Located atop the crest of the Bitterroot Range, straddling the state line between Idaho and Montana, Lookout Pass averages 400 inches of snow per year. There’s a good chance that number will increase as the ski area expands into the higher terrain of Eagle Peak this winter. That expansion, off the backside of the mountain and mostly on the Montana side of the state line, will also nearly double the footprint of Lookout’s skiable area. Lookout may be growing, but one thing that will never change is its hometown charm that has been attracting loyal skiers and boarders from Spokane to Missoula since 1935.

NEW FOR 2022-2023

There will be plenty of new runs to explore this winter as Lookout Pass opens the most epic expansion of their history—500 new acres of skiable terrain in the form of 14 new runs. A second quad lift will carry guests to the top of Eagle Peak, off the backside of the existing ski area, with 1,650 total vertical feet. The new runs will challenge both intermediate and advanced skiers. 

ESCAPE THE CROWDS

If you want a skiing or snowboarding experienceaway from the crowds and without all those expensive bells and whistles, Lookout Pass is the place for you. It is an easy drive down I-90 from Spokane to the mountain. Take Exit 0 located on the ID-MT border. “We’re not a destination resort with on-site lodging and all the congestion that comes with that,” says Matt Sawyer, Lookout Pass’s director of marketing. “Lookout’s always been a family-friendly, local ski area with a fun vibe.”

LESSON PROGRAMS

Looking to learn how to ski or snowboard? Or just want to improve your existing skills? Lookout Pass has private and group lessons for both skiing and snowboarding. Whether you’re a kid or an adult, all are welcome. Call 208.744.1234, extension 15 to reserve your spot. See more information at SkiLookout.com/lessons-programs. 

BRING A FRIEND THURSDAYS 

On non-holiday Thursdays throughout the ski season, you can get two full-day lift tickets for just $75. What a perfectly affordable way to show a friend all the new beautiful, expanded terrain at Lookout Pass. 

SEASON RENTALS

Of course you can rent all kinds of ski and snowboarding equipment for the day, but did you know you can also rent for the entire season? For more information, just call the rental shop staff at 208.744.1234, extension 12.

Explore the mountain and learn more online at Skilookout.com.

(Sponsored content)

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“We’re essentially doubling in size with the addition of 500 more acres,” says Brian Bressel, Lookout’s General Manager. “We have a little bit more timber to remove, but other than that, we’re on schedule to begin lift installation this summer.”

I got a sneak-peek of what’s to come on Eagle Peak on a late February trip with the resort’s cat skiing program, which will end with the close of the 2021-2022 season. We were fortunate to have timed it within a few days of some significant storm activity, and Eagle Peak did not disappoint!

Weaving fresh tracks through deep snow is always pure bliss, but what really stood out about the new expansion were the clean fall-lines and the diversity of terrain. Advanced skiers and snowboarders will delight in the steeper, gladed areas that book-end the main runs, while more novice riders will enjoy the large, rolling intermediate runs that span from top to bottom.

Sitting at 6,150 feet, Eagle Peak’s runs will be accessed by a C-Tech fixed-grip quad chair that the resort has already purchased. The new chair will load near the bottom of the eastern slope (Montana side), where Timberwolf (Chair 2) currently loads.

An additional chair is also in the master plan, giving skilled skiers and riders access to the glades and open bowls that populate the northwest edge of Eagle Peak’s ski boundary.

Located on public lands, in the Idaho Panhandle and Lolo National Forests, a U.S. National Forest special-use permit allows Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area to operate, according to Abigail Matalavage, Lookout’s Snow Sports Director. And Lookout owns all the owning all lifts and facilities.

“We were approved for expansion in 2017, and the land was added to the permit. But it took about six years of planning before that to get approval,” she says. “The terrain has blue and black runs, glades, a few natural areas, and plenty of groomed areas. Once the new chair 5 is in place, it will offer 1,350 vertical feet for skiers and riders.”

It’s no secret that Lookout Pass consistently boasts the highest annual snowfall in the region. With totals averaging around 400 inches each winter, Lookout seemingly resides in its own weather belt that virtually guarantees consistent dumps throughout the season.

Lookout’s reputation has reached well beyond the Inland Northwest, as evidenced by the crowd we shared the cat with that day. With us were a father and son from Utah, which is currently experiencing an unprecedented snow drought; a man from Pennsylvania who was powder hunting out West; and two men from Peru, who were cat skiing for the first time.

With a propensity for big snow and an expansion that doubles the total lift-accessed terrain to over 1,000 acres, the future is bright at the top of Mullan pass. And while Lookout’s popularity continues to grow, there are still a few secrets that Abigail Matalavage hopes will remain.

“I’ve really enjoyed all of the new terrain over on Eagle, but my absolute favorite would have to be a secret (yet to be named) tree-run, right off the very top,” she says. “Shhh, don’t tell anybody.”

Originally published as “A Sneak Peek Of Lookout’s Expansion Terrain” in the March-April 2022 print issue.

Brad Naccarato is a Spokane-based freelance writer and Out There contributor since 2012. Chasing snow, waves, trout, sun, dogs, and microbrews keeps him sane.

Find more stories about Lookout Pass in the OTO archives.

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The closer we get to ski season, the stronger is the pull of a favorable forecast coinciding with free time for a turn of the pedals. Obedient to the call of good autumn weather, I recently rode out of Harrison, Idaho, up the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, greeted by e-bikers smiling ear to ear. Even the fish swimming about in the creeks along the path seemed to agree that this was a fine day to be out.

I only made it 50 miles before the call of the sleeping bag dragged me to a halt in Wallace, Idaho.

The next day promised to be as lovely as the first, and I would need all the sleep I could get if I wanted to finish the remaining 200+ miles of my intended route. There was a huckleberry milkshake with my name on it in St. Regis, Montana, and I was determined to get to it by the most interesting route I could find before milkshake season closed out. (Does milkshake season “close”?)

And “interesting” was just what I got the next morning before dawn when the route turned north from Mullan, Idaho, up the Idaho Centennial Trail.

I step-step-DRAG, step-step-DRAGGED myself up to a 6,500-foot ridge that overlooked Lookout Pass on I-90 and the ski hill next to the pass. Farther up the ridge was a breathtaking view of Upper Glidden Lake, a spot I’m definitely eyeballing for the dog days of summer in 2022.

After a quick gas station hotdog in Thompson Falls, Montana, I headed over the next mountain to St. Regis and the aforementioned milkshake. It was a comparatively gentle climb on Cadillac gravel (luxuriously smooth) up to 5,000 feet, with some rather inviting campgrounds on both sides of the mountain.

With the milkshake down the hatch, I embarked upon the Route of the Olympian, a truly delightful rail trail that is often overlooked because it lives in the shadow of the Hiawatha.

The big tunnel of the Hiawatha was closed for the season by a castle gate built to withstand an attack from an army of mountain trolls, so I took the bypass that climbs up to the elevation of Mount Spokane.

A bright and shining moon peeked over a mountainous horizon, guiding my way, though I skipped the rest of the Hiawatha on account of the lions, tigers, and bears (moose, more likely) that my imagination placed in each of the remaining tunnels. Along the highway to St. Maries, I gazed by moonlight upon all the swimming holes that my wife and I had jumped in on a much warmer ride in years gone by.

What I thought was the final push for the finish turned into a quandary about why the sun was rising in the west, ending this late season ramble a little later than I’d anticipated.

But I eventually got there. I think.

Originally published as “Shoulder Season Rambles” in the November-December 2021 issue.

Justin M. Short’s rambles will continue into the snowy months; however, he’s justifiably concerned about sub-freezing temperatures on The Big Lonely, a 350-mile bikepacking race out of Bend, Oregon, that he may or may not have finished by the time you read this.

Find more bikepacking stories in the OTO archives.

To read more of Justin M. Short’s amusing essays, visit the Everyday Cyclist column.

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Riding the Route of the Hiawatha at Lookout Pass has become a bucket-list outdoor adventure that now attracts bike riders from around the country. And starting this summer, Lookout will have another reason for local and travelling riders and hikers to head to the Idaho/Montana border—lift-served mountain biking and hiking.

Lookout launched its first season of lift-served downhill mountain biking and lift-served hiking and scenic chairlift rides on June 12, 2021. Now riders and hikers can take advantage of chairlift rides to hike or bike Lookout’s new family-friendly trail system.

The trail system includes five top-to-bottom downhill mountain bike trails with more on the way, says Lookout Pass marketing director Matt Sawyer. The trails will appeal to a wide range of riders since there are no jumps or wooden features that may discourage some beginner and intermediate level riders. And the trails vary from singletrack that winds through the woods and across ski trails to wider mountain-access roads.

Sawyer says all of the trails offer fun rides with some that have impressive views of the sub-alpine mountain terrain of the beautiful St. Regis Basin. In addition to the new mountain biking options, guests can also grab a bagged lunch at the lodge for a scenic chairlift ride and mountain-top picnic and hike.

Other summertime activities at Lookout Pass this season include a nine-hole frisbee golf course, a bungee jump, and huckleberry picking later in the season.

The resort will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Sept. 19. One exception is July 9-11 when only scenic lift rides and bungee jumping will be offered as the mountain hosts a three-day Mountain Archery Festival.

Visit SkiLookout.com for more details.

For stories about other recreation, activities, and places to eat and stay in Wallace, Idaho, visit the OTO archives.

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New Lift-Served Biking & Hiking at Lookout Pass

Lookout launched its first season of lift-served downhill mountain biking and lift-served hiking and scenic chairlift rides on June 12, 2021. Now in addition to riding the world-class Route of the Hiawatha scenic bike trail, riders and hikers can take advantage of chairlift rides to hike or bike Lookout’s new family-friendly trail system.

The trail system includes five top-to-bottom downhill mountain bike trails with more on the way, says Lookout Pass marketing director Matt Sawyer. The trails will appeal to a wide range of riders since there are no jumps or wooden features that may discourage some beginner and intermediate level riders. And the trails vary from singletrack that winds through the woods and across ski trails to wider mountain-access roads. Sawyer says all of the trails offer fun rides with some that have impressive views of the sub-alpine mountain terrain of the beautiful St. Regis Basin.

In addition to the new mountain biking options, guests can also grab a bagged lunch at the lodge for a scenic chairlift ride and mountain-top picnic and hike. Other summertime activities at Lookout Pass this season include a nine-hole frisbee golf course, a bungee jump, and huckleberry picking later in the season. The resort will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Sept. 19. One exception is July 9-11 when only scenic lift rides and bungee jumping will be offered as the mountain hosts a three-day Mountain Archery Festival.

Riding the Route of the Hiawatha—A Bucket List Bike Trail

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area opened the Route of the Hiawatha scenic bike trail. While new biking and hiking trails and other summertime activities at Lookout are sure to be popular, riding the Hiawatha is still the big draw. The popular trail may also require advanced reservations to secure a pass to ride this year. The trail will be open all of summer 2021 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Sept. 19.

Considered the crown jewel of the nation’s rails-to-trails initiative, the Route of the Hiawatha winds through the rugged Bitterroot Mountains of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. The trail runs along an abandoned section of the Milwaukee Railroad with a gentle 1.6-percent to 2-percent, all-downhill grade, making for a fun experience for a wide range of ages and ability levels. The trail straddles the Idaho-Montana state line for 15 miles and includes riding through 10 dark tunnels and crossing seven sky-high steel train trestles.

The popular destination also sports shuttle bus service so guests don’t have to ride back up, although some riders enjoy that added challenge. There are also 50 interpretive trailside signs that tell the story of the railroad, the people who worked there, the forest, and the area’s rich history. “In its time the Route of the Hiawatha was considered one of the most scenic stretches of railroad in the country,” says Sawyer. “It’s also by far the most popular ski area bike trail in the country, attracting more than 70,000 riders last summer.”

Reservations, Rental Bikes, & Other Rental Gear

Given the growing popularity of riding the Route of the Hiawatha, Lookout Pass is strongly encouraging guests make reservations this year for the day they want to ride, especially when renting equipment. “We want to make sure we have the right size bikes, lights, burley trailers, and other gear available for your ride,” says Sawyer.

Lookout Pass offers a variety of rental bikes for adults and kids riding the Route of the Hiawatha, as well as Burley bike trailers for youngsters. For older riders and anyone who would benefit from a more stable ride, Lookout also rents trikes and recumbent bikes. For the hopeless romantic, there are also a few tandem bikes for rent. Lookout also rents powerful 300-400 lumen handlebar-mounted bike lights, which are required for riding through the 10 dark tunnels, the longest of which is 1.6 miles long.

Guests can arrange for rental bikes to be delivered to the Route of the Hiawatha trailhead for a small fee, or they can self-shuttle rental bikes from the base of operations at Lookout Pass Ski Area, which is seven miles from the trailhead. The resort provides hitch-mounted bike racks or strap-on racks at no additional charge to those who rent bikes.

Summer 2021 Events at Lookout Pass

Special events up at Lookout Pass this summer include three full-moon night rides on the Route of the Hiawatha June 24, July 24, and Aug. 22.

The Mountain Archery Festival is also set for July 9-11. This family-focused event allows archers of all abilities to shoot fun and challenging targets on five different courses. Shooters will ride the lift to the summit and walk down the course they want to shoot. They can come out for a single day, two days, or shoot on all three days of this event.  

Getting to Lookout Pass

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area is an easy 55-minute drive east from Coeur d’Alene on I-90 at Exit 0 on the Idaho-Montana state line. The ski area and its summer operations are only 200 yards off the highway, and the Route of the Hiawatha trailhead is a short 5-mile ride down I-90 to exit 5 and then two miles up a dirt road to the East Portal trailhead.

Visit RideTheHiawatha.com and SkiLookout.com for more details.

(Sponsored Content)

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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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Photos: (top) Lookout Pass Alpine Ski Race Team member Kendal Brumet on the slalom course. // Photo: Matt Sawyer, courtesy Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area; (bottom) Completing the Pond Skim; (right) Ready to race. // Photos courtesy Brumet family.

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Local ski mountain staff are stoked for winter and to welcome guests including young skiers and riders and their parents back to the slopes. Sadly, what caused our season to abruptly end last spring has created new challenges this winter. Particularly in the Inland Northwest, where interstate travel is frequent and public health guidelines vary by state, county, and even city or public-health district, it’s important that each of us takes a prudent mindset wherever we live or travel so that our mountain sports season can begin on-time and keep going.

Though each mountain may have slightly different operating procedures and protocols for group lessons, masking and social distancing will be universal, and every mountain will have reservation and online-purchase requirements for lift tickets and lesson packages.

With the fluid nature of the COVID-19 public health crisis, families need to check mountain websites and social media channels to stay updated on the latest operating policies. The four Ski the Northwest Rockies association resorts that help make this family winter sports guide possible (Mt. Spokane, 49, Lookout Pass, and Silver Mountain) have all invested considerable time and money to make getting your kids out to ski or ride this winter in a safe environment.

49 Degrees North Mountain Resort—Chewelah, Wash.

Group sessions this season will only be available for ages 7+. Because children ages 4-6 need a “more hands-on approach, especially in the early stages of learning to ski or snowboard.” According to Snowsports School Director Alison Pasino, 49 Degrees North is offering a new Mommy/Daddy & Me Group Lesson. These 1.5-hour sessions, offered Saturday and Sunday mornings, will teach kids how to slide on snow and give a parent teaching tools to help their child “continue practicing those skills after the lesson is over,” she says.

“Group sizes will be reduced for all age categories to allow for social distancing. We will also be offering more options for lesson times to help reduce crowding and spread demand out over the course of the day,” says Pasino. “We expect demand to be high, and availability may be limited, particularly on busy weekends and holiday periods. For anyone concerned about crowds, weekdays are a great option to consider.”

Private lessons for 1-5 people (all ages) are being offered this season for a set rate, providing a great value. This allows “guests the ability to stay in the comfort of their own family/friends bubble, get great coaching, and enjoy a day on the slopes with those they are most comfortable with,” says Pasino. Private one or two-hour lessons for Mommy/Daddy & Me sessions are available daily (one parent and one child).

Parents can book lessons, buy lift tickets, and reserve rentals in advance at Ski49n.com.

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area—Mullan, Idaho

Private lessons for individuals, families, and self-organized small groups of family and friends are available with advance reservations—call (208) 744-1234 and ask for the Ski School Desk.

“If a family or friends group is comfortable taking lessons together or having their children take lessons together, we will happily accommodate them,” says Lookout Marketing Director Matt Sawyer.

Because the Free Ski School is not part of Lookout’s professional instruction program, and taught by volunteers, the planning process is still being figured out for 2021. But according to Sawyer there will be a free lesson program this winter.

Check for updates and make reservations at Skilookout.com.

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park—Spokane, Wash.

The new management team at Mt. Spokane—General Manager Jim van Löben Sels; Director of Marketing Jodi Kayler; and Outdoor Recreation Manager (ski school director) Katrin Pardue—has been working on program offerings and modifying plans according to Washington’s Safe Start and Spokane County public health requirements.

“Our top priority is to provide the opportunity to shred the stoke, while keeping customers and staff safe and healthy,” says Pardue. The on-mountain Snoplay Daycare is closed this season, so the Mini Mites group lesson program will only be a two-hour session. Many of Mt. Spokane’s other lesson programs, however, will be provided this winter.

“We are limiting numbers of students per group to two pods of 12 people for each age group. Our Minis will only have 6 total students per group,” Pardue says. In addition, meeting points for class groups will be spread out around the base area in order to prevent crowding. Three-day Holiday Camps and multi-week packages for Saturdays and Sundays are also available.

Make online reservations for lift tickets and lessons and check program updates at Mtspokane.com.

Silver Mountain Resort—Kellogg, Idaho

Families can schedule private or semi-private lessons for all ability levels with 24-hour advance reservations required. Lessons for weekends and holiday periods must also be booked online, at least 24 hours in advance.

The Silver Kids lesson program, for ages 7-12, is only offering group sessions for “Never-Ever” (Level 1) and Beginners (Level 2) this season. Because the on-mountain daycare is closed, the Prospectors programs for kids age 6 and younger is cancelled. Plans have not yet been announced for Silver’s ALL Mountain Kids Club.

Find complete program details and updates at Silvermt.com. 

Amy McCaffree first learned to ski in 9^th grade with Friday night lessons at Ski Acres, at Snoqualmie Pass, through her school’s Ski Club. Her first set of used skis had leashes that looped around her boots (no brakes). Now she alpine skis with her ski-patroller husband and their two children at Mt. Spokane.

The post Ski Programs for Kids & Families this Winter appeared first on Out There Venture.

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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