Bogus Basin Behind the Scenes: Snow Science, Lift Upgrades, and Idaho’s Backyard Mountain (with Nate Shake)
Bogus Basin isn’t just where Idaho goes to ski. It’s a year-round mountain operation, a nonprofit, and a piece of Treasure Valley culture that most people enjoy without ever seeing what it takes to keep it running.
Today I sit down with Nate Shake, Director of Mountain Operations at Bogus Basin, to pull back the curtain: lift infrastructure, snowmaking, storing snow through the summer, why “opening on Thanksgiving” is more complicated than people think, and how Bogus keeps recreation affordable for Idaho families.
Episode highlights:
00:00 – Welcome to The Great Idaho Show + why Bogus is Idaho’s backyard mountain
01:28 – Meet Nate Shake, Director of Mountain Operations
01:47 – “What do you love about Idaho?” Freedom, and why it matters
02:54 – 36 seasons on the mountain: Nate’s Bogus story and growing up at the ski hill
04:12 – The first quad lift (1996) and what changed when high-speed lifts arrived
07:37 – Building the Pine Creek quad: hauling steel, digging in rock, and “real mountain work”
10:21 – Why modern lifts are better (especially for beginners)
13:28 – Snowmaking comes to Bogus: water, energy, and the realities of early-season openings
15:17 – The wild part: storing snow through the summer to start the next season
19:49 – Snow math: acre-feet, gallons, and how much water it really takes to open the beginner hill
22:02 – Why colder temps make better snow (and save power)
24:03 – “Calling the shot” on opening day: what this could mean for the future
27:06 – Water reuse, aquifer recharge, and why this matters in Idaho
28:58 – Best way for newcomers to try Bogus: $19 night skiing and getting families started
33:13 – What’s new this year: Pioneer Lodge upgrades, ADA improvements, and what’s being built next
37:37 – More than skiing: Nordic trails, tubing, summer recreation, coaster, and around-the-mountain trail
40:30 – Why Bogus being a nonprofit matters for Idaho’s future
44:00 – Final thoughts + why you should get up there this season
Listen/More: thegreatidahoshow.com
Airing: Sundays at 11AM on 580 KIDO AM / 107.5 FM