SPOKANE, Wash. — The recent mild winter in Spokane has been a challenge for many ski resorts due to the low snow. Mt. Spokane Ski Resort is among the many, with only half of its terrain accessible to skiers and snowboarders during what should be peak season.
The mountain currently has 29 of its 53 runs open, with bare spots visible through patches of snow across the slopes. The resort managers’ report recording just 28 inches of snow at the mountain’s highest elevation, while the base area has accumulated only 15 inches.
“It’s just the entire region is dealing with that low snow this year,” said Lindsay Bangsberg, Mt. Spokane’s digital media manager.
The limited snow conditions have restricted access to only five runs: Beginners Luck, Parkway Express, Illuminator, Hidden Treasure and Handle Toe. Along with these conditions, the resort has also experienced a low number of daily visitors.
For beginner snowboarders like Haidyn and Delaney Utigard, the conditions have created additional challenges in developing their skills on the mountain.
“There’s not as much [snow] this season, it really isn’t giving us much room to be getting better this season, let’s be honest here. It’s kinda like the leftover snow,” they said.
Despite the difficulties, resort staff members are finding silver linings in the current conditions. Mountain managers suggest the limited terrain could actually benefit first-time skiers who don’t require access to the entire mountain.
“This is a really great time for beginners because you don’t need the whole mountain open to ski. You kinda just need that beginner area,” Bangsberg said.
Resort staff also noted that the ski industry typically experiences a difficult winter approximately every 10 years, and this season has reflected that bad luck.
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