Bogus Basin is the place to get your quick powder shots without having to drive a couple of hours. With a season pass, you can ski a couple of hours and head home. You don't have to worry about skiing eight hours to get your money's worth out of a day pass.
The ski area offers a variety of mountain terrain all within 40 minutes of Boise.
Gotta do's
* Go night skiing. You'll find less crowds, and you can get some good skiing or boarding in after work.
* If you haven't tried it, take a spin at the tubing hill. Your kids will love it, too.
* Check out the view of the Valley from the top of Deer Point Chair No. 1. Take a picture to send to your friends and family to make them jealous.
* Try the new menu at the top floor of the Pioneer Lodge, which includes Mexican food such as enchiladas, tamales and sides for $6-$7 per plate.
* Brush has been cleared around the mountain, so you've got to try some powder shots off the Pine Creek area.
What's new
Let's talk about skiing and boarding first and then food.
* Skiers and boarders might find a few more powder shots on the backside.
Crews cut back brush and tree limbs at the bottom of Triumph, between Wild Cat and Nugget off the Pine Creek Chair. All of Widow Maker was cleaned up. Nitro was also worked on.
* The new Paradise Smoothie Bar will open at J.R. Simplot Lodge and feature fruit smoothies.
* A new pizza vendor will be located on the third floor of the lodge.
* Scope out the action at any of Bogus Basin's three terrain parks.
The Sunshine park is for beginners and young kids and is located off Morning Star Chair. Playground and Claim Jumper parks are off the Deer Point Chair and are for intermediate to expert freeriders).
* It's Bogus Basin's 65th anniversary season, and a celebration is planned Dec. 20 with free lift tickets that day and night, plus food and beverage specials in the lodges.
On Dec. 22, the ski area will have free hot chocolate and cookies at the base area.
Resort stats
Getting there: About 40 minutes from Boise; 16 miles north on Bogus Basin Road.
Runs: 52.
Lifts: Two quads, a triple, four doubles and one Easy Rider People Mover.
Skiable acres: 2,600.
Vertical: 1,800 feet.
Slope difficulty: 22 percent easy, 45 percent more difficult and 33 percent most difficult.
Top elevation: 7,600 feet.
Longest run: 1.5 miles.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends and holidays; weekdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Daily lift ticket prices: Adult $46, full day/night; child (7 to 11) $20. Half-day, adult $35; child $20. Night skiing, 4 to 10 p.m., adult/child $20. Coach chairlift and Easy Rider People Mover $10. Children under 6 free, seniors older than 70 free.
Equipment rental prices: Ski package, $22 to $35; snowboard package, $24 to $27.S
Cat skiing: No.
Terrain park: Yes, three.
General info: 332-5100; snow report, 342-2100; Pepsi Gold Rush Tubing Hill, 332-5493. www.bogusbasin.org.
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