BOISE, Idaho — Officials announced today that snowmaking operations began over the weekend at Bogus Basin.
All 24 fully automated fan guns were activated, blowing snow onto the Upper and Lower Ridge off of the Deerpoint Chairlift on Saturday and Sunday nights. This is the first time that the new system has been fully operational before the winter season. Bogus Basin is taking full advantage of the opportunity to help Mother Nature prepare for the start of the 2019-2020 winter season.
“Colder temperatures allowed us to start making snow earlier than expected,” said General Manager Brad Wilson. “We are excited about being ahead of where we thought we’d be at this time.”
Nighttime temperatures fell into the teens at Bogus Basin over the weekend, creating ideal conditions to make snow. While the area is planning a December 7 opening for the 2019-2020 winter season, the date will be moved up if a combination of manmade and natural snow allows.
Nearly half a million gallons of water was blown onto the slopes over the weekend, and snowmaking is expected to continue through the week to include the base area and tubing hill, according to Nate Shake, Director of Mountain Operations.
Current forecasts call for cool and clear weather over the next few days, ideal conditions for continued snowmaking. The water is being pumped from a 13.1 million gallon snowmaking retention pond which was built over the summer of 2018. This is the first year that the pond has been full at the beginning of the season.
