Schweitzer, Silver to close ski season after Sunday

Schweitzer Mountain and Silver Mountain will close for the season after the end of operations on Sunday, officials at both ski resorts announced. “We fought a good fight, but Mother Nature certainly had other plans for the Pacific Northwest this winter,” said Tom Chasse, the Schweitzer’s chief executive officer. “We had a break from the warmer temps in late February and early March that enabled us to make some snow and improve the coverage on the lower elevations. The warmer temps and recent rain literally washed away our hopes to keep the mountain going until early April.” Since Feb. 5, Schweitzer has operated on limited terrain. The resort’s grooming crews worked hard to provide an opportunity to ski and ride in a year which saw the early closure of many neighboring resorts, said Bill Williamson, Schweitzer’s mountain operations director. Schweitzer averages 300 inches of snow in the village each winter, but this year the total only reached 128 inches. Despite the lack of snowfall, the resort operated 120 days, just days shy of Schweitzer’s 10-year average. “We are pleased that we could operate as many days as we did,” said Chasse. “We are grateful to our dedicated passholders and Schweitzer enthusiasts who continued to ski and ride with us during a less than stellar season.” Silver Mountain officials announced their decision late this afternoon to end the season after Sunday’s operations.