BOISE -- Many people in the Treasure Valley are wishing for a white Christmas, especially skiers and snowboarders waiting to hit the slopes of Bogus Basin.
Ski lessons are scheduled to start December 10th but the mountain doesn't have enough snow yet to open. However, workers at Bogus Basin have their fingers crossed that the ski lessons can still take place this weekend.
"We are furiously making snow over at coaches corner," said Gretchen Anderson, spokeswoman for Bogus Basin.
Bogus Basin has been making snow for years. In fact, about 5 percent of the mountain's snow is man-made.
Anderson says the snow making happens at night when it is coldest on the mountain.
"I've talked to the guys who make the snow and they say 13 degrees is optimal," she said.
Right now, the snow machines are aimed at Coaches Corner, the area where lessons are taught. Workers hope there will be enough snow to open that section for this weekends classes. If that doesn't happen the mountain has a backup plan.
If classes are canceled Bogus Basin will start calling families on Thursday to let them know. "We can fold them into the Christmas break ski and snowboard school or we will work out something that works out with them and their schedule," said Anderson.
Bogus Basin is hopeful the mountain will open before Christmas. Anderson says 75 percent of the time Bogus Basin opens between the first full weekend in December and Christmas. The mountain's latest opening was in 1989 when it opened January 6th.
Anderson says the mountain needs about 2 feet of snow for opening day. Since October 1st more than a foot of snow has fallen, but only half a foot remains.
Skiers and snowboarders aren't the only ones waiting for snow to fall.
"All of our new hires and returning employees they are all on stand-by right now. They are all in a holding pattern and hopefully they will hang until we get open," said Anderson.
She says they lose some employees when they have a late openings because people can't afford to not work for that long.
When Bogus Basin opens this season the new high speed Superior Chair lift will be ready to use. The lift will carry skiers and snowboarders to the top of the mountain in just four minutes.
