Got snow? Silver Mountain does

The snow keeps coming at Silver Mountain, making this “one of the best seasons in the past three or four years,” says the ski resort’s Stephen Lane. Twenty inches of snow – “light, fluffy powder like in Utah” – fell the day before I visited with Lane, meaning the 300-inch average snowfall had already been surpassed.

Featured in Ski Magazine as one of “skiing’s biggest secrets,” Silver Mountain has a lot to offer. After whisking three miles and 4,000 vertical feet at 1,000 feet per minute on the gondola, skiers and boarders exit at the Mountain Haus. There, they have the choice of one quad, two triples and two double lifts for rides to 67 trails on two mountains. A gentle rope tow begins in front of the Mountain Haus.

Next Saturday’s “Retro Day” is a great excuse to hit the slopes, especially for us baby boomers. Skiers are encouraged to dig in their attics for their most outrageous neon one-piece ski suits and old “woolies” to join the fun. Prizes will be awarded for the best outfits.

The last official skiing day for Silver is April 9, but that can change with weather conditions. Lane is hoping to have enough snow for the annual “Lead Man” race on April 29, in which racers of all ages start by skiing from the top of Chair 2. Participants then bike from Silver Mountain to the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes Big Creek trailhead, east of Kellogg. The third and final leg is a run to the Gondola Village. The event will be modified if there is a lack of snow.

Access: From Coeur d’Alene, drive east on Interstate 90 to exit 49 and follow the ramp to the right to the gondola base.

Length: 1,500 acres of terrain for skiing.

Elevation: Kellogg Peak is 6,300 feet above sea level and the Mountain Haus ski lodge (where the gondola ends and the lifts begin) is 5,700 feet.

Use: Moderate to heavy.

Trail condition: Well maintained trails and good powder.

Difficulty: Trail ratings – Beginner, 20 percent; Intermediate, 40 percent; Advanced, 30 percent; Expert, 10 percent.

Prices and restrictions: Adult (18-61) daily lift tickets are $40. Junior passes (13-17) are $27; child passes (7-12), $20; college students, $27; seniors (62-69), $27; super seniors (70+), $19; children 6 and under with ticketed adult, free. Gondola ride tickets are also available. Check the Web site for special rates and season passes.

The gondola operates daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Chairlifts run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Stay within boundaries, ski with courtesy, obey rules and be safe.

What to see: The world’s longest single-stage gondola and great views of the Silver Valley.

Special features: Wide, groomed trails, along with powder. The Mountain House Grill, in the Mountain Haus, offers cafeteria-style dining. At the gondola base, Terrible Edith’s Bar and Grill has a full menu and microbrews. Private lessons and classes are available.

Silver Mountain’s “Grooming Guarantee” offers skiers a ticket for another day if they are not satisfied with the trail conditions (read the fine print on the Web site).

Preparation: Visit the Web site, http://www.silvermt.com for snow conditions and current information or call (800) 204-6428.

Gear: Warm ski clothing and ski or boarding gear. A full rental shop is in the Mountain Haus.

Note: Silver Mountain was originally named Jackass Ski Bowl, in honor of local lore. One hundred years or so ago, a mule owned by a prospector named Noah Kellogg was said to have wondered up a mountain. When Noah found the mule, it was standing by one of the richest silver finds ever, according to the legend.