Coyote Yurt, Idaho Jan 26-29, 2006

    Sun Valley Trekking runs several yurts out of Sun Valley.  The trailhead for their Coyote yurt is about 15 miles north of Sun Valley.  Access is via Baker Creek road (trailbreaking courtesy of snow machines), up a spur road, then up a ridge.  About 6 linear miles and 2500' to a clean wood stove heated yurt with 8 bunks, a propane stove, and a sauna, $30 a night per person
    8 of us from Maine, Colorado, Idaho, and Washington met for a 3 night trip.  The snowpack in Idaho isn't as deep as Washington, but at about 90 inches is deeper than average and quite stable now.  Foot penetration was about a foot, no spontaneous slides on adjacent steep slopes, 10 windless inches of fresh snow one night. South facing slopes had a thin sun crust about a foot down that didn't affect the skiing or the stability. The area offers 600-1200' gladed runs facing all aspects, including a north facing logged slope that can keep a group in fresh turns all day long. Fox Peak, about a mile's tour away, has open to tightly gladed runs up to about 1000'. The 8 of us skied 4000'-6000' a day and didn't come close to skiing out the opportunities.