Galena Summit
The summit is on State Highway 75, the Sawtooth Scenic Byway, and is 29 miles (47 km) northwest of Ketchum and the Sun Valley ski resort. It is the highest summit of a highway in the Northwest. Prior to 1977, Highway 75 was designated U.S. Route 93, which is now to the east on the former U.S. 93 alternate, through Arco and the Lost River Valley.
Galena Summit marks the divide between the Big Wood River and Salmon River drainage areas. A little more than one mile (1.6 km) west of the summit is Galena Overlook, a scenic viewpoint at 8,400 feet (2,560 m). It offers views of the Sawtooth range to the northwest and the headwaters of the Salmon River in the Stanley Basin of Custer County, which Highway 75 follows north to Obsidian and Stanley, then east and north towards Challis. The overlook facilities were originally opened in 1964, renamed in 2006 for Frank and Bethine Church, and renovated in 2010.
The Galena Lodge (in historic Galena) is at 7,290 feet (2,220 m), on the Ketchum side of the summit, and hosts cross country skiing. Collegiate alpine ski races were held on the summit in late 1947, due to a lack of snow at Sun Valley, and supplies were dropped in by airplane. The Ore-Ida Women's Challenge bicycle race (1984–2002) had a stage that crested the summit.
Galena is a mineral, lead sulfide, an important lead ore; deposits of galena often contain silver.
Climate
| Climate data for Galena Summit, Idaho, 1991–2020 normals: 8780ft (2676m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 27.3 (−2.6) |
29.8 (−1.2) |
37.1 (2.8) |
43.5 (6.4) |
52.0 (11.1) |
59.3 (15.2) |
70.1 (21.2) |
69.1 (20.6) |
59.7 (15.4) |
45.5 (7.5) |
32.4 (0.2) |
25.1 (−3.8) |
45.9 (7.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.9 (−6.7) |
20.9 (−6.2) |
26.4 (−3.1) |
32.0 (0.0) |
40.8 (4.9) |
47.8 (8.8) |
57.7 (14.3) |
56.9 (13.8) |
48.7 (9.3) |
36.4 (2.4) |
24.9 (−3.9) |
18.3 (−7.6) |
35.9 (2.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 12.6 (−10.8) |
12.0 (−11.1) |
15.8 (−9.0) |
20.5 (−6.4) |
29.6 (−1.3) |
36.4 (2.4) |
45.2 (7.3) |
44.6 (7.0) |
37.5 (3.1) |
27.2 (−2.7) |
17.3 (−8.2) |
11.4 (−11.4) |
25.8 (−3.4) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.66 (93) |
3.34 (85) |
3.57 (91) |
2.72 (69) |
2.56 (65) |
2.05 (52) |
0.76 (19) |
0.65 (17) |
1.36 (35) |
2.22 (56) |
2.96 (75) |
4.37 (111) |
30.22 (768) |
| Source 1: XMACIS2 | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (Precipitation) | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Galena, Idaho, 1991–2020 normals: 7470ft (2277m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32.8 (0.4) |
37.2 (2.9) |
44.3 (6.8) |
49.6 (9.8) |
57.8 (14.3) |
66.6 (19.2) |
78.2 (25.7) |
76.7 (24.8) |
67.3 (19.6) |
53.2 (11.8) |
38.6 (3.7) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
52.7 (11.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 20.6 (−6.3) |
22.8 (−5.1) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
35.1 (1.7) |
43.1 (6.2) |
50.1 (10.1) |
58.6 (14.8) |
57.3 (14.1) |
49.8 (9.9) |
38.9 (3.8) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
18.8 (−7.3) |
37.5 (3.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 8.4 (−13.1) |
8.4 (−13.1) |
13.6 (−10.2) |
20.4 (−6.4) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
33.5 (0.8) |
39.1 (3.9) |
37.8 (3.2) |
32.1 (0.1) |
24.7 (−4.1) |
14.0 (−10.0) |
7.5 (−13.6) |
22.3 (−5.4) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.41 (87) |
2.92 (74) |
2.85 (72) |
1.98 (50) |
2.19 (56) |
1.94 (49) |
0.74 (19) |
0.63 (16) |
1.23 (31) |
1.84 (47) |
2.75 (70) |
4.40 (112) |
26.88 (683) |
| Source 1: XMACIS2 | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (Precipitation) | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ Idaho Byways - Sawtooth Scenic Byway Archived June 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The "Three Brothers" of the Sawtooths". Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 13, 1931. p. 16.
- ^ "Road map of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming". David Rumsey map collection. Rand McNally Co. 1937. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
- ^ "Highway map of Idaho". David Rumsey map collection. Shell Oil Company. 1956. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
- ^ Stahl, Greg (August 2, 2006). "Scenic overlook dedicated to Church family". Idaho Mountain Express. Ketchum. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
- ^ Wutz, Katherine (August 13, 2010). "Galena overlook nears completion". Idaho Mountain Express. Ketchum. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
- ^ "Agreement reached to sell Galena Lodge". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. March 22, 1993. p. A8.
- ^ Rice, Bill (March 8, 1996). "Kellam, Niskayuna product, runs historic Nordic ski lodge in Idaho". Daily Gazette. Schenectady, New York. p. D4.
- ^ "College skiers ready to start tournament". Eugene Register-Guard. United Press. December 28, 1947. p. 21.
- ^ "Twigg leads Idaho bicycle race". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Associated Press. July 11, 1985. p. 6D.
- ^ "Lithuanians win at Ore-Ida". Idahonian. Moscow. Associated Press. June 25, 1991. p. 8A.
- ^ "Idaho men cut galena". Spokane Daily Chronicle. September 9, 1908. p. 9.
- ^ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ^ "Galena Summit, Idaho 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ^ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ "Galena, Idaho 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved November 23, 2023.
External links
- Visit Idaho.org - official state tourism site - Galena Summit Overlook
- pbase.com - Galena Summit photos
- All Sun Valley.com - Galena Summit Overlook
- Idaho Transportation Dept. - Division of Highways - mountain passes
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