Skiing: Sunrise Basin should leave you beaming

I woke up in the middle of a blackout last Friday. No heat, no light, no coffee. Leaving these hardships behind, I hit the road. The storm hadn’t blown out yet, but 49 Degrees North was open. I had an appointment to ski Sunrise Basin – one of the largest ski resort expansions around here in 30 years.

Chewelah Peak turns a shoulder into strong winds from the southwest that barrel through during winter storms. Other area resorts took it on the chin. Schweitzer reported gusts of 105 mph on the ridge tops. Wind damaged several lifts. High winds shut down Silver Mountain. Ski Lookout lost power.

Mount Spokane general manager Brad McQuarrie said chair one was damaged but repaired. He also said clearing the downed trees was a lot of work. But the storm delivered a blanket of snow to the mountain, which has a great base heading into the holidays.

Follow the sun

Snowriders used to wait until the last run, or just before lunch, to drop into Sunrise Basin. Before the quad, skating or hiking a Nordic trail about a mile long was the only way back to the base. Now you don’t have to wait. First thing in the morning, enjoy bright sunshine that doesn’t reach other areas of the mountain in midwinter.

Josh King, 49 Degrees North marketing director, said Sunrise Basin offers new terrain for all abilities. The expansion is rimmed by Huckleberry Ridge, a tree-lined boulevard with nice views – ideal for beginners. Coasting past black diamonds on your left brings you to Bugaboo and Big Bear – gentle, open-field runs.

On a powder day, intermediates looking for adventure should ski down Huckleberry Ridge to Valhalla.

“Valhalla is a black diamond run, but about 20 or 30 yards down you veer right to Sabre and ease into Broadway or Single Malt,” King said. “These runs aren’t wide, but they have a nice gentle pitch that won’t be groomed. They’re perfect for someone who wants to take their abilities up a notch.”

King added that if you can handle that route, go back up and take Valhalla all the way down.

“It’s a black diamond, but it’s a very fun run,” he said. “It was designed by mountain manager Eric Bakken and its one of my personal favorites.”

Outstanding glades have been a signature feature of 49 Degrees North. Sunrise Basin adds more choices with Tatanka – skiers/boarders left of Valhalla. The Right Wing and Left Wing glades line both sides of Rollercoaster, dropping from the far end of Huckleberry Ridge. Untracked snow lasts late in the day on undefined lines between cleared runs.

Secrets revealed

King said true powder hounds should get first tracks on Sunrise, a straightforward fall line down the middle of Sunrise Basin. Then bag Valhalla and the trees in Tatanka. When crowds build, head back to the “old” terrain serviced by chair four in the west basin for untracked snow in Stockholders, Upper Cy’s Glades and Concentrator.

“Those runs may be ignored now,” King said. “On powder days, everyone used to love to hit them first, but now the West Basin might be the forgotten child of 49 Degrees North.”

Saving Sunrise Basin for last is a thing of the past. King has a new recommendation.

“Last run of the day, hit Rook,” he said.

Rook is a heretofore unknown, new blue square tucked away in an obscure corner.

“It’s a beautiful run with a lot more vertical than it looks like it has on the map. You’ll find untracked powder because no one goes there.”

Until now. Hold my calls!