Closing early causes concern among locals

To Schweitzer Mountain Resort executives:

I find it hard to believe that Schweitzer is closing a week before Easter. With the excellent coverage and spring break it leaves students with nothing to do and makes locals wonder why they should support any ski/snowboard area that takes this type of business attitude. When I was told by one of your employees that the reason for closing early was not weather related but because a film company offered approximately $75,000 to film on the mountain for the two week period it was another example of “Corporate Schweitzer.” Is there a reason you could not close sections of the mountain for filming and keep the rest open to the general public until Easter? If this is about revenue, you are hurting yourselves by this seemingly greedy action and this will do more harm to your reputation in the long run than any positive movie exposure. Will Schweitzer be closed at Christmas next year if you are offered $150,000 by another concern? If this is a sample of the direction the mountain is heading you are going to lose the positive image that took 40 years to create and is the reason people enjoy skiing and snowboarding at Schweitzer so much. Many of us hope you will reconsider this decision and act accordingly.

MICHAEL SABIN

Sandpoint