Snow News - Mt. Spokane

by THE INLANDER & r & & r & 1,250 Acres | 23% Beginner | 32% Intermediate | 45% Advanced & r & & r & Just north of Spokane, wash. | 509-443-1397 | www.mtspokane.com





Longest Run:1.5 miles


Base Elevation: 4,200 feet


Top Elevation:


5,889 feet


Vertical Drop: 2,000 feet


Average Snowfall: 300 inches


X-Country Trails: Nearby in State Park


Downhill Trails: 45


Lifts:


5 doubles


Total Uphill Capacity:


4,920/hour





HOURS


Wednesdays-Sundays:


9am - 4pm


Night Skiing:


Wed.-Sat.: 4pm-9:30pm


* Dec. 19 - Feb. 24:


7 Days A Week, 9am - 4pm





LIFT TICKETS


Weekends


Adult (18-69): $39


Youth (7-17): $31


Child (6 and under): Free


Super Senior (70+) $24


Chair 5 Only: $20 Midweek


Adult (18-69): $34


Youth (7-17): $27


Child (6 and under): Free


Super Senior (70+) $22


Chair 5 Only: $20


Night Skiing


Adult (18-69): $19


Youth (7-17): $19


Child (6 and under): Free


Super Senior (70+) $19


Chair 5 Only: $20





* Plus Washington sales tax





HONE YOUR SKILLS


Easy access, versatile options for instruction, and wide-open slopes with gentle pitches make Mt. Spokane a great option for beginners or for intermediate skiers or snowboarders looking to improve their skills.





If you are a first-timer to snow sports, Mt. Spokane offers several types of lessons. The options include one-time lessons, which are two hours in length and include your lesson, lift ticket and rental for $69. This is available for ages 7 and up.





For the beginner who knows that this is the sport for them, there is a multi-week lesson option available, which includes three days of instruction (three hours each day); lift tickets and rentals are included with each lesson. The same instructor will be with you throughout your three lessons to ensure consistency and so that the class is always progressing. There are four sessions throughout the winter to choose from, with the option of Saturday or Sunday as lesson day. Price starts at $139 for lesson and lift ticket only. Price for the package that includes rentals is $169.





Mt. Spokane also offers private lessons for those seeking the personalized approach to instruction. Private lessons go out from the top every hour and are a great way to work on your own specific needs and issues. Private lessons start at $49 for one-on-one instruction with one of the many well-qualified Mt. Spokane instructors.





Specialty clinics are also available at Mt. Spokane, from telemark skiing to clinics specifically for women through their Ladies Only program. This is a one-day session that includes lift ticket, lessons, rentals and food, plus wine, cheese and a mini massage at the end of the day. The price is $99 per session and includes all of the above-mentioned perks. There is also a discounted daycare rate for those women participating in the session.





Mt. Spokane offers many options for ski and snowboard enthusiasts looking to begin their love of sliding downhill or for the intermediate skier or boarder looking to progress in ability. They also make it easier to be on the mountain with bus service from three locations in the Spokane area to the mountain. There is fee for riding the bus, but it's a convenient way to get up and down the mountain.





Featured Event: Jan. 25-27: Kan Fest 2008 is a three-day event with a rail jam on Jan. 25 and live music to follow. On Jan. 26, Mt. Spokane hosts the Northwest Freeride League series in the Scion Terrain Park with live music. Finishing up on Jan. 27 at noon will be the Big Air competition.





MOUNTAIN People: Myris Sportsman


& lt;span class= "dropcap " & I & lt;/span & n her seventh season, Myris Sportsman joined the team at Mt. Spokane after Vicki Chambers spent three years trying to convince her to work at the mountain. Although born in Juneau, Alaska, she grew up in Colville, Washington. After being married and having three kids, she decided in 1991, to go college at Eastern Washington University and graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor's degree in Outdoor Recreation. She then moved to Spokane and started her life in the outdoor recreation field at REI.





She is now in her second year as Guest Services Manager, which is a year-round position at Mt. Spokane and holds a lot of responsibility with many hats. Her position changes with the seasons. Springtime is for reconciling the previous ski season, closing up ticket counts and skier visits. Summer is for gearing up for the season to come, getting the rental and retail shop in line and selling season passes. During the fall, emphasis is placed on offsite sales and season pass pickup and, of course, the ski swap. Her position brings her in contact with many of the guests who ski and board at Mt. Spokane. She enjoys getting the beginner skiers and boarders into the best program that fits their wants and needs. She adds, "Beginner skiers and boarders are especially fun, even on the worst weather day, they come back in talking about how much fun they have had. It is always a treat."





When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her kids and her new 15-month-old granddaughter, and being at her boyfriend's lake cabin. Her household also includes a new 5-month-old Great Pyrenees puppy named Sampson and two cats.