TR Idaho ski safari March 7-14, 2025: Tamarack, Brundage, Bogus Basin

[marzNC]

Had a very good time doing an Idaho ski safari with a small crew. From a skiing standpoint, my trip started at Sun Valley and ended at Brian Head in southern Utah. This trip report covers Tamarack, Brundage, and Bogus Basin, March 8-14. Fair to say I liked all of them for different reasons and hope to return in the future. What they have in common is lower altitude and flying to Boise.

For Sun Valley skiing March 5-6, here’s the trip report:

TR Sun Valley March 5-6, 2025

Sun Valley was the start of my ski safari in early March with a small crew of three. We arrived on March 4 and skied SV March 5-6, 2025. @Ski Sine Fine checked out Dollar Mountain for the first time. I was hoping to check out the new glades off Seattle Ridge at Bald Mountain, but the snow and...

www.theskidiva.com

Starting in Boise on March 7, the crew included @Ski Sine Fine and @diymom along with my ski/travel buddy Albuquerque Bill. DIYmom and I shared an AWD SUV that we picked up in Boise together so she could be the second driver (free with Costco). Per usual, Bill was driving his Range Rover Sport with two ski boxes. SSF and I rode with him to Idaho from SLC. SSF and DIYmom flew home from Boise after skiing Tamarack and Brundage. Bill and I checked out Bogus on March 14 before driving south the next day.

I used the Indy Pass for two days at Tamarack and a discounted ticket for the third day, plus two days at Brundage. For Bogus, I bought a senior lift ticket online. SSF and DIYmom used Indy too. I started thinking about exploring the skiing near Boise when Tamarack and Brundage joined Indy in 2019 for the initial season.

For Tamarack and Brundage, the four of us were in a slopeside 2BR/2BA condo in the Tamarack Village. We stayed in one of four multi-story buildings right at the main base. Having the Indy Pass meant getting a discounted rate. A bonus feature was garage parking for one vehicle right under the building. Bill had the second parking permit and could park his car overnight in the paved lot next to the Village. Brundage was about an hour drive away, just past the town of McCall. After leaving Tamarack, we had separate motel rooms in Boise.

We mostly had spring skiing conditions, although it snowed the last day at Tamarack. For a trip when I was in “tourist mode” checking out mountains on the first day, not dealing with frigid temps and having sunshine to enjoy the views was a plus. The bottom line is that flying to Boise is on my list for future ski trips, especially if traveling with intermediates or skiers not looking for long, steep runs.

View from Tamarack mid-mountain, March 8, 2025


Looking down at Brundage main base and best parking lots, March 9, 2025


Bogus Basin, lunchtime at main base, around 1:00pm, Friday, March 14, 2025

Lift in view is the new Coach quad. Magic carpet teaching area on the right.
There were plenty of tables on the second floor of the lodge. The first floor more or less filled up. People arrived relatively late, so were starting to eat lunch a bit later.
There is a ramen bar on weekends during mid-season, but it was already closed for the season.


Feel free to ask questions about travel considerations or terrain.

Read on for more about Tamarack, Brundage, and Bogus Basin. May take a day or two before I get done with all three.

 

[marzNC]

Tamarack, Part 1

The first day we skied Tamarack was Saturday, March 8. We moved into the Tamarack Village condo the afternoon before. I planned the trip in order to experience weekend skiing. Based on talking with locals on lift rides, Saturdays are not that crowded even when snow conditions are good. We talked with several people who do day trips from Boise on a regular basis. One young couple (moved from the PacNW a few years ago) planned to switch from having a season pass at Brundage to Tamarack next season.

With blue skies and no lift lines, it was easy for Bill and I to explore every section of Tamarack. Our first lift ride happened to be with a Mountain Host. So we got a head start about how to start exploring given that the snow was still pretty firm. Also got restaurant recommendations for Donnelly, less than 10 minutes drive away. Later that morning, I showed @diymom and @Ski Sine Fine how to get to the long green from the mid-mountain lodge.

On the second day at Tamarack, Tuesday, March 11, Bill and I enjoyed exploring in good spring skiing conditions. Groomers were fun from the start, while off-piste terrain softened everywhere by lunch time.

Overall, I liked Tamarack. Everyone was friendly, including staff, locals, and resort guests. The resort "village" is not quite finished but has enough open that for a week's stay, there is not that much reason to go elsewhere. However, midweek most shops closed early. The Master Plan calls for terrain expansion that is to include green and blue trails that will make Tamarack better for beginners. The amount of resort lodging available is a plus.

Tamarack Village condo buildings
Our condo was in the building just on the other side of the walkway that led to the bridge.


@Ski Sine Fine and @diymom ready to explore Walz (green) for the first time. It goes from mid-mountain down to the main base. The Tamarack Express is the lift to mid-mountain.


Great view from the mid-mountain lodge from inside or outside
The restrooms are on the lower floor. At least there is an elevator.
Like some other buildings at Tamarack, the lodge sat unfinished for about a decade for assorted reasons. Locals and regulars are very happy it's finally done. There were temporary buildings at mid-mountain before, with waterless toilets.


View from the Wildwood lift
The bumps under the lift were soft enough to be fun for Bill in the afternoon.
The trees on both sides of the liftline are skiable in good snow.


The Grove in the Wildwood area
We only did one run all the way down to the bottom, just to see what the terrain was like. Started getting pretty heavy after a while. There were just enough tracks to follow. Would be great fun in good snow.


View looking over the backside

 

[marzNC]

Tamarack, Part 2

View of the top of the Summit chair, March 11


The wide trail along the ridge, which heads towards Wildwood, is accessible for people comfortable on blues. A Mountain Host had told us there was one short section that was a bit steeper and used to be rated black. Don't know if that section was re-graded but now it's blue and didn't seem any steeper than the a few other sections on blues elsewhere.

The only people we saw headed that way were three men taking pictures. They had matching jackets. One asked for help taking their picture so we ended up with a picture of the two of us.

At the end of the ridge trail, there is a backcountry gate. For people who knowledgeable in skiing backcountry terrain, it's possible to head out the gate and end up at the base of the Wildwood Express.

MarzNC and Bill at the start of Canoe Ridge


The forecast for Tamarack on Wed, March 12, was for snow starting early in the morning. There was a mix of drizzle and wet snow on the lower mountain by 8:00am, while the snow on the upper mountain was creamy. We didn’t bother to use my powder skis. It snowed until about 4:00pm. @diymom and @Ski Sine Fine decided to stay warm and dry indoors instead of paying for a third day at Tamarack. My senior 65+ ticket with a 30% Indy discount was $47.75. Bill got a resort guest discount for his three senior tickets.

People willing to deal with low visibility had a good time skiing fresh snow off the Summit lift (opened a bit late), with refills and not much wind. I was glad we’d learned how to get around before it started snowing. In general, Bill and I skied solo as much as we skied together. Of course, we skied trees together. The lower mountain blues were okay in the morning, but it was slow going on the green cat track. Getting down the last section of a relatively steep blue groomer, Lower Bliss, around 3:00 was work. It was easier to carry skis on the final flat section than to pole or skate. Bill went in earlier that afternoon.

Snowing on the upper mountain, March 12, 2025


Heading up Tamarack Express about 10am


Easy to get fresh tracks off the Summit lift


Glad I had Phantom on my ski bases given how heavy the snow was on the lower mountain. Elevation at the base is 4900 ft. and the top elevation is 7700 ft.

Bliss is a blue groomer that goes from top to bottom on the front side. Great fun with good snow. I was hoping for one more run taking Bliss from the top, but the Summit lift was stopped when I came out from a final short break so I decided not to wait.

Getting across the flats after skiing Lower Bliss took work at 3:15

 

[marzNC]

Brundage Mountain, Part 1

For my two days at Brundage Mountain, conditions were spring skiing with enough blue skies to enjoy the views in all directions. The off-piste area called Lakeview on the backside that faces south softened enough to be fun. When we were checking the trail map at the top of the Bluebird Express, we were advised by a ski patroller (with patrol dog hoping to play) not to explore the north facing black terrain in Hidden Valley on the front side unless we liked frozen ruts.

I didn’t know much about Brundage before the trip other than it’s good fun after a powder storm, it's close to McCall, and they joined Indy early on. What I've learned since skiing there is that Brundage was founded in 1961 by locals and has been going strong ever since. Recent improvements include two high-speed quad chairlifts and a new base building for ticketing (indoors or outdoors), rentals, a ski shop, restrooms, and a public locker room as well as a private locker room. Brundage has 1500 acres of lift-served terrain plus backcountry terrain that starts with a lift ride, as well as cat skiing.

The town of McCall (population 4000) is a short drive away, and bus service exists between McCall and Brundage. Since McCall is a summer getaway because of Payette Lake, there is a fair amount of affordable lodging available. My crew did day trips from Tamarack, about an hour away. The mountain driving required comes after passing through McCall and is not that bad.

The first day Bill and I checked out Brundage was Sunday, March 9. With low snow conditions and no new snow, it wasn’t that busy. Plenty of families showed up late morning when it was more likely that the snow had softened. Many parents/grandparents parked in a lot next to lifts that mostly serve green trails in an area called Beartopia. On Monday, March 10, we all rode with Bill to Brundage. @diymom and @Ski Sine Fine liked lapping the Bear lift to ski Beartopia trails. DIYmom drove back with SSF on Tuesday to use a second Indy day. Beartopia has better mellow terrain than the current green trails at Tamarack.

The vibe at Brundage is old school, friendly, and relaxed. There were many small groups of seniors who were enjoying spring skiing conditions on the groomers after the sun softened the snow.

First trail map


There was a Mountain Host on the parking lot side of the new lodge happy to answer any questions. Not only on Sunday, but also on Monday.

Cell service is spotty at Brundage. There is free WiFi in both base lodges.

New lodge close to the parking lot


The original lodge is a small building that still exists but isn't used by the public any more. A 3-story building was built right in front of the "triangle" lodge. From the parking lot, it's an uphill hike. Possible to ski to the middle level.

The top floor has Grab N Go food such as cold sandwiches, fries, or burgers, plus an espresso bar and a bar for alcoholic drinks. The middle floor has restrooms, private lockers, and Smoky's Bar & Grill with table service. The food was good and reasonably priced. Table service is also available on the porch of the middle floor. The lowest floor has become where staff have tables and presumably a locker room.

Old lodge with restrooms and food service


It's possible to have lunch inside the mid-mountain lodge, which is at the top of the Bear lift that serves Beartopia. No indoor restrooms though. Only waterless toilets in a separate building nearby. In addition to hot chocolate, hot cider, hot dogs, soup, and beer, they have Chicken & Waffles, as well as Nutella Waffles With Strawberries. Didn't have time for a waffle but sounded good.

On mountain lodge called The Bear's Den


View of Payette Lake on the way from the top of Bluebird Express to Lakeview Bowl on the backside

 

[marzNC]

Brundage, Part 2

The current Brundage trail map is by Jame Neihues. Brundage has a paper trail map with separate maps for Lakeview Bowl on the backside and Hidden Valley that is mostly black terrain.

We stopped at a few of the backcountry gates off Kickback (blue). Popular backcountry terrain is marked as double-black on the trail map with the description: "LIFT ACCESSED BACKCOUNTRY, *UNCONTROLLED*". The signage at a backcountry gate makes it very clear that when you exit through one of the gates, you are on your own. We didn’t find out where the cat skiing terrain is located relative to the resort boundary.

Brundage is understandably proud of their history. The ownership remains local after shifting in 2020. The current owners are in the midst of implementing a 10-year plan. We could see a few new houses in a neighborhood called Northwoods.

Excerpt from the current 10-year plan:
“Key features of the plan include new Day Lodge facilities with anticipated completion in time for Winter 2023-24, a 37-acre residential development with 89 units of ski-in/ski-out accommodations, and an updated Master Development Plan for the mountain, which includes proposals for lift and terrain expansion, expanded snowmaking capabilities and new on-mountain lodge amenities.”

Views of Brundage, March 9, 2025




On Sunday afternoon, in spite of the advice from the patroller in the morning, we followed a group who were heading towards Hidden Valley. We figured the blue groomer called North would be slick but skiable. It was okay for us, but not for one of the group we were following. He fell while not going very fast and popped a ski. The circle is the picture is of one of that group waiting.

Anything facing north that hadn't been groomed was still frozen solid that afternoon.

View in Hidden Valley of blue groomers, on Rodeo looking up at North


The Brundage ski patrol has sleds stored in an unusual way that I hadn't seen before. In order to allow for changing snow levels, instead of building huts for sled storage, they had rigged up storage "tubes" hung from re-purposed lift towers on the ridge top.

Patroller raising a stored sled

 

[marzNC]

As has been mentioned in another thread, a treat when we were booting up in the locker room at Brundage was hearing a "whoop" as an older man came out of the elevator on his way to the door of the private locker room (combination door lock). Turned out that was Woody. We learned he helped build the first Centennial lift.

The public locker room isn't that big. It's essentially a wide hallway that people cross from the elevator. Possible to leave a boot bag under a bench when it's not busy. There are electronic pay lockers available.

Check out the video for why Woody likes to whoop. He's 75 years young and has skied over 100 days at Brundage this season.

March 21, 2025

 

[VickiK]

It sounds so spring-y and mellow! What a nice trip

 

[marzNC]

It sounds so spring-y and mellow! What a nice trip

It was a very relaxed trip. Good company and no stress skiing.

Having ski in/out lodging at Tamarack that was reasonably priced for sharing a 2BR/2BA unit was a plus. I think the Indy discount was at least 15%. I talked to more than one person working in Reservations in the spring before deciding what to book. They were all friendly and knowledgeable. I paid the deposit, which was less than 50% in May.

The Lodge at Osprey Meadows is the other multi-story lodging option that is slopeside. The advantage of staying there is being close to the giant round outdoor hot pool. However, it's a longer walk to the slopes. There is a free overnight ski check for guests, but have to walk across the parking lot and then down some exterior stairs to get there. The walk from where we stayed was about five minutes if we wanted to use the hot pool. There is a well equipped locker room with showers and a sauna.

Bonus when the timing was right was getting an afternoon snack put out for guests in the lobby. The day is snowed there were yummy Swedish meatballs. That evening we were eating in the condo, and I didn't need too much more to be completely satisfied.

Tamarack Lodge hot pool, could fit 25 people easily

 

[marzNC]

Bogus Basin, Part 1

Bogus Basin was the last ski area for the Idaho ski safari. Bill and I drove up from Boise on Friday, March 14. Didn’t have to go that early since lifts opened at 9:30. Happened to snow 6-8 inches the day before and snowed more that day, but not all day long. There was sun, snow, and then sun on the front side but still snowing on the other side.

Bogus is a non-profit but is not a small ski area. At 2600 acres with multiple peaks, the skiable area is comparable to Alta, with less vertical. What’s unusual is that there are 200 acres for night skiing. Bogus is run by the Bogus Basin Recreation Association. Reminds me of Bridger (2000 acres) near Bozeman, MT, which is one of my favorites out west. A big difference is that Bogus has “green season” activities that generate revenue like mountain biking (opened in 2020) and a mountain coaster (opened in Dec 2017).

The drive from Boise to Bogus is about 20 miles on two-lane mountain road. Many tight curves means it takes 45-60 minutes depending on road and weather conditions. Boise is at 2700 ft and the road climbs to over 6000 ft to get to the main base of Bogus. There was a bit of snow on the road in the morning after about 5500 ft. After the first parking lot near the main base, the road continues up another 1000 ft or so to more paved parking lots and two smaller day lodges.

The J.R. Simplot lodge at the base has ticketing, the ski shop, a locker room, and food service on two levels. The Pioneer lodge is near the top of the Bitterroot lift, which is next to a small condo complex and serves mainly green/blue terrain in the Bitterroot Bowl.

I bought an adult ticket online the night before for $95, including $5 for a new RFID card. Bill qualified for the 70+ senior rate and saved about $20. Lift ticket pricing is dynamic.

As an advanced older skier, I found the relatively short black runs with soft snow plenty of fun. There are enough trees in the various bowls to make skiing in low visibility okay. Made a difference that were very few people on the slopes away from the front side, even on a Friday afternoon on a snowy day with fresh snow from the day before. I’ve never been to a western mountain with such long trails with lights, including black bump runs. If our trip schedule had been more flexible, would’ve enjoyed skiing Bogus another day.

Arriving at the main base about 9:15am, Friday, March 15, 2025
We got very a good parking space.


JR Simplot lodge


Thee are three chairlifts that load at the main base. The Morning Star lift (farthest from the lodge) goes up the opposite way from Coach and Deer Point. Riding up Morning Star is quickest way to get to the Pioneer Lodge or the terrain served by three lifts that can't be seen from the main base.

View of the main base from the new Coach quad that mostly serves green/blue trails


Trail maps on the mountain included the status of all lifts


Pine Creek terrain is mostly black, with a bit of terrain rated double-black that finishes under the lower section of the lift


Deer Point peak in the distance (with towers)
The two kids are on Shindig (blue) on their way back to the main base

 

[marzNC]

Bogus Basin, Part 2

Bottom line is that we made powder turns at Bogus. Even found a few places to get fresh tracks in cold snow. Although we spent most of the day in tourist mode trying to figure out how to get around between the different sections. Skiing on green cat tracks is often a good way to get a preview of black terrain. The trail map is a bit confusing to start with because of the multiple peaks. It was good that there was good visibility for a few hours.

Over looking the entrance to Corn Patch (black), with Deer Park lift visible


Pioneer Lodge (grey building on right), at the top of the Bitterroot quad (new in 2024-25)


Looking down into Bitterroot Bowl (can you see the skier near the center of the photo?)


There are two parking lots above the Bitterroot Bowl where it's possible to park very close to a trail. The Bitterroot lift doesn't run at night, but the green trail next to the parking lot is open. Buttercup is lit, as shown on the night map.

Ski in/out parking off Buttercup


There were yellow signs related to night skiing. This one says "AFTER SUNSET SKI LIGHTED RUNS ONLY."

Snowing again at 3:00pm as we made our way back to the main base


Trails with names in yellow have lights for night skiing

 

[marzNC]

While it was clear that Brundage has been doing a variety of upgrade projects in recent years, the list of major projects is impressive.

From real estate website handling the Northwoods development with slopeside homesites.

• New 2,800 sq ft. Ski Patrol Headquarters and Admin Office Space – 2022
• New Meadows Employee housing Project; 10,000 sq ft. school house - 2022

• New High Speed Quad – “Centennial Express” complete winter 2023
• Renovated 5,000 sq ft. Kids Center and new home of Ski School – 2023
• New Resort entrance and re-grading base area parking lot – Complete 2023

• New 12,000 sq ft. Mountain Adventure Center (the MAC), including new retail, rental guest services, offices, lockers, and coffee bar - Complete for 2024-25 winter season

 

[Ski Sine Fine]

@marzNC already wrote an encyclopedia. Here’s all I got.