New Chairlifts At Bogus Basin Highlight Summer Work In South Idaho
The western Rockies were alive with the sounds of lift and trail crews this offseason, as eight ski and snowboard mountains of all shapes and sizes spruced up for the 2024-2025 season.
Night-skiing icon Bogus Basin (2,600 a., 1,800 vert.) is tackling its burgeoning visitation with a pair of new fixed-grip quads that replace aging and overworked two-seaters. The population of Boise has spiked in the last decade, and the nation's largest non-profit is trying to stay ahead of the crowding curve.
The Bitteroot double chair -- the second oldest on the hill -- will add two seats per chair, more speed and seven-day-a-week operations for lapping the blues and blacks in Bitteroot Bowl. This summer, crews cut a new route off the Smuggler side to the bottom of the chair, called Wake Up Jim.
Up in the Simplot Lodge learning area, the Coach fixed-grip double that went up in 1996 also become a quad. In addition, the lift line has been moved to skier's right and extended up the ridge to access Coach's Corner, a new three-mile wraparound green that wanders into the forest before heading to the base.
At other south Idaho destinations, Pebble Creek (1,100 a., 2,200 vert.) now boasts one of the longest magic carpets in America. The conveyor runs 700 feet alongside the Aspen triple chair to the top of the First Timer run. Management hopes to relieve congestion in Pebble Creek's primary learning area -- especially eliminating the need for adults to ride up the chair with youngsters.
Idaho's easternmost resort Kelly Canyon (740 a., 1,000 vert.) has put in a new terrain park about halfway down under the Gold Rush chair, with an 8-ft. half pipe. At southernmost Magic Mountain (120 a., 740 vert.), summer crews opened up new glades between several runs.
Up near McCall, Little Ski Hill (50 a., 470 vert.) is now fully lit for night skiing, and Albion home hill Pomerelle (500 a., 1,000 vert.) gave its base lodge a facelift.
And, snowmaking got a boost at Kelly Canyon, Pebble Creek, Rotarun Ski Area (475 vert.), and Soldier Mountain (1,180 a., 1,421 vert.)
