BOISE, Idaho — With the leaves changing and temperatures dropping, many in the Treasure Valley have ski season on their minds.
Bogus Basin received its first official snowfall of the season over Tuesday night. The nonprofit ski area expects to welcome skiers and snowboards in just under a month - with a Thanksgiving Day season opening.
With snow on the ground, Bogus Basin's director of mountain operations Nate Shake said there is a flurry of excitement on the mountain.
"The first snowfall, I'd say it's a mixture of excitement and maybe mild panic," Shake said. "Everybody's trying to button up those last finishing touches."
To prepare for its next season on the slopes, Bogus Basin has a six-week turnaround from summer operations to the winter season. Preparing for the season takes a lot of work, from tuning up lifts to hiring hundreds of seasonal workers.
"Taking care of the slopes, mowing the runs, cutting a lot of brush - we've been out doing a lot of brush cutting, so skiers and boarders can expect to find some good off-trail powder shots this season," Shake said.
The ski area also uses snow guns to help ensure an earlier opening. Those snowmakers are expected to power up within the next few days.
"We've got to be at a fairly low temperature, below 28 degrees or lower," Shake said. "The lower the temperature the better for making snow."
Bogus Basin is coming off a historic 80th season, which allowed for 148 days of skiing and snowboarding - their longest season ever.
Shake said that once they start seeing snow, season passes start to sell out quickly. Bogus Basin has reached capacity on Twilight Passes, and a few Beyond Bogus Season Passes and Winter Season Passes remain. Season pass options can be found on Bogus Basin's website.
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