Ski season arrives in full force for the holidays

The two Silver Valley ski hills are reporting winter wonderland conditions in the aftermath of last week's barrage of snow to the area.

Going into the weekend, Lookout Pass reported 109 total inches of snowfall so far this season, and Silver Mountain reported 101 inches.

The base depth at Silver Mountain going into the Christmas weekend was 57 inches at Kellogg Peak and 28 inches mid-mountain, while Lookout reported 68 inches at the summit and 44 inches at the base with all lifts open.

Lookout Pass CEO Phil Edholm reported chin-deep light powder and said conditions will be wonderful through the weekend. He said the mountain received 9 and 14 inches Tuesday and Wednesday nights respectively of Lookout’s “famous light, dry Northern Rockies powder.”

“The last time there was a big El Nino was the 1997-98 winter and we had above-average snowfall. We have our fingers crossed for it to stay this way, and for Christmas vacation it’s fantastic,” he said.

Silver Mountain marketing coordinator Willie Bartlett said Thursday “conditions are all time.

“It’s incredibly good out here and each day is better than the day before it. It won’t stop snowing and it’s ridiculously good. I just got done taking one of the best runs I have taken in a few years,” he said on the phone from chair four.