Hit The Slopes Now And Get A Good Bargain

Ski resorts usually shut down in the spring, not because they run out of snow but because they run out of skiers.

When spring sets in, people tend to turn their thoughts to biking, golfing, gardening and such. Even if the skiing is superb, crowds often aren’t big enough to make ski resorts pay into the late spring.

The flip side of that is that resorts start offering deals to lure skiers during the final weeks - often the best deals of the season.

Here are some in our area:

Ever wanted to stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort? The resort’s spring deal is $99 for a room plus one day’s lift tickets for two adults and up to two kids, 17 and under, to either Silver Mountain or Schweitzer Mountain Resort. The kids must stay in the room with the adults, and you provide your own transportation to the mountain. The package is available through the end of March. Reservations: (208) 765-4000.

Schweitzer’s luxurious Green Gables Hotel has spring specials including a $99 price for lodging and lift tickets for two midweek ($10 more for a room with a whirlpool), and a post-April 1 rate of $59 for a room or $69 with a kitchenette. Reservations: (800) 831-8810.

A “Spring Break Pass” at Schweitzer, good April 1-9, is $35 for students or $50 for adults. Information: (208) 263-9555.

Silver Mountain has a “Spring Fling Pass” good from March 1 to the end of the season for $89 for adults, $69 for students or seniors, or $49 for children ages 7-12. Information: (208) 783-1111.

The Big Mountain at Whitefish, Mont. has discounted lodging and $25 lift tickets during its “Spring Value Season,” which runs from April 3-16. Reservations: (800) 858-4157.

It’s “Flamingo Season” at Mission Ridge, near Wenatchee, with $15 lift tickets March 18 through April 8. Barbecues and special events are planned, like “Stalking the Wild Asparagus” (a hunt for plastic asparagus planted on the slopes; prizes awarded). Information: (509) 663-7631.

This has been a weird year weather-wise, with a huge snowpack all season long standing up to frequent rains and unpleasant weather. In between, there’s been some good skiing.

The weather is unpredictable, and so are ski resort closing dates.

Nevertheless, most resorts have tentatively set their last dates for the ‘94-95 season. They’re subject to change; call ahead before heading to the slopes.

The Big Mountain is shooting for an April 16 closing, and Schweitzer plans on making April 9 its last day this season.

Red Mountain, near Rossland, British Columbia, will close April 2. That’s also the tentative closing date for 49 Degrees North.

“We’ve still got lots of snow,” said 49 Degrees general manager Denny Burmeister. “But the crowds are slowing down.”

Some resorts, like Silver Mountain, haven’t set dates but are watching conditions and crowds to decide when to call it a season. As of last week, Mount Spokane was doing the same.

For those who aren’t ready for the season to wind down, here’s what Timberline Lodge Ski Area at Mount Hood has to say: “We close Labor Day. We ski through the summer.”

The resort high on Mount Hood in Oregon shifts to earlier hours as the spring and summer wear on (7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. by June), but the skiing continues.

And Mount Bachelor, near Bend, Ore., plans to stay open “at least through Memorial Day, possibly through the middle of June.”

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The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Betsy Z. Russell The Spokesman-Review