POST SEASON SKIING --  "Spring may be on the minds of many folks in the Spokane area, but the weather in the mountains of northeast Washington has been anything but spring-like," according to Brad Northrup of 49 Degrees North.  He sent this message and the photo just minutes ago to make us drool.

"The management team at 49° North Mountain Resort awoke on Friday to well over a foot of bone dry powder on Chewelah Peak and crystal clear skies.  Having recently shut down operations for the season, senior staff members did what they do best:  go skiing.

“There was at least a foot and a half of untracked powder on the upper mountain, and the snow quality was like that of February. We were all just grinning, and the consensus was that today was perhaps the best day of skiing any of us had experienced this year. 

"Although 49° North has ceased lift operations for the season, the mountain is open to snow mobile access on weekends, and is wide open for those willing to hike for turns. 

The resort finished the 2010-2011 season with a snowpack depth of 212”, and 373” of total snowfall, making the season one of the deepest on record. 

Discounted season passes for the 2011-2012 season are on sale through May 5, 2011.