Three more ski areas open Friday

Skiing ramps up Friday with the opening of the Mount Spokane, Schweitzer and Silver Mountain ski areas. The region’s other two ski resorts – 49 Degrees North and Lookout Pass – opened over the past two weekends. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park is urging skiers and snowboarders to hit the slopes for “White Friday,” as opposed to the Black Friday shopping tradition. The ski area north of Spokane has about two feet at the summit and 16 inches at the base. Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint is opening with some help from its new snowmaking system. The system is capable of creating 18 inches of snow from the top of the Basin Express chairlift to the bottom on the Midway run. Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg is opening with limited terrain accessible. It reports two feet of snow at Kellogg Peak and 14 inches at mid-mountain. 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort near Chewelah, Wash., opened last weekend. It’s operating Friday through Tuesday. Lookout Pass ski & Recreation Area on the Idaho-Montana border is open Thursday through Monday. Its first day of operations was Nov. 13.