SANDPOINT - Schweitzer Mountain Resort is bidding adieu to the winter season on Sunday.

"We fought a good fight, but Mother Nature certainly had other plans for the Pacific Northwest this winter," said Tom Chasse, CEO of Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

Chasse said the resort enjoyed a reprieve from above-average temperatures in late February and early March, which enabled it to make snow and improve coverage on lower elevations.

But it appears Mother Nature has since sent Old Man Winter packing.

"The warmer temps and recent rain literally washed away our hopes to keep the mountain going until early April," Chasse said.

The resort has operated on limited terrain since Feb. 5 and has worked hard to preserve skiing and riding opportunities while other resorts were forced to close.

"We have to thank our grooming crew for working their magic with both natural and manmade snow available," said Bill Williamson, Schweitzer's director of mountain operations. "They were able to farm snow from around the mountain to keep access to higher elevations where the skiing, even up through this past weekend, was very good."

There were still some good turns to be had on the south ridge on Thursday, but runs below the Lakeview Triple lift were harrowing for anybody with new skis or snowboard. The snow was a mottled brown in some spots, with rocks and vegetation starting to become exposed.

The village was devoid of snow except for the Basin Express loading station.

"We are pleased that we could operate as many days as we did," said Chasse. "We are grateful to our dedicated pass holders and Schweitzer enthusiasts who continued to ski and ride with us during a less-than-stellar season."

The resort received several winter storms which shellacked the slopes with fresh snow. However, those storms were usually followed by rainstorms that ate into the snowpack.

Schweitzer averages 300 inches of snow in the village each winter, but this year's total only reached 128 inches. Despite the lack of snowfall, the resort was able to operate 120 days, which made it one of the longest seasons in the region and days shy of Schweitzer's 10-year average.

"The Schweitzer winter season has ranged from 80 days in 2005 to 136 days in 2011," Chasse noted. "Everyone loves snowier, longer seasons, but overall this was the hand we were dealt. To operate 120 days with such challenging conditions is something we are very proud of."

Silver Mountain Resort also announced on Thursday that it planned to cease winter operations on Sunday. Lookout Pass has already closed for the season.

"It's a funny business to be in when you are dependent on the weather for success," said Williamson. "But it's a cyclical thing. Bad years happen. And so do really good, epic years. Let's hope next season is one of those."