Silver Opts To Extend Ski Season

Two can play at the game of extending the ski season.

Silver Mountain Ski & Summer Resort joined competitor Schweitzer Mountain Resort in lengthening its ski season. Silver will remain open each Saturday, starting April 12, until either not enough skiers show up or until the snow melts.

Count on the former before the later, said Silver Mountain marketing director David Kilmer. Silver Mountain has enough snow to “ski until July,” he said. Kellogg Peak boasts more than 15 feet of snow.

“Our trail signs are buried,” Kilmer lamented. “You have to take 15 big steps to get out of the lodge on the mountain. It’s not even funny any more.”

But Silver Mountain, under new ownership this year, wants to make it fun for season pass holders and skiers who, after April 13, won’t have a local hill to ski.

Lift tickets will be $15 on these bonus Saturdays. Those with season passes from other mountains will be able to ski for $10. People who want to hang out at the mountain lodge can ride the gondola for just $5.

Schweitzer announced Tuesday that it will remain open seven days a week until April 13, partly to accommodate vacationing students in the Inland Northwest. Most other ski areas will close April 6 or sooner.

While Silver Mountain doesn’t really expect skiers to continue marching up the mountain until July, the resort does hope to get about 1,000 skiers on its slopes for each of the Saturdays.

Being the only local hill around will help the cause, Kilmer said. Sunny days will transform the ski resort into a “beach party” atmosphere, he said.

“We really want to try to involve the skiers in how this works,” Kilmer said. “We want them to be part of the highest altitude beach party there is.”

Weather conditions and the number of skiers will determine how long the promotion lasts. But Silver wants to reward its season pass holders by being the last resort to close in the region, Kilmer said.

, DataTimes