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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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49 Degrees Caters To Powder Hounds 100 More Acres For Tree Skiing, Half-Pipe For Snowboarders

By Alison Boggs alisonb@spokesman.com(509) 459-5314

The family ski hill near Chewelah is making a play for the region’s expert skiers.

Last year, 49 Degrees North added 100 acres of prized glade skiing, which expert skiers love. This year, powder hounds will be able to swerve and dodge through another 100 acres of new tree skiing.

“If you enjoy tree skiing on a good powder day, there’s nothing like it,” said owner John Eminger.

The new territory will bring 49 Degrees North up to about 1,100 acres, with roughly 30 percent for beginners, 40 percent intermediate and 30 percent expert.

The ski hill also just finished cutting two new runs off Silver Ridge, next to Tombstone, to the midway point.

The lodge has been brightened up, with bigger windows and new cedar benches on the deck.

Snowboarders will be thrilled then they see this year’s new Olympic-sized half-pipe run. Half-pipes are shaped like they sound, and are playgrounds for snowboarders who like to swoop up one side and down the other.

A new tow rope in the ski area’s teaching area will help small chilcren access the bunny hills.

When the snow melts next year, 49 Degrees North plans to selectively thin another 12 acres of trees next spring to make way for an additional expert ski run.

It also plans to extend one of the hill’s four chair lifts (Chair 2) by 200 vertical feet, giving skiers and snowboarders access to midway lifts.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: INFORMATION: About 90 minutes north of Spokane via Highway 395. Tickets: adults $28; students $22; juniors (ages 7-15) $20; seniors (61-69) $22; masters (70+) $5; 6 and under free. Day care; free midweek day care (non-holiday only); weekend rates $3.50 per hour with sibling discounts. Lessons: free beginner lessons; group lesson $19; private $28 an hour. Nordic: 5k groomed, 70k groomed snowmobile trails also open to skiers; free. Phone: (509) 935-6649. Snow phone: (509) 880-9208. Fax: (509) 935-4218. Web site: ski49n.com.

This sidebar appeared with the story: INFORMATION: About 90 minutes north of Spokane via Highway 395. Tickets: adults $28; students $22; juniors (ages 7-15) $20; seniors (61-69) $22; masters (70+) $5; 6 and under free. Day care; free midweek day care (non-holiday only); weekend rates $3.50 per hour with sibling discounts. Lessons: free beginner lessons; group lesson $19; private $28 an hour. Nordic: 5k groomed, 70k groomed snowmobile trails also open to skiers; free. Phone: (509) 935-6649. Snow phone: (509) 880-9208. Fax: (509) 935-4218. Web site: ski49n.com.