by THE INLANDER & r & & r & 540 Total Acres | 20% Beginner | 50% Intermediate | 20% Advanced | 10% Expert & r & & r & I-90 AT THE IDAHO/MONTANA BORDER | 208-744-1301 | www.SKILOOKOUT.COM
Longest Run: 1.5 miles
Base Elevation: 4,500 feet
Top Elevation: 5,650 feet
Vertical Drop: 1,150 feet
Average Snowfall: 400 inches
X-Country Trails: 25 kilometers
Downhill Trails: 34 named trails plus acres of tree skiing
Lifts:
3 doubles, 1 surface
Total uphill capacity:
4,200/hour
HOURS
Weekends/Holidays:
8:30am - 4pm
Mon., Thur., Fri.:
9am - 4pm
LIFT TICKETS
Weekend/Holidays
Adult (18-61): $30
Junior (7-17): $19
Child (under 6): Free
College (w/ID, 18-23): $27
Senior (62+): $19
Midweek
Adult (18-61): $27
Junior (7-17): $17
Child (under 6): Free
College (w/ID, 18-23): $25
Senior (62+): $17
SEASON PASSES
(after Nov. 1)
Adult (18-61): $269
Junior (7-12): $129
Teen (13-17): $149
Child (6 & amp; under): $25
FAMILY PASSES
(2 adult & amp; 1 Jr./Teen): $625
(Addt. Junior): $119
(Addt. Teen): $139
College (18-23 w/ID): $229
Senior (62-69): $149
Super Senior (70+): $109
Midweek Pass: $149
* Plus 6% Idaho sales tax
LEARNING AT LOOKOUT
& lt;span class= "dropcap " & O & lt;/span & ne of the most popular ski instruction programs in our region is the Free Ski School at Lookout Pass, which has been in existence for more than 60 years and is nationally recognized. Approximately 40,000 skiers have gotten their start there, and many continue to enroll. Lookout's volunteers staff and run the program and teach the skills and etiquette needed for the lifelong skiing experience.
The Free Ski School for Kids is offered every Saturday morning from Jan. 12- March 15 for kids 6 to 17 years of age. Because of the program's popularity, kids must sign up by the third week. But when Lookout says free, they mean free. Details are simple, lessons are an hour (an hour and a half for intermediate skiers and boarders). Lessons start at 10 am for beginners and 11:30 am for intermediate and above. Rentals are available at the mountain, and lift tickets are required after the lesson to continue skiing or boarding for the remainder of the day.
Lookout Pass also offers a Race Program, a perfect program for youth ages 8 to 18 who are looking to advance to the next level. Training in the program runs Dec. 15- March 16. The team meets both Saturday and Sunday from 9 am-3 pm. Program cost is $370 (not including lift tickets or race fees) and includes the three-day Christmas Camp running Dec. 26-28.
In addition, Lookout offers programs for adults. Rounding out their offerings are group and private lessons for all ages and Downhill Divas, a special program for women only. This biweekly session is offered every other Thursday from Jan. 10-March 6 and is $30 per session or $80 for three sessions. This price includes lunch, but lift tickets are extra.
To make getting to Lookout Pass even easier, they offer a bus shuttle system running as far west as the Spokane Valley and east into Western Montana. There is a fee for the bus if riding from Liberty Lake, Post Falls, Hayden and Coeur d'Alene, and it's free if in the Silver Valley or Western Montana.
Featured Event: January 13, 2008: One the region's favorite events is the Winter Carnival Family Fun Day, which includes the Pacific Northwest National Wife Carrying Contest. Exactly as it sounds, husbands carry their wives in a timed course to challenge their strength and speed for hopeful victory.
MOUNTAIN People: Ken Walcker
& lt;span class= "dropcap " & I & lt;/span & f you want to know a good story about Lookout Pass, Ken Walcker is your man to tell it. In his 19th season working at Lookout Pass, Ken is the last of the original employees from 1988 . He started when the Idaho Ski Club owned the mountain, and he has seen a total of three ownerships since commencing his employment.
It was somewhat of a random act that brought him to work at Lookout. Someone else was leaving and mentioned the opening to Ken. He thought to himself: Why not? While he enjoys everyone who he has worked with, he misses the original crew, the guys who trained him when he started almost 20 years ago.
His official title on the mountain is Lift Manager, and he oversees everything that has to do with lifts and lift safety. A typical day starts off with snow removal, and if it is a big snow day, that is quite a task. Then it continues with readying the lifts for patrol and then for the guests. Throughout the day, part of the management of this department is the daunting task of making sure that the chairs are free and clear of snow, garbage and grease, making sure lift tickets are checked, corrals are set and the guests are organized before loading the lift.
Ken has never managed the time to learn to ski but really enjoys the mountain lifestyle. He has enjoyed seeing many smiling faces and likes "watching everyone have fun, enjoying the hill in any kind of weather, especially the kids. They really get a kick out of it."
When he is not working on the mountain he works for the Forest Service in the road maintenance department, reads, walks on trails and cuts wood. He was born in Montana although has lived for the last 39 years in the Silver Valley.