Skiers and snowboarders have been marking their calendars for their chosen ski resorts’ opening days.
However, with the warm late fall, many do not know if they will be able to go quite yet. Opening day is up in the air most years, but usually, with faith, the resorts open up in time.
Schweitzer mountain’s opening day is set for Nov. 24 with weather permitting. Looking up at the mountains we can see soft white coloration on the peaks, but not much hope for a Nov. ski season.
Due to the El Nino weather Kootenai County has been having this year, meteorologists are predicting a warm and dry winter this year. Typically for Idaho, Washington and Oregon, El Nino winters are warmer and drier, meaning less snow and warmer temperatures.
Avid skiers and snowboarders count on having a early season every year to be able to hit the mountains as soon as possible.
Broxton Lukey, a student at Lakeland High School and avid snowboarder, predicts that the area willl have a good winter with good snow, based on how it was last year. Although Lukey has made strong predictions about the winter, he has not yeat heard about the El Nino winter supposedly destined in North Idaho.
“I usually plan to go on opening day every year and I plan to go this year,” Lukey said.
He hopes that he can hit the slopes as soon as possible, but he is aware that there are too many people and not the right weather conditions to let that happen.
People like Lukey that typically go up and try to be on the first chair of the year count on the ski resorts opening on the predetermined dates.
Lukey’s mountain of choice is Silver Mountain in Kellogg, Idaho. Silver Mountain initially planned to open over thanksgiving break, but have pushed it up to the beginning of December with weather permitting.
Cole Cooper, also a LHS student and snowboarder, goes to Silver Mountain like Lukey. He believes it will be a great winter with lots of powder days once it starts snowing.
If the weather pans out like meterologists are predicting, many snowboarders and skiers are going to be disappointed with the dry and warm winter we will have.
“I don’t think they will open the day they said, but it’ll be close hopefully,” Cooper said.
Cooper, like many, others wants to be able to hit the slopes on opening da.y but is unsure if he can because of sports and other tresponsibilities that could prevent it. Also due to the unsurity of opening day, Cooper cannot plan ahead and be ready for when he’s going up.
Silver Mountain, Schweitzer Mountain, Lookout pass and many other resorts around the area are planning to open Nov. 24th with weather permitting. With the warm temperatures and dry winter, skiers and snowboarders may not be able to count on shredding the slopes that day and may have to wait before marking their calendars.
