OUT THERE SNOW 44
OUT THERE SNOW LOCAL RESORTS
THIS PAGE: NEW QUAD LIFT AT 49 DEGREES NORTH // FAR LEFT: SILVER MOUNTAIN // LEFT: MT. SPOKANE OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: MT. SPOKANE // BOTTOM LEFT: THE GLASS COVER GROUND LIFT AT SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT. // RIGHT: LOOKOUT PASS NEW EAGLE PEAK TERRAIN ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE RESORTS
WHAT’S NEW AT LOCAL RESORTS BY DERRICK KNOWLES
LOOKOUT TO OFFER CAT SKIING IN NEW TERRAIN
According to the resort, a team of loggers has been out in the woods cutting the 14 new trails that comprise Lookout’s new Eagle Peak expansion. Once that work is completed, Lookout will be offering cat skiing by reservation this winter so guests can experience these new trails. A quad chair that the mountain has already purchased will be installed next summer to provide lift-served access to these trails in the Eagle Peak expansion area for next winter. MT. SPOKANE’S CHAIR 2 GETS AN OVERHAUL
A needed upgrade to Chair 2 (now named Illuminator) will include a $1 million investment in the replacement of the drive terminal. Chair 2 is key to moving skiers and snowboarders around the mountain, and this investment will help provide reliable service all year long. NEW HIGH-SPEED QUAD SET TO OPEN AT 49
This fall, 49 Degrees North is putting the finishing touches on an all-new Doppelmayr High-Speed Quad Chairlift to replace Chair 1. According to 49, a top-notch team from Doppelmayr has spent the summer and fall constructing the 6,644-foot-long lift that extends from the base area of the Central Basin, just west of the main lodge, to the summit of Chewelah Peak parallel to
OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
the existing Bonanza lift that will eventually be removed. When opened this season, it will be the longest high-speed quad in Washington State, extending over 1.25 miles. At the same time, the lift will cut ride times to the summit in half. With midmountain loading no longer available with the new lift, 49 has created new terrain and trails below Beaver Slide to give those accustomed to skiing and riding that area additional options. MT. SPOKANE GOES ALL IN ON 7-DAYS-AWEEK SHREDDING
Last year, Mt. Spokane started offering seven-days-a-week service that ran from the holidays through February, and this year they are extending that new schedule from December 15–March 13. WEEKEND & HOLIDAY TICKET SALES MAY BE LIMITED AGAIN THIS YEAR
Some resorts report that they once again may limit the number of lift tickets sold on weekends and holidays to keep capacity at a safe and manageable level. Season pass holders at all four Ski the NW Rockies Resorts will once again get unlimited access to their home mountains, which makes having a pass your best bet for unrestricted access. If you do plan to ski or ride on a weekend or holiday period, purchase your tickets in advance online to get ahead of
any possible limits on tickets sold for your preferred days as the date gets closer. GLASS COVER ADDED TO CONVEYOR LIFT AT SILVER
A new glass cover was installed over the conveyor lift that serves the beginner run and tubing park at Silver. The cover will shield riders from the harsh winter elements and will make beginners’ first days on skis and tubers’ experience much more enjoyable. MORE MAN-MADE SNOW
The evolution of 49 Degrees North’s new snowmaking system continues this year, extending farther up Silver Ridge all the way to where Blastface meets the Silver Ridge. All of this increased snowmaking capacity means earlier opening of some terrain and a longer season for the resort. INTERACTIVE MAP SHOWS TRAIL STATUS & CLOSURES
A new interactive trail map right outside the Mountain House at Silver Mountain will show which runs are open, closed, and groomed. The map is sure to become a popular spot for people to meet and serve as a backdrop for selfies and social media posts. HIGH-PERFORMANCE RENTAL & DEMO GEAR
The rental shop at 49 Degrees North has
