SANDPOINT — Welcome, winter.

After months of occasional rain and little to no snow, Mother Nature has delivered plenty of powder to Bonner County over the past few days. The snowfall was cheered by Schweitzer officials, who reported the Sandpoint-based resort received 5.5 inches of snow overnight Wednesday and an additional 2 inches of snow by its opening Thursday.

"In even better news, the forecast is looking more promising through the holiday weekend and beyond, so here's to hoping that winter is here to stay for the second half of the ski season," Taylor Prather, Schweitzer marketing and communications manager, said.

The good news began Tuesday when the resort received 13 inches of powder, Prather said. In the past seven days, the resort received just shy of three feet of snow — 35 inches, 21 inches of which fell within the past 72 hours.

"With all the new snow, we've been able to open terrain on a rolling basis to ensure guest and staff safety," Prather said.

The additional snow significantly added to the resort's base, which has been hovering between 13 and 20 inches for at least the past month. On Thursday, the resort reported a base of 37 inches; in comparison, before the week's storms, the resort reported a base of 15 inches on Feb. 13 and a base of 10 inches on Jan. 1.

The recent snowfall allowed Schweitzer to fire up the Stella 6-pack lift and reopen The Outback. The resort expects to have the Cedar Park Express lift operating Friday, Feb. 20, and the T-bar open for the first time this season over the weekend.

While the plethora of snow has the region's skiers and snowboarders excited to hit the slopes, Prather encouraged residents to exercise caution while having fun.

"There is plenty of excitement in the air, but safety remains our top priority," she said. "Schweitzer Ski Patrol strongly encourages practicing deep snow safety protocol — ski with a buddy and keep them in sight at all times."

Skiers and snowboarders are reminded to respect rope lines and closures, as it's imperative for the safety of guests and staff, Prather said. Passholders who are caught out of bounds can face repercussions for their actions.

"While we are all over-stoked for this snow, this is also (our) time to remind you to be safe out there," Schweitzer officials said in its daily conditions report on Thursday. "Jumping into a bunch of fluffy pow? Have a friend close by who can see you. Looking for the best stash on the mountain? Respect those rope lines and markings."

The Schweitzer Patrol team has been out on the slopes working to get more of the mountain open, and Prather said resort officials hope to have more terrain open soon.

    A skier moves through deep powder on a tree-lined run at Schweitzer on Thursday after a week of storms brought nearly three feet of new snow to the mountain.