Schweitzer Mountain Resort opens this weekend

Schweitzer Mountain Resort will open for the season at 9 a.m. Saturday, officials say. A lift will operate through Sunday with 150 acres available for skiing out of the resort’s 2,900 acres of terrain.

Skiers will be limited to Midway, with the Basin Express chair lift scheduled to operate from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during opening weekend.

“Even though we’re only opening with limited operations, we’re very excited to get the season started in the Inland Northwest,” President/CEO Tom Chasse said. 

The early opening is possible because of preseason brush cutting and snowmaking capability, he said.

Schweitzer will close midweek and plans to re-open on Nov. 28 through next weekend. 

Forecast snow could allow the resort to expand the terrain and add the Musical Chairs lift for Thanksgiving weekend, he said.

Lift tickets this weekend will cost $40, except for children 6 and younger who will ski free. 

Schweitzer has received only 5 inches of natural snow this season in the village, but colder than usual temperatures in the last week provided optimal snow making conditions, Chasse said.

Skiing and snowboarding is recommended on groomed trails because snow coverage is minimal.

On-mountain parking will be free this weekend and the shuttle from the “Red Barn” parking lot will be running on the midweek schedule.