While all the regional ski mountains have unique offerings to meet the needs of families and varied ski levels and abilities, if you are searching for a unique adventure, head to Lookout Pass for a two-state mountain experience – where you can ski in both Idaho and Montana. This is what my family did last season, as we brainstormed ways to add new challenges and excitement to our children’s ski experiences.

Lookout Pass is one of only a few ski areas in the United States that’s situated on a state border. Only 90 miles from Spokane and with no two-lane, switchback mountain road to travel, the drive is relatively quick and easy – just take the last exit (#0) off I-90, 12 miles east of Wallace, Idaho, before the Montana border. The parking lot is only 200 yards from the interstate, and from there it is a short, easy walk to the lodge, which is great for young children still learning how to responsibly carry their own equipment.

The official ski mountain history begins in 1936 when the Idaho Ski Club was founded and its members installed a rope tow. Four years later, the club started a free ski school, which still operates today at Lookout Pass. The base lodge, built in 1941 when the U.S. Forest Service commissioned the Civilian Conservation Corps for the job, is the second oldest in the Northwest, behind Mt. Hood’s Timberline Lodge in Oregon, according to the Lookout Pass website. The lodge’s cedar wood interior provides a cozy, family-friendly gathering place for eating lunch, drinking hot cocoa, and playing card games as you wait for other family members to finish their runs for the day. Lodge expansions in 2005 added a 6,000-square-foot, three-story addition to provide more seating with slope-side mountain views, a pub, and an outdoor deck.

It wasn’t until 1980 that Lookout’s first chairlift was installed; the Montana side didn’t get its chairlift until 2003. While the historic lodge is small enough to easily meet up with friends and family, the mountain has 540 acres of skiable terrain spread across three sides, designated as the Idaho, Montana, and north sides. The summit is where the three major chairlifts converge. Today, 70 percent of all the runs are designated as either intermediate or beginner level, which means lots of family-friendly terrain. My children were excited that we could switch back and forth between Idaho and Montana throughout the day. Our favorite runs were Rainbow Ridge and Cloud 9, both intermediate ones on the Montana side.

With a summit elevation of 5,650 feet and an annual average snowfall of 400 inches, Lookout Pass is known for having deep powder dumps. And its 34 named ski runs and three snowboard terrain parks provide something for every family member to enjoy. Lookout Pass also hosts family-friendly events throughout the season, which includes, for 2017, a Winter Carnival in January, Super Bowl Snow Field Goal Contest in February, and Crazy Costume Day and Scavenger Hunt in March, according to Jason Bergman, Lookout’s Director of Marketing and Sales.

Skiing at Lookout Pass is a fun way to explore a mountain – children can feel like they’re close to the top of the world, even if it’s only the Northwest Rockies. //

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OTM: What events do your sons participate in?

TT & PA: Last year they turned 10, which is the first year they were old enough to compete in higher speed racing. So now they compete in Slalom, Giant Slalom (GS), and Super Giant Slalom (Super G).

OTM: During the ski racing season, how many days is your family on the mountain?

TT & PA: It feels like we pretty much live on the mountain in the winter. The boys train Wednesday evening, Thursday evening, and all day Saturday and Sunday. With the SSRA development program, they have the option to train all day Friday too. We haven’t pursued this opportunity since school is a high priority.

OTM: What have been some of the most memorable highlights as a ski racing family?

TT & PA: The highlights for us are when we get to ski together as a family – which is quite rare – and see how the boys are progressing and see how much fun they have skiing. They both have a strong passion for skiing, which is a joy to see. Also, it has been wonderful watching them take responsibility for their training and gear. They get themselves up early – sometimes 5 a.m. for races and 6 a.m. for 7 a.m. practices – and then carry their gear to and from the car and to the chair lift. We still do the waxing of the skis, but they are eager to learn. Another benefit is getting to know other ski families. We have had some wonderful times laughing together, volunteering together, and cheering our SSRA kiddos together. There are some great people working hard to make SSRA a success – coaches, parents, and grandparents.

OTM: What challenges, such as injuries, have your sons personally overcome during their ski racing years?

TT & PA: They have only had one major injury each, which both happened last season. Owen crashed at high speed (not on the race course) and hit his head resulting in a concussion that took several weeks to come back from. Fortunately, modern ski racing helmets are very good, and he was otherwise fine. Hayden also fell last year (not during a race, but off the chairlift during practice) and broke his arm. This put him out for the remainder of the season, which was very frustrating for him, but we supplied him with extra root beer at races and he became Owen’s biggest fan and cheerleader.

OTM: What should other people know about ski helmet safety, based on your experiences as parents and ski patrollers? (Note: Both Tucker and Ainsworth are volunteer members of the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol.)

TT & PA: Helmets are critical. Without a good helmet your risk of a life-changing injury goes up exponentially. Modern ski racing and recreational helmets are excellent and there are affordable options, so please don’t ski without one.

OTM: What are your sons’ long-term ski racing goals and ambitions?

TT & PA: We are leaving this up to them. We will support them if they want to keep racing, but we would be just as happy if they are ready to move on and go back to skiing as a family each weekend. We are just happy that they are both strong skiers and have this sport to love for years to come.

OTM: What advice would you give other parents whose children are interested in ski racing?

TT & PA: SSRA has a fantastic program for all levels of ability and commitment. We suggest that any family interested in ski racing should start by signing their child up for the five-day holiday camp, which is a great way to see if your child enjoys the ski racing program, and they will meet their peers and coaches and will train the same way all the other racers do. On the last day they have the chance to race in an SSRA club race. It’s a great opportunity to see what it is actually like to race through gates, get an official time, and maybe even a trophy. If you decide to join, the money you spent on the camp goes toward your membership. //

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SKI SWAPS

Great deals on new and used gear and clothing can be found at ski swaps. Local alpine shops bring both new and used rental gear to sell, and the general public also brings in used gear. Do your research ahead of time so you know what sizes to look for. Swap volunteers and shop professionals are usually available to assist with gear selection. Local 2016 swap events include:

• Oct. 22: 49 Degrees North Ski Swap. Ski49n.com
• Oct. 29-30: Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap, Spokane County Fairgrounds. Skipatrolskiswap.com
• Nov. 5: Winter Swap, Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Winterswap.org
• Nov. 5-6: Fitness Fanatics Nordic Ski Sale and Swap. Fitfanatics.com
• Nov. 12: Schweitzer Alpine Racing School Ski Swap, Bonner County Fairgrounds. Sars.net

LOCAL SKI/BOARD SHOPS

Sports Creel is a locally owned business in Spokane Valley that offers a unique trade-in/trade-up program for adult and children’s ski equipment. Whether trading in for bigger sizes or more advanced gear, third-generation shop owner Micah Genteman accepts one-to-one trade-ins of skis, boots, and bindings, and he applies the value of the used gear to the purchase of new gear from the shop (e.g., trade-in boots for new boots). More info: 509-924-2330, Facebook.com/the-sports-creel-312711075603/.

Alpine Haus, located on Spokane’s South Hill, has junior ski and snowboard lease packages starting at $139.99, comprised of either used or new gear. Ski packages include skis, boots, and bindings (no poles) as well as a mid-season tune-up. (Return equipment by May 1.) For the shop’s junior buy-back program, Alpine Haus owner Drew Harding says, “If a customer buys new boots or skis from us, they can use them for two full seasons. At the start of the third season, we’ll buy back gear for 50% of what they paid to be applied for the purchase of new boots or skis.” More info: 509-534-4554, Thespokanealpinehaus.com.

For North Idaho families, Ski Shack in Hayden offers children’s ski lease packages, ranging from $100-$130 for used gear and $150-$170 for new equipment. Packages include skis, boots, poles, tune-ups, and waxing. This season, Ski Shack will also have youth snowboard lease packages, with all new gear (boots, bindings, board) starting at $150. According to Rhen Lyden, shop manager, Ski Shack will host a season lease night event around mid-October. More info: 208-772-3112, Facebook.com/HaydenSkiShack/.

In downtown Sandpoint, Alpine Shop also has a lease program for kids that includes used skis, boots, and bindings ($130-150). More info: 208-263-5157, Alpineshopsandpoint.com.

LIFT TICKETS and LESSONS

When your children are age 6 and younger, take advantage of free lift tickets offered at the five major regional ski areas in Washington and Idaho. The Ski the Northwest Rockies association offers a “5th Grade Ski or Ride Free Passport” at the four association resorts (49 Degrees North, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, and Silver Mountain). The four Ski the Northwest Rockies resorts also each offer a great EZ Ski 1-2-3 learn to ski or snowboard program that includes three days of skiing or riding that comes with lift tickets, rental gear and lessons at your mountain of choice. (More details about both of those programs at skinwrockies.com.) Most ski areas also offer their own discount packages and specials for kids and families as well if you don’t have a season pass. Night skiing, when offered, is another way to save. At Lookout Pass, people ski free on their birthday, and the mountain will host a Service Appreciation Day on February 26, 2017, with free skiing for military, firefighters, police, EMTs, and nurses. When your family is ready to commit to one mountain, plan ahead for next season and take advantage of spring early-bird sales on season passes.

As for lessons, Lookout Pass’s Free Ski School begins on January 7, 2017. Other ski areas have various one- or multi-day lesson packages, and some include rental gear. //

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