What's New at Idaho Ski Resorts

Winter 2008-09

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. November 20, 2008

BOISE, ID, November 20, 2008 It's finally here. The time of year everyone in Idaho waits for in anticipation. Ski season is upon us, and with that, new happenings at Idaho ski resorts.

Brundage Mountain Resort

There's plenty going on at Brundage Mountain Resort, located in McCall. For starters, a new mid-mountain food and beverage outlet will be open to the public in 2008. This 1,300 square foot log structure sits at the top of one of the area's two new chairlifts (2007-2008), the Bear Chair. The "Bear's Den" will offer a variety of snacks, refreshments, and Mexican cuisine in addition to great views from the wrap-around deck.

The grooming fleet at Brundage is being expanded. A winch-cat (grooming device which allows for steep slopes to be groomed, will be added this year, in addition to the two new Prinoth BR 350's snowgrooming machines which were added in '07. www.brundage.com

Schweitzer Mountain Resort

Schweitzer Mountain Resort opens this season with new high tech snowmaking equipment. Subject to favorable snowmaking weather, this investment could allow Schweitzer to open for Thanksgiving vacations and offer a great kick-off to the winter holiday season.

The new equipment is the most energy efficient and low impact system available with the latest proven technology of nine fully automated Techno Alpin M18 fan snowmaking guns moving between 23 hydrants.

A new interactive trail map on the website www.schweitzer.com allows users to view photos and videos depicting particular runs from the comfort of home. Users can customize their view and print out maps of runs tailored to their skills and preferences enhancing their experience on the mountain.

Other investments in technology include a high-definition video camera that clearly shows the mountain to visitors online, and a second LED sign at the top of the Stella lift that will display weather conditions, safety and other information. www.schweitzer.com

Pebble Creek Ski Area

The most exciting new item for this season at Pebble Creek is a new Kassbohrer Pistenbully Model 300 Snow Groomer. In the Rental Shop, the snowboard inventory has experienced a major upgrade. This season will showcase over 150 boards including more than 100 Rossignal twin tip rental boards with Atomic PIQ rental bindings with quick adjust features. New boots are available for rental as well.

Keeping lift equipment in good shape is always a priority at Pebble Creek and this summer the focus was on the Sunshine Lift which experienced an extensive overhaul.

Snow fences are vital to holding good snow on the Aspen Area, and a new snow fence line has replaced portable fences. www.pebblecreekskiarea.com

Sun Valley Resort

There's a lot going on at Sun Valley Resort this ski season. The Sun Valley Nordic Center has been relocated to the new 58,000 square-foot Sun Valley Club. This stunning new facility features a restaurant, bar (indoors and out), men's and women's lockers and lounges, equipment storage and repair and rental shop.

Ski rentals, ski storage, locker rooms, accessories, wax room, sunny decks and restaurant service are available every day. Rental equipment is up to date, and well maintained with state of the art boot/binding systems.

Cross-country skiers experience all the amenities of America's first year-round destination resort, including two outdoor heated pools, ice skating, elegant dining, exclusive shopping and village ambiance to complement some of the best cross-country skiing in the Rocky Mountains.

Forty kilometers, or about 25 miles of groomed and marked trails begin at the Nordic Center. Gentle terrain at the trailhead progresses to challenging hills. Gliding over glistening meadows at an elevation of 6,000 feet is a unique experience for the Rocky Mountain cross-country skier seeking a wide variety of classical skate skiing and ski touring. Telemark skiers get a lift on nearby Dollar, Sun Valley's sunny teaching mountain with four chairlifts.

The all-new Sun Valley Club is located an easy walk from Sun Valley Village, about one mile east. Free bus service is available. www.sunvalley.com

Silver Mountain Resort

Hop on Silver Mountain's high-speed village gondola and access 73 ski runs, newly gladed tree areas, or one of the four tubing lanes filled with snow-packed fun!

This year, Silver Mountain Resort has opened a year-round indoor waterpark. It's the only resort in the west that combines fabulous family skiing with a year-round waterpark, nearly the size of a football field! Silver Rapids Waterpark is a perfect 84 degrees every day.

Also, Silver Mountain has expanded its parking lot at the base of the Gondola with the addition of 200 more parking spots making it even easier to get started on a great day of skiing. www.silvermt.com

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area

Bogus Basin guests always enjoy the best of what the mountain has to offer: recreation in a friendly, inviting and affordable atmosphere. There are a few changes to the mountain for this coming season, with the biggest improvement being a new-to-Bogus Basin yurt that guests can rent overnight.

The Yurt, located on the Nordic trail system, is ski-in/ski-out onlyThe Bogus Basin Yurt will have some comforts-but it is definitely rustic, overnight lodging. Renting the Yurt will be a bit of a "soft" winter camping experience - shelter, with wood heat, no electricity or running water. Yet it is much more comfortable than winter tent camping.

A yurt guest will be able to drive to within 300 yards of it during the non-snow seasons. However, once winter snows arrive and Bogus Basin closes the road and begins grooming, the only mode of travel in will be by foot--either snowshoe or skiing!

The Yurt is a 27' diameter structure (Mongolian style tent) that sits on a 30' x 33' foot deck. It is located approximately 1 kilometer (2/3 of mile) from Frontier Point Lodge. The Bogus Basin Yurt will sleep 10 guests with 4 bunk beds and a futon. It is a "pack-it in pack-it out" facility with guests bringing their own food, drinking water, sleeping bags, propane gas for the cooking stove and lanterns. The Yurt will come equipped with firewood, grey/waste water system, two burner propane cooking stove, table/chairs, bunks, futon, dishes, utensils and an out-house (Porta-Potti style).

Cost for a night's lodging will be $100 /night. Bogus Basin will accept on-line reservations beginning November 1, 2008 at www.bogusbasin.org.

In addition to the new Yurt, approximately 150 additional parking spaces have been added to Bogus Creek parking lot #4 (located off of Pioneer Road) with ski-in/ski-out access to Silver Queen, and the access point behind Simplot Lodge has been widened to ease congestion.

Crews cut and cleaned brush this summer and fall on the backside slopes between Wildcat and the Pine Creek Chair #6 line and two new snowplows equipped with deicing capabilities have been added to the fleet. www.bogusbasin.com

Lookout Pass

With a newly expanded rental shop and new deck on the Summit House Caf'e, Lookout Pass is ready for the 2008-09 ski season.

The rental shop is double its original size with new check-in technology to get guests out and on the slopes without delay. The shop features the latest in shaped skis, powder skis and snowboards.

The Summit House Caf'e deck is ready to provide mountain top food service with a georgeous panoramic view. Guests can take a hot chocolate break or enjoy a grilled burger or deli sandwich at the top of the world.

Lookout has also added an acre of new parking for the 2008-09 season. www.skilookout.com

For more information for all things winter in Idaho, please visit www.visitidaho.org/winter