Ski resorts: More snow, more skiers
Whether plunging through deep powder or cruising groomers on a sunny day, skiers and snowboarders have been out in force this season.
Up at Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area, one of the snowiest places in the Northwest, skier visits increased by 27 percent in December 2010, compared to the same month in 2009.
"We had a great holiday break," said Phil Edholm, Lookout's president and CEO. "The snow conditions are better than the entire season last year. With fresh snow coming in this week, we're off to a very nice ski season."
Currently, base depths at Lookout Pass range from 50 to 92 inches, Edholm reported. There's still good powder hiding in the trees, and the grooming, he added, has been "world-class." For comparison's sake, Lookout's deepest base last season was around 84 inches.
Even cold temperatures over the past week haven't kept the snow-riders away.
"I think the warmest day we had was 26 degrees at the base," Edholm said. "But we haven't had any wind the past three or four days. We're seeing good crowds."
Jan. 1, he said, was a fantastic day at the pass - clear skies and perfect snow.
"The last three days have been very nice," Edholm said. "The skiing's been great."
Schweitzer Mountain Resort, high in the snowbound Selkirk Mountains above Sandpoint, also reported positive numbers. December visitation increased by 18.9 percent in 2010, a press release noted, and went up 7.3 percent for the holiday period.
The resort's village - a Swiss-like hamlet of shops, restaurants and lodging - has already received 129 inches of snow this winter, the release said. Schweitzer's average annual snowfall is around 300 inches.
Last Wednesday, as winter storms blasted the Inland Northwest, the mountain received about 1 inch of white stuff every hour, according to a Schweitzer employee.
"Several important factors have come together to help us attain favorable results (thus far)," said Schweitzer President and CEO Tom Chasse. "We started the season with very strong season pass sales. Our lodging occupancy for the holiday period was up 9.1 percent, while rental and retail enjoyed an 8.4 percent increase."
Chasse said he remains "cautiously optimistic" that the positive trend will continue, in light of the recovering economy and the resort's popularity among local skiers and snowboarders.
Schweitzer's latest snow report indicates a base depth of 43 inches on lower elevations, and 73 inches on the mountain's highest slopes. Over the past 48 hours, the report noted, Schweitzer has received 3 inches of new snow.
An early opening day (Nov. 26) and generally good weather contributed to the upsurge in visitation, the release said.
"To have positive results for the December holiday week is like getting an early lead in a nine-inning baseball game," Chasse said. "We're heading in the right direction, but have plenty of game left to play this season."
Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, which boasts a three-mile gondola, two peaks and 73 named trails, reported 46 inches mid-mountain and 69 inches atop Kellogg Peak on Jan. 3. To date, 124 inches of snow have fallen on Silver Mountain this season.
Skier visit information was not available Monday.