Unorthodox Winter Strategies at Bogus Basin
Climate Challenges Impact Ski Resorts
This winter, the ski season has presented unique challenges for resorts in the western United States, where many mountain peaks remain unusually bare. This situation unfolds alongside unexpected weather phenomena, such as snow flurries reported in parts of Florida. Traditionally, ski resorts would rely on snow-making operations to compensate for natural snowfall shortages. However, record-high temperatures have rendered snow-making machines ineffective, compelling resorts like Bogus Basin to innovate to sustain their operations amid climate anomalies.
With the winter sports industry in the U.S. valued at millions, ski resorts are grappling with a new reality marked by later openings and limited runs, jeopardizing their economic stability. A number of ski areas situated at lower elevations have had to suspend operations entirely due to the ongoing lack of snow.
Bogus Basin’s Creative Solution
Located a short drive from Boise, Idaho, the Bogus Basin Recreation Area has adopted an innovative approach to combat these climatic challenges. During the previous winter, when temperatures remained frigid, resort officials developed a plan to preserve a substantial amount of snow until the current season.
Nate Shake, Bogus Basin’s operations director, initiated what he referred to as “Project X,” which involved creating a significant snow pile measured at the size of a football field. “I talked to the snowmakers and I was like, ‘just start making snow up there,'” Shake stated. Following the accumulation, the team covered the pile with specialized polystyrene blankets manufactured by Finnish company SnowSecure, which have been in use at European resorts for several winters.
Rob Harms, the slopes manager at Bogus Basin, described the installation process, explaining how the polystyrene panels interlink with Velcro and straps. The enveloping panels, once unfolded and layered over the snow, are further secured with white plastic sheeting to block warm air and prevent melting.
Cost-Effective Preservation Tactics
Despite the higher upfront costs—approximately $120,000 for the initial blanket kit—this investment remains significantly more economical than constructing additional water retention ponds, which would cost an estimated $6 to $7 million. Bogus Basin’s innovation director, Austin Smith, considers the snow blankets to be akin to an insurance policy. “It is a bit of weatherproofing, to protect against a season like this, where not only did we have a lack of natural snowfall, but we actually had warm temperatures that didn’t allow for snowmaking,” Smith noted.
Utilizing this method proved successful last summer when temperatures soared to the 70s and 80s. When the team unearthed their snow stash in early October, around 80% of the stored snow remained intact. Staff reported that the snow was compact yet still usable, which allowed the resort to initiate winter activities ahead of natural snowfall.
Future Expansion Plans
Bogus Basin’s positive outcomes have encouraged officials to expand their snow preservation efforts for the next ski season. Smith anticipates an investment of around $600,000 for acquiring additional blankets and increasing the area designated for coverage. His objective is to have an entire ski trail operational in time for Thanksgiving next year, irrespective of natural snow conditions.
Antti Lauslahti, CEO of SnowSecure, clarified the purpose of the blankets, indicating that they are not a substitute for snow-making or natural snowfall but rather an essential tool enabling ski resorts to adapt to shifting environmental patterns. As other resorts observe Bogus Basin’s proactive measures, they may consider similar strategies to ensure the viability of winter sports in an uncertain climate.
In this new era of adaptive resilience, Bogus Basin exemplifies how innovation can help mitigate the effects of climate change while striving to maintain a beloved seasonal tradition. The continuing evolution of winter sports operations will likely depend on such forward-thinking adaptations and the willingness of ski areas to embrace change in the face of unprecedented weather dynamics.
Source: Original Reporting
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