My personal odyssey to ski every public mountain recreation area in Washington State took 34 years. Here are my brief notes about each one.

1. Badger Mountain Ski Hill (Waterville): A lift ticket and lunch special (burger, chips, and drink) will run you less than $20, making it the least expensive lunch and ski in the state. Perfect rope tow to take the kids on to learn and the T-bar can be fun if the snow is cooperative. 
2. Bluewood (Dayton): A fun hill with some good tree skiing. One visit I witnessed a convoy of off-roading trucks trying to get to the top of the hill just outside the ski area boundary. You never know what you’ll come across on local hills. 
3. Crystal Mountain (Enumclaw): Great bowls. This is the largest ski area in Washington by acreage. 
4. Echo Valley Ski & Tubing Area (Manson/Lake Chelan): The second-best terrain served by a poma lift in Washington.
5. Hurricane Ridge Ski & Snowboard Area (Port Angeles): A long haul from Spokane to get to a little ski area. It boasts a long platter pull deep in Olympic National Park with some great views. 
6. Leavenworth Ski Hill (Leavenworth): A couple rope tows, but the real draw is the faux Bavarian town après-ski.     
7. Loup Loup Ski Bowl (Omak): I’m pretty sure they send out high school kids with chain saws to cut down trees and leave them along the edge of the hill because I have never seen so many jumps lining a run.
8. Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort (Wenatchee): With an average snowfall of 200 inches and 300 days a year of sunshine, there’s often not a lot of snow cover in some spots and I usually hit a rock or two. Free stone grind! The terrain is surprisingly respectable on a good day. 
9. Mt. Baker Ski Area (Bellingham): Epic snowfall. They had so much of the white stuff in the ‘98/’99 ski season they had to cut into the snow to allow room for the chair lift. It’s a strange feeling akin to scuba diving when your chair lift goes under the level of the snow surface. They had 1,140 inches of snow that year, which is enough snow to keep most places running for years.
10. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park (Spokane): The terrain park acreage is huge. And there are four to choose from. When I was there, one of the table top jumps dropped off on the hill behind it, and if you fully committed to the needed speed, you’d get absurdly-huge air. 
11. Stevens Pass Ski Resort (Skykomish): Some great terrain up the 7th Heaven Chair, just look out for the crowds on the weekend.
12. Sitzmark Ski Hill (Tonasket): Largely a beginner area. Consequently, I could find untracked powder after lunch visible from the lift. 
13. The Summit at Snoqualmie (Snoqualmie Pass): This is really one pass to four separate ski areas (Hyak, Ski Acres, Snoqualmie, and Alpental). You can listen to the sound of skis scraping over ice echoing into the night with the most illuminated acres in the state.  The real draw is Alpental, which has some of the best lift-served backcountry skiing around. After a short walk to Denny peak you can ski down from what feels like the top of the world.
14. White Pass Ski Area (White Pass/Packwood): Nice intermediate terrain serviced from a high-speed quad. I heard the area was built by world cup racers, and you can tell from the trails. 
15. 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort (Chewelah): This Northeast Washington ski area is growing, and the best thing is that it has a small-town hill feel with big terrain. I’ve always had fantastic powder whenever I go. 

Originally published in the November-December 2021 issue alongside Ryan Murray’s feature story, “A Quest to Shred Washington’s 15 Ski Mountains.”

3 of the 15 public ski areas in Washington State: Mission Ridge (left), 49 Degrees North (upper right), and Sitzmark (lower right). // Photos: Ryan Murray

Ryan Murray works as a chemical engineer in Washington State. He enjoys dragging his three kids on adventures and hopes that one day they will realize how much fun they are having. When not playing in the snow, he enjoys hiking and is trying to section hike the Washington stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail.   

[Feature photo by Ryan Murray. // Sitzmark Ski Hill]

Find more ski and snowboard stories in the OTO archives.

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Sitting in the office of a work-sponsored counselor talking about the wintertime blues, I received some of the best advice I had ever heard. Like most good advice, it was obvious and simple, but I needed it said to me to understand. “Find things you enjoy doing, and make time for them,” said the counselor.

Let me explain how I got to this point. 

I was almost 40. Having spent over two decades focused on developing marketable skills to support my family, I had forgotten how to have fun. It was winter, and winter had come to be a cold dreary ball of suck.

My employer offered free wellness counseling, and I thought, “Why not?” It helped me realize I had forgotten to make time for things I enjoyed in the winter and instead had been slogging through work and home responsibilities without much respite. 

Thinking back to my younger years, I used to start dreaming of winter before summer was over, not dreading it as I did now. I wondered why.

I remember eagerly anticipating ski swaps to comb through the deals and pick up gear. Once the snow came, I would hit the hills as often as I could bum a ride up to the lift area. Was skiing what was missing from my life? 

The Toyota Free Ski Days happened to be going on and I drive a Toyota. It seemed like a good chance to find out if strapping on a pair of planks was the winter elixir I needed. I took a day off work, loaded up the car, and took off. It was fantastic.

This was the high I had been missing, the rush of adrenaline flying down the hill. However, the problem I quickly hit the next week was that as a goal-oriented person it was hard to schedule time for “fun.” 

The solution was simple: I would make skiing into a goal. I realized that I had never been to many of the ski areas on the Toyota Days calendar, and that gave me the idea to find and ski every resort in Washington state.

I’ve lived here most of my life, why not ski it all? This goal was achievable, fun, and ridiculous enough to get me out of the house all winter. If people can hike the highest mountain on every continent, why couldn’t I ski every resort in Washington?

Like the state’s population, the ski resorts of Washington are diverse and each special in their own way. Check out the list in the sidebar for my personal take on each

Shortly into my ski odyssey, I tore my knee apart. Being out of shape and having bad form was a disastrous combination that derailed my goal for four years.

Every skier should know how to prevent an ACL injury. I wish I had taken 15 minutes to read these tips to prevent injury before I tore my ACL and spent countless hours in surgery, recovery, and rehabilitation. The basics for knee protection are: 1) Arms forward, 2) Feet together, 3) Hands over skis.

ACL tears are different for everyone. I had a hard time walking without my ACL and decided to get the reconstruction surgery. 

After my surgery, I started drifting more toward cross-country skiing to take it easy on my knee. The type of downhill skiing that I enjoy (going fast, jumping off things) is more scary than fun now that I know what can go wrong. But before I hung up my alpine skis, I needed to finish my goal.

This last winter I picked up the one ski area I was missing, Hurricane Ridge. Completing a ski journey that started on a rolling carpet in Bellevue and ended 34 years later in the Olympic Peninsula, I skied every public resort in Washington. 

Having a defined ski goal not only made winters fun again, but it gave me a better perspective on life. It reminded me to schedule time to inject some silliness and fun into my routine. This has not only helped my wintertime blues but also spilled over as a strategy to get more enjoyment from the rest of the year. While I may be transitioning to more cross-country skiing, these days, I’m more committed than ever to making goals and getting out to do things that bring me joy.

Originally published as “Skiing Them All: A Quest To Shred Washington’s 15 Resorts” in the November-December 2021 issue.

Here’s Ryan Murray’s list of all 15 of Washington State’s public alpine ski areas, with brief personal notes about each one.

Ryan Murray works as a chemical engineer in Washington state. He enjoys dragging his three kids on adventures and hopes that one day they will realize how much fun they are having. When not playing in the snow, he enjoys hiking and is trying to section hike the Washington stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail.   

Find more stories about Northwest ski mountain destinations in the the OTO archives.

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Here are 16 new updates to look for during your next visit to Mt. Spokane Ski & Recreation Park, 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort Lookout Pass, and Silver Mountain Resort.

1. Lookout Pass Offers Cat Skiing in New Terrain

According to the resort, a team of loggers has been out in the woods cutting the 14 new trails that comprise Lookout’s new Eagle Peak expansion. Once that work is completed, Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area will be offering cat skiing by reservation this winter so guests can experience these new trails.

A quad chair that the mountain has already purchased will be installed in Summer 2022 to provide lift-served access to these trails in the Eagle Peak expansion area for next winter.

2. Mt. Spokane’s Chair 2 Gets an Overhaul

A needed upgrade to Chair 2 (now named Illuminator) at Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park will include a $1 million investment in the replacement of the drive terminal. Chair 2 is key to moving skiers and snowboarders around the mountain, and this investment will help provide reliable service all year long.

3. New High-Speed Quad Set to Open at 49 Degrees North

This fall, 49 Degrees North is putting the finishing touches on an all-new Doppelmayr High-Speed Quad Chairlift to replace Chair 1. According to 49, a top-notch team from Doppelmayr has spent the summer and fall constructing the 6,644-foot-long lift that extends from the base area of the Central Basin, just west of the main lodge, to the summit of Chewelah Peak parallel to the existing Bonanaza lift that will eventually be removed.

When opened this season, it will be the longest high-speed quad in Washington State, extending over 1.25 miles. At the same time, the lift will cut ride times to the summit in half. With mid-mountain loading no longer available with the new lift, 49 has created new terrain and trails below Beaver Slide to give those accustomed to skiing and riding that area additional options.

4. Mt. Spokane Goes All In on 7-Days-a-Week Shredding

Last year, Mt. Spokane started offering seven-days-a-week service that ran from the holidays through February, and this year they are extending that new schedule from December 15–March 13. 

5. Weekend & Holiday Ticket Sales May Be Limited Again This Year

Some resorts report that they once again may limit the number of lift tickets sold on weekends and holidays to keep capacity at a safe and manageable level. Season pass holders at all four Ski the NW Rockies Resorts will once again get unlimited access to their home mountains, which makes having a pass your best bet for unrestricted access.

If you do plan to ski or ride on a weekend or holiday period, purchase your tickets in advance online to get ahead of any possible limits on tickets sold for your preferred days as the date gets closer.

6. Glass Cover Added to Conveyor Lift at Silver Mountain

A new glass cover was installed over the conveyor lift that serves the beginner run and tubing park at Silver Mountain. The cover will shield riders from the harsh winter elements and will make beginners’ first days on skis and tubers’ experience much more enjoyable. 

7. More Man-Made Snow at 49 Degrees North

The evolution of 49 Degrees North’s new snowmaking system continues this year, extending farther up Silver Ridge all the way to where Blastface meets the Silver Ridge. All of this increased snowmaking capacity means earlier opening of some terrain and a longer season for the resort.

8. Interactive Map Shows Trail Status & Closures at Silver

A new interactive trail map right outside the Mountain House at Silver Mountain will show which runs are open, closed, and groomed. The map is sure to become a popular spot for people to meet and serve as a backdrop for selfies and social media posts.

9. High-Performance Rental & Demo Gear at 49

The rental shop at 49 Degrees North has added more new skis and boards to enhance the experience of guests young and old, including a whole new high-performance demo fleet for anyone looking to test the latest skis and snowboards. If you’ve ever wanted to try telemark skiing, 49 is your place to rent tele gear and give dropping a knee a try.

10. Eating & Drinking Evolution

One of the few positives that came out of the pandemic last year was how it spurred innovation in the eating and drinking options at our local resorts.

It’s now easier than ever to grab a quality bite to eat or a beer without ever having to step boot into a lodge.One new outdoor eatery that will enter the scene this year is Pablo’s Taco Revolution, a new taco truck at 49 Degrees North.

11. Events Make a Comeback

Expect more events to return this year at our local resorts as long as the COVID situation continues to improve. A sign that this season may look more normal that last year, Mt. Spokane is planning to bring back terrain park competitions, demo days, live music, and the very popular Ladies’ Day.

12. Chair 2 Now a Triple at Lookout Pass

Chair 2 on the backside of Lookout (the Timber Wolf Chair) is being upgraded from a double to a triple this year with new American-made triple chairs. This modification means a huge increase in the capacity of riders the lift can serve, and it also removes the center bar to make it more family friendly.

The chair upgrade is a key linchpin in Lookout’s forthcoming expansion to Eagle Peak, as it will provide transport for guests to get back to the lodge and parking lot on the front of the mountain after experiencing the new terrain that will increase skiable acres from 540 to 1,023.  

13. Friday Night Club Shred Program at Mt. Spokane

This season, Mt. Spokane is expanding on its extensive camp offerings by adding a Friday Night Club Shred program so that parents can hit the slopes while kids learn lifetime skills on the snow. This is a great way for parents and kids to spend time together and get to ski or ride apart on Friday nights. 

14. Earlier Steep Terrain Opening at Silver Thanks to New Equipment

Improved early-season conditions will be possible thanks to a new D3 cat with a mulcher. This new equipment helps Silver staff to brush-cut steeper runs and glades, allowing the mountain to open more terrain earlier. 

15. New Chewelah Hotel Will Cater to Skiers

The Mistequa Hotel in the works at Chewelah Casino will bring a modern, comfortable lodging option to Chewelah, serving out-of-town skiers and snowboarders looking to spend more than a day up on the mountain. Amenities will include ski lockers, an indoor pool and jacuzzi, extended patio seating, a lounge, and a large fireplace in the lobby.

16. Midweek Lodging, Lift Ticket, & Waterpark Deal at Silver

If you’re looking for an affordable family ski vacation, Silver Mountain Resort offers a mid-week deal on lift tickets, lodging in a family studio, and access to the indoor waterpark for $55 per person, based on quad occupancy. The mid-week offer runs from January 3 through April 10, 2022. Use the code “SAVEBIG” when booking.

Sponsored by the Ski the NW Rockies Association Resorts

All photos courtesy of Ski NW Rockies mountain resorts: Mt. Spokane (top row left & right); Silver Mountain Resort (Top row right-bottom; middle row top-left); 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort (middle row, right & left-bottom); Lookout Pass (bottom row).

Find more stories about skiing and snowboarding in the OTO archives.

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Spring Season Pass Surprises 

Mt. Spokane’s spring pass sale gives early-birds the lowest price on season passes of the year until May 31. And if you’re a current passholder renewing for another year, you save $40 off of these prices: adult (18-59), $449; youth (7-17), $349; senior (60-69), $349; super senior (70-79), $309; midweek, $349. Mt. Spokane is also kicking off a Pass + Five deal that includes five lift tickets for the current season for new passholders. 

Silver Mountain’s pass sale starts March 1, offering new passholders the opportunity to ski the rest of this season for free with their pass purchase. Silver is also now part of the Powder Alliance, and the resort is offering three free tickets at 17 other participating resorts (plus lodging deals) with the purchase of a Silver Mountain season pass (excludes midweek, ride only, and kids under 6).  

At Lookout Pass, your 21/22 season pass purchase in March lets you ski or ride through the end of the season plus all next winter. With a massive snowpack, Lookout hopes to stay open through the third weekend of April too. Get the lowest price of the year on a season pass during the spring pass sale that lasts through April 30, 2021: adult (18-61), $319; youth (7-17), $239; senior (62-69), $239; super senior (70-79), $179, and midweek (non-holiday), $249. Lookout’s 21/22 season passes are available for pickup and to start using anytime in March 2021. 

Spring skiers and riders are rejoicing at the news that 49 Degrees North is launching a new Spring Pass alongside the resort’s usual season pass and relatively new combo pass that covers 49 and Silver Mountain. The Spring Pass, only $149 for adults and $129 for youth, is available March 1 and is valid for all days of operation through the end of the 2021 season, April 11. There is also the option to upgrade and apply the full cost of the Spring Pass to a 21/22 season pass (upgrade by April 11 for full credit or $100 off a season pass purchase after April 11). All new 21/22 season passholders that purchase their pass this spring will also score a free Spring Pass good for the remainder of this season. 21/22 season pass prices during the spring sale are $429 for adults or $299 for youth through May 4. Check out pricing for other pass categories online.  

Use Your Pass from Somewhere Else to Ski Lookout Half Price 

If you have a valid season pass to any other ski resort in the country, including Icon, Epic, Powder Alliance, and others, you can use it to score a half price adult or youth lift ticket at Lookout Pass this spring. This awesome offer is valid midweek in March and any day in April. No reservations are required, just show up at the ticket window with your valid season pass from another ski area. 

Spring Skiing for a Good Cause at 49 

Close the season out with spring skiing and riding for a good cause at 49 Degrees North. Spring Week is a chance to head up to the mountain for a great price, with tickets only $30 for adults and $20 for youth with a donation of one food item to benefit the Chewelah Food Bank. More details at Ski49n.com. 

Hawaiian BBQ & Cardboard Boxes Invade Lookout 

As Lookout Pass gets ready to send winter season downstream, what they are billing as a “responsible spring rally party” will get underway on the back deck April 11. Jimmy Buffett tunes will be blasting and barbeque and cold brews will be up for grabs as competitors and spectators get ready for the Cardboard Box Derby at 2 p.m.

To participate, make something you or your kids can slide down a short section of trail on using only cardboard, duct tape, paint, and markers and get ready to slide down the mountain and pray your contraption holds together longer than the others. Awards will be handed out for the most unique and best theme. Details at Skilookout.com. 

Ski or Ride, Bike, & Run at Silver’s Leadman Triathlon April 17  

The 17th Leadman triathlon is happening April 17. Leadman is an exciting individual or team competition for those who prefer a rowdy adventure course and might be a bit softer than the traditional Ironman athlete. Ski/board, bike, and run your way to the finish line at Silver Mountain Resort’s Gondola Village.

Come on out for a real thrill or to just enjoy the festivities of Leadman day at Silver. 100% of the net event proceeds benefit community projects sponsored by the Kellogg Rotary Club. 

RESORT NEWS

49 Degrees North to Install Longest Lift in Washington  

Chewelah, Washington’s, 49 Degrees North recently announced some exciting news: a spring 2021 construction start on a new Doppelmayr high speed quad chairlift that will replace the existing Chair 1 (Bonanza). “With a ride time of just six and half minutes, the new lift will cut transport time to less than half of what it is currently,” says director of skier and rider services Rick Brown. The new lift will transport guests up the mountain much faster, which means “less time sitting on a chairlift and more time skiing or snowboarding,” he adds. The high-speed quad will also provide easier loading and unloading for all guest. 

An undertaking of this magnitude has been years in the making, explains general manager Eric Bakken. “We want to thank our guests for their continued support and enthusiasm throughout the years and look forward to continuing to provide truly memorable mountain experiences for all. We would also like to thank the U.S. Forest Service for their support and partnership in making this vision a reality,” adds Bakken. 

Doppelmayr is the largest supplier and installer of chairlifts worldwide and operates production plants as well as sales and service centers in 50 countries. To date, they have built more than 15,100 installations for customers in 96 nations. 49’s new 900 HP lift will be the longest in Washington State at 6,644 feet, over a mile and a quarter in length, and is planned to be ready by the start of the 2021/22 season. Follow the progress of this exciting project on social media. 

Mt. Spokane Requests Funds to Replace Aging Chairlifts 

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard park has submitted a request for state funding to replace the 65-year-old chair 1 and 50-year-old chair 2 at Mt. Spokane. Escalating maintenance and repair costs have exceeded $500,000 in the past three years, creating a major financial burden, and lift shutdowns have also become a more frequent occurrence. The solution proposed by the mountain is to replace both lifts with triple passenger lifts that would add 1/3 more capacity. Moving more people more safely up the mountain with fewer interruptions would be a huge upgrade, says Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park general manager Jim van Löben Sels. The first of the lift replacements could, if all goes well with funding and construction, the first of the lift replacements could potentially be operational by the beginning of the 2021/22 season, he says.  

The proposal for replacing chairs 1 and 2 at Mt. Spokane also raises the exciting possibility of bringing lift-assisted mountain biking to the mountain. Replacing the lifts “will be a community asset that will also help us move into more summertime operations and expand our ability to serve the mountain biking and hiking communities and offer a wedding program on the mountain as well,” explains van Löben Sels. “It will really make us much more viable because we can transport bikes up on these new lifts in the summer,” which, van Löben Sels adds, will also help cut down on traffic from people driving to the top of the mountain. 

Mt. Spokane Bids to Bring Bear Creek Lodge into Public Hands 

The historic Bear Creek Lodge just outside the state park boundary on the way up to Mt. Spokane could become an iconic park gateway if a state funding proposal and partnership by Mt. Spokane and Washington State Parks gains traction. The lodge could be improved to serve as a needed location for providing state park administrative services such as Discover Pass purchase requests. An updated lodge could also provide the type of guest services the ski area can deliver, such as food and beverage services and event space opportunities, says Mt. Spokane general manager Jim van Löben Sels. “This would be an incredible addition to Mount Spokane State Park if the funding comes through,” he says. 

Adding Bear Creek Lodge as part of the state park would bring an additional 106 acres to the park, including the lodge and tubing park, parking space, and opportunities to enhance trail access opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and other recreational user groups in the future.  

EVENTS IN MARCH

Banked Slalom Snowboard Race at Silver March 6 

Come race your snowboard through a banked slalom course in Silver’s terrain park. The 6^th annual Doug E Fresh Banked Slalom race is a benefit for the  

Doug Johnson Memorial Fund. Doug was a loving father of 4 children and a fixture of the inland northwest ski and bike industry. His early passing has left a void in the local mountain culture, so this event is to remember and celebrates Doug’s way of life.   

A Snowboard-only race against the clock through a hand-built banked course, this jam-format event gives contestants two timed runs each, with the fastest time counted. The beer garden at the bottom of the course is once again sponsored by Grand Teton Brewing. 

St. Paddy’s Day Cheers & Kids Treasure Hunt 

Wear your green and enjoy a pint in the pub to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Lookout Pass March 17, and then help your kids find a pot of gold at the treasure hunt for kids up to age 12. The kids’ treasure hunt will include one treasure chest hidden on or near a green slope, one chest hidden on or near a blue slope, and one hidden along a black slope. Details at Skilookout.com. 

Toyota Ski Free Fridays Happening in March 

If you own a Toyota, Scion, or Lexus, head to these local mountains on the designated Ski Free Friday for that particular resort and you’ll score a free lift ticket for the day (one ticket for drivers only). Tickets are limited so reserve yours in advance online and follow each resort’s policy for turning your reservation into a lift ticket.  

• March 5 at Silver Mountain. Look for representatives from Toyota in the parking lot to claim your free ticket. 
• March 12 at Mt. Spokane. Bring proof of your lift ticket reservation with you and look for the Toyota representatives near Lodge 1 to claim your lift ticket before 1 p.m.  
• March 19 at Lookout Pass. Show up in your Toyota, Lexus, or Scion and get one free lift ticket for you (the driver) for the day. Look for the Toyota tent in the parking lot. 

Toyota representatives will be in the parking lot at each resort for each event under a Toyota tent and will be handing out lift tickets to only one person per eligible vehicle, which would be the driver.  No funny stuff, Lebowski.  

Women’s Ski/Snowboard Clinics at 49 & Mt. Spokane 

Women skiers and riders have two options in March to participate in highly popular women-only skills clinics. On March 15 at 49 Degrees North, the Mastering the Mountain Series/Women’s Ski & Ride Club offers intermediate or advanced skiers and snowboarders the chance to build on skills with other women in a positive environment. The clinic runs 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and the cost is $59, with registration required by calling 509.935.6649 (x610). Mt. Spokane is hosting its second women’s group clinic (the first one sold out) on Friday March 12. Led by the best female instructors on the mountain, the day includes three hours of instruction, morning coffee, lunch, and great door prizes. Participants are grouped by skill level in small pods. The cost is $79, with skiers and snowboarders welcome (equipment not included). Pre-registration online is required. 

Snowskates to Descend on Lookout Pass & Silver Mountain 

Snowskaters will ride Rolling Thunder, the winding natural halfpipe at Lookout Pass, for the 7^th Annual Boyd Hill SortaNatural Banked Slalom competition March 6. A 20-year-old invention native to the Inland Northwest, the snowskate is a hybrid skateboard/snowboard that has two decks and no bindings, with the addition of a leash. The boards emulate the flow of skateboarding but on snow.  

In 2009, Bryce Rich and Todd Delyea saw the need for a local snowskate manufacturer, so they partnered with TJ Sneva of Sneva Manufacturing in Spokane to build the first Boyd Hill Snowskates (boydhill.com). The annual two-day event showcases Lookout and Silver, promotes the sport, and features the Boyd Hill brand. “In snowboarding,” says Rich, “banked slaloms are legendary events. We wanted the coolest banked slalom that made sense for snowskating.” 

And the terrain park at Lookout is the perfect place for the event, says resort marketing manager Matt Sawyer. “Rolling Thunder is a long, winding natural halfpipe leftover from the mining days in this area.  When it fills with snow, it creates an awesome banked slalom course, which is key for this fun and memorable event.” 

On March 7, snowskaters can then head down to Silver Mountain for Monday Fun Day where they can ride the course from the Doug E. Fresh Banked Slalom event the day before. Snowboarders and skate boarders are particularly drawn to snowskating, but because of its easy technique and simple design, the sport is a great fit for anyone. Spectators are also encouraged. “It’s a spectacle, that’s for sure,” chuckles Rich. Register at boydhill.com and check it out on Facebook and Instagram. (S. Michal Bennett) 

Sponsored By Ski the NW Rockies Association Resorts 

[Feature photo: Mt. Spokane’s aging Chair 2 could soon be Replaced with a triple chair. Photo by Bob Legasa, courtesy of Mt Spokane.]

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1. Plan ahead

Know visitor policies for your mountain destination. This winter, season-passholders have priority access, which means no day-of ticket sales at the window. Make reservations and purchase lift-tickets online prior to arrival.

2. Pack everything you might need

Your vehicle is your refuge this winter for booting-up and warming up. Save time by packing your own lunch and snacks and eating them at your car. Some lodges may have outdoor seating available. Bring blankets, hand-warmers, and spare clothing for when a dry set is needed. Carry hand-sanitizer.

3. Prepare to have limited indoor access

Most lodges will operate at limited or no capacity, and give priority to guests buying hot meals or grab-and-go food options. Restrooms will also have limited access; some ski areas may have outdoor porta-potties.

Editor’s Note: COVID restrictions, closures, and mandates vary by state, county, and public health district —be sure to check local public health guidelines for your mountain destination. Carefully consider travel to different counties and states, per WA State travel advisories. As of 12/18/20, in Washington State indoor dining is prohibited until at least Jan. 4, 2021; ski lodges are only open for food-service take-out and restrooms.

• Find the latest guidance for Wash. State here; state outdoor recreation guidance.
• For Panhandle Public Health information, which encompasses ski mountains in all of North Idaho, click here.

4. Physical distancing

Whether it’s the chairlift loading area or the lodge, stick close to your family group or those you traveled to the mountain with, and give others a wide berth—even on runs (like always, for safety’s sake). Chairlift-sharing will be restricted to family/friend groups (for most mountains).

5. Protective face coverings

Have a mask for everyone in your family or traveling group and wear it indoors. Check the COVID policies for your destination about whether a ski buff or gaiter can substitute, and the mask guidelines for outdoors.

6. Practice good hygiene

Pre-COVID, when life was carefree, wiping noses with gloved-fingers or a buff and farmer-blows were no big deal—not anymore. Bring facial tissues.

7. Pause your season as needed

Stay home if you or anyone in your household has any COVID-like symptoms, or has had close contact with anyone who recently tested for COVID and is awaiting results, or a close contact was recently been confirmed COVID-positive. Be prudent and quarantine at home; don’t be a potential COVID-spreader. Keep mountain staff and fellow skiers/riders safe and help ski areas to remain open.

Story published in the Family Winter Sports Guide in the Nov.-Dec. 2020 double issue. Special section sponsored by Ski the NW Rockies association.

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The COVID-19 pandemic is picking up steam this fall like a deep-winter storm cycle, yet our regional ski and snowboard resorts are feeling positive about being able to provide a safe experience this season. From adding online, limited contact ticket sales to expanded outdoor hangout areas, mask requirements and social distancing for indoor spaces, and group size limits for lessons, this season that could see a return of La Nina is shaping up to be one we will never forget. 

Schweitzer Mountain Resort

“At this point, we are looking forward to opening for the winter season on Friday, Nov 27,” says Schweitzer marketing manager Dig Chrismer. “The long-term forecast is calling for a “La Nina” weather event this winter which could mean significant snowfall in our part of the world. The last time we had a strong La Nina was in 2010/11 when we ended the season with 171” of snow still on the summit!” 

In response to COVID, Schweitzer will require all guests to use masks while indoors and to practice social distancing like all of our regional resorts. “We really hope that all of our visitors will take the pandemic seriously and make the right decisions about travelling [to Schweitzer from outside the Inland Northwest] if there is a larger spread this winter,” says Chrismer. “We hope that everyone will work together to mitigate the spread of COVID…all do our part to keep each other, our staff, and our guests healthy.”  

Ticket sales will also look different this year, says Chrismer. Schweitzer will not be offering day-of lift ticket purchases at the ticket window and will be calculating an approximate number of visitors for any given day of the season (based on historical data and season pass sale numbers) to then offer limited, date-specific lift tickets for sale. “Those tickets will be on sale starting November 9 and once a day is sold out, it’s sold out. Our goal with this approach is to accommodate all of our season passholders and Schweitzer lodging guests as a priority.” Check for program and COVID updates at Schweitzer.com.  

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park

Spokane’s closest ski area has been working throughout the year to create protocols to ensure the health and safety of the community. “We’ve had to rethink every process on the mountain—from concessions to lift lines. Following state regulations, face coverings will be required, as well as distancing protocols. There may be a few changes mountain-wide that we all will need to adhere to—but the experience will make it all worth it,” says assistant general manager and marketing director Jodi Kayler. Mt. Spokane’s mission is more important than ever, adds Kayler. “With less options for entertainment for families and individuals, we are dedicated to providing a safe place for people to recreate. This is the year to hit the slopes and create a lifetime of memories.” Visit MtSpokane.com for the last operation updates.

Silver Mountain Resort 

Since Silver shut down on March 16 due to COVID-19, the mountain has done extensive planning to reopen safely for the coming season. Like other resorts, face coverings will be required in all indoor spaces (except when seated to eat or drink), as well as when guests are outdoors when 6 feet of physical distance isn’t possible. Masks will also be required while riding and waiting in line for the gondola, and guests will self group with their own travelling party (singles will be placed with other singles in numbers that allow for distancing). Gondola cabins will also receive extra cleaning after every ride. Physical distancing will also be encouraged in the lift line, and lift attendants will not require guests to ride with people who are not in their group.  

Lift tickets will be limited on weekends and holidays at Silver as well and must be purchased online for these busier periods. However, the resort reports, midweek non-holiday tickets sales “will be business as usual” with ticket window and online purchase options. Plenty of precautions are also planned to make the lodging experience as safe as possible, and temperature testing of all guests will occur at Silver Rapids Indoor Water Park, where capacity will also be limited and ticket sales will all be online. Season passholders can expect unlimited access on the mountain. Check out the entire COVID plan at Silvermt.com. 

49 Degrees North 

“We are pretty lucky that we have so much terrain that even on busy days we never seem to be crowded,” notes Rick Brown, the director of skier and rider services at 49. He says the ski area isn’t planning on limited ticket sales, but that limited availability because of COVID could happen on some holiday weekends. A new online sales system will also launch this season that will improve the guest experience by streamlining ticket and lesson purchase transactions. Tickets purchased online will be available for pick up at the ticket window. 

49 will also be following the Washington State Safe Start guidelines, with social distancing encouraged, face coverings required in indoor spaces except while dining and in more crowded outdoors spaces. Check online for updates throughout the season at Ski49n.com. 

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area

“We are certainly encouraging guests who can, to visit midweek to avoid any congestion on the weekends and over typically busy holiday periods,” says Lookout’s director of marketing & sales Matt Sawyer. Social distancing and mask wearing indoors and in crowded outdoor locations will be required. “No brown bagging will be available inside,” adds Sawyer. “Please use your vehicle to eat lunches you brought from home.” Lookout will sell day passes at the area on a first-come, first-serve basis. “We hope that we don’t have to limit the number of people using the area, but…there may be a few days when we either reach an imposed capacity limit or we feel we’ll reach a limit that we are uncomfortable exceeding and could stop selling lift tickets.” Lookout is also exploring the options of remote ticket booths in the parking lot and the addition of Porta Potty’s in strategic locations. More info at SkiLookout.com/Covid-19. 

Whitefish Mountain Resort 

Given that the U.S./Canadian border doesn’t look likely to open anytime soon, nearby Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana will probably see even more powder-chasing Spokane and North Idaho skiers and snowboarders paying them a visit this season. If you’re thinking about a trip to Whitefish, rest assured that the resort will be following CDC guidelines during the pandemic. Increased sanitation will be in the works and masks will be required indoors and in lift lines. The resort doesn’t, however, plan to limit ticket sales or require a reservation to ski. More info at Skiwhitefish.com/covid-faq. 

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