A “catastrophic” winter across much of the West has been devastating for ski resorts from California to Colorado. Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area, Idaho was forced to close this week due to lack of snow. It’s the first in-season closure for the ski area since the 1976-77 season.
The ski area had slopes open thanks to early season snowfall but weeks without snow followed by a rain event has forced the mountain to shutdown operations.
BOISE, Idaho – January 7, 2018 – Bogus Basin announced today that they will be closed Monday throughThursday of this week (January 8th – 11th) as the nonprofit recreation area awaits the arrival of additional snowfall. With the forecast calling for snow later this week, seven day operations are expected to resume after the weekend. “With snow expected over the midweek period, we are hopeful that we will be back on track soon,” said Brad Wilson, General Manager. “Our team continues to evaluate the terrain and will announce later this week how much we can open on Friday.” In addition to the alpine and Nordic areas, the tubing hill, terrain park, mountain coaster and Coach beginner lift will reopen on Friday. “Beginning our season like this shows how critical it is that we continue to move forward with expanding snowmaking and other activities, such as the mountain coaster, to sustain our operation,” said Wilson.
Starting Friday, midweek operating hours will be 10:00am – 4:30pm. Weekends and holiday hours will be 9:00am – 4:30pm. Night skiing will open when conditions allow. The downtown ticket office is open from 9:00am – 5:00pm Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm on Saturdays and 8:00am – 2:00pm on Sundays.
Thankfully a change in weather patterns should bring winter weather back to the area later this week. The ski area is forecasted to receive 2-4″ of snow Thursday night.
Unfortunately the nonprofit ski area has already sustained major financial damage due to the lack of snow. Conditions will need to improve drastically over the next month to save what is left of the ski season as well as to help sell the all important season passes for next season.
