Recent snow keeps Silver Mountain, Lookout spinning

Recent snowfall at Silver Mountain and Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area has both resorts looking strong heading into the final stretch of what has been a very up-and-down ski season across the Inland Northwest.

The recent closure of Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park has left many skiers wondering whether other local hills might follow suit. But both Silver Valley resorts say they have no plans to shorten their seasons and remain confident in their snow coverage and outlook.

News of Mt. Spokane’s closure broke Tuesday, with resort officials pointing to a warm, low-snow winter that left already thinning coverage vulnerable to upcoming weather. Officials said continued operations would compromise snow conditions and the guest experience at the nonprofit mountain, which lacks snowmaking capability and sits at a lower elevation than both Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain.

Silver Mountain has received an estimated 210 to 230 inches of snowfall, which puts it on the lower end of its average range of 230 to 300 inches. 

Silver Mountain Marketing Manager Gus Colburn said the combination of recent snowfall — 34 inches over the past seven days — and a full slate of scheduled spring events has the resort locked into its usual mid-April closing timeline.

“As of now, we are still planning to make it to our closing date of April 19,” Colburn said. “The weather this season has certainly been unpredictable, but at this time we're confident we can make it. The Leadman Triathlon is April 18. We have ran it in the past during poor snow years, and we are full steam ahead in planning for the event to happen.”

Near the Idaho-Montana border, Lookout Pass has recorded 58 inches of fresh snow over the past week, pushing conditions closer to the mountain’s seasonal average than they’ve been at any point this winter. Even so, the resort remains roughly 150 inches shy of its typical 400-inch annual snowfall total.

If conditions improve — or at least remain consistent — Lookout Pass officials say the mountain should reach its normal end-of-season date and could potentially tack on a few extra days in late April.

“As is our usual plan, we are shooting to operate through the second weekend in April,” Lookout Marketing Director Matt Sawyer said. "Last day could be Sunday, April 12. Generally, when we enter April, we are not open seven days a week, but likely Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There is an outside possibility of opening on April 18-19, but that will mostly be weather dependent and not announced till much closer to that date.”