Olympian Corey Engen refines the ski technique of future Olympian Patty Boydstun on Brundage Mountain in 1963.

During its first decade of operation, Brundage Mountain Ski Area was a small, hometown ski area for locals.

Holiday weekends attracted skiers from the Boise area and from Lewiston and eastern Washington, but even then, crowds were sparse.

Forest Service Ranger Wally Lancaster said, “I can remember weekends with fewer than 25 cars in the parking lot . . . nowadays, there are more than 1,000 cars.”

Dick Lynch, who worked at Brundage in the 1960s, said it was typical to have just eight to ten skiers a day, midweek. General Manager Corey Engen often would head out and ski with anyone who showed up on the mountain.

Typically, everyone present on the mountain skied together midweek, and to save money, Engen would shut down the lift once the group unloaded, and start again when everyone reached the bottom.

These are just some of the amusing anecdotes you’ll find in our new book, Brundage Mountain: The Best Snow in Idaho. It traces the early years of skiing in McCall, the creation of the Little Ski Hill, and the evolution of Brundage Mountain from the early days described here to present day and beyond.

We invite you to join us for our book release party on Saturday, October 6, at Shore Lodge, from 4-7 pm.

In Boise, the release party is on Tuesday, October 9, at the Idaho Historical Museum at noon. Author Eve Chandler will be available to sign books at both events.

Those not able to attend these events can order a book on-line here.