Bogus Basin is one of the jewels of the Treasure Valley. It was once referred to as the YMCA on the mountain as it provided such a wonderful winter and summer recreational and educational opportunity. Do you remember when Mike Shirley and his Board introduced the $99 annual ski pass? It was an industry changing approach to creating a base income through good and bad snow years. My brother Bob served on their Board for many years and was instrumental in leading the effort to earn 501 C-3 Status. This allowed Bogus to begin tax advantaged fund raising to support the operations of the resort. Bogus is a great ski destination, just 16 miles from Boise, it provides a great way to escape the inversions, ski, bike and hike and work on required driving skills. The road to Bogus is legendary for its twists and turns.
I had to stop at the top of Bogus to take this picture. It was a striking cloud formation that looked like a water color of the snow covered mountains as you look East. I tried to describe the scene and what came to mind was Joni Mitchell. The lines of her 1966 Folk classic are memorable -“rows and flows of angel hair-and ice cream castles in the air-and feather canyons everywhere….It’s cloud illusions I recall-I really don’t know clouds at all”. There are some other great lyrics to go with a memorable tune in “Both Sides Now”. Mitchell composed many great songs.
Big Yellow Taxi is another Mitchell classic and speaks to the past and frightening present. ”They paved paradise and put up a parking lot….Don’t it always seem to go-that you don’t know what you’ve got till its gone?” Our freedoms that were hard fought are hanging in the balance. The Supreme Court is dithering away its critical role in our judicial system. The Republican Party is unable to sort itself out; no funding for the brave Ukrainian people, no support for their own Border compromise, no on women’s rights, no on climate protection, yes to the big lie and potential authoritarian leadership. It does not make any sense to take apart a system that allows them to safely express their ideological self interests. I fear they will not know what they had, until they get what they think they want. Let’s save the MAGA crowd from perpetual remorse.
Take good care. Mike
