Cover photo courtesy of Silver Mountain

Sunny spring conditions and frequent March and April storms often deliver some of the best days of the season, so don’t put your gear in storage just yet. End your season in celebratory fashion with a fun spring event or two and plenty of good mountain vibes. Find details and operation schedule updates online. 

49° North Mountain Resort (Chewelah, Wash.) 

• March 6: One complimentary lift ticket for each Toyota vehicle driver for Toyota Free Ski Friday plus party on the deck.  

• March 8: Chewelah Peak Challenge Fat Tire Bike Race, in partnership with North Division Bicycle, includes demo bike (with registration fee) and 7 k race, conditions permitting. 

• March 14: Seafood Boil family-style lunch.  

• March 21: Annual Hawaiian Daze features a full day of competitions including snow golf, scavenger hunt, poker run, costume contest, Slush Cup and more. Proceeds benefit 49’s volunteer ski patrol and mountain host programs. 
  
  

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park (Spokane, Wash.) 

• March 7: Getting Down to Vizziness, a terrain park two-hour jam session with host and judge Pro Rider Austin Visintainer.  

• March 14: Final night ski includes Wild Mike’s Rail Jam event—a collaboration with Wild Mike’s Pizza, providing $10 off night-ski pizza-box coupons—and Après After Dark Party. 

• March 20: Toyota Free Ski Friday—one complimentary lift ticket for each Toyota vehicle driver; must arrive before 1 p.m. to receive lift ticket from Toyota reps in parking lot of Lodge 2.  

• April 8-12: Youth ages 17 and younger ski free during spring break.  

Schweitzer Mountain Resort (Sandpoint, Idaho) 

• March 21: Celebrate the first-ever Pride On the Mountain event, in partnership with Sandpoint Alliance for Equality (SAFE). Schedule includes Rainbow Ridge Ski Parade and evening drag show. 

• March 27: Discounted lift tickets for annual Community Day. 

• March 28-29: Snow Ghost Banked Slalom competition, in collab with 7B Boardshop. Fundraiser for Bonner County Skatepark Association. 

• April 4: Hillside Hustle rider-choice grassroots events.  

• April 12: Closing day—details TBA online. 
  
  

Silver Mountain Resort (Kellogg, Idaho) 

• March 7: Doug E. Fresh Banked Slalom for snowboarders—11^th annual fundraiser for the Doug Johnson Memorial Fund. Stick around for Ski Bum Prom (costumes encouraged) with night skiing til 6 p.m. and party at Moguls. 

• March 13: Toyota Free Ski Friday.  

• March 14 and April 18: Hang out with Silver Mountain ski patrollers and their avy dogs during Jackass Apres Club nights, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at The Beanery (446 Railroad Ave), less than a mile from base village. 

• March 21: Marchi Gras (not a typo) is like Mardi Gras but at Silver Mountain—bead necklaces provided at the gondola base and New Orleans-inspired food atop the mountain.  

• March 28-29: Silver Cup Ski Race—register online. 

• April 4: Jackass Rain Jam with free day-of registration at Chair 2 Terrain Park (starting at 11:45 a.m.).  

• April 11: Who doesn’t love a Pond Skim?! Silver’s first and only previous event was in 2019, so this is kinda a big deal. No fee to participate. 

• April 18: Leadman Triathlon, presented by Dave Smith GMC, is the annual charity fundraiser adventure tri—ski, bike, run—for teams and individual racers.  

Lookout Pass Ski Area (Mullan, Idaho) 

• March 7: Season Pass Holder Appreciation Day with a parking lot party, 4-6 p.m. 

• March 27: Toyota drivers ski or ride free for Toyota Free Ski Friday. 

• March 29: Lookout’s annual freestyle Rail Jam (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) includes divisions for all ages and skill levels plus prizes. Great spectator event! 

• April 4: Bring your own club to play nine holes on America’s only snow golf course! Free to play for all ages; course open noon-3 p.m. 

• April 5: Easter Egg Hunt while you ride the slopes—all ages with one-egg limit per person. All eggs include candy and prize-winning number opportunity. 

• April 10: Ski/ride free at Lookout Pass for Parker Subaru Experience the Outdoors Day with a free voucher provided in person at Parker Subaru in Coeur d’Alene (limited availability). Bring voucher to the mountain ticket booth to redeem for a free lift ticket valid only for April 10.  

• April 12: Dress festive for Lookout’s annual Hawaiian Luau day, which includes a Cardboard Box Derby where participants use sleds made entirely of cardboard and duct tape.  
  
  

Whitefish Mountain Resort (Whitefish, Mont.) 

• March 14-15: Two-day event and one of the longest-running of its kind in North America, the 27^th annual Nate Chute Banked Slalom & Boardercross Competition raises funds for the Nate Chute Foundation dedicated to youth suicide prevention. 

• March 21: DREAM Adaptive Shred Fest for all abilities includes vertical or adventure challenge event and fundraiser to support adaptive recreation opportunities in Flathead Valley. 

• March 28: Corn Cup Slopestyle—skier and snowboarder freestyle competition.  

• March 28: Sample regional brews at Spring Brewfest and enjoy music and food trucks in the resort village. 

• March 29: Women-only event for all skill levels (includes trans women and non-binary riders) for the Lady Power Park Hour, noncompetitive slopestyle event to build terrain park confidence and community.  

• April 4: Classic Pond Skim competition with cash prize.  

Big White Ski Resort (Kelowna, BC) 

• Tuesdays through March 17: Ski BINGO—Pick up a bingo card from the village and mark off while hitting the slopes, noon-3:30 p.m.  

• Thursdays through March 19: Twinkling Trail in Happy Valley—group walk after paper lantern craft activity.  

• March 21-22: Loose Moose Challenge inspires terrain coverage to find hidden letters to reveal a mystery word for a prize.  

• Fridays through March 27: Tube & Groove at the snow-tubing park and dance party with resort mascot Loose Moose.  

• Saturday nights: Carnivals at Village Centre through March 28 and weekly fireworks shows through April 4. 

• April 5: Easter Egg Hunt throughout the Village on Easter Sunday, 9-10 a.m., with a designated area for kids age 5 and younger. Bigger kids can search for hidden “chicks” to claim for treats.  
  
  

RED Mountain Resort (Rossland, BC) 

• March 14-15: Rattlecat Cup is a two-day banked slalom race, all ages and skill levels. 

• March 22: Park Project Rail Jam is a low-pressure session for all abilities (ages 7+) with a supportive community to promote skill progression. Open to skiers, snowboarders and snowskaters.  

• March 28: Bring your dog to the slopes for the 5^th annual Wiener Take All, a canine race event with prizes. 

• April 4: Slush Cup to go big and win prizes. 

Whitewater Mountain Resort (Nelson, BC) 

• March (every weekend): Spring Music Series—live music performances at the resort village throughout March.  

• March 21-22: Blast Beerfest—celebrate local breweries and cideries with samples in Whitewater’s on-the-snow beer garden; enjoy live music and scenic views of Ymir Peak.  

Former junior high Ski Club member Amy McCaffree now stays on the groomers but still downhill skis with her husband and their two kids, now teenagers, who ski much faster than she ever will again—and she’s okay with that. 

The post Chase the Spring Snow Festivals, Races and Pond Skims Across the Region  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Under Washington law, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1955, who operates a motorized boat or personal watercraft with an engine of 15 horsepower or more must complete an approved course and carry a Washington State Boater Education Card when underway. The card is valid for life and must be on board. In addition to local classroom options, state-approved online courses are also available. Learn more at Boatered.org. 

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For the second year in a row, 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort is partnering with three local elementary schools to offer fourth- and fifth-grade students the chance to learn to ski or snowboard. The program, Corey’s Run FIRST TRACKS Ski Academy, was established by David Zalewski, father to Corey, who passed away after being caught in an avalanche in the Idaho Panhandle backcountry in January 2024. 

Around the first anniversary of Corey’s passing, Zalewski had an idea. “I was thinking of some way to honor Corey’s legacy and the things he enjoyed in life,” he says. What Corey loved most was being outdoors. Zalewski remembers the year Corey received his first season pass to Snoqualmie—a winter that brought little snow. Undeterred, Corey convinced his father to drive him to the mountain anyway. For hours, Corey hiked up the hillside, snowboard in hand, just to make that thrilling ride downhill. He carried that insatiable spirit throughout his life, jumping into everything with “both feet,” Zalewski recalls. 

Through Corey’s FIRST TRACKS, students who might not otherwise have the opportunity spend three consecutive Fridays at 49 Degrees North. They leave school shortly after lunch and spend the afternoon on the mountain, with lift tickets, lessons and rentals provided at no cost. The program is designed for beginner skiers and snowboarders, allowing students to build confidence over several weeks rather than through a single-day experience. The resort even keeps the lifts running an extra half hour for participants. 

Henry Holub, one of the instructors involved, says the program’s goals are multifaceted. The first is to honor Corey’s legacy by passing along his love of the outdoors. The second is to create lifelong skiers and snowboarders. Many participating families lack the resources to take their children skiing, with cost and transportation presenting the greatest barriers. Programs like Corey’s FIRST TRACKS offer more than a lesson—they provide an entry into a way of life. 

Holub, who also works as a substitute teacher in Spokane and serves as a PTO president at one of the participating schools, has seen the program’s effects extend beyond the slopes. Students ask if they will be able to ski again, and many families report returning to the mountain together after the program ends. School staff have also noted increased confidence and stronger peer connections, describing the experience as a powerful team-building opportunity. 

Ali Pasino, 49 Degrees North’s snowsports school director, believes outdoor recreation fosters freedom and self-reliance, particularly for youth from more urban environments. With more than twenty years of experience guiding and coaching, Pasino has seen how challenging outdoor settings can transform young people. “If you can conquer a mountain,” Pasino says, “you can conquer anything.” She believes the natural world teaches resilience in ways few other environments can. “The world convinces us in countless ways that we can’t do things. I relish every time someone learns that they can succeed.” 

Zalewski, Holub and Pasino hope to see the program continue to grow. Last year, 44 students participated. With the addition of a third elementary school, that number could exceed one hundred. While Zalewski privately funds student lessons, transportation remains a challenge. Community members can help by supporting transportation costs or providing snacks for students on their way home. Holub also hopes participants will continue into opportunities such as the mountain’s Junior Instructor Program. 

As Corey’s skills grew, backcountry skiing became his true passion, Zalewski recalls about his son. “Any day with snow was a good day.” For Zalewski, it’s more than holding onto Corey’s legacy. “It’s about giving young people, young kids, the opportunity to experience all the beauty and adventure of being on the mountain. Being able to encounter and share in the wonders of god’s creativity, his creation. There was no place Corey would rather be than floating downhill on freshly fallen champagne powder snow making those FIRST TRACKS of the day.” Corey wouldn’t have it any other way.

The post Honoring a Mountain Legacy at 49 Degrees North  appeared first on Out There Venture.

The Spokane River runs through the heart of our region, fed in large part by the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, a 365-square-mile, unconfined aquifer with an estimated 10 trillion gallons of water flowing through it. While the Spokane area is fortunate to have abundant water resources, challenges remain. Lower-than-average summer flows in the Spokane River complicate efforts to rehabilitate the culturally significant redband trout and salmon. Because the aquifer lacks a protective barrier such as hard rock or clay, surface water and pollutants can infiltrate it, making water quality protection a shared responsibility. Everyday actions, from picking up litter and pet waste to preventing vehicle leaks, properly disposing of hazardous waste and choosing drought-tolerant landscaping, all play a role in safeguarding local waterways. 

To raise awareness of the ways we can protect our water resources, Spokane County and other partners will host the second annual World Water Day Celebration on Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Doris Morrison Learning Center at Saltese Flats Wetlands (1330 S. Henry Road). The free, open-house-style event features a live owl show, Aqua Duck appearance, water-themed student art gallery, guided wetland bird walks, children’s story time and presentations by Spokane County water scientists. Environmental organizations will offer interactive, family-friendly booths. Online registration is encouraged at WorldWaterDay2026.eventbrite.com. 

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The 2026 Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show returns March 19-22 to the Spokane Fair & Expo Center with a choose-your-own-adventure mix of gear, how-to learning and kid-friendly attractions for anglers, hunters and anyone who prioritizes time outside. Now in its 64th year, the volunteer-powered show is produced by the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council nonprofit organization.

Daily seminars and demonstrations led by local guides and field experts cover skills from casting and fishing techniques to backcountry know-how, with interactive attractions like Fishing World, archery, gem hunting at the Silvermine and a kids’ adventure map offering something for all ages. Fishing World is an event highlight with live-fish pools where little anglers can catch a real fish. There’s also an airsoft rifle range, trophy displays, a lounge for those 21 and older and other live entertainment. Hours run noon-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 online and $18 at the door for adults, with discounts for youth, seniors, veterans, military and first responders; kids 5 and under are free, and kids under 13 get in free Sunday. Details and tickets are available at Inwc.org/big-horn-show.

The post Big Horn Show 2026 Brings Outdoor Skills and Family Fun appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Potato Boys

In this little area of the Inland Northwest that we call home, we rarely get recognized on the world scale for our skiing and snowboarding. While many of us who live here know all about the epic terrain right at our fingertips, few take the adventure head-on. With the release of the Potato Boys’ new film “Caution Terrain”—their third ski film based in the backcountry of Idaho—the crew has launched their biggest adventure yet. 

The debut of the new film by Essex Prescott, Blake Bowerman, Stephen Matkin, Kyle Vandever, and Cameron “Hootch” Hotchkiss at the beautiful StanCraft Jet Center at the Coeur d’Alene Airport this past November was an event to behold. It’s inspiring to watch a local ski crew hit the big screen and get recognized by the community and outlets like “Freeskier Magazine” and Newschoolers.com. With more than 700 attendees at the launch and over 285,000 views racked up on YouTube so far, the film has been a huge success. 

For this latest release, the team regrouped and took on a few lines that had given them the slip in years past. With a mandatory plane drop for all the camp supplies, the team was able to enter an area that’s rarely explored, especially in winter. The film follows the crew through it all as they head into this basin and boot-pack 1,000-foot couloirs to ski lines of their dreams—all while living the ski bum lifestyle in their own backyard. The film launch party also raised more than $8,000 for the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center. You can watch “Caution Terrain” on the Potatoboys208 YouTube channel or follow them on Instagram @essexprescott or @potatoboys208.

The post “Famous Potatoes: Caution Terrain” Ski Film Debuts in CDA  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Finishers get a bag of leftover gear from past Negative Split races—shirts, hoodies and other swag—plus raffle tickets for additional prizes or future race entries. On top of that, registration includes a free wristband for entry to the Spokane Great Outdoors Expo right at the finish line, where there are over 70 outdoor recreation exhibitors, live music and entertainment, a full bar and more. For anyone craving a bit of outdoor community during the late-winter lull, the Swag Run hits the spot. Lace up your shoes, bring a few friends and enjoy an easygoing morning run that rewards you with fitness, fun and a pile of quality swag. 

The post Swag Run Mixes Miles and Free Gear  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Whether you pedal solo or join a team under the “Corporate Cup,” you’ll be riding for more than just mountain views—all entry fees go to support cancer research at the DanaFarber Cancer Institute. Born from the legacy of Wendy Ramsey and her battle with a rare form of blood cancer, the event brings together community, riders and cause—a chance to help push forward vital funding for cancer research. Climb for the Cure founder Duane Ramsey said there are other upgrades planned for this year’s ride, from prizes, a water station addition near the summit and more food options to adjustments to the two route start times to synchronize when riders roll back in. “It’s always a goal to make the rider experience a little better every year,” said Ramsey. 

The post Climb for the Cure Keeps Growing  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Free entertainment all weekend at the Spokane Convention Center includes live traditional Americana music, extreme skateboarding demos on an indoor halfpipe, live snake and other reptile and wild animal presentations, marshmallow roasting in an indoor “campground,” magic shows, a kid-friendly archery activity, crosscut log sawing, arts and crafts, hourly prize drawings, and a Kids’ Adventure Passport activity, where kids get to complete various challenges for an outdoors expo swag bag. Presentations on a variety of outdoor recreation, conservation, and natural history topics happen throughout the weekend. With a ticket purchase, attendees also get into the Spokane Golf Show, which is connected to the outdoor expo. More info at Spokaneoutdoorexpo.com. 

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