LOOKOUT PASS — Well that certainly didn’t take long at all.

Skiers and snowboarders rejoiced last Friday when Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area announced they would be opening for the season on the following day.

Things were already looking good for Lookout after a early winter snowstorm dropped 8 to 12 inches of snow on the area on Nov. 1.

With favorable conditions persisting over the next two days, the decision was made to open — making Lookout the first ski and snowboard area to open in Idaho, Montana or Washington.

The recreation area offered nine groomed trails on the front of the mountain, ran two chair lifts, and opened all of their facilities and services such as rentals, lessons, food services and bar.

Though they warned there were still some thin spots and obstacles, Matthew Sawyer, Lookout Pass Director of Marketing & Sales, said this opening weekend was a tremendous success.

“We did have an awesome weekend,” he said. “We actually had the most open terrain in the country this past weekend!”

Lookout even received an additional 5 inches of snow over Saturday night and Sunday morning to top it off.

Boasting a full parking lot on Sunday, Sawyer also said he spoke to guests “that traveled as much as 6-7 hours to get in some turns as nothing else close to them was open.”

He added there were, “lots of very happy skiers and snowboarders celebrating first turns of the season!”

This earlier, but incredibly welcome, open to the season adds to a list of positives for the area.

Back in May of this year, Lookout was approved by the Idaho Panhandle National Forest to begin a 100-acre expansion. The winter recreation expansion review process for the project, that began all the way back in 2014, was extensive. It analyzed several factors including the impact on the environment, wildlife, scenery, access to the area, local economy, and more.

For the latest news and snow conditions at Lookout, visit https://skilookout.com/Snow-Report.

Lookout Pass is one of two ski and snowboard resorts that call the Silver Valley home.

The other, Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, currently plans to open on Thanksgiving weekend.