Oregon Public Broadcasting

In the heat of summer, a ski resort near Sandpoint, Idaho has winter in mind. Schweitzer Mountain is installing new snow-making equipment.

Some of the Northwest’s best-known resorts already have it. This  the largest snowmaking system in eastern Washington and northern Idaho.

Coeur d’Alene correspondent Doug Nadvornick reports.

Schweitzer President Tom Chasse is trying to forecast the start of the next ski season. The target date is usually Thanksgiving weekend.

Tom Chasse: “People have some time off. There’s some pent-up demand at that time of year, more so than in the spring. And, you know, if we can get open by Thanksgiving it helps build momentum going into the Christmas holiday period.”

Most years that Thanksgiving target is too optimistic. Even during last year’s huge snow season the resort didn’t open until December 6.

That’s why Schweitzer is joining major regional resorts such as Mission Ridge and Mount Bachelor in investing in snowmaking equipment.

It’s putting a million-and-a-half dollars in the system that workers are installing this month on one of the mountain’s main ski runs.

Chasse says the resort doesn’t expect to lure many new skiers. It’s trying to provide its current customers with more reliable service.