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(c) Ski Idaho |
IIdaho is a popular winter destination for skiers and boarders offering beautifully groomed runs and glades of feather-light powder for all skiing and boarding abilities. With more than 26,000 vertical feet, 22,000 skiable acres, and an endless array of Nordic trails and loops, Idaho has become a hub for skiers and boarders seeking blue skies, fresh powder, and few crowds. Here’s a sneak peak at what’s new for the 2009-2010 ski season.
Brundage Mountain Resort remodeled their base lodge with sustainability in mind. The lodge has a new roof, new windows, fresh paint, and a new layout for Smoky’s Pub. On the mountain, the run Engen now connects with 45th Parallel directly, eliminating traversing on any cat tracks.
Lookout Pass focused on safety during the summer, adding a new ski patrol and first aid lodge at the base area. For visitors’ convenience, Lookout Pass also added an additional acre of parking and a new 500 square-foot outside patio.
Lost Trail remodeled and expanded their offices, ticketing area, and built a new back deck. In order to keep skiing affordable, Lost Trail also announces they will keep their tickets at the same prices from last season.
Pebble Creek enhanced their lodge’s seating area. They finished and repainted walls, installed new larger windows and new carpet to create a more comfortable, “homier” feel. Pomerelle expanded their snowmaking abilities and added a second terrain park as a way to meet the needs of both beginner and advanced snowriders.
Schweitzer Mountain Resort finished phase two of their snowmaking system by building a lined pond at the top of Stiles Saddle, left of their Great Escape Quad. The reservoir will provide enough water to create 18 inches of snow from the top of the Basin Express lift to the bottom of the run Midway. The resort is also developing additional options to own a piece of Schweitzer through the new slope-side neighborhood Mountainside Homes, featuring the latest LEED certified techniques in sustainable building.
Soldier Mountain’s new lodge will be done before ski season starts. The new lodge will replace the old one that burnt down last March. The new building is completely framed, siding is on, and staining/painting will be done in time to give skiers a warm place to rest.
Sun Valley Mountain Resort will open the 2009/2010 season with their new Roundhouse Gondola. Featuring 56 eight-passenger gondola,it will ascend 2,000 vertical feet in eight minutes and transport more than 1,800 people per hour. The gondola is the largest Doppelmayr project in North America, and will carry more people at a faster rate than any other lift in the state.
www.SkiIdaho.us
