IDAHO — Weather permitting, ski destinations across the state are gearing up to open weeks ahead of last year's opening dates in mid- to late December.

The Idaho Press-Tribune spoke with officials from Bogus Basin, Brundage and Sun Valley resorts about their forecast for Thanksgiving.

Bogus Basin

Snow on the north slope of Bogus Basin stood at about 8 inches Tuesday, spokeswoman Gretchen Anderson said, still well below necessary skiing or snowboarding conditions.

But Bogus Basin Ski Resort officials are optimistic about possible storms on the horizon in the next few weeks that could bring an additional foot or more of snow needed to open. Bogus has opened before with as little as 17 inches of snow, Anderson said.

"But the other caveat is it has got to be good, heavy snow, with some moisture content in it, not just white fluffy stuff," Anderson said. "But we've got some storms lining up, and we're excited about that."

Although three-quarters of the time the resort opens for business sometime between Thanksgiving and the first full weekend of December, last year that date was pushed back to a week before Christmas.

Bogus will be "mountain ready" by Thanksgiving, with all seasonal staff and crew in place.

"We're just solely dependent on the snow now," Anderson said.

Brundage

Brundage Mountain Resort officials reported six inches of snow on the ground Tuesday, but that could change in coming days. About 18 inches of snow at the base and between 24 and 36 inches at the summit is needed to open the resort for business

"We rely on 100 percent natural snow, so setting a firm opening date is a bit beyond our control," spokeswoman April Russell said Tuesday. "But there's a good chance for snow in the forecast tonight and over the weekend, and if we get enough of it we'd love to be open for Thanksgiving."

The average opening date for skiers and snowboarders is Dec. 1 at Brundage.

Russell said the resort is ready to open by Thanksgiving about 50 percent of the time, although last year it was pushed back to Dec. 20.  

"We need at least another foot of snow, maybe more," Russell said.

For information on current snow conditions, visit brundage.com/alerts.

Sun Valley

Sun Valley Resort officials aim for a Thanksgiving opening date every year, and so far, this year's snowfall appears to hit that target date.  

Five inches of new snow fell last Friday night, adding to snow accumulated over preceding storms in the past month.

Last year, light snowfall pushed back the opening date to Dec. 10.  This year, spokesman Jack Sibbach said officials are certain at least some trails will be open by Thanksgiving.

"The top half of the mountain is already covered in snow," spokesman Jack Sibbach said. "Our goal is to have top-to-bottom skiing on the Warm Springs and River Run sides of the mountain, and we're looking like we might hit it — unless something drastic happens in the next week."