SUSTAINABILITY
Bogus Basin is committed to mountain stewardship and sustainability and we encourage you to join us in this continual effort.
As the daily temperatures rise, the snow that we once shredded quickly fills the mountain streams continuing its journey through the water cycle towards the Pacific Ocean. With this snow melt, comes the inevitable reveal of the beer cans, masks, and other random items that didn’t find their way to the trash or recycling bins. With this reveal comes the realization that we as a community need to be better stewards of our outdoor spaces. Leave No Trace (LNT) principles are as relevant at a recreation area as they are in the wilderness.
As the valley continues to grow, so does the need for awareness of our impact on the land. This might seem like a daunting task, but a great place to start is with the seven principles of LNT. Look them up, learn them, and put them to use on your next outdoor adventure.
How Bogus is making the world a little bit greener:
GREEN ENERGY
2022 marks the third year in a row that Bogus Basin has purchased 100% renewable energy from Idaho Power’s Green Power Program. Green Power is Green-e Energy® certified and meets the environmental and consumer protection standards set forth by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions.
This year’s purchase is comparable to removing 545 vehicles from the road, avoiding 5.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, or growing more than 42,000 tree seedlings for 10 years.
recycling efforts
- Our Vehicle Maintenance Department reuses all of the spent motor oil to heat their facilities in the winter.
- Vehicle, Building and Lift Departments recycle all used and old steel and aluminum whenever updating infrastructure. The old Morning Star chair lift equated to many tons of steel.
- Food & Beverage has stopped stocking bottled beer and opted for canned options since recycling aluminum is easier and cheaper to do in the Treasure Valley.
- Aluminum Can and Plastic Bottle (#1, #2) recycling receptacles are located around J.R. Simplot and Pioneer Lodges.
Our Efforts:
| Summer 2020 (J.R. Simplot Lodge) | 14,000 lbs. of cardboard |
| Winter 2020-21 (Pioneer Lodge) | 3,250 lbs. of cardboard, 1,382 lbs. of glass, 294 lbs. of aluminum cans |
| Summer 2021 (J.R. Simplot Lodge) | Stats Coming |
| Winter 2021-22 (Pioneer Lodge) | Stats Coming |
| Summer 2021 (J.R. Simplot Lodge) | Stats Coming |
Restoration Efforts
- A wetlands restoration project below the Snowmaking Pond received 8,300 native plant plugs and starts in the fall of 2019. This area is used to educate participants during Bogus Basin Environmental Education programs on the importance and resiliency of degraded habitats.
- Native wildflower seed collection started during the summer of 2020 and continues annually to help reseed disturbed areas to reduce erosion of sediment into the watershed.
- A truck mounted hydro-seeder was purchased to help reseed large areas disturbed by snowmaking and other construction activities.
Transportation
- Public transportation was provided to and from the mountain via our ICCU bus during the 2019/20 season. This program was put on hold for the 2020/21 season to prioritize the health and safety of our guests during the COVID-19 pandemic, and remained on hold during the 2021/22 winter due to labor shortages. A partnership with Cascade Student Transportation resumed public transit efforts for the 22/23 season.
- Carpooling initiatives were implemented during the 2019/20 winter season to encourage patrons to limit their carbon footprint. We put this program on hold for the 2020/21 season to prioritize the health and safety of our guests during the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed operation during the 2021/22 winter season.
- Daily carpool transportation to and from the mountain is provided to all seasonal staff during summer & winter operations.