Schweitzer in Person

Construction re-grading for the Basin Express lower terminal.
Looking up the liftline of former chair (left) and new chair (left).
Creating the Trapper's Creek community infrastructure.
Riblets sitting in the construction staging area.
Another shot of the liftlines.

I took a day trip up to Schweitzer to day, partly to take pictures, but it was so hot out (95+) I also wanted to ride the Great Escape and take some time watching the scenery at the top, which was a lot cooler. A bit of news not directly related to construction: there is a new area at the to of the mountain called the Summit Activity Center. It is basically the same use as the old hut, just with a different, more "resort-esqe" name. Also, the resort has a new logo. it features an X (a snowflake?) and a more modern font style, and it can be seen under the "Photo of the Week" on the sidebar. The old logo items are currently 40% off in the village. Also, expect a new website featuring this logo soon. The logo is courtesy of Schweitzer Mountain Resort. These pictures were those that I took.

An Interesting Photo and...

The above image shows the regrading for the Basin Express. Interesting is the view of the tennis courts as well as the lodge, where the deck is completely gone with no trace of it left behind. Also, here are the dates for the upcoming auctions to buy a Chair One chair.

Schweitzer donated chairs to local organizations to help with their fundraising efforts!_Organizations and upcoming auction dates are listed below.

• Panhandle Animal Shelter - July 14, 2007
• Panhandle Alliance for Education - July 28, 2007
• Bonner county 4-H - August 20-25, 2007
• Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce - September 14, 2007
• Sandpoint Area Seniors - October TBA
• Holly Eve Foundation - November 17, 2007
• Idaho Club - April 25, 2008

Do your part to help out local organizations by attending and bidding.

And then it was gone...

Just as soon as the dirt mound came, it went. Workers have been moving away the dirt today. The result is a graded hole and soon the lower terminal will be installed. The above images document the change. Hooray!

They're Digging SOMETHING!

As you can see, they're digging something. . . Guess what it is! The BULLWHEEL (Lower Terminal) for the Basin Express! This is wonderful news! We'll keep you posted!

A Truckload of New Photos and a WEBCAM!

We have three new photos and the first webcam! The webcam is the old snow stake 'cam and it looks exactly where the bullwheel (the huge wheel attached to a motor that turns the lift and makes it move) for the Basin Express is to be located. The first picture shows a lift tower on a trailer. The first arrived today. The second photo shows those towers (riblets) being unloaded from the trailer. Finally, the third picture shows the components for the riblets in the staging area (We have yet to locate that area) Hopefully we'll be able to set up a map so people know where to look if they are up on the mountain. Anyway, gotta go! I'll update you all later!

1 New Photo

Schweitzer has given us just one new photo of construction, and it doesn't even show any new earthwork or lifts; just a bulldozer. Also, following up on an old post, Schweitzer could get 3 to 6 more inches of fluffy white snow! An upper level low pressure system has produced unseasonable cool temperatures, and the result: snow. We think Schweitzer looks better in white, and that they should seriously considering opening - snow in JUNE! This could be their earliest snow in recorded history! I hope you enjoy our little jokes, but hey, it's only about 5 months till we seriously start thinking about snow. Enjoy your week, from Schweitzer Extreme!

Snow?!

Whoa! There's snow... on MEMORIAL DAY!! Yes, Schweitzer did receive snow on Memorial Day, but just guess how much... 3 inches of the fluffy white stuff. We'll keep you posted if they choose to reopen... just kidding! Also, no new construction photos, but we'll keep you posted!

Construction is UNDERWAY!!

As you can see by the above images, construction for the 2007-08 ski season is UNDERWAY! Crews have begun by demolishing the deck and ski check/corral area (Did you know there were windows behind it?). Workers have also taken out the lower Chair One station. The bottom bullwheel is gone, and surveying is underway for the Basin Express. Soon workers will take out the top station and later, the Express and Lakeview will start arriving! We'll keep you posted.

Winding Down.....

The season is quickly winding down. Sunday will be the Downhill Dummy Derby and the final chair on Chair One. Jack Fowler, the main "discoverer who did something," and Sam Wormington, the first General Manager, will get the last ride. Also, be warned: there are only about 37 inches of snow at the village. Conditions may be choppy, and warm weather will prevail. Enjoy the rest of the season and so you know: Schweitzer Mountain Resort and its owners, manages, and employees do NOT endorse this site.

Fog.............

Here's what Schweitzer has to say about today at Schweitzer.

5 am: KM says: Baby it's cold outside. This means that the snow set up perfectly for the
groomers to work their magic. And with the new snow expected today it could turn out to be another outstanding day up here. Get here early to sample what we have to offer. If you missed yesterday don't make the same mistake today--you'll be sorry!!

7 am: KM says: Geez. I was walking across the village and the wind was blowing snow out of the trees. Then I realized that there is no wind to speak of and definately no trees around. Could it be? Yep. A little snow flurry blowing through. Maybe it's the start of another day in the mountains with excellent turns being covered up with fresh snow. The National Weather Service is calling for an inch or so today and more than a few inches to fall overnight and into tomorrow. Stay tuned...this may just be the beginning of great things to come our way this weekend.

8 am: Here's what the NWS has to say about our upcoming weather: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED A SNOW ADVISORY FOR THE NORTHERN IDAHO PANHANDLE...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST SUNDAY. SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED IN THE SANDPOINT AREA BY SUNDAY MORNING. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND PERSIST INTO SUNDAY MORNING WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS OCCURING AFTER SUNSET.

9:30 am: KM says: Weeelll...we haven't been lucky enough to get rid of the fog. Especially at the top of the mountain. But the pillowy soft snow more than makes up for the lack of visibility. The skiing in the trees is still very good although just a bit cut up right now. Venture off a bit further into the depths for the best of the remaining freshies and you won't be disappointed. You might also try the trees around No Joke and Revenge. Not too shabby.