lodge manager team, Dylan Peterson and Tate Berry, is a firm finger on the pulse of mother nature and a solid knack for expecting the unexpected. They tackle every aspect of your time on the ground from staffing local professional chefs to monitoring propane levels.
While our guests are offered the incredible experience of door-to-door service via helicopter, Dylan and Tate take on a 20-mile gear haul via snowmobile to bring in supplies. Hosting these trips is a rugged and rewarding adventure for them and it is clear that the joy of being out there is a prize well worth the effort. Tate believes that the peace and tranquility of the property is what sets it apart from the rest. Straddling the banks of the South Fork of the Boise River deep in the Smoky Mountains, the Smoky Mountain Lodge offers a panorama of beauty. Guests have the opportunity to watch wildlife, stretch out their legs on the snowy pathways, warm up in the sauna, or enjoy the sunset from the deck– all after a day of hitting the remote slopes.
At present, we run three lodge-based heli-ski trips per season. So gather your friends for this unique Idaho adventure and let’s get you on the books for next year. You’ll just have to come see it for yourself!
