Small Ski Areas Await Snowfall to Kick Off Season

The ski season for smaller hills in the Inland Northwest remains on hold as they await sufficient snowfall for opening. While larger ski areas are operational, smaller resorts such as Snowhaven near Grangeville, Cottonwood Butte near Cottonwood, and Bald Mountain near Pierce have yet to commence their winter activities due to inadequate snow coverage.

Chris Allen, president of the Clearwater Ski Club, which manages Bald Mountain, reported minimal snowfall at the location. “There is about a half inch of snow at the bottom and 4 inches at the top. It’s really bad,” she stated. Snowhaven, though receiving slightly more snow, still lacks enough coverage to adequately conceal vegetation on its ski runs. Joel Wasem, manager of Snowhaven, explained, “With the cold weather we got toward the end of last week and a little bit of snow, we got a base set and got rid of some of the brush, but there is still way too much.”

Small ski areas in the region have experienced late openings in the past, which impacts their revenue during the critical two-week Christmas vacation period. Allen noted that these late openings are becoming more frequent. “It’s just crazy. Two years ago we opened January 20 and closed January 21 — two days. Last year was seven days. The forecast is terrible,” she added. The current weather pattern is characterized by cold and clear conditions, followed by warm and rainy periods during expected precipitation.

Wasem remains hopeful for upcoming light snowfall, although he cautioned that the forecast does not indicate significant storms that would allow Snowhaven to open. “If I could get 10 inches of fluffy powder or 5 inches of heavier snow, we would get open, no problem,” he said. He highlighted a possibility of rain on New Year’s Day and a slight chance of snow on Saturday, but overall, the next two weeks lack promising moisture.

Cross-country ski areas are also feeling the effects of the weather. At Palouse Divide near Harvard, a free ski day scheduled for Saturday has been postponed due to anticipated rain.

Although larger resorts in northern Idaho and eastern Washington are open, they too are in search of better snow conditions. Schweitzer Mountain near Sandpoint has half of its lifts operational, with just over 30% of its terrain accessible. Bluewood, which opened on December 25, reported 11 inches at its base and 20 inches at its summit. Brundage Mountain has all its lifts running, and its modest snowmaking system has helped fill coverage gaps. However, the resort’s off-trail tree skiing remains thin.

April Whitney, spokesperson for Brundage Mountain, urged skiers to stay on marked trails. “We really recommend that folks stay on trail, on piste, and of course respect any closures,” she stated.

As smaller ski areas in the Inland Northwest continue to wait for the snow they need to open, the community remains hopeful for a weather change that will bring the winter sports season into full swing.