Bogus Basin Recreation Area will not have ski and snowboard checks this season in an effort to weather out the economy and insure keeping its season passes at a low price. It has offered its $199 season pass special for 11 years straight.

Skiers and boarders are being urged to buy ski locks and use them at racks that will be provided at the ski area, said Gretchen Anderson, spokeswoman for Bogus.

A snowshoeing clinic for women is planned at 7 p.m. Nov. 25 at REI in Boise.

Expert snowshoer Edna Ray Vizgirdas will talk about the sport, offering tips on winter backcountry travel, how to dress for snowshoeing and where to go during the clinic that is free.

REI is located at 8300 W. Emerald St.

OTHER HOT PICKS

SKIING
Sun Valley Resort is sure looking good with snow. The resort received about five inches of snow Saturday and with all its snow-making equipment is a sure bet for opening Thanksgiving Day.

Check out the photo provided by Sun Valley Resort. The resort is reporting 32 inches on top; 28 inches at mid-mountain and 24 inches at the base. See www.sunvalley.com for more details.

YURTS

Roger and I really like this time of the year. Ok, there's a whole bunch of hunting and fishing going on, but it's also the time when we scout area stores for outdoors gift ideas for the holidays.

We hit a lot of the stores last week for ideas and we'll have them in Idaho Outdoors on Nov. 19. I'm amazed I get out of the stores without spending my life savings because I'm a gear nut.

The two huge white things flew by silently on the Boise River. I was taken by surprise.

What's worse was that my camera was in my fanny pack and I missed the shot.

FISHING
The coolest thing we've heard this week is that trout fishing at C.J. Strike Reservoir is surprisingly good. Trolling with Rapalas near the dam could net you some 16-inch rainbow trout. Check out Roger's Fish Rap in today's Idaho Statesman.

RAFTS

The wild Teton River canyon is a hidden whitewater and cutthroat-fishing treasure in eastern Idaho, but it also is threatened by a proposal to rebuild the Teton Dam.

Can you believe someone wants to rebuild the Teton Dam? It's inconceivable. The dam collapsed on June 5, 1976 killing 11 people and 13,000 head of cattle. It caused more than $1 billion in damage.

If you're bored with the usual Hollywood films, there are two cool outdoor flicks coming to Boise and you can see them on the big screen.

Several cow elk were illegally killed five miles below Dagger Falls in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and Idaho Fish and Game is asking the public for information in the case.

You've got to check out this photo of the new Roundhouse Gondola at Sun Valley Resort. It looks like it will be some ride up the mountain this winter.

The new gondola goes from River Run Lodge to the Roundhouse Restaurant.

The grand opening of the gondola will be the highlight of Sun Valley Resort’s Winter Expo & Gondola ‘Ganza, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 21 at River Run Plaza.