What's New at Idaho Ski Resorts?

Idaho is home to 18 ski areas ranging from the legendary Sun Valley Resort to Boise’s backyard favorite, Bogus Basin. Other hot spots scattered throughout the state include Silver Mountain, Schweitzer and Brundage Mountain. All resorts are family friendly and offer a well-balanced mix of novice, intermediate and expert terrain.

There’s always something new going on at Idaho’s resorts. Here are just a few of the highlights:

It’s Sun Valley Resort’s 71st ski season! The resort’s Bald Mountain now has a Super Pipe, and at 425 feet long and 18 feet high, it meets competition Super Pipe standards. This season will mark the first time freestyle ski and snowboard lessons will be offered on a Super Pipe. As one of the world’s best ski mountains, with its consistent and continuous pitch, Baldy will now provide an even more varied ski experience for skiers and snowboarders than ever before. On the other side of town at Sun Valley’s beginner hill, Dollar Mountain, a state-of-the-art snow-making machine has been introduced, bringing no-fail snowfall to the mountain. This January Sun Valley will play host to the first of four stops for The Ski Tour, a multi-day, national ski competition featuring some of the best halfpipe and skiercross athletes from around the country.

The uphill capacity at Bogus Basin, 16 miles north of Boise, will increase this year with the opening of the resort’s new Easy Rider moving carpet. The 200-foot beginner lift is located at the base of the mountain where guests can simply step onto it and ride up the hill. The Easy Rider provides a gentle, first time experience for boarders and skiers, on a gradual slope, without having to navigate a chairlift during initial lessons. Bogus also has new loops and trails for Nordic skiers, as well as solar-powered trail lights so skiers can enjoy the crisp, clear nights. The Frontier Point Lodge at Bogus is one of a handful of lodges in Idaho built specifically for Nordic skiers.

Brundage Mountain Resort, just north of McCall, will celebrate its 45th season this year. One major update for the season includes the addition of two new BR400 snow cats to enhance the resort’s world-class grooming capabilities. In addition, their new web site will allow guests to make reservations online, streamline season pass purchases, and stay informed about what’s happening at the resort. Brundage also just completed a land exchange with the Payette National Forest whereby an additional 388 acres were added to the property. Plans for development of the new area include more skiable acreage, as well as over-night lodging facilities and improvements to the current day lodge.

This February, Tamarack Resort near Donnelly will host the final stop of the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix. U.S. Olympic medalists will compete on a specially made 22-foot half pipe and on a uniquely constructed snowboard cross course. The new half pipe makes Tamarack the second ski resort to host a competition on a pipe that size. With more than 100 contestants, the competition will air on NBC and the Outdoor Life Network.

Another development at Tamarack is the unveiling of 5,000 acres of new terrain, 250 more acres of lift-accessed tree-skiing terrain, and three new runs for this season. The new terrain is designated for guided backcountry/extreme skiing and expands Tamarack’s terrain by five times.

Schweitzer Mountain, 11 miles outside of Sandpoint, recently invested more than $2 million in improvements to the mountain, guest amenities and infrastructure. Improvements to the terrain park and grooming system top the list for the 06-07 season. Schweitzer has completed some extensive forest thinning that adds even more tree skiing acreage, particularly in the North Bowl where the exit out of the expert chutes has been improved. In the terrain park, guests can expect more features including three additional jibs and better grooming. In the beginner area a new snowmaking gun has been added along with the Musical Carpet, a 250-foot long ride up the slopes made for those learning how to master the sport.

Kellogg’s Silver Mountain has added a new tubing hill, doubled the size of its beginner’s terrain, and continues its transformation into a four-season destination resort with expansion of Morning Star Lodge and Gondola Village. A new indoor water park has also been developed to be open year-round. The water park, scheduled to open in the summer of 2007, features an adventure river, activity lagoon, body and tube slides, a family raft slide, and the FlowRider Surf Wave which creates a five foot ocean-like wave for indoor surfing.

For a complete listing of all Idaho ski resorts or for more information on skiing, riding and gliding in Idaho this winter, visit www.idahowinter.org.

Winter Wonderland Sleigh Rides

Nothing says “winter wonderland” better than a horse drawn sleigh ride through Idaho’s backcountry. Experience an enchanting ride through the crisp, white snow that blankets Idaho’s wilderness during the frosty winter months and keep warm under blankets and with a steaming cup of hot chocolate in hand.

Bogus Creek Outfitters and Ranch, just minutes from the Treasure Valley, provides horse drawn tours through the hills that surround the capital city. Following the tour, Bogus Basin Lodge offers a place to visit with family and friends and enjoy a home-cooked meal.

A sleigh ride through the countryside near the beautiful town of McCall is an unforgettable experience. Hap and Florence Points Memorial Sleigh Rides offers one-hour tours through the snow-covered terrain where elk roam freely in their natural habitat.

Hop aboard a horse-drawn sleigh at Sun Valley for a ride out to Trail Creek Cabin for a rustic dinner. This unique experience takes visitors through the stunning, snow-covered landscape that surrounds the world-class resort to experience the casual, down-to-earth feel of one of author Ernest Hemingway’s favorite cabin retreats. Be sure to grab some hot chocolate for the ride!

A sleigh ride through the striking Teton Valley in Eastern Idaho allows riders to view elk in their natural habitat, while the Whitebird Summit Lodge, near Grangeville, offers sleigh rides through untouched terrain. After experiencing the natural beauty of north-central Idaho by sleigh, visitors can return to the lodge and relax with a remarkable full-spa treatment.

Winter Contests

1. Idaho Snowbrainer Ski Trip Giveaway

Enter to win an Idaho Snowbrainer Ski Trip Giveaway! We’re giving away three great trips to three great areas that include two night’s lodging for two people, and two one-day lift tickets for each ski area.

• Silver Mountain and Schweitzer Mountain Resort:
  Stay two nights at the beautiful Coeur d’Alene Resort, and spend one day apiece making tracks at Silver Mountain and Schweitzer Mountain Resort.
• Brundage Mountain Resort and Tamarack Resort:
  Stay two nights at Tamarack’s Village, the newest all-season resort in the United States. Then, ski or board a day on Tamarack’s slopes, plus spend a day at nearby Brundage Mountain Resort, located in McCall.
• Bogus Basin Mountain Resort and Sun Valley:
  Stay and play in Boise, with a day’s skiing at Bogus Basin Mountain Resort with overnight accommodations provided by the Owyhee Plaza. Then take a short drive to the American Original: Sun Valley--for a day of skiing and a night’s stay at Sun Valley Resort.

It’s the perfect way to experience winter in Idaho, and your chance to take our chairlift to ski-heaven. To enter, visit www.idahowinter.org.

Contest Details
No purchase necessary
Only one entry per household.
Entries must be received by December 31, 2006.
Winner to be chosen by January 9, 2007
Go to idahowinter.org for official rules and complete details

2. Win One of Three Snowmobile Adventures!

There’s no better way to “sled the Rockies” than being here. Go to www.sledtherockies.com for your chance to win a 6-day, 5-night adventure in Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming. Bring along three family members or friends. We’ll throw in airfare, transportation, lodging, sled rentals and guided tours. It’s snowmobiling the way it was meant to be. Free.

Peppermint Bark Recipe

Whip up a batch of this delectable treat and give to family and friends this holiday season!

1 (12 ounce) package white morsels
24 hard peppermint candies

Line baking sheet with waxed paper. Microwave morsels in medium, microwave-safe bowl on Medium-high (70 percent) power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth.

Place peppermint candies in heavy-duty plastic bag. Crush candies using rolling pin or other heavy object. While holding strainer over melted morsels, pour crushed candy into strainer. Shake to release all small candy pieces; reserve larger candy pieces. Stir morsel-peppermint mixture.

Spread mixture to desired thickness on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with reserved candy pieces; press in lightly. Let stand for about 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces. Store in airtight container at room temperature.