Bogus Basin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bogus Basin |
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View from the backside of Bogus Basin
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 Bogus Basin
Location in Idaho
Bogus Basin
Location in the United States
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| Location | Boise National Forest Boise County, Idaho, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Boise - 16 miles (26 km) |
| Coordinates | 43°45′50″N 116°06′14″W / 43.764°N 116.104°W |
| Vertical | 1,790 ft (546 m) |
| Top elevation | 7,582 ft (2,311 m) AMSL |
| Base elevation | 5,790 ft (1,765 m) Pine Creek - (Chair 6) 6,150 ft (1,875 m) main base area - (Chair 1) |
| Skiable area | 2,600 acres (10.5 km2) |
| Runs | 91 - 22% easiest - 45% more difficult - 33% most difficult |
| Longest run | Paradise 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Lift system | 7 chairlifts - 4 hi-speed quads - (# 1,2,3,6) - 3 double - (# 4,5,7) 4 magic carpets |
| Terrain parks | 1/2 |
| Snowfall | 100–200 in (250–510 cm) |
| Snowmaking | portable, for patching |
| Night skiing |
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| Website | Bogus Basin.org |
Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area is a popular ski area in the western United States. It is located in southwest Idaho, about sixteen road miles (26 km) north of Boise.
Bogus Basin is run by a non-profit group called the Bogus Basin Recreation Association. It sits on land within the Boise National Forest. The ski season usually starts around Thanksgiving and lasts until mid-April. This depends on how much snow there is. Bogus Basin also has 23 miles (37 km) of trails for cross-country skiing.
Contents
History of Bogus Basin
The name "Bogus Basin" might come from the 1800s gold rush. Back then, some dishonest people in the hills near Boise City would make fake gold dust. They would heat lead filings with a little real gold. This fake gold was called "bogus" gold.
How the Ski Area Started
Alf Engen, a famous skier, chose the spot for Bogus Basin in 1939. The ski area first opened in December 1942. It had a 500-foot (150 m) rope tow. A 3,300-foot (1,010 m) T-bar was added in 1946. In the early 1950s, Bogus Basin even had a ski jump. It was designed by Corey Engen. His brother Sverre Engen was the ski instructor.
New Lifts and Expansions
The first chairlift at Bogus Basin was put in at Deer Point in 1959. Night skiing started in December 1964. Today, the resort has 7 chairlifts and 4 magic carpets. Four of the chairlifts are fast, high-speed quads. These were added in 1996, 1999, 2011, and 2019.
Bogus Basin has 2,600 acres (4.1 sq mi; 10.5 km2) of different ski runs, bowls, and glades. About 900 acres (3.6 km2) of these are groomed. The highest point is Shafer Butte, at 7,582 ft (2,311 m) above sea level. The "back side" of the mountain opened in 1977. This area has a vertical drop of 1,790 ft (546 m).
The main base area is at 6,150 ft (1,875 m). This is where the main day lodge, called the J. R. Simplot Lodge, is located. From here, you can see Boise and the whole Treasure Valley.
Mid-Mountain Area
At the middle of the mountain, there is another day lodge called Pioneer Lodge. It was built in 1973. This area also has a large parking lot and some condos. From Pioneer Lodge, you can easily get to the gentle slopes. These are served by the Morning Star high-speed quad. There is also access to the Superior Express lift. The Superior Express takes you to more advanced and expert terrain.
Snow and Night Skiing
Bogus Basin usually gets 200–250 inches (510–640 cm) of snow each year. However, since 2011, snowfall has been less. Bogus Basin does not have much snow making equipment. They only have small portable units to patch up snowy areas. Night skiing is available on 165 acres (0.67 km2) of runs. Five of the chairlifts operate at night. There are also three terrain parks for different skill levels.
J. R. Simplot's Help
The main day lodge was built in 1962. In 2002, it was named after J. R. Simplot. He was a very important person for Bogus Basin. In 1953, the ski area was having money problems. Simplot bought the ski lifts and other parts of the mountain. He then leased them back to Bogus Basin for a small yearly fee. This helped save the ski area from closing down.
Fun Activities at Bogus Basin
Bogus Basin offers more than just skiing and snowboarding!
Snow Tubing
The GoldRush Tubing Hill opened in 2003. It is located near the main parking lot. Tubing is a fun way to slide down the mountain without skis.
Mountain Coaster
The Glade Runner is a mountain coaster that runs all year round. It opened in 2017. The coaster track is 4,330 feet (1,320 m) long. It starts near the J. R. Simplot Lodge.
Summer Fun
In the summer, Bogus Basin has many activities. You can go hiking and mountain biking. There is also a disc golf course. The disc golf course opened in 2005. It is centered at the Pioneer Lodge.
Bogus Basin Road
To get to Bogus Basin, you drive on Bogus Basin Road. This road is about 16 miles (26 km) long from the Boise city limits. It twists and turns 172 times! The road climbs 3,400 feet (1,040 m) in elevation. It goes from dry sagebrush hills to snowy mountain forest.
The road was first built by the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1938–40. It was a gravel road back then. It was paved in 1962 and improved in 1998. Before it was paved, it was a one-way road during ski season. The direction would change in the afternoon.
Season Passes
In 1998, Bogus Basin's general manager, Mike Shirley, made a big change. He lowered the price of an adult season pass from $500 to just $199. Kids' passes became even cheaper, at only $29. This meant you only needed to visit seven times to make the pass worth it.
This new price made a huge difference! Bogus Basin sold almost nine times more passes than the year before. They sold 25,000 passes for the 1998–99 season. This brought in a lot more money for the resort. More people also came to ski. Even though fewer day tickets were sold, Bogus Basin's total income went up a lot.
This idea worked so well that other ski resorts started lowering their prices too. Many skiers in the area also bought new equipment. The $199 pass price stayed the same for fifteen years. It was raised to $229 for the 2013–14 season.
For a long time, seniors (age 70 and over) could ski for free. This policy changed in 2015. Now, seniors get a special discounted pass.
U.S. Ski Team Members
Some amazing skiers from Bogus Basin have been part of the U.S. Ski Team:
- Jeret Peterson – A freestyle aerials skier. He won a World Cup championship and an Olympic silver medal.
- Dane Spencer – A giant slalom skier. He now coaches for the U.S. Ski Team.
- Erik Fisher – A downhill skier.
- Sandy Shellworth – An Olympian in 1968. She was also a U.S. champion.
- Walt Falk – Competed in downhill at the 1966 World Championships.
- Sara Studebaker – A biathlon athlete. She competed in the Olympics in 2010 and 2014.
Images for kids
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Bogus Basin in 2017
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