Thread: moving to spokane in the fall, where should i get a seasons pass?

I used to live in Spokane. I had a season pass to mt spo and Schweitzer for 2 years. This is what I learned.


Schweitzer sucks. No matter what the locals tell you, it's flat as hell, there is no variation of terrain either. Good terrain park I guess, but that is not my scene. Great backcountry, but once you make the 1.5-2hr drive from spo, chances are itll be too foggy to see. Resort has a very corporate feel.

Mt Spokane is a time machine back to 1985. Super fun lifts, slow mediocre terrain but great vibe. Worth it for the night skiing if you are bored after work. No serious terrain, but the out of bounds is pretty ok, backside is pretty ok as well. Very close to spokane. Often foggy as well.

Dont buy a pass to schweitzer. Buy a pass to mt spo or 49 for afternoon/night skiing, and buy a pass to red mountain on the weekends. Red has real terrain, great snow, and a much better scene than Schweitzer. If you are driving a couple hours anyway, may as well make it up to red.

I grew up 15 minutes from bridger, 1 hr from big sky and moonlight. Schweitzer is flat. Red is real skiing. Mt spo is fun skiing.

Originally Posted by AaronWright

I find it funny that places and hour and a half or more away are considered local resorts. The only resort local to Spokane is Mt. Spokane.

I would disagree. Although there are many skiers lucky enough to live alot closer than 1.5 -2 hours to their closest resort, a large majority of skiers easily have to travel that distance or further to get to their "local" resort. I bet the majority of skiers at places like Crystal and Stevens Pass who drive 2 hours each way to get to those resorts considers them "local"... Spokane has 5 resorts within 2 hours and I would consider everyone of them local.

Just read about your DUI. Buy a sled and a mt spo pass.

Also, regarding spokane. It is an awesome town if you know where to look. People that say it sucks probably have just driven thru. Downtown is starting to get a really good atmosphere. Some good spots for food, and as stated earlier, great mountain biking (beacon hill).

Short list of what I like there...

Some good bars downtown.

Food- D Lish burgers are kickass, DeLeon's grocery for good mexican food

Non-existant to Minimal bro brah scene.

Decent climbing virtually in town.

Great produce. (I like to cook, and Bozeman sucks for that)

Some stellar swimming holes pretty much in town on the spokane rivers.

There are definitely people that like to get outside, and you aren't surrounded by all the crappy parts of "outdoor communities". People that like to ski, bike, climb and paddle just do it. There isn't the "spray to everyone you know about how awesome you are" scene that is in most mountain towns. Mostly because no one in Spokane cares.

By the way pretty funny Spokane has two threads on the front page.... Spokanistan be Blowin' Up!

This thread appears to have some legs. I proclaim Spokane is about to grow a real bonafide ski culture...

Not suprising, we do have the biggest 3 on 3 basketball tournament in the world, the largest timed road race in the world, and the real feather in our cap... the largest Armed Froces Torchlight Parade in the country. You know your all gonna move here.

And while I'm at it...

I am the best skier on TGR.

Booyah!

Originally Posted by single

Just read about your DUI. Buy a sled and a mt spo pass.

Also, regarding spokane. It is an awesome town if you know where to look. People that say it sucks probably have just driven thru. Downtown is starting to get a really good atmosphere. Some good spots for food, and as stated earlier, great mountain biking (beacon hill).

Short list of what I like there...

Some good bars downtown.

Food- D Lish burgers are kickass, DeLeon's grocery for good mexican food

Non-existant to Minimal bro brah scene.

Decent climbing virtually in town.

Great produce. (I like to cook, and Bozeman sucks for that)

Some stellar swimming holes pretty much in town on the spokane rivers.

There are definitely people that like to get outside, and you aren't surrounded by all the crappy parts of "outdoor communities". People that like to ski, bike, climb and paddle just do it. There isn't the "spray to everyone you know about how awesome you are" scene that is in most mountain towns. Mostly because no one in Spokane cares.

THIS.

I grew up in the area, and it seems like people there just are... Its hard to explain, because there isn't that pseudo I'm a really nice person and all about this community vibe, so I am going to be super nice and welcoming, but you better be badass if you really want to be welcome here vibe...

I think because it isn't a destination place, people are just happy to get to enjoy all that the area has to offer, and there are a lot of outdoor opportunities, maybe not the hardest core, sickest, burliest stuff around, but good, none the less.

It is just a nice, laidback place... IMHO.

"flat" ski areas don't have 12 different winch cat runs on 2900 acres.
Granted the 45* runs are shorter than some other places in the PNW but if you can't find steep your doing it wrong.

Originally Posted by b0ardski

"flat" ski areas don't have 12 different winch cat runs on 2900 acres.
Granted the 45* runs are shorter than some other places in the PNW but if you can't find steep your doing it wrong.

Come ski bridger/bigsky/moonlight/Jackson and see if you don't have a different perspective on terrain. Red is right on par with them.

Schweitzer is to red what mt spo is to Schweitzer.

This to say I believe the bc around the area is solid.

^^I think this boils down to perspective. I grew up in Idaho Falls, skiing Pebble, Big Sky, Bridger and JH. It totally changes your outlook on mountains. This Spokane place is sounding like I need to swing through again!

Not much to add to the above except to say Welcome. Some of the negative comments about Schweitzer might be somewhat dated. They've gladed in several areas very nicely which is the perfect thing for the NW weather. Really what makes Red a great mountain is the evenly spaced trees (and the granite ledges). If you spend time poking around Schweitzer you'll find the goods. Spokane will probably never be known as a mountain destination but that is exactly what some of us like best about here. Access to very good local terrain with abundant snowfall locally (except in El Nino years which this may turn out to be). Regionally, you're within 4-5 hrs of worldclass backcountry (mechanized and nonmechanized) and some legendary resorts. And, as stated above, one of my favorite things about Spokane is that few people have anything to prove around here, too busy raising their kids and enjoying the lakes and mountains. Cayuse and Brian are solid mags; they'll show you around. Shoot me a PM when you get here.

Now you should delete this thread so I don't have to edit this post to my usual "The mountains are all foggy and flat, the locals are all redneck skinheads, the restaurants all serve roadkill, etc."

hmmmm, well i feel like I'm back where I started................... hahaha

Originally Posted by single

Come ski bridger/bigsky/moonlight/Jackson and see if you don't have a different perspective on terrain. Red is right on par with them.

Schweitzer is to red what mt spo is to Schweitzer.

This to say I believe the bc around the area is solid.

My perspective on what's steep is adequate, I lived at alpental for many years (moved to MT cause it rains too much there) at this point, at 50, if I leave lake pend orielle it'll most likely be to the bozone.

You'll like it here Brutah, it may not be world class but that keeps the rest of the world away

it may not be world class but that keeps the rest of the world away

SIG WORTHY^^^^^^^word. winky or no winky.

rog

Originally Posted by Brianskis

And while I'm at it...

I am the best skier on TGR.

Booyah!

I've skied with him -- he's not lying.

Brutah - I've been skiing the Inland NW for 46 years. I'm with whoever wrote that if you can't find steep at Schweitzer, you're doing it wrong. The runouts in many areas are pretty flat but the top runs in both South and Colburn bowls are really nice. Additionally, off the new(er) t-bar, there are some good pitches and back/side country access to Big Blue and the north side of Little Blue Ridge, which holds some awesome steep and snow.

Mt. Spokane is a fun little area but not steep and pretty small. 49N is improving quite a bit and is getting a new chair this year; worth checking out. Silver and Lookout are okay but not my favorites. All in all, Schweitzer has the most varied and challenging terrain and great tree skiing, which is a good thing as we do get fog, just as Mt. Spokane does. The others tend to stay clearer but don't seem to get as good of snow, except Silver and Lookout.

A lot depends on what you want from an area but Schweitzer has more variety to meet pretty much all wants, except moguls, if you're into that kind of thing.

I only spent one year living in Spokane. I skied Mt. Spokane, Silver and Schweitzer. Schweitzer would be my top choice but then again, I never got up to Canada. Mt. Spokane is no slouch when it comes to a mountain right near town.

Hey Brutah,

Just saw this. Never been to Spokane, but it doesn't suck from what I heard from friends. There are any places in the US worst that your gf could have ended up.

Regardless the DUI (not that I have experience with that - some people might be able to comment), but DUI wouldn't be as bad as possession charges, right? Maybe you could test it out a few times prior to buying a pass? A great skiing buddy was in Red for a few years back in the 1990s.

Good luck, sure you'll have fun. Always good to be in a new place (unless it really sucks).

Did you guys know the fourth most viewed video on TGR was filmed at Mt Spokane.... Shocking!

I don't know who that Jeremy Jones character is but this should definitely be in at least third... Look at the large bowls and extreme steeps!

Outstanding Brian. Chair 4 trees, I recognize many of them. Once spent an entire Tuesday lapping them on 2' new over 20 times w/o stopping. Not another soul except liftie sitting on bucket. Ate, drank, rested on the chair, woulda peed off it if I'd had to.

We really need to delete this thread.

I do not live in Spokane. I'm fortunate to work and be able to live in Sandpoint. Here's a different persepective from the others due to my location.

I do love cruising into SPO for events, concerts, dinner, bars, State Line/Cableas.

Obviously I hold a pass at Schweitzer. Been to all the resorts in question. Schweitzer is hands down the best within a 1-2 hours drive from Spokane. All the other resorts are great too, just not "all the round" best.

The Selkirks and Cabinets are amazing and completely un-tapped if you are a skiier/boarder. You will run into seld necks all day, but the true backcountry lines we are looking at are never touched. If you are looking for SLC area-like lines...we have it...you just need to get out and do a little work. YES, the gates at Schweitzer are nice, but with a sled and access to the Selkirks/Cabinets- it rivals just about anything out there. I am persoanlly ready to right off the resorts totally for the pure reason of the mega stiffy I get when I'm in the Selkirks/Cabinets.

Interior BC is truly a mind fuck of an experience. The resorts, people, locations and general feel gets your blood boiling quickly. Unfortunately, with a DUI within the past 10 years, they can turn you down at anytime. My girlfriend is in the same boat.

Basically, you will not go wrong with living in SPO and enjoying the outdoor scene. Super low key and everyone is there to have fun. Hit me up anytime and we can talk more about Schwizz, Selkirks, Cabinets. Probably not the best here to talk about SPO because it is the "Big City" to me. Enjoy!

Cheers.

Mac

Get yourself a season pass at the can and a 10 pack or something like that at Schweitzer. Driving an hour 30 everytime you want to ski can take some of the fun out of it. I grew up in Spokane and have skied many places since, 8:30pm at Mt Spokane when its puking is an experience unlike any other! Have fun out there and cruise a B 29 for me.

Originally Posted by The Duke of Hurl

We really need to delete this thread.

No shit. Shut this thread down. Last thing we need are more god damn Californians moving in. I see these people moving here everyday because of my job and its always satisfying seeing them leave, sometimes within 6 months, because of the winter or lack of jobs and money. Good riddance assholes.....we hate all of you.

^^^ The Inland Northwest spirit is alive and well in this one!

The Inland Empire is also really nice in the summer. Ton's of kick ass lakes, with &^%*% Lake being one of the nicest.

Personally, I'd get a boat before a sled.

I'd also start working on getting into Canada now, pay whatever it takes! It an amazing area!

Ok, now delete the thread, or maybe not the thread but atleast the geographical location mentioned in the last post. There shall be no mentioning of the afore mentioned lake ever again.....

I don't think Ive had the pleasure of visiting &^%*% lake yet. My personal favorite is )$&#@(* lake.