Schweitzer to open Saturday

SANDPOINT — Schweitzer Mountain Resort's on-again, off-again opening day is on … again.

The resort announced earlier this week it intends to open as many as three chairlifts and up to 20 runs on Saturday. At least 10 of the runs will be groomed, according to mountain officials.

Slated for opening are chairs 1 and 6 and the Great Escape Quad. Runs set to be open include Ridge Run, Midway, Crystal, Gypsy, The Great Divide, Upper Loophole, Down the Hatch, Vagabond, Lower Kaniksu and the terrain park.

The handle-tow will run with limited access to beginner terrain.

Lift tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for juniors, $25 for youths, and $5 for children. Use of the handle-tow only will be free of charge.

After opening day wraps, the resort is throwing a "Search for Snow" party and bonfire in the village. There will also be a fire on top of the mountain and a special late-afternoon lift will be available to the first 100 people (no skis or snowboards will be permitted on the lift).

There is also an open house at Refuge for the younger set.

Schweitzer planned on opening last Saturday, but postponed it until Sunday after the resort was doused with rain from a Pineapple Express. However, too much damage was done by the rains, forcing Schweitzer to remain closed through this week.

Party organizers plan to roast a pineapple in effigy on Saturday.

No new snow is in the near-term forecast and temperatures have been staying in the low 30s, according to resort officials.

Snow depth measured 2 feet, 1 inch in the village and 4 feet, 1 inch higher up the mountain.