Region in brief: More ski resorts open for season

Skiing ramps up today with the opening of the Mt. Spokane, Schweitzer and Silver Mountain ski areas.

The region’s other two ski resorts – 49 Degrees North and Lookout Pass – opened over the past two weekends.

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park is urging skiers and snowboarders to hit the slopes for “White Friday,” as opposed to the Black Friday shopping tradition.

The ski area north of Spokane has about two feet at the summit and 16 inches at the base.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint is opening with some help from its new snowmaking system. The system is capable of creating 18 inches of snow from the top of the Basin Express chairlift to the bottom on the Midway run.

Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg is opening with limited terrain accessible. It reports two feet of snow at Kellogg Peak and 14 inches at midmountain.

49 Degrees North Mountain Resort near Chewelah, Wash., opened last weekend. It’s operating Fridays through Tuesdays.

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area on the Idaho-Montana border is open Thursdays through Mondays. Its first day of operations was Nov. 13.

Price reached on Dungeness crabs

PORTLAND – Oregon state officials said crabbers and seafood processors have agreed on a price for the Dungeness crab season that begins Tuesday.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture said the price could be ratified as soon as today by Director Katy Coba.

That means the season can begin as scheduled on Dec. 1, and Oregonians can look forward to their annual holiday crab feast.

The department says that, weather permitting, fresh crab may start showing up at seafood counters by next Thursday.

Under state law, the department is allowed to supervise the bargaining between crab marketing associations and seafood processors.

The department said in a statement that this year’s “to-the-boat” price is $1.75 a pound.