There are still plenty of ways to make the most of what’s turning out to be a snowy spring season—March powder dumps and soft spring turns, terrain park sessions, pond skims and the laid-back community vibe that defines our regional ski hills. Even better, spring is when next year’s season passes go on sale at the lowest prices of the year. Locking in a pass now means skipping ticket lines, committing to more time outside and setting yourself up for a full winter of skiing and riding when the snow returns in force. 

We’re fortunate to live near a cluster of resorts where season passes remain affordable. Use your pass just a handful of days and it pays for itself. Here’s a look at the spring pass sales and what each of the four Ski the NW Rockies Association resorts around Spokane has to offer. 

MT. SPOKANE SKI & SNOWBOARD PARK 
Spring Season Pass Sale: Lowest Rates End May 31 
Location: 30 miles from downtown Spokane 
Lifts: 6 chairlifts plus surface lifts 
Vertical: 2,000 feet | Acres: 1,704 | Runs: 52 

The closest ski hill to Spokane continues to be a community hub, offering night skiing, family programs and creative terrain park events. March highlights include the snowboard-focused Getting Down to Vizzness jam session on March 7, the Wild Mike’s Rail Jam on March 14 and Toyota Free Ski Friday on March 20. Youth can also ski free during Spring Break, April 8–12, adding extra value for families already planning mountain time. 

Spring Season Pass Pricing 
Adult (18–59): $579 (renewing, $529) 
Youth (7–17): $399 (renewing, $349) 
Senior (60–69): $449 (renewing, $399) 
College/Military/Veteran: $499 (renewing, $449) 
 

With night skiing perks and programs ranging from homeschool days to the Prime Timers social club, Mt. Spokane remains one of the most accessible and community-driven options in the region. 

49° NORTH MOUNTAIN RESORT 
Spring Season Pass Sale: Typically March to Mid-May 
Location: Chewelah, Wash. 
Lifts: 7 | Vertical: 1,871 feet | Acres: 2,325 | Runs: 90 

Eastern Washington’s largest ski area keeps spring lively with a packed lineup after early March. The Sheimo Cup Race returns March 7, followed by a Seafood Boil with live music on March 14, the always-rowdy Hawaiian Daze & Slush Cup on March 21, and the Out Like a Lion weekend celebration April 4–5. A season pass at 49 includes access to extensive terrain and the resort’s Nordic trail system. With two summits and varied terrain, 49° North offers one of the most diverse riding experiences in the region along with strong family pass options.  

Don’t miss your chance to lock in the lowest rate on a 49° North season pass for the 26/27 season this spring! Combo passes to both 49° North and Silver Mountain are also available. 

SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT 
Spring Season Pass Sale: Lowest Rates End May 15 
Location: Kellogg, Idaho 
Lifts: 7 | Vertical: 2,200 feet | Acres: 1,600 | Runs: 80 

Silver Mountain’s gondola access and big-mountain feel make it a favorite for both weekend warriors and destination visitors. Spring brings a lively lineup after early March, including the Doug E Fresh Banked Slalom and Ski Bum Prom on March 7, Toyota Free Ski Friday on March 13, Marchi Gras festivities on March 21, the Silver Cup Race March 28–29, the Jackass Rail Jam April 4, and the always-entertaining Pond Skim on April 11. 

Spring Season Pass Pricing (through May 15) 
Renewing passholders save an additional $20 
Adult (24–61): $509  
Youth (7–17): $349  
Young Adult (18–23): $399 
Senior (62–69): $469 

Silver and 49 combo passes and Silver winter and summer passes also on sale. 

LOOKOUT PASS SKI & RECREATION AREA 
Lock in the Lowest Season Pass Price this Spring  
Location: I-90 at the Idaho/Montana stateline 
Lifts: 5 | Vertical: 1,650 feet | Acres: 1,023 | Runs: 51 
Average annual snowfall: 450 inches 

Lookout Pass lives up to its nickname “The Powder Place” with plenty of snow, a welcoming atmosphere, and some fun spring highlights for passholders and prospective season pass buyers alike. Lookout’s spring calendar includes a Season Pass Holder Appreciation Day parking lot party on March 7, complete with BBQ and s’mores, and a Toyota Free Ski Friday day on March 27 where Toyota, Lexus, or Scion drivers receive a complimentary lift ticket for the day. March 29 brings the resort’s annual Rail Jam with divisions for all ages and levels, followed by a free Ski Golf event on April 4 and an Easter Egg Hunt on April 5. These events add community energy and fun to spring skiing and show what’s possible with a pass in your pocket.  

The mountain also hosts regular Prime Timers lunches and offers perks like free birthday skiing and partner discounts with nearby lodging and restaurants. It continues to be one of the most affordable ways for families and frequent skiers in the region to commit to a full winter of days on snow.  

Don’t miss your chance to lock in the lowest rate on a Lookout season pass for the 26/27 season this spring! 

49° NORTH & SILVER MOUNTAIN COMBO PASS 
For skiers and riders who want more mountain access and flexibility, the Combo Pass provides access to both 49° North and Silver Mountain. Combo passes go on sale during the spring pass sale window and represent one of the best values for those planning frequent days on snow. 

Spring season pass sales remain the smartest way to invest in next winter—especially after a lighter snow year. Whether you’re chasing powder days, family ski weekends, or simply more time outside, locking in your pass now ensures you’re ready when the flakes start flying again. 

Sponsored

The post Spring Season Pass Sales Are On Here’s why now is the best time to lock in next winter on the slopes.  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Nicole Aguado

Their first trip together was a life-changing experience.

Nicole and Lydia had never met before they climbed into Lydia’s old van with her daughter Naomi and headed east, deep into the Montana forest, chasing what would quickly become a truly epic and unforgettable adventure. There was no careful buildup or cautious first meeting. Just two women who admired each other’s hiking posts online, trusting a shared love for the outdoors enough to say yes and see what happened on the trail.

They met through the Spokane/North Idaho Hikers Facebook group, the community Nicole started as a place for herself and others to catalog hikes, collaborate with other outdoor lovers, and swap trail ideas. What began as a small local group quietly grew into a network of more than forty thousand members across the Northwest. Nicole and Lydia noticed each other there, drawn to each other’s adventure posts. Two seemingly very different women who admired one another’s solo adventures from afar until admiration turned into conversation.

When Lydia mentioned an upcoming trip and invited Nicole along, Nicole did not hesitate.

That trip brought many firsts.

It was not only Nicole’s first adventure with Lydia. It was her first night roughing it in a Forest Service cabin. The cabin Lydia chose was perched on the banks of Lake Como. The cabin was sparsely decorated and oversized, its big, cold rooms filled with bunk beds and empty space, lit only by oil lanterns that had to be ignited by hand. There was no electricity, no running water, no familiar comforts to lean on. Water had to be hauled from the lake and boiled. Meals were cooked on the hot coals of the wood fireplace. As their first evening together settled in, the cabin creaked from the wind whipping across the cool, early May water of Lake Como. With no modern distractions, conversation was plentiful. What could have felt awkward instead felt natural, two very different people finding common ground over a shared love for adventuring in the great outdoors.

The next morning delivered another first. Midway through a hike around the lake, the weather turned without warning. The light dimmed. Wind rushed hard through the trees. Thunder rolled in fast and close, followed by sheets of rain that soaked everything within minutes, including Nicole and Lydia. With no clear place to hide, they pressed into the forest together and waited it out, cold, uncomfortable, and alert. Fear has a way of stripping things down to what matters. In those minutes under the trees, small talk disappeared, and a deep trust was quickly born.

When the storm finally passed, they finished the hike changed, not by the hike itself, but by what they had endured side by side.

That night, back at the cabin, they warmed themselves by the wood fire. Smoke clung to their clothes. Boots steamed as they dried near the heat. Exhaustion softened everything. By then, the weekend had already done its quiet work. The firsts had piled up, and somewhere inside them, a lasting friendship had taken hold.

What began as a leap of faith with a stranger became the first of many adventures together.

It also became a living example of what Nicole had unknowingly built.

Nicole did not grow up outdoorsy. The mountains were something she admired from a distance, not something she felt called into. That changed later in life, after a friend introduced her to fishing, camping, and the quiet clarity that comes from spending time outside. Hiking followed, first as an outlet, then as a necessity. When life felt heavy, the trail made it lighter. When things fell apart, movement helped put them back together.

In 2018, in the aftermath of a breakup and searching for something that felt grounding, Nicole started a Facebook group. It was meant to be simple. A place for a few friends to share hikes around Spokane and North Idaho. A few friends joined at first. They posted photos. They traded trail names. They encouraged one another to get outside.

Then the group grew.

Slowly at first, then rapidly.

Today, Spokane/North Idaho Hikers includes more than forty thousand members. It has become the largest online hiking community in the region, a living, breathing network of people who ask questions, share knowledge, plan trips, and sometimes find the courage to try something they never thought they would. Nicole never planned to be a community leader. She became one because the need and the desire for connection in the outdoor community were undeniable.

The scale of the group became impossible to ignore during what many members still refer to simply as “the Jeff situation.” A local story involving a man named Jeff inviting ladies to join him for a hike unexpectedly went viral, and almost overnight, Spokane/North Idaho Hikers found itself at the center of the internet’s attention. Membership requests surged into the hundreds per day. People from well outside the region flooded in, many with no interest in hiking at all, but eager to follow the story as it spread across social media and local news.

For Nicole, it was a crash course in just how visible the group had become. Moderation turned into triage. She worked to protect the integrity of the community, filtering out noise while trying to keep the group focused on its original purpose. At the height of the attention, it was clear that Spokane/North Idaho Hikers was no longer just a casual online gathering. It had become a public-facing platform with real reach and real responsibility.

Through it all, Nicole stayed focused on why the group existed.

Connection.

People message her often to say the group helped them hike for the first time. Others say it pulled them out of isolation or gave them confidence to explore alone. Some meet friends. Some meet partners. A few, like Nicole and Lydia, meet people who change their lives entirely.

Nicole often hikes alone. She likes the quiet, the space to think, the way the forest strips life down to its essentials. She plans carefully, checks trail conditions, pays attention to the weather, and trusts her instincts. The wilderness does not scare her. It demands respect, and she gives it fully.

Photography has become part of her process, too. She shoots with her phone, capturing alpine lakes, mountain goats, and ridgelines wrapped in clouds. She does not chase perfection. She chases moments. Her photos are not about proving where she has been. They are about inviting others to imagine themselves there.

Her passion for adventure has taken her far beyond the Inland Northwest. Nicole recently embarked on a solo trip to New Zealand, a trip that confirmed something she already suspected: that she is capable of more than she once believed. She has jumped out of planes, backpacked into hot springs, and adventured across the world, and continues to say yes to experiences that stretch her comfort zone.

Through it all, Lydia remains one of her closest adventure partners. They travel easily together, balancing each other’s differences. They plan trips, improvise when plans fall apart, and laugh at the absurdity that sometimes comes with chasing epic experiences. Their friendship began with trust, was cemented by discomfort, and continues because it just works.

Nicole’s life is now shaped by the outdoors and the people she meets because of it. She dreams of future trips to Iceland, Patagonia, the Swiss Alps, and deeper into the places where cell service fades, and the noise disappears.

Looking back, it is easy to trace the line.

A Facebook group.
A message.
A van headed east.
A cabin.
A storm.
A life-long friendship.

Somewhere between carrying water from a lake and waiting out thunder under the trees, Nicole learned what she had been building all along. Not a hiking group. Not following. A doorway.

People join Spokane/North Idaho Hikers for all kinds of reasons. Some are looking for trail recommendations or current conditions. Others want to learn more about the outdoors, build confidence, or find people to hike with. Many simply want to feel less alone in their curiosity about the natural spaces around them. What they find, often unexpectedly, is a vibrant community, one built on shared experience, mutual respect, and the simple willingness to show up for one another, on the trail and beyond.

Nicole knows that feeling well. Over the past decade, she has evolved from a city girl to a true backwoods adventurer.

——

If you’re looking for some new adventure ideas or some new outdoor-loving friends, join the Spokane/North Idaho Hikers community on Facebook and see where it leads you!

The post How Spokane/North Idaho Hikers Became a Gateway to Adventure and Community appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Barry Campbell 

Cover photo courtesy of Terry Cooper

As the saying goes, it pays to be in the right place at the right time. And sometimes the pay isn’t in the form of income, but life experiences. Terry Cooper, founder of the regional ski-cult hit “Ski Flakes” videos, can tell you all about that.  

Cooper grew up in South Carolina and, like so many others, took a long and winding path to Sandpoint, Idaho. After serving in the Navy during the final years of the Vietnam War—including the evacuation of the country in 1975—he set out on a restless quest for meaning. He crisscrossed the country on a motorcycle, pedaled thousands of miles by bike, and ultimately found his way into the Rocky Mountains. 

By the early 1980s, he and his wife, Brenda, had moved to Sandpoint after a stint in Steamboat Springs, Colo. For Cooper, who had fallen in love with skiing in the low-lying resorts of North Carolina before discovering Colorado’s big mountains, Schweitzer offered a new kind of home, and he was hooked when he saw it. “What I wanted to do was ski,” he said. “That was it.” 

A Big Camera and a Bigger Idea 

Skiing was Cooper’s passion, but making a living in Sandpoint required creativity. He bought fixer-upper houses, tended bar, taught ski lessons, and eventually became a realtor. Still, his eyes were on the slopes. The question was, how could he ski as much as possible and share the stoke with others? 

The seed for “Ski Flakes” was planted in Steamboat when Cooper saw a man shooting ski footage on the mountain and screening it at the bar that night. Patrons loved seeing themselves on screen.  

By 1992 he brought that idea to Schweitzer. Inspired, he invested in one of the earliest pro video camcorders. With a little hustle, he arranged to play his ski footage at a local après-ski bar, The Keg (now the St. Bernard), for $30 a week. People started asking for copies. 

Soon, Cooper was selling VHS tapes, experimenting with editing and eyeing local cable TV airtime. He pitched the idea to Schweitzer’s then-owner, Bobbie Huguenin, who saw the potential to connect the mountain with the town. “Ski Flakes” was born. 

From the start, even though it was partially inspired by the gold standard ski filmmaker Warren Miller, it was clear this was a local/regional production. It was raw, spontaneous, and real. “It was reality TV before reality TV,” Cooper said. “You went out, shot whatever was happening and made a story out of it.” 

Will Work for Free Skiing 

Cooper rarely scripted “Ski Flakes.” He didn’t have to. Armed with an attention-grabbing camera, a crew of local characters and an eye for quirky moments, he turned the slopes, bars and parking lots into his stage. 

In the early years, his crew included journalists and storytellers like Liz Zimmerman and Chris Park, who helped craft narratives from Cooper’s footage. In later years, Scott Rulander joined as a second videographer. Their payment? Ski passes bartered through Schweitzer. “We were poor, but we were skiing,” Cooper laughed. Together, they cranked out 60-minute episodes every week during ski season—13 in a row—each a mashup of ski footage, party scenes, interviews and local history. 

Editing was a marathon. Cooper remembers staying up all night on Wednesdays to deliver a finished VHS tape to the cable station Thursday morning. He’d drive tapes to Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, Spokane and even ship them to Cranbrook for broadcast. The show aired nearly constantly in Sandpoint and on Schweitzer and on prime time in the other markets, reaching an estimated audience of 100,000 viewers. In the pre-internet 1990s that kind of reach was unheard of for a regional ski program, and it caught the attention of advertisers. 

Powder, Parties, and Pioneers 

What made “Ski Flakes” unique was its mix of content. Half the show might be deep powder turns and tree skiing, the other half might be raucous bar parties or tongue-in-cheek interviews. “I didn’t want it to be sexist, but I did want it to be sexy,” Cooper recalled. “People wanted to see themselves having fun, and they wanted to see the characters of the mountain.” 

But Cooper also had a historian’s eye. He sought out Schweitzer’s early pioneers—Jim Toomey, Bud Moon and Jack Fowler—and wove their stories into the show. He tracked down home movies from Schweitzer’s earliest days in the 1960s and preserved them on television. He spent years interviewing Red Mountain legend Booty Griffiths, who helped found one of the oldest ski schools in North America. 

For Cooper, it was never just about turns. It was about people and place. “My goal was never to tell their story,” he said. “It was to have them tell their story.” Over nearly two decades, “Ski Flakes” became a cultural record: Olympians Nancy Greene and Susie Luby; the Mahre brothers; TV personality Ben Stein; extreme skier Glen Plake; and countless locals found themselves immortalized on tape. 

Though Schweitzer was home, “Ski Flakes” expanded into what Cooper dubbed the Borderline Tour, a circuit of ski areas along the U.S.-Canada border: Red Mountain, Whitewater, Fernie, Kimberley, Panorama and Montana’s Big Mountain (now Whitefish Mountain Resort). Years before it was branded the “Powder Highway,” Cooper and crew were skiing it, cameras rolling. 

They didn’t have the luxury of waiting for perfect conditions like big-budget film crews. If it was storming, they shot. If visibility was bad, they turned it into a skit. That improvisational style gave the show an authenticity and relatability that connected with viewers. 

For a self-described ski bum, “Ski Flakes” opened doors that money couldn’t buy (like tours of the secret-est of stashes). Cooper and his friends were invited heli-skiing, cat-skiing and into backcountry bowls. “I’d say, ‘I need to ski first so I can shoot you coming down,’” he laughed. “So I always got first tracks.” 

He filmed scary moments too: huge sluffs flowing over his skis, sketchy helicopter drop-offs and fogbound adventures. But for every adrenaline spike, there was an equally memorable dinner with a ski legend like Mike Wiegele or a behind-the-scenes story with resort pioneers. 

“It was the American Express camera,” Cooper said. “Carte blanche. You showed up with a big camera and people let you in.” Filming “Ski Flakes” also opened a door for him to travel the world with wealthy clients as their personal videographer, including luxe African safaris, Ferrari shows and Bing Crosby’s Los Angeles estate. 

If all this sounds glamorous, the reality was grittier. Cooper had invested tens of thousands of dollars in cameras, editing decks and music rights at a time when he was making only a fraction of that. Editing was primitive and tedious. He sold ads himself in each market—Sandpoint, Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and Cranbrook—often giving small businesses more airtime than they paid for just to help them succeed.  

Financially, “Ski Flakes” survived, but just barely. What sustained the show, though, was passion, barter and Cooper’s other career in real estate. “I talked to every single business in town, trying to get them to buy an ad on my show. And everybody’s like, ‘Television, what are you talking about? I don’t even own a TV. What the @%$# is that?’ It was pretty funny.”  

“I never made a lot of money,” he admitted. “But I got to do things I never would have in my life otherwise.” 

Rex Cosgrove, who has skied at Schweitzer for decades dating back to the mid 70s, recalled that limited channels were available in Sandpoint, and as soon as they arrived in town from their home in Moscow, his kids would turn “Ski Flakes” on—and leave it on—for the weekend. “It was kind of a big deal at the time that you could watch this local skiing culture on TV. And we loved it,” he said. 

Shelf Life 

By 2010 new filming for “Ski Flakes” wound down. Digital editing and internet video were reshaping the media landscape, and the economics of selling ads for a regional ski show no longer worked. But reruns kept it alive—up until 2025, it was still on Sandpoint’s local access cable—and even today, episodes still loop in Pucci’s Pub at Schweitzer.  

Pucci’s owner, Eric Salontai, said that the TV tuned to “Ski Flakes” often gets more viewers than even events like Gonzaga hoops games. “People still will look back toward the Ski Flakes TV. Even we employees still watch because we’re riders and enjoy the mountain scenes,” he said. 

He added that airing footage of Schweitzer’s history, including icons like patrollers Arlene and Ted Cook, and the namesake of his pub, John Pucci, in their prime, complements the pub’s atmosphere. “Ski Flakes just made you feel that you were part of this thing. You’d see familiar faces, and you’d see how much Terry loved the scene he was shooting. And that’s the real telltale of the good that he was doing, because he was super eloquent in his filming. Not derogatory, not vulgar, none of that,” he said. 

These days Cooper doesn’t sit still long, ripping tele-ski and single-track mountain bike lines nearly every day. However, the “Ski Flakes” Worldwide Headquarters (his office) is jam packed with a mountain of epic footage: 7,000 hours of video, only a fraction of which ever aired. He has slowly begun digitizing it, with thoughts of future documentaries or online archives. He also has extensive footage of rock star interviews at the Festival at Sandpoint and other rarities. “It’s history,” he said. “And it has value. You can’t get those stories back once they’re gone.” 

Legacy of a Flake 

In retrospect, “Ski Flakes” was far more than entertainment. It was connective tissue, linking Sandpoint to Schweitzer, Idaho to British Columbia, locals to Olympians. It captured a culture in transition: the rise of snowboarding, the shift from straight 210s to shaped skis, the evolution of après-ski from wild bar parties to today’s typically toned-down and phone-absorbed scenes. Most of all, it preserved the personalities—everyday skiers and mountain characters—who made the Northwest ski scene what it was. 

Today, as GoPros and drones flood social media with instant edits, Cooper’s work reminds us of a different era: one where telling the story took commitment, community and countless late nights with VHS decks and turntables. “Ski Flakes” may not have made Cooper rich, but it gave him—and the Inland Northwest—something even better: a lasting story of the evolution of a sport and a region. 

This winter Barry Campbell plans to chase powder at Schweitzer, soak up some Baja sun and continue building his company, Two Oaks Marketing. 

The post “Ski Flakes,” the O.G. Inland NW Ski Film Pioneers  appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Chris Maccini 

Cover photo courtesy of Diane Delanoy

It was 29 years ago that Galen Chamberlain first picked up a copy of Rich Landers’ classic guidebook, “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest.” At age 60, he’d just retired from a career in construction and was enrolled in a backpack school course through the Spokane Mountaineers. At the time, Chamberlain was far from an avid hiker.  

“I did a lot of skiing and cross-country skiing, but I never walked any more than a hundred yards in my life if I could help it until their backpack school,” he says. “I remember when I got back to the trailhead after three days, I told one of the instructors, ‘I ain’t never gonna hike again.” 

But while his feet and shoulders may have ached after that first hike, there was something that drew him back to the trail. Soon, he was hooked, and he set himself a goal to hike 500 miles per year. Chamberlain has kept track of every mile of every hike for nearly three decades, a total of more than 14,500 miles. 

Over the years, Landers’ “100 Hikes” became a constant companion. Each time Chamberlain completed one of the hikes in the book, he checked it off, often making notes on the weather, trail conditions and his hiking companions. When he returned to a hike again, he added another mark. Some hikes, like nearby Mount Kit Carson in Mount Spokane State Park (Hike #21), he has done a whopping 96 times. But it wasn’t until many years of hiking that the idea occurred to Chamberlain to try to complete all 100 hikes.  “I just started knocking ’em off,” he says. “And then after I got 50 or 60, I thought, hey, why not shoot for a hundred?” 

The trails in “100 Hikes” are spread throughout Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and British Columbia. In addition to being an active outdoorsman, Chamberlain was also a pilot. He owned a small airplane, which allowed him to fly in and camp at remote airstrips, giving him easier access to some of the more remote hiking areas such as the Cabinet Mountains in Montana and the Eagle Cap Wilderness in Oregon. One by one, he checked them off in his increasingly tattered copy of the guidebook. 

The 100th Hike Attempt to Mortar and Pestle Lakes 

In the summer of 2018, Chamberlain and a group of friends set out to complete the final hike in the book, number 100: Mortar-Pestle Lakes. The hike is located in British Columbia’s St. Mary’s Provincial Park, a remote wilderness area northwest of Cranbrook, BC. As Landers’ description in “100 Hikes” puts it, “This little niche of wilderness is so far off the beaten track, it doesn’t even have an official trail in its 22,650 acres.” Landers describes a steep, sparsely marked “trail” over granite boulders and alpine larch, noting that the area was previously home to a logging operation and “there’s a good chance you will have to seek out the trail to some degree.” He rates the hike “moderately difficult” in the book.   

When Chamberlain and his friends arrived in August of 2018, they knew there was wildfire activity in the area to contend with. The day before their scheduled hike, Chamberlain called BC Parks and asked about the trail’s status. They advised him to check the website in the morning to be sure the area was not restricted. Early the next day, everything looked clear. They packed up and started the drive to the trailhead under smoky skies. They’d driven less than 10 miles outside of Cranbrook when they were met with a blockade. Apparently, a new wildfire had started overnight, and no one had taken the time to update the website. There would be no hiking that day. The group turned around and headed home.  

But Chamberlain was determined to complete the hike one day. This was the final hike he needed to complete his 100-hikes goal, after all. He decided his next attempt would be earlier in the summer to avoid wildfire danger. In 2019, he once again gathered a group of fellow hiking enthusiasts and made the drive up to Cranbrook, BC. As all good outdoorsmen should, they checked the weather forecast beforehand and noted that there was a 20% chance of light rain on the day they planned to hike. Everything seemed to be lining up for a successful attempt. This time, they made the drive into the old logging roads which accessed the trailhead and spent the night at an old horse camp in the area. 

The next morning, it was indeed raining, and the road was in rough shape. But Chamberlain and his friends figured they must be close to the trailhead, according to the directions and rudimentary map in “100 Hikes.” They set out hiking to find the trailhead and complete the hike. After six hours of hiking in the pouring rain, unable to even find the beginning of the trail they were after, they decided to give up. Afterward, Chamberlain wrote across the top of the Mortar-Pestle Lakes page in his “100 Hikes” book, “FORGET IT.” He figured the final hike would elude him forever. 

One More Try 

A few years passed. Chamberlain continued to hike all over the Inland Northwest and beyond, often with friends he met through the Spokane Mountaineers, logging his 500 miles every year. Among his frequent hiking companions were Diane Delanoy and her husband, Ken, active members of the Spokane Mountaineers. Ken had been among the group of hikers turned away in 2018 due to wildfire. So they knew about Chamberlain’s goal of completing all 100 hikes, and they knew just how challenging the final hike had proved to be. When Chamberlain approached Diane and Ken about making one more attempt at the Mortar and Pestle lakes hike in 2025, Diane sprung into action. 

“I went onto Facebook and found a British Columbia hiking group and just kind of searched through their posts trying to find any mention of Mortar Lake,” Diane says. “I came up with one. This gal had been up there. So I contacted her, and she was able to send me the GPS tracking thing that got them to the trailhead.” 

With the local knowledge and GPS data loaded onto Diane’s phone, Chamberlain set out this past September with the Delanoys and another friend, Denise Beardslee, for one final attempt. Following the GPS up the old logging roads, the group was able to successfully locate the trailhead. To their surprise, it was well-marked with signage and a logbook. They camped at the trailhead that night, excited to start up the trail the next morning. When they did, they realized Landers’ trail rating of “moderately difficult” felt like an understatement.  

“Honestly, I thought it was the hardest hike I’ve ever done,” Diane says. “Even though it was less than five miles up and back, it is straight up the whole time. You just climb up, up, up, up, up till you get to a boulder field. And then you’ve got to get through that to the ridge, where we could see the two lakes.” 

The group had planned to camp in the wilderness area another night, but after the grueling hike, they drove out and spent the night at a campground. There, they celebrated Chamberlain’s accomplishment as he checked off the final hike in his weathered copy of “100 Hikes.” As he did, Chamberlain made one edit to Landers’ description: he crossed out the word “moderately” so that the trail rating read, “difficult.”

 

Looking Ahead and Inspiring Others 

Now that Chamberlain has completed all 100 hikes, he doesn’t have another major goal he’s looking to reach. “I’m still doing [the hikes],” he says. “I wouldn’t do them all [again], but there are a few I’d like to do again.” 

Some trails he would like to return to include the Tucannon River-Diamond Peak Loop in the Blue Mountains (#82), and Lookout Mountain east of Priest Lake (#37). Apart from that, he plans to keep hitting that 500-mile-per-year goal for as long as he can. 

And, of course, Chamberlain has a big milestone coming up next summer when he turns 90 years old. He doesn’t have a grand expedition planned, but says he might rent a local grange hall to celebrate with friends or maybe take a kayak trip through Priest Lake’s Thoroughfare.  

For Chamberlain’s friends and hiking companions like Diane Delanoy, Chamberlain is a constant inspiration to continue getting outdoors and having adventures no matter your age. “He really does motivate me,” Delanoy says. “If there’s a backpack or a hike and my husband will say, do you want to go? It’s like, nah, I don’t know. But if Chamberlain’s going, I want to go. Because if he can do it, I can do it. Plus, he always brings the fun.” 

As for Chamberlain’s advice to younger hikers? “Just keep going,” he says. “Do your yoga, do your daily exercises, walk every day. You never quit. You just can’t quit.” 

Chris Maccini is a writer and audio producer based in Spokane. This winter, you can find him on the ski slopes and cross-country trails of Mount Spokane. 

The post At 89, Spokane’s Galen Chamberlain Completes the “100 Hikes” Challenge appeared first on Out There Venture.

Uncrowded and Untamed, Republic-Area Snowmobile Trails Showcase Washington’s Wild Side

Republic sits in that sweet spot for Inland Northwest snowmobiling: far enough from the I-90 corridor crowds to feel like you’ve escaped, but close enough to make a long weekend realistic out of Spokane and North Idaho. In winter, the mountains in and surrounding Ferry County in the Colville National Forest offer different riding options in every direction from town, including over 200 miles of groomed routes, rolling terrain and long tours that are well suited to families and mixed-skill groups—especially riders who want scenic mileage without committing to big, avalanche-prone alpine slopes.

The small Western town of Republic makes an excellent basecamp for exploring different trail systems too. Instead of driving to a single trailhead and being locked into one loop system, you can stage from town and check out several different Sno-Parks and trail networks close to town, tailoring each day to the group, the snow conditions and the vibe you’re after. Most of the trails are on land managed by the U.S. Forest Service with Sno-Park facilities and grooming provided by Washington State Parks.

Pick Your Staging Area: Five Go-To Snowmobile Options Near Republic

Before heading out on the snowy trails, make sure you have a Washington State Sno-Park Permit, which is required at all state Sno-Parks and helps make the facilities and grooming possible (find permit info here). Once you have your permit, make sure to have all of the supplies you’ll need to be self-sufficient for a day out in the winter backcountry.

If you want the simplest “show up, unload, and ride” option closest to town, start with Hall Creek Sno-Park, which provides access to 38 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, including loop options. The Sno-Park, just off of Highway 20 east of Republic, includes a vault toilet and parking suitable for trucks and trailers.

For longer day rides and a bigger network feel, look to Empire Lake Sno-Park north of town, with 57 miles of groomed trails with several loop options and additional ungroomed routes. It’s a go-to choice for groups who want to lay down some miles exploring this mid-elevation terrain with several lakes and frequent wildlife sightings.

Farther east off of Highway 20 over Sherman Pass, the Albian Hill Sno-Park offers a 32-mile groomed route that traverses the Kettle Range mountains all the way to Boulder Creek Road and the Bulldog staging area. This higher-elevation, one trail route typically holds snow throughout the season and makes an excellent out-and-back adventure of any length, especially if you’re trying to keep a group together.

And if your crew is willing to roam a little farther west of Republic, another classic network is the Bonaparte Sno-Park. Featuring 52 miles of groomed trails, it’s the kind of place that can turn into a full day of exploring spurs, viewpoints, and out-and-back routes without feeling like you’re stuck doing the same lap over and over.

One more option worth knowing about is Scatter Creek Staging Area, a smaller, more flexible access point south of town that’s open seasonally as snow cover allows. It’s also notable because no Sno-Park permit is required there (parking availability depends on conditions, and grooming is not guaranteed at staging areas). This is a lower elevation area that also has winter wildlife closure areas that are not open to snowmobiles, so ride responsibly.

Download maps for each of these trails systems at the Republic Regional Visitors and Convention Bureau website here. The site also includes links to the trail grooming schedule for each area so that you can time your trip around ideal conditions.

Staying Safe and Having Fun Snowmobiling around Republic

Snowmobiling always comes with real risk, and conditions can change fast. But the Republic area tends to shine for riders who want to keep things fun and limit exposure to avalanche terrain and challenging riding. Many of these routes follow forest-road style corridors and lower-angle terrain that can feel more approachable than steep, high-consequence mountain zones. It’s a good fit for family groups, newer riders building confidence, and anyone who’d rather make the day about views, fresh air, and steady cruising than about hunting down powder in aggressive terrain.

Make Republic Your Snowmobiling Basecamp

The best way to do this trip is to give yourself at least two ride days so you can sample different systems. Make it a choose-your-own-adventure: one day ride a shorter network to warm up and dial in the group, then spend another day on a longer system where you can stretch the mileage. Because the Sno-Parks are spread around the region, you can also chase the best snow. If one side of the range got wind-scoured or warmed up at lower elevations, pivot to another staging area instead of forcing it.

Back in town, Republic’s small, friendly main-street energy makes the off-sled hours feel like part of the experience, not just downtime. It’s easy to fuel up, grab a hot drink, swap route ideas with locals, and plan the next day—without the resort-town crowds or traffic. That’s what Republic delivers best—wild Northeast Washington scenery, uncrowded trail time, and an authentic winter sledding experience you can’t fake.

Republic has several lodging options for winter visitors looking to set up basecamp for a night or more in the winter wonderland of this historic town. Learn more about winter adventures in Republic and find lodging and other amenity info at the Republic Regional Visitors and Convention Bureau’s website.

(Sponsored by the Republic Regional Visitors and Convention Bureau)

The post Snowmobile Trails and Sno-Parks around Republic, WA appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Brad Naccarato 

The first snowflakes of the 2025-26 season have already started accumulating at area resorts. Stoke is high, and the general feeling is that this could be another stellar year in the mountains. If you’ve made the decision to finally upgrade your ride or style, local shops stock some of the hottest new gear of the season. These are a few of their season favorites. 

Solnix (Spokane on North Division)     

Solnix (previously Shred Sports) continues to grow both its hard- and soft-good lines offered throughout the store. With a full-service ski and snowboard tech center already in place, they’ve got big plans for next year to add a rental fleet.   

If you’re looking to upgrade your skis this year, take a look at the Armada ARV. “Armada is really killing it this year with their all-mountain ski lineup,” said Solnix sales associate Dax Murrell. “It’s a versatile one-ski quiver with tip and tail rocker that moves easily from groomers to powder.” The ARV is offered in 95, 100, or 106 millimeters at the waist. The men’s ski retails for $699 and the women’s for $599. 

On the snowboard side of things, the patented new FASE step-in binding system is taking the snowboard world by storm. It’s now being utilized by several binding manufacturers for the 25/26 season. One of those leading the pack is the ROME Katana. “It’s like a standard highback, two-buckle binding, but with the added advantage of being able to slide in or out of it super quick,” said Murrell. The Katana uses a hinging high back mechanism that enables the user to step-in without completely disengaging the buckles. “There are no drawbacks like with the old step-in systems of snowboarding’s early days. You still have the great edge control of a standard high-back binding, but now the ease of use that comes with a step-in system.” The Katana retails for $429. 

Need some new goggles? Oakley is charging hard this year with its 50th anniversary collection. “Oakley has what it calls the ‘perfect lens’ with zero distortion and an enhanced field of view,” said Murrell. “They also use Switchlock tech, so you can swap out lenses super quick based on conditions.” The Oakley Line Miner Pro goggles retail for $317 and come with two sets of lenses.  

Alpine Haus (North Spokane and South Hill) 

Alpine Haus is celebrating the one-year anniversary of their new Northside location, in addition to the 10^th anniversary of the current owners taking over and revitalizing the long-standing Alpine Haus shop on the South Hill. Alpine Haus continues its tradition of investing in future skiers and riders with the ever-popular bargain season-lease program for $159 for kids or $259 for adults.  

Looking for a different type of snowboard boot? The Union Reset Pro might scratch the itch. “The Reset is really a revolutionary new boot in that it’s built to last 100 plus days, much like a ski boot, with a durable outer shell and BOA tech for a locked-in fit,” said store manager Chad Ohman. “They’re a higher price-point boot, but they’re handcrafted in Italy and are fully heat moldable,” he added. The Reset Pro comes in at $649.  

On the ski boot front, Armada is making waves with its new AR One freeride boots. “It’s similar to the old Full-Tilt style boots, but it utilizes a ‘slingshot’ buckle across the ankle that operates through a cable pulley at a 45-degree angle, locking you tight into the heel pocket,” said Ohman. “With Salomon and Atomic under the same parent company, Armada was able to lean on a lot of tech from their sibling companies in the development of this boot.” The AR is offered in a 90/100/110/120/130 flex. Prices range from $450-$875.  

Most people overlook socks, but you don’t want to look past Le Bent’s line of Pro-Series socks. “Le Bent uses traditional merino wool, but, instead of blending it with polyester, they use bamboo, which gives them an amazingly soft feel,” Ohman said. “They recently surveyed 120 of the best boot fitters around the country and 100 of them said Le Bent was their go-to sock.” Le Bent offers several cushion levels ranging in price from $42-$44. 

Escape Outdoors (Coeur d’Alene) 

Nestled in the heart of the Village at Riverstone, Escape Outdoors has been supplying Coeur d’Alene’s skiers and riders with stylish, high-end outdoor apparel and accessories for the last 17 years. Founded locally in 2004, Escape also operates a Bellevue, Wash., location.  

As one of the oldest outdoor apparel manufacturers in the world, Helly Hansen has been outfitting adventurers since 1877. They know a thing or two about what works. As one of the region’s only Helly dealers, Escape’s assistant manager, Ashley Taylor, is hyped for their new Legendary Pant for women. “It’s a breathable, lightweight, waterproof pant that’s just a great all-around ski piece for ladies,” said Taylor. “The best part though is the PrimaLoft insulation that gives you that extra bit of warmth on those super chilly days,” she adds. The Legend retails for $205.  

Norrona, a Norwegian-based company, has been a rising star in the American outdoor apparel industry. While they might not be on most American’s radar yet, they’ve been a big player in the Northern European market for decades. “We just started carrying Norrona this year and I’m very excited about their Lofoten Pro Gore-Tex Freeride Jacket,” Taylor said. “It comes in some really unique colorways and it’s also got all the bells and whistles—zip-off powder skirt, pit zips and a helmet-compatible hood.” With an elite level of 3-layer Gore-Tex protection, the Lofoten retails for $899.  

On the accessory side of things, Autumn’s new winter beanie collection has been a best seller at Escape. “Autumn has a really diverse collection with lots of cool patterns to choose from. They are super comfy and super popular,” said Taylor. Autumn’s new winter collection of beanies retails from $24-$28. 

Ski Shack (Hayden) 

Ski Shack has been serving the Hayden community and well beyond for almost 50 years. A full-service ski and snowboard shop, they also have rental and demo options available. You’ll also find a large assortment of soft goods and accessories packed into their eclectic shop on Government Way. 

Year after year, Nordica always hauls in the ski-test awards with the Enforcer line-up. This year is no exception. “They did a slight re-design on the ski, making it a little lighter and a little more flexible,” said ski tech Carson Dowell. “It’s the most versatile and advanced all-mountain ski that Nordica has ever made, and it continues to dominate the market,” he added. New for this year, the Nordica Enforcer now comes in waist widths of 89/94/99/104. It retails from $849-$899. 

For snowboards, Dowell is pretty high on the new Nitro Alternator. “It’s a lot of value for the money. It’s got an 8 flex, with a big spooned-out nose, so it’s more of an all-mountain board but still rides really good in powder,” he said. As the region’s only Nitro dealer, Ski Shack has the Alternator listed at $579.  

2-Wheeler & Ski Dealer (Hayden) 

2-Wheeler has been a staple in the Nordic gear department for folks over in Hayden for decades. For this upcoming season, the shop is not carrying any new in-line Nordic products, but they still have a great selection of skis, boots and bindings from last season.  

If you’re looking for a whole new setup, it’s hard to beat Rossignol’s BC 65 ski/binding combo. “Rossi’s BC 65 is our bestselling setup because it works great for on-track snow but will go anywhere off-track you’re willing to take it,” said assistant manager Pat Hutchins. “The waxless Positrack base makes it super grippy for small climbs when you need it,” he added. The BC retails for $399 (with Nordic bindings).  

If you’re going to spring for new skis, you might as well go all-in and grab a new pair of boots like the Rossignol BC X5 women’s or BC X6 men’s boot, designed specifically to pair with the BC line of skis. They retail for $199 and $225, respectively.  

Gear Garage (Coeur d’Alene) 

Located in the heart of downtown Coeur d’Alene, Gear Garage has become the go-to place for used ski and snowboard equipment but they also sell and demo new equipment and are the area’s only dealer for Icelantic skis and Never Summer snowboards.  

Owner Matt Dingman is super excited about the shop’s new demo ski packages they now have in stock. “We’ve got a ton of Völkl, Nordica and Blizzard demo skis on the wall this year. These are this year’s models and many of them have only been on snow a handful of times, and some are brand new,” said Dingman. “You’ll save up to 30% off with these models since they are considered used by the manufacturer since they’ve been mounted,” he added. Prices range from $479-$1,039 (price includes a mounted demo binding). 

Alpine Shop (Sandpoint) 

Serving Sandpoint since 1966, Alpine Shop operates both a downtown store and a mountaintop location in Schweitzer Village. Both shops offer full-service ski and snowboard tuning as well as custom boot fitting.  

If you’re looking for that groomed snow, all-star performer, the Stökli Stormrider 88 has been one of the shop’s bestselling skis. “It’s a pure hand-made Swiss ski that’s nimble, versatile, and really knows no speed limit,” said general manager Andre Bircher. “It loves to run on the groomers, but really can be skied anywhere,” he added. The Storm Rider retails at $1,439. 

If battery-powered, heated accessories are your thing, Alpine Shop has several new offerings from Thermic, one of the pioneers of heated footbed technology. “Thermic now has rechargeable, heated base layers, glove liners and socks. These are the kinds of things that really come in handy on those cold January days,” he said. Thermic’s heated gloves retail for $339. 

Outdoor Experience (Sandpoint) 

This downtown Sandpoint shop has always been the city’s primary Nordic ski shop. They also offer a full line of winter apparel from many of the industry’s top manufacturers. On the hard goods side, they are strong believers in the Rossignol BC setups, which have always been big sellers. 

On the soft goods side of things, Outdoor Experience sales associate Hank Graves loves the new Deviator Hoody from Outdoor Research. “It’s a super breathable, fast-drying midlayer, but can be used as an outer layer on nicer days,” he said. “It’s a very versatile soft-shell piece that’s well suited for the aerobic demands of backcountry skiing.”  

If you want to match the bottom with the top, then you’ll want to grab the Deviator Wind Pants as well. “These are athletic, softshell wind pants. Together, these two make for a killer combo that’ll have you covered in all but the most extreme conditions,” Graves added. The Deviator Hoody and Pants retail for $229 and $139, respectively.

The post 2025–26 Winter Gear Preview: Local Shop Favorites Across the Inland Northwest appeared first on Out There Venture.

Stories connect us. That’s nothing new. But I’ve been thinking about the way stories connect us to place, specifically outdoor places, and the use of telling stories that are anchored in the natural world.  

When I’m outside, it usually starts with movement. Stories unravel as I walk with a friend on the trail, muscles at work. But stories also come to me at times of sitting: particularly around a fire (the oldest of storytelling places), or under a pine tree covered with snow, breaking for cold sandwiches after snowmobiling in the backcountry, feeling alive and alert just for existing in that remote, snow-bright place. 

Perhaps we’re at our most story-ready when we’re outside because we’re away from television and traffic, already looking to connect with something transcendent. Maybe we crave stories when we’re outside because the world feels bigger there, where the snow-muffled silence is both beautiful and hard to sit with, where we feel small on the face of a mountain. Maybe we go to these places to find stories, to sharpen the ones we know or are still discovering. To go into the wilds and come back with fresh-foraged tales.  

I have certain places that are story-anchored: an alpine lake and set of trails in the Cascades always bring up stories of past backpacking trips. If you’ve connected deeply enough with a place, I’ll bet you’ve cached the threadworks of stories there, too. I believe places can hold stories in a near-physical way, like how a familiar creek crossing or a wave of fireweed in bloom might trigger your story recall with their place-based cues. We could call these “story cairns.” Why follow them?  

The stories of the outdoors that we tell are bigger-than-us stories. They’re of-the-earth and environment stories. They’re stories that show we’re paying attention. And those stories are worth megaphoning these days. Grounding those tales on a set of skis, sleds or snowshoes makes them ring specific to our outdoors community.  

Each time we put together this magazine, we’re rounding up those stories that feel megaphone-worthy. Stories of celebration, mishaps and near-misses—all the things that amaze and surprise us when we go out into this complicated world.  

In this issue of Out There, we look back at the making of “Ski Flakes,” the regional ski videos that started at Schweitzer in the ‘90s, to consider how storytelling can both shape and preserve a culture. We share the adventure of an 89-year-old who bagged the last trail on his 100-hikes list, a story of perseverance. And, for the first time, we’ve included a handful of poems, a storytelling form that might be considered a journey in its reading.  

In each of them? A celebration of the ways you can get out there this winter in pursuit of the connections that make us human. 

• Lisa Laughlin, managing editor 

The post The Stories of Outdoor Spaces   appeared first on Out There Venture.

Plan Your Winter Escape to Backcountry Ski, Snowshoe, Cross-Country Ski, or Fat Bike on the Trails around Republic, Wa.

The small northeast Washington town of Republic, surrounded by mountains, trails and several Sno-Parks, is the kind of place where close-to-town winter adventures come steeped in solitude that may feel like you’re 1,000 miles from nowhere. A cross-country ski outing on the Ferry County Rail Trail or up at the Deer Creek Nordic Sno-Park at the top of Boulder Pass will greet you with such a still, snowy quiet that you may swear you can hear snowflakes falling. And you’re bound to see more snowshoe hare tracks than other humans on a backcountry ski tour in the Kettle Range up at Sherman Pass (the highest all-season pass in Washington).

Even though it’s only a 2.5-hour drive north from Spokane, Republic, the county seat of sparsely populated Ferry County, has held onto its western mountain-town roots as a mining and logging hub. Historic buildings line the stoplight- and chain store-free main drag, housing small businesses that serve the local community and visitors alike. With a couple of hotels, local restaurants, coffee shops, a bakery and even a local craft brewery, it’s a welcome alternative to crowded resort towns and an easy place to settle into as a base camp for winter adventures.

Some of the Best Winter Adventures Around Republic

The Republic area has the winter adventure bases covered, whether you’re into snowshoeing, backcountry or Nordic skiing, snowmobiling or fat biking. For human-powered winter sports, there are several options.

The Ferry County Rail Trail offers a flat, non-motorized pathway for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or fat biking, depending on the snow conditions. Portions of the trail are groomed throughout the winter for cross-country skiing.

Up in the nearby Kettle Range Mountains, two mountain passes, Boulder and Sherman, offer backcountry and cross-country skiers and snowshoers easy access to a winter wonderland. The Deer Creek Nordic Sno-Park at Boulder Pass features six miles of groomed Nordic-ski trails. Skiers with backcountry-touring gear and snowshoers have endless possibilities for exploring the open forests of the recently burned mountain slopes on both sides of the pass.

At the Sherman Pass Sno-Park, there are options for mellow snowshoe hikes and challenging peak ascents. Backcountry skiers willing to earn their turns have access to some of the best backcountry slopes in the Inland Northwest. Avalanches are possible in the mountains around Sherman Pass, and all skiers and snowshoers should come prepared with appropriate avalanche training and safety gear. A Washington Sno-Park permit is required at both trailheads.

2026 Winter Events in Republic and Ferry County

Republic and Ferry County also host several unique winter events that are worth planning a trip around.

Republic’s Winterfest celebration for 2026 is set for Friday evening and all day Saturday, Jan. 9-10. The event features a Friday evening light parade and multiple creative events and contests on Saturday, including outhouse races, a K-9 keg pull, tug-of-war and other family-friendly activities.

Nordic and backcountry skiers should have the Altai Skis Backcountry Ski & Hok Festival on their radar. Happening Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7-8, 2026 (pending Forest Service approval as of December 2025), the event offers a chance to demo backcountry ski-touring gear from Ferry County-based Altai Skis and explore the local backcountry terrain with others. The weekend-long event takes place up at the Deer Creek Nordic Sno-Park near Curlew in the Kettle Range.

Another Nordic ski event popular with both locals and skiers from around the region is the annual Ferry County Rail Trail Ski Day, which takes place on a weekend in January or February, depending on snow conditions. Participants can try out cross-country ski gear and take free ski lessons. Follow the Ferry County Rail Trail Partners on Facebook for this year’s ski day details.

Winter Road and Snow Safety

 Mountain passes around Republic including Boulder and Sherman passes may experience winter storm conditions, and visitors need to come prepared for varying road and trailhead conditions. Check out our backcountry winter guide to the Republic area for more trail and terrain suggestions for backcountry skiing and snowshoeing. Because the high peaks of the Kettle Crest include some avalanche terrain, be aware of avalanche risks in the area and go prepared when exploring backcountry terrain on skis, splitboard, snowshoes, or snowmobile.

Where to Stay in Republic in the winter

Republic has several lodging options for winter visitors looking to set up basecamp for a night or more in the winter wonderland of this historic mountain town. Learn more about winter adventures in Republic and find lodging and other amenity info at the Republic Regional Visitors and Convention Bureau’s website.

(Sponsored by the Republic Regional Visitors and Convention Bureau)

The post Where to Ski and snowshoe around republic, wa. appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Mt. Spokane

The countdown to ski season is on, and Inland Northwest resorts are rolling out fresh deals, events and upgrades to get stoke levels rising. From new lift projects and lodge makeovers to discounted passes and expanded lesson programs, there’s plenty happening before the first flakes fly. Here’s what’s new at these Ski the Northwest Rockies Association resorts. 

49° North Mountain Resort 

Chewelah, Wash. 

Season Pass Sales 
49 Degrees North’s Fall Season Pass Sale runs from Sept. 16 through Nov. 15, giving skiers and riders their last chance to lock in lower pricing before winter. Passes are $669 for adults, $449 for youth ages 7-17, $549 for seniors (62-69), $399 for super seniors (70-79), and $479 for young adults (18-23) and college students. 

Preseason Events 

• Pass pickup events will be held throughout Spokane and Chewelah this fall. 

• The biggest preseason celebration, Rocktoberfest, returns with a Saturday Oct. 4, brew fest, Oktoberfest-themed menu, live music and family activities. On Sunday, Oct. 5, runners can hit the trails before enjoying an autumn-harvest brunch with more live music.  

Learn to Ski Programs and Clinics 

• Big savings are available through Oct. 1 for the resort’s FAST and Freeriders competition programs, which focus on racing and freeskiing while building friendships, responsibility and a lifelong love of skiing.  

• Registration for the Adventurers multi-week youth lessons opens Oct. 1, with four-week sessions for ages 5-13 that typically sell out quickly.  

• For older kids, the Junior Instructor Program (ages 12-15) offers training, mentorship and behind-the-scenes experience.  

• 49 also partners with schools to make the mountain accessible through affordable group programs. 

Mountain Updates 

• Resort improvements continue across the mountain, including the big news that the Payday Lift will be replaced by a new fixed-grip quad from Doppelmayr, scheduled to open for the 2026-27 season.  

• The lodge’s lower level has been remodeled to provide more guest seating and new family restrooms.  

• On the slopes, a Prinoth Leitwolf groomer joins the fleet, bringing 530 horsepower and the ability to lay down 22-foot-wide corduroy in a single pass. 
  
  

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area 

Mullan, Idaho 

Season Pass Sales 
Lookout Pass is still keeping skiing affordable with its season pass sale, but prices jump after Nov. 22. Deals until then start at $159 for full-time college students, $399 for youth ages 7-17 and $549 for adults. 

Why Choose Lookout Pass 
With an average of 450 inches of snowfall each winter and no need for snowmaking, Lookout Pass delivers more powder days and a vibe that’s hard to beat. The mountain offers 1,023 acres of terrain, 52 trails, plus eight glades and a vertical drop of 1,650 feet. Five lifts, including two quads, move skiers and riders around the mountain with ease, and Lookout offers affordable lift tickets, unique events and a family-friendly atmosphere just 200 yards off the I-90 freeway. 

Ticket Deals 
From discounted 3-pack tickets to appreciation days for teachers, first responders, and health care workers, Lookout stacks up plenty of ways to save. Highlights include a free lift ticket on your birthday, half-price tickets midweek with another mountain’s season pass, Bring a Friend Thursdays with two tickets for $75, gift card bonuses tacked onto a card purchase and other fun perks, like $20 tickets for anyone who dresses like Santa on Dec. 23. 

Ski School Programs 
Lookout’s Free Ski School, running since 1942, remains the oldest and longest-running free ski program in the nation, offering a limited number of free ski and snowboard lessons for kids. Additional offerings include a $199 Learn to Ski or Ride package, senior workshops with early-morning first tracks, women’s clinics and kids’ programs like Mini Moose (ages 4-6). Season-long rentals are also available. 

Mountain Updates 
Guests this year will notice new Forest Service bathrooms near Chair 5, two added Prinoth groomers and a fresh “Welcome to Lookout Pass” entrance sign. 

Preseason Events 
Lookout staff will be at regional ski swaps, colleges and community events in Spokane and North Idaho this fall to help skiers conveniently pick up passes and ticket packs. 

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park 

Spokane, Wash. 

Season Pass Sales 
Mt. Spokane’s Summer Pass Sale runs through Sept. 10, with prices increasing after that. The Last Chance Fall Pass Sale follows and ends Nov. 10. Buying early offers the best savings and the most flexibility, with season pass benefits including night skiing and free or discount skiing at partner mountains. 

Lift Ticket Deals 
For those who aren’t ready to commit to a full season pass, 5-pack lift ticket bundles go on sale at the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap and continue through November. Quantities are limited, so picking them up early is the best bet. 

Preseason Events 

• The winter buzz kicks off with the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap at the Spokane Fairgrounds Oct. 25–26.  

• On Nov. 9, the Winter PreFunk Party returns to Lodge 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

• Job seekers can head up to the Seasonal Employee Job Fair on Nov. 1 in Lodge 1, from 8–11 a.m., where the mountain looks to fill nearly 400 seasonal positions ranging from guest services to lift ops and ski school. 

Learn to Ski Programs and Clinics 

• Registration for Learn-to-Ski Camps and Multiweek Programs opens Sept. 10. As the region’s largest ski school, Mt. Spokane offers programs for kids and adults, with multiweek sessions filling quickly each year. 

• This season, the popular Friday Night Club Shred expands to include both little kids (ages 4–8) and big kids (ages 9–13). Running Dec. 26-March 13, the program includes lessons, dinner and activities for $49 a night or $99 for a club entry that includes two adult night skiing tickets, making it a great drop-and-go mountain date. Ladies can rally Friday, Feb. 13, for the mountain’s one-day Galentine’s Day Clinic featuring personalized instruction, meals, après fun and prizes. 
  
  

Silver Mountain Resort 

Kellogg, Idaho 

Season Pass Sales 
Silver Mountain’s season pass sale is underway, with prices increasing after Sept. 15. Passes purchased before then lock in the best deal, and payment plans are still available. Do you have Mondays or Fridays off? New this year, Silver is offering Friday-only and Monday-only passes for $215 for adults and $165 for youth (available Sept. 16 through Dec. 20). 

Learn to Ski Programs and Clinics 
First-timers have two strong options for getting into the sport: the EZ Ski or Ride 1-2-3 package or the Flex 5 Pak. Both include lift tickets, lessons, and rentals, with the main difference being the number of lessons—three or five. The Flex 5 Pak comes with an extra perk: once completed, participants earn a free season pass for the remainder of the season, plus 50 percent off next year’s pass. 

Mountain Updates 
The tubing hill at Silver Mountain just got better. For the coming winter season, tubing sessions expand to five days a week, Thursday through Monday, including holidays. With four lanes to race down, it’s a fast-paced option for families and groups. Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark has also extended its hours, offering more time to splash, surf, sip and unwind. 

Lodging Deals 
Through Nov. 23, fall lodging is discounted 15% with code “Fall”. Starting Sept. 15, the popular Save Big package returns, combining a midweek stay, lift tickets and waterpark access. Prices start at $79 per person based on quad occupancy in a family studio. 

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A few local powder chasers share what it’s like to travel for turns during the Inland Northwest summer months. The short answer? Pure magic. Here are their stories and a few tips on how to plan your own trip.  

Chasing Powder and Good Vibes in Chile and Argentina 

By T. Ghezzi  

 Chile, Argentina, the Andes Mountains, a rental truck, 1,800 miles of driving, four friends, eight different resorts, 15 days of riding, countless Royal Guards, asado, chimichurri, cactus, donkeys, woodfire stoves, DEEP pow, empanadas, snow parakeets, steep T-bars, lengthy pommel lifts, hot springs, foxes, sopapillas, active volcanoes, vibrant music, border crossings, and so much more.  

The vision of the trip was to chase powder all year round, ride new resorts, and soak in the culture and “buena onda” or “good vibes” wherever we went. 

  Leaving Spokane and flying into Santiago, Chile, in August 2024, the trip kicked off fast as we scooped up the rental truck, tossed our gear in the back, and headed northeast to stay in Los Andes. After spending a few days in the Andes Mountains east of Santiago, we cruised south to the Chilean mountain town of Las Trancas. Leaving Chile, we dropped southeast into Argentina and did some cat skiing. We then rented a house in the super cool lakeside town of Bariloche before drifting back west into Chile, exploring more resorts and ending in Puerto Montt for our return flight home 17 days later. 

  The first day on snow was a cat skiing trip with Ski Arpa. The operation is located two hours northeast of Santiago. The snow was horribly memorable, but our guides did their best to get us the goods. Thankfully, we did find pockets of soft snow later in the day as it warmed up. The biggest eye-opener was that the cat had no cabin or seats! Metal railings like a pen kept us “safe” as we stood in the elements, holding tight so we wouldn’t slide around once the cat started climbing up the steep terrain.  

  The next part of our trip led us to Tres Valles and we got skunked. With no new snow, flat light, and death ice, we explored the resort of La Parva. Storm tracking and intel from local guides had us eagerly opting to leave two days early to chase snow five hours south at Nevados de Chillán (and we scored big). The highlights of this part of the adventure were ripping runs with pro surfer Ivan Florence, mid-lodge beers, the sunset looking over the Santiago, dinner with Ivan and Alex Florence and catching lunch with Chilean pro snowboarder and backcountry guide JP Audisio, where I got to learn first-hand how he made his way to Stevens Pass and the Pacific Northwest. 

  Pivoting south to Nevados De Chillán was the right move. We stayed in the little mountain town of Las Trancas. I loved it there, as the vibe reminded me of a bigger Glacier, Wash. The night we arrived, Nevados De Chillán got dumped on and it continued through the next day, totaling more than two feet of cold smoke pow in just over 24 hours. The two days we rode there were insanely epic, and it would not have happened without our friend and local guide Sebastian. 

  In Argentina, we started off by staying at the bougie backcountry lodge of Baguales. The inclusive cat skiing operation is located in the northern region of Patagonia, and, because of its price and remoteness, we basically had everything to ourselves. We experienced all kinds of terrain with prime snow conditions. With no more than five of us in the cat, we were burning laps. In two days, we had 20 bumps in the cat and would have gotten even more runs if the second day didn’t start off with a wind and snow delay. 

  The laid-back vibe of Bariloche and quick access to Cerro Catedral made it easy to settle in for a week. La Laguna is a zone at Cerro Catedral that will forever live in my memory. It was a bluebird day when we hiked into this backcountry area. The giant amphitheater-shaped bowl surrounded us, and its towering rock spires seemed to fill the air with magic. Looking from below, I picked my line and boot packed to the rocky ridge above.  

The view from the sketchy ridge was next-level, providing a full panorama of Lake Nahuel Huapi and across the valley to the east. The terrain looked gnarly, with unrelentingly steep chutes slicing all the way down to the narrow valley below. Strapping in, I cautiously executed my first few turns before alternating my lane choice. Threading the needle of a rock section, I aimed for a sweet, wind-loaded drop that spit me out into the apron.  

  I must shout out to my travel friends—snowboarders Carl Montoya, Ashleigh Montoya, and Travis Knoop, from Wenatchee, Wash.—because this trip couldn’t have happened without them! For a deeper dive of the trip, please check out the Wild Cannons podcast, Episode 7 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.  

T. Ghezzi has been writing snowboard articles for Out There since 2018. Keep up with his adventures on Instagram @northwest_raised and @wildcannons 

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