With snow in the North Idaho forecast in the mountains, area ski resorts hope it's all downhill from here.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort near Sandpoint announced on Wednesday that it will be open on a limited basis on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

"Limited terrain will be available on Midway with the Basin Express chair lift open," a Schweitzer press release stated.

Snowmaking and brush cutting will allow for the early opening, Schweitzer President and CEO Tom Chasse said.

"Even though we're only opening with limited operations, we're very excited to get the season started in the Inland Northwest," Chasse said. "The fact that we have anything to offer is a direct result of pre-season brush cutting, our snowmaking capability and our dedication to the skiers/boarders of the region."

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

Schweitzer will close during the week and then re-open on Friday, Nov. 28, for that weekend.

With snow in the forecast, Schweitzer hopes to expand the terrain and open the Musical Chairs lift for Thanksgiving weekend.

For this weekend, lift tickets will be available at the reduced rate of $40 for everyone. Children 6 and younger ski free. Schweitzer's Sunday through Friday pass holders may also ski this Saturday and next Saturday at no charge. On-mountain parking will be free this weekend.

Meanwhile, officials at Lookout Pass Ski Area at the Idaho/Montana state line and Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg remain hopeful their operations will open over Thanksgiving weekend, the traditional opening for many Northwest ski resorts.

Lookout reported 7 inches of snow at the summit on Wednesday and 3 inches at the base with no new snow in the past 48 hours. However, snow is also predicted there during the next week.

"We're ready to go with another foot-plus of snow," Lookout's website stated.

Neal Scholey, Silver Mountain's sales and marketing director, said the resort is tentatively planning to open Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving, snow permitting. The resort had 6 inches of snow at the base on Wednesday and 7 at the summit.

"At a minimum, we'll be open Friday (Nov. 28), Saturday and Sunday for scenic rides on the gondola," Scholey said. "But we're hopeful that we'll also be open for tubing and even skiing. Our team is ready on the mountain."

Silver has expanded its beginner terrain park and will offer a "First Tracks" program on Saturdays starting in January that will allow skiers to hit the slopes about an hour before the general public.