Another life for Tamarack?

[QUOTE=Tree Bombs;2946827]
Dont worry it smells like death here , rest easy tonite , your sport is safe . I hope the smell of death doesnt get a foothold and grow to Moonlight , Kirkwood or ????? . Not a native westerner but I've learned to not wish ill will on my neighbors ./QUOTE]

Well I hope it dies and the putresence fills the industry with fear. That is the only thing that will knock some sense into the greedheads or, at least, their lenders. Without a few massive and costly failures, nothing will be learned and, in the future, the deal milking scammers like JT Bramlette will continue to look for targets to fleece for short term real estate profits. They will continue to drive up the cost of going skiing so they can have $450,000 cars and private jets, thats really all they care about and they'll do it as long as they can get away with it. Sorry for your loss but I want Credit Suisse to loose a massive pile of moola and the stink of ski hill real estate scams to be around for quite awhile. I got no problem with the build one sell one model but the big base village build out complete with too many lifts and expensive snow making, thats just bullshit that will be ultimately paid for by the local skiers. It's self-interest really; my local bump, Targhee, was about to be ruined by a shitpile of mcmansions, condos, two chair lifts just going to houses and a shopping mall in the sky when the real estate economy shit the bed. If it has to happen, I could live with the build one sell one model. But a Tamarack, Revelstoke or Kirkwood style development would utterly ruin the place and destroy a local ski culture that is largely based on an affordable ($600) season pass. And awesome powder...

Hey Conundrum-Go ahead and Bitch Slap me. I learned to ski at Kelly Canyon 47 years ago on the rope tow with the $1.50 special, that include a PB &J with a milk. (not rich) Way before there was any Targhee. I have four passes to Bogus that I pay for every year and will more then likely continue to buy every year going forward forever. I love Bogus, but I still think it could use some love. Like maybe some more brush, logs and stumps removed during the off season. We need to make some turns this next year, if you can put up with me and my clan for a run or two?

I enjoy skiing Sun Valley even skied five days there this last year. What I prefer to do though is drive over to Driggs. It's cheaper for my family to stay there on the mountain and ski. We all seem to have a better time also. Last year first day first run about two hundred yards from the top of Dream Catcher my 8 year old daughter looks over at me in a total white out and says "Daddy this is SICK!". I was waiting for "Daddy can we go home I'm cold".
Do you know what all the Pine Creek runs are named for or by whom? He is my favorite person to ski with and you drive across his land when you drive though Carbarton on your way to the Mt. We both really enjoy skiing at Tamarack and Bogus, neither one of us gets Brundage. I wish we did. Maybe we can get you to show us around one day. His truck went to Brundage 54 times last winter and last Thursday told me that is the last winter it drives though McCall 108 times. Every-time I hear anyone talk about Tamarack they say, "It's flat". No it is not the West Face of KT but, if you can hike or even skate for a bit it might just open your eyes and put a smile on your face. Am I the best skier, probably not. Last year on Oct. 15th I broke my tibia clean though walked out over 4 miles( not very good for my ankle) and had my foot in my ski boot for opening weekend at Bogus. So I'm more likely just stupid.
Peace Out

A group of college friends and I got great deals on passes and rode Tamarack for 2 seasons. I had one of the best powder days of my life at that mountain, with 20 inches of blower snow in 12 hours. The terrain may not be the steepest, but we sure had some really fun days at that place.

I feel bad for my friends who started building lives around Tam. The company had a great way of promoting from within, and two of my friends started working as lifties and were promoted, did well, and bought small houses in the area. These friends are now cruising around on sleds in this ski ghost town, waiting for the final nail in the coffin.

Say what you want about terrain, real estate, management, and ski areas, but Tam was a really fun place to ride and there are others suffering who are not the "suckers" that bought $4 million estate homes.

Well, it all started back in the '80's with "Valbois" then sometime in the '90's it turned into "Westrock" then around the turn of this fine millennium it became "Tamarack" The development was fought for 20 years until finally, thank fuck for red state retards being convinced it's a good idea to give approval, it began being built. As a person who was born and raised in McCall, I held a deep seated animosity toward this development and repeatedly predicted the outcome. It was pretty obvious from the outset that it was a real estate scam, but there is a lack of common sense for a lot of folks in this area. I vowed never to give Tamarack a dime, and I haven't. I skied there before it was a resort, and I skied there one time with a comp pass. It's not great, but whatever. I despised Tamarack for many reasons and for a long time. But the week after they closed we got a powder day at Brundage. As per the usual, I showed up a few minutes before the lift opens and stroll up only to find a metric fuck ton of people standing in line. I mean more people than christmas time. Since that day, I have wanted Tamarack to re-open. Don't get me wrong, I can still get fresh tracks all day, but it's harder and harder to keep those stashes secret.
You know, I've been to a bunch of places and lived in ski towns around the west, but it's hard to beat this place. The downfall is the lack of vertical, which I'm ok with. There are some strange people around here that still lack common sense, and make odd decisions that affect our community. The up side is the almost complete lack of bro core types here. There is very little ego involved, unless of course you are a smoke jumper, but even most of those guys are ok. There are amazing athletes here, but you wouldn't know it because they don't blog and helmet cam the shit out of themselves.
And there is also another ski hill here that should be mentioned, certainly not for it's size, instead for it's contribution to forming not only great athletes but great people. [ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194371"]Little Ski Hill needs a snowcat - Teton Gravity Research Forums[/ame]
If you come here, hopefully you can ski all three places. Any way you look at it, Tamarack was indeed scamarack. I don't think Brundage learned much by the demise. You would think a person would know the difference between a ski hill and a resort, but Brundage doesn't fully grasp that. I can tell you one thing though. The hill that's been here since 1937 is about skiing, and will continue to produce life long rippers who will never be famous.

Great thread, great input from the Idaho guys, great story, 2 thumbs up.

I don't get the hate for ski areas, I ride backcountry, but I also like lift serviced pow skiing. Yeah, I like it a lot. And i like little stashes like what Berthoud used to be, what Lookout Pass, Castle and Turner are today. I can scare the shit out of my self riding as fast as I can through 2 feet of powdery glades at these kind of places. I like that.

I hope it dies as along all other real estate based ski resorts. Enough of this shit. Humans need to quit disrupting the mountains for profit, ski long enough and you should learn from the mountains what I mean. That's it.

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Originally Posted by danimal's dead

Great thread, great input from the Idaho guys, great story, 2 thumbs up.

I don't get the hate for ski areas, I ride backcountry, but I also like lift serviced pow skiing. Yeah, I like it a lot. And i like little stashes like what Berthoud used to be, what Lookout Pass, Castle and Turner are today. I can scare the shit out of my self riding as fast as I can through 2 feet of powdery glades at these kind of places. I like that.

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Nobody hates ski areas. The hate is directed at ski resorts all about selling real estate and not really about skiing.

(CNN) -- Authorities urged residents to be on alert as a brush fire fanned by strong winds continued to burn early Thursday northwest of Cascade, Idaho.

The blaze, which started Saturday, has burned 361 acres on a national forest, said Megan Myers of the Valley County Sheriff's Office.

"We haven't had a fire around here in a while," Myers said. "Right now, we have level 1 evacuation, which is basically just a warning to the residents in that area that there are projected threats and a hazard to that area. But we're not telling anyone they have to leave yet."

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has approved a disaster emergency for the fire, according to a statement released by Valley County.

t was unclear how many homes were affected by evacuation preparations by early Thursday.

Cascade is about 80 miles north of Boise.

It is now a level 3 on the whole west side of Lake Cascade with thunder storms with high winds on the way. Not good, there are alot of folks who have OLD family cabins in the area. The area has not burned in years.

Fire officials in Valley County estimate the fire around Tamarack Resort doubled to about 1,000 acres Thursday, and while firefighters are battling the flank of the blaze they are avoiding the north side, which is moving quickly and unpredictably.

They say they are dealing with a few factors: High heat, low humidity, winds and thunderstorms that could create downbursts that can push the fire in any direction.

The blaze, which forced immediate evacuations of homes from Hurd Creek to Tamarack Falls, is moving mid-slope along the mountains and hasn't reached the resort or any house — but officials fear a downburst could push the fire lower on the hillsides, and that could threaten more property.

Storms are expected to hit at 5 or 6 p.m. and about 20 engines are staged strategically around neighborhoods with strike teams ready in case the fire reaches it.

Earlier, the Idaho State Police troopers and county sheriff's deputies were going door to door to inform homeowners of the danger.

A level-three evacuation means, "the Sheriff will use all reasonable means to evacuate residents from the area and maintain ingress and egress to the designated area, and residents will not be allowed to return until conditions are safe. If this evacuation level is ignored every one must understand that emergency services may not be available."

Fire officials say the Hurd Fire burned actively overnight due to low relative humidity - 14 percent - which is one of the reasons sheriff's officials ordered the level two evacuation.

West Mountain, Buttercup and Huckleberry campgrounds, day use areas and boat launches in Lake Cascade state park are closed due to the fire.

Reservations for these campgrounds are being canceled and monies refunded.

All other Lake Cascade State Park Campgrounds, Day Use Areas, and Boat Launches will remain open.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for Thursday effective 10 a.m. to midnight. A strong cold front moving into the area could bring high winds and thunderstorms.

The trigger point for a level three evacuation is difficulty holding established firelines due to fire behavior. A level three evacuation requires immediate evacuation of the area as ordered by the sheriff.

Earlier, 650 people were assigned to Hurd fire, including 21 crews,10 helicopters and 21 engines. Structure protection engines are in position in residential neighborhoods.

The public is once again asked to be patient and careful, as there will be increased fire traffic along roads on the west side of the Cascade Reservoir.



Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/0...#ixzz0xlHyND84

Pretty sure I know a couple folks on that fire, and a couple more with cabins potentially in harms' way. We're supposed to get wind tonight and this fire could get nasty.

Vibes to all and keep the firefighters safe.

Looks like the good news for the houses out there is that it's above them and fires tend to climb, unless the thunderstorms raise hell with the winds, as they mentioned.

No doom tonight sorry . Wind event never happened not a sustained wind event anyway . Just an hour ago some swirling wind finishing in NE direction . Went out fire watching at sunset and saw a bit of torching within the fire . Those firs blow up in a second .

Shock and awe today bombing runs and water drops all day . With a wind shift NE tonite blows it back within itself and cooler temps higher humids predicted = doom on hold .

Back to thread . Ski culture in Valley County never existed in the first place . McCall sure maybe by a stretch . But into factions of retirees , weekenders/holiday/powder day Boise people , Vietnam Vets , waterfront property sled ski kids , local ski bum people , and weirdos . In descending order . Not much of ski culture to begin with . Seasons pass for Tam/Brun ran me $475 the last season . Beginning with WROD at Tam (week before Brun ) to May first at Brun . I got my bang for my buck . Passes never were more than 500 at Tam at any time .


The ski culture of McCall is
" Hows it going haven't seen you in while , when are you leaving ? " Its not a matter of if , but when . It seems everyone is leaving here . There is nobody left to ski with .

How on earth does Wolf make it through the season?

Looks like the lifts will start turning in December.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/1...-open-dec.html

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Originally Posted by Conundrum

Sun Valley-this pic was taken on a February Sunday at 2 pm within view of a lift.
Bogus-snow is not great but it operates night hours until 10 pm every night of the week so people with regular jobs can still get vert. Neat that you can get 20k by noon or whatever. Bogus allows people to get 20k and work full time. And it's a non-profit. It's job is to give a community cheap, accessible skiing. Which it does.

Brundage-can you say soul. This is a mom and pops place with sweet tree skiing. If you are not afraid of skinning, you can go as big as you want. Plus they have a bloody mary bar on Sundays.

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No, no, that is a Photochop. Sun Valley is never like that. Nothing to see here just keep moving.......

I have had a couple of great days at Bogus. Skied knee deep at Brundage at 3 pm on a Sunday, down the middle of one of the main runs. And the trees....lots of lines in there. Really fun place. Check your extreme at the door, it won't fit in the lodge either.

Edit to add: I did not know about the Bloody Bar. What a wonderful thing to have in a lodge. Looking forward to getting the kids over there.

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Originally Posted by Tree Bombs

Harming the environment ? Its on state land , I guess you havent been on state land in Idaho . Logging prevails , trails spur off in every direction and piles of slash and trash are prevalent .

Early tracks club I wouldnt know since I didnt get there till 11 . Still rode fresh all day .

Not a native westerner but I've learned to not wish ill will on my neighbors .

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Hey Bombs - good attitude, which is sometimes you get lemons, you make lemonade. If you ever head over to SV, hit me up. Would love to show you a couple lines. Not the big pillow lines, but there is some "decent" sidecountry for an old fart, gaper, groomer resort.

Never got to ski Tamarack, I moved out to Boise for school two years ago and never got a trip in before it tanked. On the other hand, Brundage is a great little spot. I've found countless stashes and great tree skiing. Short hike to upper Hidden Valley/Northwest Passage has some really fun lines with drops, pillows, open bowls, steeps, ect. Hike even farther up the ridge to even more epicness. Hike-able stuff never gets tracked out, with only a small handful of people up there on pow days. Cant wait to go back. I get my gnarly stuff in when I'm back home in Tahoe, Squaw, ect. For what it is (And a $200 college pass) I love it.

Back to Tamarack, a lot of my friends say the Hike-able access there is possibly even better than Brundo....I'll be trying it out this winter forshure, they are also offering a $200 pass, although I don't know if I can give up what I already know is there at Brundage.

Here's an edit I came across a few days ago....shows some fun stuff to be had around tammy...the snow quality doesn't look the best and its not the deepest in this video, but it sure looks like fun.

[ame="http://vimeo.com/3278746"]Amateur Hour : Webisode 1 on Vimeo[/ame]

Looks like the votes have been cast and the lifts open Dec 20th...

http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/...tamarack-bravo

Tomorrow back to ruining ski culture with $200 passes for 3 more days . Who can afford that ? Flat like some resorts that are oh so cool yo . The future is always uncertain .

That 4 inches of 30 degree magical blower that just fell in 2 hours is gonna suck . That wind gust thingy that just happened is gonna make for a snow condition of shit . Straight up turd sandwich . West Mountain doesnt get any snow . Just ask anyone who has never lived here .

Jaded localism aside I am stoked to have 2 season passes , for a good price .Powder off the chair with high speed quads .

How many places are left in the 48 ? Affordable , reliable snow , no jobs ,cheep housing , snowblower recommended , only trust funders or the last of the American nutjobs need apply . Nutjobs preferred over trusty's because trusty is so played .

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Originally Posted by rideit

How on earth does Wolf make it through the season?

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Pro Peak is done, but there is no bad press I guess . I think he's running rentals/ ski school maybe subcontracted . I dont I'm know not a local . I'm not from Boise or Idaho, didnt grow up here , I will never be a Idaho local oh well. .
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/1...surrected.html

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/1...ected-for.html

well this doesn't bode well .....

http://www.theskichannel.com/news/sk...ank-of-America

Maybe has something to do with this form a week ago .
http://www.idahopress.com/news/state...151291e57.html

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Calgary-based Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, whose properties include Fernie Alpine Resort, was eying the Wildwood Express, which accesses runs on Tamarack's northern boundary, as well as the small Buttercup lift.

But Tamarack homeowners who want the lifts to stay put in hopes the resort will survive its financial woes sought restrictions on helicopters used to remove them.

Nancy Isserlis, a Spokane, Wash.-based lawyer for the Canadians, says those demands boosted the removal's expense and complexity, prompting her client to walk away from a deal.

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It was great year at Tam learned more lines in bounds that turned out to be a great time . Rode Brundage just as many times and learned a few more lines . My best days were at Tam when the snowline was at the old halfpipe and Brundage was grey and Tam was blue. Upper stuff was fluff and bottom was spring , fast run outs , getting vert flying around popping off all the features . Smooth and fast not all chopped and rutted . Quick hikes reveal afternoon delight . People figured the mountain out this year and some Brundage and Boise peeps were spotted maybe having fun . I know its not the predictability of Kid inn Valley, Engen, North or Main Street but the cornice , the spine , vista and mystery sometimes deliver in a more appealing way . Thats just me and Seargents just dont compare to northcountry . It snowed too not a ton but a lot .

Are they opening Tam this year?

Yes , probably yes . The bank still has to approve operations . 2 passes for $550 is the deal now . http://www.tamarackidaho.com/winter_...and_passes.php The bank it seems has more interest in it running than not since they still want money at some point for it .

The best gossip site. Lift removal ,bankruptcy court etc . Scroll down on the blog to read up on everything .http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/111962349823/ No helicopters taking out Wildwood , yet . Hopefully never but around here doom is on tap .

hope to ski there this year

Tamarack homeowners talk to BOA over buying lifts
- The Associated Press
Tamarack Resort homeowners want to buy two ski lifts that Bank of America has been trying to tear out.
Tamarack Municipal Association director Tim Flaherty told The Associated Press on Tuesday he's been in discussions with the bank.
Bank of America was stiffed on the lifts by Tamarack majority owner Jean-Pierre Boespflug, who disappeared this year when the bank sought $4 million.
Even with Boespflug on the lam, Flaherty says he's also working to open the ski resort for a second straight year.
Tamarack Municipal Association ran a limited season last year on a $1 million budget, earning a small profit.
Flaherty is now in talks with Idaho over another sublease to 2,100 acres of public land where the ski runs are located, in advance of a Dec. 15 opening.

Powdreams, you are right,
The resort did depend too much on the real estate market. When that crashed up there it killed it. The problems began when the rich folks stopped buying up those cabins. And that started happening when they saw blood in the water. The real estate market softening and when word about one of the real estate agents for Tamarack stealing earnest money checks. When buyers heard about Stephanie Greenfield endorsing clients checks over to herself cashing them and leaving town. I think fear of being ripped off halted them more than the market. That happened three or more years ago, and people are still afraid to buy property up there. That and the CEO being a fugitive doesn’t help either.

Conditions report is top to bottom skiing with some creative early season "ski it if you want to/ Christmas" openings . With the sunny days fun has been had .
Opening runs that were thin is a great idea for those who want to ride chairs . Thanks Tamarack patrol for being proactive instead of inactive .

The New Years mostly RAIN(first top to bottom rain in Brunadge history,Scouts honour)/ snow event ended up right side up with New Years weekend being pretty good times . Baby pow turns(no crust) were had . This last weekend was good , sunny days and some soft . For a drought its been great . Lower is fast and carveable , higher for chalk/pine needle pow , mid elevation for legs . All in one run , its great . Finding natural features , scraping some scrape ,point it on the outrun . Long runs , go fast , fast chairs , no lines , get some runs , have some fun in the sun . If you want to grouch on the couch so be it .

With the Bogus pricing its been great to see some of the people coming up and having fun . I have talked to some of the newbies . The consensus is, it aint so bad after all .

Angry inch for Thursday . Should make for something to push around .

The downward spiral continues. Tamarack operated at a $300k loss last season and now the best lift is dismantled.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/0...smantling.html

Any updates on Tamarack? My bro may have lodging near there for a week this winter.

Brundage isn't too far from there, and is actually a functional, albeit small ski area that supposedly gets a lot of snow. Pretty sure Tamarack is done for.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/0...-tamarack.html

Idaho Land Board considers Tamarack ski area lease

By By Keith Ridler September 30, 2014

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Battered and bruised Tamarack Resort could take a significant step this week toward a clearer financial picture and getting on track to being the kind of four-season destination playground early planners once envisioned.

True, a high-speed chairlift was ripped out for nonpayment, the marketing budget dropped from seven to six figures, and plans to draw international travelers shrunk to enticing locals within 100 miles.

But a turning point is possible Thursday when the Idaho Land Board decides whether to transfer a 2,100-acre lease to a company called New TRAC that emerged after a sheriff's sale last spring. For that transfer to happen, a majority of the five-member board will have to be persuaded at the special meeting requested by New TRAC that the company can afford about $278,000 annually to use the land on which the ski area is built.

The company, state officials said, wants to make sure it has the lease in hand before it moves ahead with opening the ski area and incurring expenses. The company also wants to address potential problems or defaults caused by its predecessor, Tamarack Resort LLC.

New TRAC was formed by Credit Suisse, which completed a credit bid at the March 10 sheriff's sale to own three big sections of the resort, including the ski areas. A consortium led by Zurich-based Credit Suisse is owed more than $300 million for Tamarack, which is north of Boise.

Patrick Hodges of the Idaho Department of Lands said he doesn't anticipate problems with the lease being approved. "I think the state would like to see Tamarack operated as a ski area, and as long as New TRAC can perform on that level, the land board will approve it," he said.

The lease represents one of the state's more lucrative deals, and it is far more than the $80,000 annually state officials estimate the land would generate if it reverted to timber harvest.

Tim Flaherty, executive director of the Tamarack Municipal Association, said the lease would be another step toward firmer financial footing for the resort in the post-bankruptcy years following the Great Recession.

Besides New TRAC, three other entities own parts of the resort. Eventually, Flaherty said, given sound finances, deals could be made to bring the resort under one owner. The municipal association, formed near the resort's start to run the place, is continuing to run much of the resort under New TRAC, Flaherty said.

The association in recent years has been operating just to break even while keeping the facilities maintained. But that's starting to change, Flaherty said, an indication being that the ski area will operate seven days a week this winter rather than four as in years past.

"We're certainly not out of the woods yet. But it's looking much better than it did several years ago," he said.

The municipal association employs about 45 people in the summer and 130 in the winter when it operates the ski area.

The resort also has 370 homeowners with about 400 deeded properties. Most of the properties are rentals for vacationers, but Flaherty estimated that about 10 to 15 percent of the owners are full-time residents at Tamarack.

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Originally Posted by glademaster

Brundage isn't too far from there, and is actually a functional, albeit small ski area that supposedly gets a lot of snow. Pretty sure Tamarack is done for.

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Brundage is a fun little hill