Ski resorts welcome deep early snowpack

Schweitzer Mountain Resort has been pummeled with more than 180 inches of snow this season. The early season snow has allowed Schweitzer to open all 2,900 acres of terrain with a village depth of 77 inches and a summit depth of 109 inches.

Snow report records dating back to the 1982-83 season show this as the deepest early season snowpack on record.

More than 5 feet of new snow has blanketed Lookout Pass in the past 10 days. There was 57 inches at the base and 94 at the summit on Wednesday.

The entire mountain is open daily through Jan. 7. After Christmas vacation break, the area will be open six days a week - Wednesdays through Mondays - in January and February.

At Silver Mountain, the base depth at Kellogg Peak was 58 inches and 36 inches at mid-mountain. Total snowfall for the season at the resort, as of Wednesday, was 104 inches.

Both ski areas received an inch of new snow from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Schweitzer's Ski Patrol Director, Arlene Cook, has been patrolling at Schweitzer for 30 years and can't remember a December with this much snow.

"Simply put, it feels like February," said Cook.

When asked about the season Cook replied "When you can't count the number of powder days you've had in December, you know it's been a good season."

Schweitzer is currently enjoying some of the best snow conditions in the nation. With mid-winter snowpack in December, Schweitzer is expecting another outstanding winter. With a season running into April and snow continuing to blanket the resort, Schweitzer is well on its way to eclipsing their average annual snowfall of 300 inches.

"To see 180 inches this early in the season is extraordinary," said Schweitzer Marketing and Sales Director Dave Kulis. "We are happy to be able to offer midwinter conditions this early on in the year. We are also excited to have these conditions entering the new year!"