Schweitzer Mountain: The Crowning Glory of Northern Idaho
By
Rick Heinz
Skunk Hollow Ski and Snowboard Club
&
Barry Burke
Chicago Friars Ski and Bike Club
Tucked away near the tip of Idaho’s chimney lies a winter destination well known to Northwesterners but relatively unknown in the Midwest. The secret is now slipping out after Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s 2008 familiarization trips for ski club representatives. With 300 inches of annual snowfall, 82 trails, 2,900 acres, a 2,400-foot vertical drop, crowdless lift lines and beautiful views of Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced Pon-der-ay), Schweitzer Mountain Resort should be on every club’s to-do list.
The mountain can be best described as two bowls. It is advertised as having 20 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, 35 percent advanced and 5 percent expert-marked trails. Schweitzer’s design is very efficient, making it a cinch to get around. Five lifts service the mountain with an additional one when needed and a T-bar over the weekends. There are no slow green cat tracks, which would make most skiers and especially snowboarders happy. Beginners have their own area near the base and out of the way of faster traffic.
Schweitzer has an abundance of groomed runs. Crews groom over 30 miles of runs through the night. The morning grooming report shows which runs were groomed and how recently. For the courageous, they even groom a couple of black diamonds, and yes, they are really steep. Steep powder, open bowls and excellent trees round off the resort’s terrain. Tree skiing is so great that Skiing Magazine recently rated Schweitzer No. 3 for tree skiing. As if all of that isn’t enough, there are 2,000 additional acres of guided cat skiing through Selkirk Powder Company.
Recent Improvements
If you have been to Schweitzer before, you’ll notice some changes. Two high-speed quads now take the place of the original Chair 1 double. Night skiing is now available Fridays and Saturdays. The old lodge building was torn down to build the more spacious Lakeview Lodge, which is home to Taps Lounge and some food vendors. Not that long ago the Green Gables Lodge and attached restaurant were renovated and are now called the Selkirk Lodge and Chimney Rock Grill. Also not that old is the six-pack chair dubbed Stella on the backside of the mountain. You will think you are in the waiting line for Great America’s Viper roller coaster as you enter the only themed chairlift in the United States. This surge of changes and improvements reflects a promising future for Schweitzer.
Just a two-hour drive from Spokane International Airport, Schweitzer offers transportation shuttles to any one of its six slopeside or in-town properties. The Selkirk Lodge offers hotel-style rooms, some with a wet bar, microwave, refrigerator, kitchenette and jetted hot tub. Also in the village is White Pine Lodge, offering fully furnished, condominium-style units with full kitchens, living rooms and fireplaces. The only drawback for clubs may be that all of the beds at the White Pine are queen- or king-size. Both of these lodges have access to heated outdoor pools and hot tubs. Homes and condominiums are available outside of Schweitzer Village, but staying slopeside far outweighs staying in town.
Schweitzer Village may be small, but it has enough dining options to please all tastes. Chimney Rock Grill offers fresh regional cuisine from steaks to top-notch seafood. It serves breakfasts on weekends and can cater buffet- style meals to groups. A few small coffee shops scattered about sell pastries and other simple breakfasts. For lunch, the most popular place would be the cafeteria in the Lakeview Lodge, but there is also Pucci’s Pub and Alpenglow Deli & Ice Cream, both in White Pine Lodge. For a pizza fix, there is Thor’s Pizza and Sam’s Alley. Potatoes are the specialty in Idaho, so ski over to the back bowl and try a baked potato from The Outback. Enough options in the village make it easy for those not interested in providing their own food.
The town of Sandpoint will not disappoint. Only a half-hour drive from the resort’s village, it is a good place to go for pubs, restaurants and art studios. Sandpoint is also home to Coldwater Creek’s flagship store, complete with a cozy wine-tasting bar that can be rented out for large groups. Store hours in Sandpoint, a beach town at heart, do not cater well to après skiers and snowboarders, so if you really want to go shopping while on a ski trip, you’ll have to cut your time on the mountain early. For a local favorite, try Eichardt’s Pub for local brews, billiards, shuffleboard and darts. Don’t stay too long, or you’ll have second thoughts about returning home.
Schweitzer Mountain’s accommodating staff can put together a package for your group with the exception of airfare. Arrangements can be made for trips to town, buffet meals, activities and guided tours.
It is hard to come up with a reason for not going to Schweitzer. This is a mountain that can meet the needs of all skiers and snowboarders. Visit Schweitzer.com and see for yourself.
