COEUR d'ALENE - You can leave the rock skis at home if you're headed out skiing this weekend, because Lookout is opening with a solid base of snow this Thursday.

"You don't need to bring anything other than what you are planning on using all season," said Chris Barrett, marketing director for Lookout, adding conditions are excellent.

Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area will open for the season with discounted rates on Thursday at 9 a.m.

A major winter storm dropped a total of 19 inches on the ski area over the weekend and more snow is in the forecast.

"We got 21 inches at the base now, and 4 more inches expected (Monday night)," said Barrett.

The majority of the front side of the mountain will be open with top-to-bottom skiing off chair one with a minimum of 10 runs. Chair four "Success" will also be open and the Snowsports School will be in full operation.

"Our groomers are busy packing down the weekend snowfall, and conditions should continue to improve throughout the week," said Phil Edholm, president of Lookout Pass. "We anticipate open powder, packed powder and freshly-tilled corduroy on Thursday."

Reduced lift ticket rates will be in effect. Prices will be posted on skilookout.com prior to Thursday's opening. Additional lifts and terrain will open as soon as conditions allow, Barrett said.

Lookout usually has an advantage over other ski hills in North Idaho because of a micro-climate it enjoys at the top of Lookout Pass.

Sean Briggs, at Schweitzer Mountain, said they have not set an opening date yet and weather will determine the actual opening.

"Snow has been coming down pretty good all (Monday)," Briggs said. "And the coverage is really good."

Briggs said they are measuring 12 inches at the village, and about 36 inches on the summit. Total snowfall for the season has been 30 inches at the village, he added.

"I would hope that we could make that call (on opening day) fairly soon," he said.

Silver Mountain is planning to open the day after Thanksgiving, but is prepared to open sooner if weather conditions cooperate.

"We have 16 inches at the base right now, and basically 2 feet at the top," said Silver Mountain spokesman Neal Scholey, adding they will likely have some sort of special opening prices as well.

"As long as Mom Nature stays on the pace she's on, we should be able to hit that date," he said.

Most of the ski hills waited for about a week after the Thanksgiving holiday to open for the 2012 season.