Snow Sport Report

Alpine skiing

Area skiers will have to make a run for the border the Oregon border, that is for lift-serviced skiing. Ski areas at Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Hood are open this weekend. Bachelor (541/382-7888) is operating two lifts and has a 20-inch snowpack. Mt. Hood Meadows (503/227-7669) is up to three lifts, while Hood’s Timberline area (503/222-2211) is operating two lifts.

The snowpack at Lookout Mountain, which opened its lift last weekend, has suffered as a result of rain this week and the area probably won’t be open this weekend. If the weather changes radically, call their snow line (208/744-1301) for updates.

Nordic skiing

Rain at the Sno-Park at Mt. Spokane State Park on Wednesday decimated snow pack on the cross-country trails, which had been groomed for the first time last week. Unless there is a radical shift in the weather - meaning a foot or so of fresh snow - nordic skiers should concentrate on finishing up the last yardwork of the season.

Backcountry skiing off the North Cascades Highway, just up from the Methow Valley, is good. The highway was closed for a couple days last week, but officials with the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association (800/682-5787) say the snow pack is now setting up nicely.

Peeps and shovels are required, and it would be a good for idea for backcountry skiers to register with the ranger station in Winthrop before skinning off into the mountains.

Snowmobiling

On Dec. 21, the Spokane Winter Knights club will be holding a family ride to christen its new warming hut on North Baldy, a 12-mile ride from the lower parking lot at Browns Lake. The $15,000 hut, called the “Ritz,” was finished in September by Winter Knights volunteers, and is open to the entire snowmobiling community. For more information call at (509) 483-7669.