A big thank you to our passholders, guests, and locals as we close out the 2022/23 season. 138 days of skiing and riding marks Schweitzer’s second longest season in over a decade.  

Before we fired up the lifts, SKI Magazine readers had voted us #11 in Top Ski Resorts in the West and we had begun accumulating a surprising amount of early season snow. As the mountain filled in, we chose to open a weekend ahead of our scheduled opening day, giving us all a chance to feel our skis and boards under us. Snowfall remained consistently good through early December and although we were challenged with weather over the holiday timeframe, there was nothing short of a festive spirit on the mountain and in the village.  

January and February remained unusually dry, but the cold temperatures kept us skiing and riding on a solid base. March was in like a lion as we reaped the rewards of multiple feet of snow falling in the first three weeks.  

Despite the rollercoaster of a winter season, Schweitzer’s visitation continued to grow without hitting any record-breaking single day visits, meaning the distribution of skiers and riders was spread evenly between mid-week and weekends. The local perception about our growth has been the introduction of the Ikon Pass. The reality is that this year’s Ikon visits were basically flat with last season.  Our biggest gain in visitation has happened organically as the region’s population continues to boom between here and Spokane.   

Looking ahead, I’m optimistic that our capital investments will continue to generate additional interest.  Already, we’ve decommissioned Musical Chairs to make way for the new Creekside Quad, a high-speed replacement which will increase our uphill capacity from 1200 to 2400 riders per hour. In addition, we’ve realigned the new lift at the top and bottom to help relieve some of the early morning base area congestion and offer a better loading and unloading experience for beginner skiers and snowboarders.  

The lift replacement and skier access bridge are the first phase of Schweitzer Creek Village, a brand-new arrival area complete with expanded parking, base lodge amenities and expanded terrain.  While this may be a multi-phase project, construction is already underway and we look forward to opening Creekside Quad for the 2023/24 winter season. 

The Village has also been in construction mode over the past three seasons with the addition of Humbird, Cambium Spa, and the 5 Needles connection to the Whiter Pine Lodge.  All of these projects are scheduled to be completed prior to the 2023/24 winter season. It’s an exciting time for Schweitzer as we begin seeing the pieces come together that will ultimately enhance our mountain experience. I hope our ski community is as proud as I am to watch Schweitzer evolve into a year-round mountain destination. 

For those of you who haven’t visited us in the “secret season,” now’s your chance to come up and unwind. Cambium Spa is open and has a couple of relaxing experiences to offer. Schweitzer opens for summer operations June 16, and Community Day is June 17.  I’m personally looking forward to warmer sunny days, a chance to get out on the lake and enjoy an adult beverage or 2.