Contact:
Bridgette Johnson
Senior Communications & Marketing Coordinator
Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area
bridgette@bogusbasin.org
Bogus Basin First in the Nation to Pilot Snow Secure technology
Boise, Idaho – Just ahead of the 2025/26 ski and snowboard season, Bogus Basin has shared new information about their experiment with Snow Secure, an innovative snow storage technology from Finland that has been used successfully in Scandinavian countries for over a decade.
Snow Secure, named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025, is a modern solution for ski and snowboard areas that are interested in having greater control over snow conditions. White polystyrene mats insulate the snow while simultaneously shielding it from the summer elements. The technology functions as a safety net, ensuring reliable opening dates in an era of unpredictable climate patterns and late snow arrivals.
Snow preservation — storing snow from one season to use the next — helps reduce the water and electricity required to create machine-made snow. On average, the technology cuts early season water and electricity consumption by 70%.
“We learned a lot with the Snow Secure pilot program. We intend to expand, using this innovative technology to eventually allow us to open up our first chairlift on stored snow on a planned date each year.”
– Austin Smith, Director of Innovation and Marketing
In April, mountain officials gathered available snow from around the mountain and created a giant mound on the lower Coach’s Corner run. The snow pile measured 300 feet long, 80 feet wide, and 30 feet deep when it was covered with the insulation panels. Despite the fact that surface temperatures of the reflective panels reached 119º over the summer, the underlying snow remained at or around freezing temperatures, demonstrating the effectiveness of the technology.
When the team uncovered the stored snow on October 9th, the majority of the original pile remained, proving that the concept will work at Bogus Basin. Although it’s not enough snow to cover Coach’s Corner this year, the mountain operations team is now confident in the technology’s potential and is working on a plan to expand the program.
“Both environmentally and economically, this is the next innovation for the North American ski industry.”
– Nate Shake, Director of Operations
November has been warmer than usual on the mountain, and the recreation area is excited about the potential impact of the Snow Secure technology. By expanding the program, guests can expect a set opening date on an annual basis.
“To supplement the stored snow, the snowmaking team is prepared to work around the clock as soon as temperatures allow.”
– Rob Harms, Slopes Manager
Bogus Basin’s mountain operations team members remove the insulated cover on October 9th, 2025.
For more information, visit bogusbasin.org.
About Bogus Basin Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area is a 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to engaging the community to provide accessible, affordable, and fun year-round mountain recreation and education. Opened in 1942, Bogus Basin offers 2,600 acres of daytime skiable terrain and 200 acres for night skiing, seven chairlifts and three people-mover carpets, and an 800-foot tubing hill. The Nordic Center offers 37 kilometers of groomed trails for skiing and snowshoeing. Environmental education and community outreach programs, primarily youth, serve over 20,000 individuals annually. Summer activities include The Glade Runner Mountain Coaster, The Mine Shaft Challenge Course, mountain biking, events, hiking and chairlift service for hike and bike transport. Bogus Basin is located 16.5 miles north of Boise, Idaho, and operates under a special use permit with the Boise National Forest. www.bogusbasin.org
