As we continue the transition from water sports to snow sports I thought I would share a few operational updates. Looking back to October 2020, I was not very optimistic that we would have a complete season trying to manage through the pandemic. The challenges seemed insurmountable at times, but we adapted and were able to provide some sense of normalcy in many people’s lives. 

This summer felt close to normal too with 25 weddings on-site as well as NorthWest Winefest in July and the return of Fall Fest over Labor Day weekend. Honestly there were some tense moments leading up to Fall Fest with the spike in Covid cases and the impact on our local medical community, but we were able to host the event successfully in the end.

I don’t have a crystal ball about this coming winter but I’m more optimistic this fall than I was a year ago. Operationally we’re planning to resume normal lift protocol, meaning re-establish single lanes, no ghost lanes and grouping people to maximize our lift capacity. The bigger questions with regards to Covid is going to be how we manage our indoor spaces. This is one area that is subject to change with little or no notice. At this point, we are planning on offering après ski entertainment in Taps for the over 21+ crowd as well as some of our signature events like the NYE party and Starlight in February. Again, we’ll monitor the situation with Covid but at this point, we’re moving forward with more “normal” plans. (As always, be flexible as things can change!)

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that we’ve partnered with Alterra Mountain Resorts on the IKON pass this winter. As a partner resort, we’re able to offer our unique Voyager Pass that offers passholders a significant discount on the Ikon Base Pass, providing 5 days of access to 44 resorts worldwide. The Schweitzer Voyager Pass is only available for purchase until Oct 31 – after that, that pass will no longer be available so if you’re interested, get yours before the pass sale deadline.

We know some of our passholders are anxious to get their physical pass but there has been a delay due to some supply chain issues. Our goal is to have passes mailed out sometime in November, before opening day so hang tight and thanks for your patience.

If you’ve already purchased your Schweitzer season pass and have concerns over the resurgence of Covid this winter, we are happy to make the same offer that we made a year ago - you can defer or roll your current pass to the 2022/2023 winter season if you make that decision by December 15. We understand that Covid is still a factor for many, so we hope this helps in planning for the winter season.

Looking forward to seeing everyone back on the slopes soon. We’re potentially only 35 days out so get those snow dances kicked into high gear and we’ll be skiing soon.

Tom Chasse
CEO & President, Schweitzer