Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story
If you’ve ever skied at Brundage on a powder day and heard a group of silver-haired skiers laughing louder than the wind howling off Lakeview, you’ve probably stumbled upon The Liar’s Den.
No, it’s not a secret bar tucked beneath Smoky’s or a forgotten outpost on Hidden Valley. It’s a brotherhood—part ski club, part comedy troupe, part retirement plan—that meets daily at first chair and occasionally at last call.
“The Liar’s Den started about 10 years ago,” says founding member Blake Hanks, who moved to McCall 13 years ago and somehow turned casual lift-line chatter into a full-blown institution. “A bunch of us just kept showing up early, coffee in hand, waiting for the lift to spin. We started skiing together, telling stories, and pretty soon we had a sign and a reputation.”
The sign—crafted by Jerry Johnson—still sits proudly atop a table inside Smoky’s Bar & Grill. It simply reads The Liar’s Den, like a neon badge of honor (though without the neon, because this is McCall, not Vegas).
First Chair, Last Laugh
What began as a handful of skiers has snowballed into roughly 24 members, all of whom share two things in common: a love of Brundage powder and the wisdom that comes from a few laps around the sun.
“The prerequisite is basically that you have to be at least 60-something,” Hanks laughs. “They’re all retired guys. We ski hard in the morning, then come in for a beer and a burger. That’s when the lying starts.”
Like most tall tales, the stories grow with each retelling. The face shots get deeper, the runs steeper, the skis lighter, and the knees somehow younger. The Den’s motto—borrowed straight from a moment of self-awareness during our conversation—is: “Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.”
“It’s perfect,” Hanks admits. “That’s exactly what we do.”
A Band Of Powder Hounds
If there’s one thing the group agrees on (aside from the benefits of good wax and bad memory), it’s that groomers are just highways to the real fun. “Groomers are great,” Hanks says. “They get you to the powder and the trees. That’s what they’re for.”
Collectively, they know Brundage Mountain better than most ski patrollers. “We play everywhere,” Hanks adds. “We’re explorers, powder hounds, and maybe a little nuts. But that’s part of the fun.”
They’re also fiercely loyal. The Den shows up rain, snow, sleet, or inversion. They tailgate out back, wave to lifties by name, and cheer for anyone who drops a knee or clears a cliff.
As Hanks puts it, “We try to support Brundage in every way we can. It’s our home, our lifestyle, and our passion.”
Off-Season Adventures
When the snow melts, the skis go into storage—but the stories don’t. The Liar’s Den morphs into a mountain-biking, beer-tasting, outdoor-adventure society.
“During the summer, we all mountain bike,” says Hanks. “We try to get together once a week, usually Thursday nights. We meet at one of the bars, spend a couple hours hashing things out, and telling lies, of course.”
This fall, they’re taking the show on the road. The entire Den—24 strong—is headed to the Southfork Lodge in Lowman for a long weekend of hiking, fishing, e-biking, and (naturally) storytelling.
“I’ve got a friend who owns the lodge,” Hanks explains. “We rented the whole place. They’ve got a great bar, a big screen for football, and hot springs nearby. We’ll fish, we’ll laugh, we’ll probably exaggerate a bit about who caught what. That’s just what we do.”
The new owners, Robin Bryde (a cardiologist) and her husband Nick Gant, recently purchased the lodge, so the Den is happy to “make sure they have some business this fall.”
Membership Has Its Privileges
The group’s fame—or infamy, depending on who you ask—has spread well beyond Brundage’s base lodge. “People come up to us and say, ‘Oh, you’re one of those guys! First chair, Liar’s Den!’” says Hanks, still amused. “Apparently, we make enough noise in the trees that people know who we are.”
Membership is by friendship, not application. “It’s funny how it grows,” Hanks says. “New guys just show up and say, ‘Hey, mind if I ski with you?’ Next thing you know, they’re hooked. We’ve got guys from Albuquerque, River Ranch, all over.”
Founding members include Hanks, Bob Looper, Scott Tunnell, Jerry Johnson, Todd Campbell, Steve Riggers, Steve Bussolini, Peter Caprio (RIP), Bill Larson, and the legendary Wild Bill—names whispered reverently at après ski gatherings (and occasionally shouted across the lift line).
The Gear, The Glory, And The Tall Tales
The Den has even flirted with branding. “We had some hats made that said Powder Pigs,” Hanks admits. “But we decided maybe that wasn’t the best fit. We’ll probably get something new embroidered on our jackets—something classy.”
Maybe The Liar’s Den Ski Patrol (Unofficial) or Masters of Exaggeration. Either way, you can bet they’ll be wearing them proudly in the lift line, coffee steaming and grins wide.
When asked to name the biggest “whopper” ever told in the Den, Hanks laughs. “That’s tough. There are just too many. It’s an everyday thing. None of us are exactly known for accuracy.”
And that’s the point. In a world obsessed with analytics and Strava stats, the Liar’s Den reminds us that skiing is supposed to be fun—and sometimes the story is better when it’s only mostly true.
From Powder To Poetry
Hanks also happens to be a poet, penning verses about Idaho’s mountains, rivers, and seasons. His poem “Fall Thoughts” (page XX) captures the very essence of The Liar’s Den—nostalgia, friendship, and the fleeting magic of a perfect run.
He’s now collected 75 poems and is considering a book. “I have no idea how to publish,” he says. “But I’d love to figure it out someday.”
With his knack for storytelling and a few Den embellishments, it’s safe to say the book will be a page-turner.
Legends Of The Line
As for what’s next, the Den shows no signs of slowing down. Brundage is expanding, new lifts are going in, and a small city of dream homes is rising near the base. The Liar’s Den members have mixed feelings, but most agree: progress keeps the mountain alive.
“We didn’t want to see it at first,” Hanks admits. “But without development, we wouldn’t have the new lodge, the new lift, the new energy. You don’t even really see the houses unless you go looking. It’s all give and take.”
Besides, no matter how big Brundage gets, there will always be that same 8:15 a.m. crowd, standing in line, coffee in one hand, poles in the other—waiting for the mountain to open and the stories to begin again.
Because at the end of the day, The Liar’s Den isn’t only a ski group. It’s a reminder that life’s too short for small talk, powder’s too sweet for precision, and the best friendships are built one tall tale at a time.
Or as their new motto says: Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.
