Idaho Officials Preserve Ski Area's Quirky Tradition With Clever Workaround

Cows no longer graze in the area, making the cattle guard unnecessary.

According to the Ada County Highway District, the cattle guard was also causing damage to the road’s asphalt, requiring expensive maintenance. It was time for a replacement.

The solution? A “faux” cattle guard with rumble strips ridges that simulates the previous structure’s acoustics. The installation took about five working days and was completed last week. The ACHD also improved drainage underneath the road. 

The road signs with troll stickers are still standing, and Saad noted that the troll dolls continue to appear and disappear, “just as mysteriously as they arrived—much like the legends surrounding them.”

Check out photos of the new cattle guard below.

“We’re glad that our friends at Ada County Highway District helped preserve this by installing a structure like the classic cattle guard,” Saad said. “This is a great example of the community’s fiercely loyal support for the area.”

Founded in 1942, the nonprofit Bogus Basin has served Boise for over 83 years. When asked what other superstitions have taken root there, Saad instead pointed to the ski area’s unique name.

In 1866, a group of fraudsters established themselves in the basin and, using a mixture of sand, silver, and a bit of real gold, began selling fake gold dust for $14 an ounce. “Their scam was eventually exposed, and after their arrest, the spot where they made the bogus gold came to be known as ‘Bogus Basin,’" said Saad.

Check out Idaho News 6's coverage of Bogus Basin's new cattle guard and troll tradition below. Tap or click to play.

Bogus Basin, of course, isn’t the only place you’ll find fun bits of skiing history and superstition. Along the road to Mt. Hood, Oregon, there’s Silent Rock, which, as its name implies, demands total silence when visitors pass by—some even hold their breath in Silent Rock’s presence. 

Then, there’s the avoidance of saying “last run” on the slopes. The phrase is loaded with so much bad luck that, if the superstition is to be trusted, friendly trolls may not even be able to save you from the tide of crashes, rain, and icy moguls its utterance brings.