New snow prompts opening of ski areas

The five Inland Northwest downhill ski areas could all be open this weekend for the first time this season.

Most will be open on Friday, thanks to new snow and forecasts of more on the way.

Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park and 49 Degrees Mountain Resort announced on Thursday that they have enough snow for a Friday opening.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort opened the Friday after Thanksgiving. Lift tickets will be $10 on Friday for its annual Community Day. All proceeds will go to Community Cancer Services and Bonner Partners in Care Clinic.

Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area opened on Thanksgiving, but closed after conditions worsened. It announced Thursday that it will reopen Friday.

Silver Mountain Resort reported on Thursday that the forecast was favorable for a potential Saturday opening.

The announcements are a reversal of fortune from earlier in the week when mountains were deluged with rain.

“We probably got five inches of rain that knocked the pack down,” said Phil Edholm, president and CEO of Lookout. “But it’s beautiful right now.”

Mt. Spokane General Manager Brad McQuarrie said despite the rain, the weather has been generally favorable for the ski area.

“The snow and snow patterns have been excellent,” McQuarrie said. “It has been a great month so far, the way the storms have been rolling in.”

McQuarrie said phones now are ringing off the hook.

“We’re going to see good numbers, I think, this weekend,” he said. “There’s quite a buzz today.”