Schweitzer

For many, especially those free riders who enjoy the backcountry, consider Schweitzer Mountain Resort to be the premiere skiing in Idaho. Named after an old hermit who allegedly served in the Swiss army and enjoyed eating everyone's cats, the mountain became privately owned in the early '80s and stays that way today.

Visitors can fly using major airlines into Spokane, Washington, or charter flights into Sandpoint's airport. Sandpoint sits along US 2 (which also connects to Spokane), and the ski area is just north of the town.

Those not wanting to fly can also take the Amtrack into town if they do not drive. Canadians can enter from East Port or Porthill crossing points and travel 65 miles south using US 95 until it meets with US 2.

Getting a Workout on Nature's Nordic Track

Schweitzer Mountain Resort offers up to 2,900 acres of fun, with two bowls and tree skiing. That includes just under 20-miles of Nordic skiing trails that provide limitless options for responsible exploration. The resort performs daily maintenance on these trails to keep things fun and safe.

Visitors can participate in several starter classes to get them up and skiing, including one-on-one coaching. Those with limited experience are catered to by roughly 10-percent of the terrain. If someone is limited in ability, they can loosen the straps on their brain bucket and try some snow tubing on Hermit's Hollow.

The rest of the mountain divides into 40-percent intermediate, 35-percent advanced, and 15-percent expert. First tracks are possible as early as the start of December, and dedicated ski bums will eke out runs until Mother Nature ends the season at the beginning of April.

A unique view is offered to anyone skiing here. The Selkirk Mountains dominate the northern panhandle of Idaho and are breathtaking on their own. Bragging rights come from the ability of skiers to see three states (Idaho, Washington, Montana) and Canada from atop Schweitzer mountain.

A Celebration of Landscape

Local "bros" refer to the ski area as simply Schweitzer. The friendly atmosphere is purposeful, as both the resort and Sandpoint thrive off of the land. From Outback Inn at 3,960 feet to the summit at 6,400 feet, skiers can carve down a vertical drop of roughly 2,400 feet.

The longest groomed run on Schweitzer is the Little Blue Ridge Run at two miles. Skiers and snowboarders can use one of the ten lifts that create a maximum capacity of 15,900 riders each hour. Terrain parks in Schweitzer include Southside Progression Park, Stomping Grounds, and the Terrain Garden.

The region around Schweitzer Mountain Resort experiences a typical humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Winter snowfalls here average about 300 inches, which may not sound record-breaking but offers skiers plenty of opportunities to ski during a dump.

Visitors to the Schweitzer ski area can find all the amenities they need at the village, or they can choose to travel off the mountain to Sandpoint. Either way, skiers can avoid the crowds at larger venues.