WINTERSPORTS -- People who had Tuesday free to ski seem to have smiles permanently plastered to their faces today. Jim Mellen of Sandpoint succinctly described the powder conditions at Schweitzer on his Facebook page as, "Best. Day. Ever."

The region's resorts have been smothered in perfect, cold powder snow. On Wednesday afternoon, 49 Degrees North reported 24 inches of new snow in 48 hours with 11 inches of new powder on Wednesday morning. Lookout Pass reported 19 inches in 48 hours.  Mt. Spokane reported 8 inches of new snow in 48 hours

Schweitzer Mountain Resort reported 24 inches of new snow for the last two days of February and ideal conditions. Resort managers were so jazzed, they announced the extension of the ski area's season to April 16.

“It’s been a tremendous February for us,” Dig Chrismer, marketing manager for Schweitzer said in a media release, “Overall we received over 114 inches of snow in just this month alone. When you consider our average annual snowfall is 300 inches, February has really been amazing for us.”

Schweitzer reported a snow base depth of 65 inches in the village and 111 inches at the summit. Overall, the mountain received 245 inches so far this season in the base.