Brundage Mountain Resort will open for top-to-bottom skiing and riding starting Saturday, December 16. The independently owned resort plans to operate seven days a week, with three chairlifts running this weekend and additional terrain and lifts opening as soon as weather and slope conditions permit.

Brundage has received 30 inches of snow at the base and 36 inches at mid-mountain level since the start of December, but variable weather last week consolidated and compacted a lot of that snow. The resort is currently reporting a 15-inch base at the 6,000-foot level and 31 inches at the 7,640 foot summit.

Three Chairlifts in Operation This Weekend

The Bluebird Express, Bear Chair and Easy Street lifts are scheduled to be open starting Saturday, December 16. Early season conditions exist, grooming will be limited, and guests are strongly encouraged to check the snow report and grooming report for daily updates on conditions and open terrain.

“Our team has been working tirelessly to create the best snow surfaces possible,” says Brundage Mountain Resort General Manager, Ken Rider. “We wish Mother Nature was giving us more help, but we are very proud of the hard work our team has put in to offer top-to-bottom riding on three chairlifts. We will continue to look for every opportunity possible to open more terrain and additional lifts.”

Grooming and Terrain Limited, for Now

Snowmaking operations in the Easy Street zone have made it possible for the mountain operations team to groom the main Easy Street run and build a small terrain park in the base area. 45^th Parallel and Temptation will be the only runs groomed from top to bottom. Sidewinder and Alpine will be open for ungroomed, experts-only powder riding. Grooming is limited on the Bear Chair, which is currently recommended for intermediate and advanced riders because of variable coverage. All trails not listed as open or groomed on the grooming report (and all off-piste tree skiing areas) are currently closed for the safety of guests and staff. Closures will be strictly enforced so skiers and riders should plan to check the Snow Report and Grooming Report prior to each visit during this early season period.

BIG Savings on Early Season Lift Tickets and Rentals

Brundage Mountain is kicking off full time operations by offering half-priced lift tickets and rental gear for the first few days of the season.  Purchase Tickets Online Here

The Fall Line Shop, Guest Services, Smoky’s Bar & Grill, and the Main Street Market & Espresso Bar will be open daily, along with the Mountain Sports School which is offering private lessons by reservation. More info is available at www.brundage.com.

What’s New This Season at Brundage Mountain:

Centennial Express Update

Brundage Mountain has exciting news for skiers and riders eager to experience the six-minute ride up the new Centennial Express High-Speed quad. The final round of safety testing is progressing nicely. More information on the opening date of the Centennial Express and grand opening activities will be shared soon.

New Traffic Flow & Parking Set Up

Guests will notice a big change in the traffic flow as they enter the resort from Goose Lake Road. New directional signage will help guide guests toward the parking lot of their choice. The main, or upper, parking lot features a one-way loop on the outer edge of the parking lot for drop off, PLUS, rows marked by ropes for nose-in parking.

“We’re confident the new set up will maximize the number of vehicles that can fit in the parking lots,” says Rider. “Once people get used to it, the flow will create fewer delays.”

The new set up includes a new “Easy Street” parking lot near the top of the beginner area and the reconfiguration also allowed the resort to expand its Easy Street beginner terrain. Learn more

Daily Shuttle Service

Guests have more options for shuttle service between McCall and Brundage Mountain Resort this year. Brundage partners with the City of McCall and Mountain Community Transit to offer the Blue Line during the winter months. This year, the free service will be offered seven days a week. The route starts at the McCall Post Office and runs three loops every morning and three loops each afternoon to transport skiers and riders to and from the mountain. The service is free, but space is limited. Park-and-ride parking is offered at the McCall Post Office and McCall Transit Center shuttle stops. Learn more

RFID Cards

Brundage would also like to remind guests that it has a new RFID ticketing system this year. Each guest will need a $5 RFID card which can be conveniently reloaded online. Guests are encouraged to set up an account prior to arrival to save time. Online purchasers can save $20 per visit on most ticket products compared to purchasing at the window. Learn more

“As people will see, our focus this year is on improving flow. That’s evident in our new parking lot design, our new ticketing system, and of course, the huge improvement in uphill capacity that is coming with the Centennial Express,” says Rider. “Our goal is to remove some common pinch points so everyone can get on the slopes quickly and easily and spend even more time enjoying the snow with their friends and family.”