Jennings: Many deals await area skiers looking for pocketbook help

Of all the benefits to be enjoyed from collapsing oil prices, a cheaper drive to the mountain is at the top of my list.

Skiing and snowboarding are gear intensive, time intensive and expensive enough already, without factoring in transportation. But in just a few short months, the cost of getting there has dropped by more than half.

Depending on your mileage, the money you save with cheap gas could easily translate into several extra skiing and riding days this season. But why stop there? With a little digging, you can transform your downhill winter recreation experience from cost prohibitive to cost permissive.

You can buy cheap gas and get cheap tickets with the Ski and Ride Powder Pack at certain Conoco and 76 locations in the Inland Northwest. A minimum of 8 gallons is good for a 2-for-1 voucher, redeemable at Silver Mountain on Mondays or Mount Spokane on Thursdays. Both tickets must be used at the same mountain the same day.

Mount Spokane has more discounts and package deals. Christmas has long passed, but a Stocking Stuffer gets you three lift tickets for $129 – $43 per day, instead of $52 for a regular adult weekend lift ticket. If you can get away during the week, an adult ticket is $39. For REI members, Mount Spokane lift tickets purchased in the store are $45 on weekends and $34 on weekdays. The Family Fun Pack will save you the most. Pool your resources and pay $549 for 20 lift tickets anyone can use – at only $27.45 a day.

If you drive a Toyota, you can start saving tomorrow at Silver Mountain. Toyota Free Ski Fridays give the driver of any Toyota – be it a brand new Land Cruiser or an ancient rust bucket – a free lift ticket. This offer will also be available at Lookout Pass Feb. 13, Mount Spokane Feb. 20 and 49 Degrees North Feb. 27. Just look for the Toyota tent in the parking lot and bear in mind that only the driver, not the whole carload, wins the bonus.

ACE Hardware has partnered with 49 Degrees North to give skiers and riders a break this season. Participating stores offer vouchers for half-price lift tickets redeemable on Mondays. If Tuesday at 49 works better for you, simply go to the ski area’s website and print out a “2ferTUEsday” voucher. Should you fly Alaska/Horizon Air, show your boarding pass at the ticket window no later than three days after your arrival date and save $25 off the regular ticket price.

At the risk of dating myself, my favorite discount in the region is Boomer Fridays at Lookout Pass. Anyone older than 40 skis for only $27 at Lookout on Fridays. And the savings are decent with Lookout’s Advantage Card. Pay $59 and your first visit is free. Days two, three and four are $10 off. Your fifth day is free. That’s a total savings of $51 if you’re skiing or riding on weekends.

Other deals to watch out for include Schweitzer’s Spring Fling. Schweitzer guest services told me they wouldn’t know for a few more weeks whether they are going to make this offer in 2015. But last season, the $129 Spring Fling pass was good for unlimited use starting March 10 until closing day. Schweitzer is asking for $72 dollars a day this season, so your Spring Fling pass, should it be available, would more than pay for itself in just two days.

In addition to the deals mentioned here, a college or military ID will save you a couple of bucks at all the local hills. Remember that anyone who shows up at 49 Degrees North from April 6-12 skis and rides for free, courtesy of Toyota.

I’ll concede that skiing and riding will always be expensive. The good news is that with some creative discount diving, it doesn’t have to be quite so expensive. Even if you bought your season pass last March, you can enjoy a change of scenery for less. Go after the savings – and pray, dance, or cash in your birthday wish for snow.