Clear and Cold on the Mountain: First Flakes Behind Us, Opening Day 43 Days Out
Did you know Schweitzer has already seen its first snow of the season? The resort's own daily message reports the first official snow sighting on Saturday, October 10, with snow falling on and off through that weekend, and an Ikon Pass roundup released October 14 noted first flakes on Schweitzer with more snow on the way this week. Winter is officially on the radar, and the countdown is on: opening day is set for Friday, November 27, just 43 days from today.
First Flakes Sale Ends Today at Schweitzer, and a Sunny Frosty Wednesday on the Mountain
Did you know the very first snow of the season can set a deadline? Schweitzer Mountain Resort is celebrating the first flakes that fell over the mountain this past weekend with its First Flakes Lodging Flash Sale, and today, Wednesday, October 14, is the last day to book it. The resort is offering 20 percent off winter lodging for stays from November 27, 2026 through April 11, 2027, with a two-night minimum, at properties including the Humbird, Selkirk Lodge, White Pine Lodge and 5 Needles.
Frosty Roads, Sunny Skies, and Free Ski Days for Idaho Kids at Schweitzer
Did you know some of the best ski days at Schweitzer this winter can be free for kids? Registration is now open in October for the Ski Idaho Peak Season Passport for 2026-27, which gives fifth graders three free ski or ride days and sixth graders two free days at each of 18 participating Idaho resorts, including Schweitzer. The passport is open to kids from any state or country, and the processing fee is 29 dollars for families who sign up before December 20, rising to 49 dollars after that date, so this month is the smart time to register at Skiidaho.us.
Week Ahead in Sandpoint: Farmers Market Finale, Election Forum, and Frost Tonight
Happy Monday, mountain friends — and cover those tomato plants, because the season's first widespread frost is on the way. The KOTX radar lit up this morning with a band of rain sweeping across the Inland Northwest, echoes stretching from the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene area north toward Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry. Behind it comes a sharp, clear night: the National Weather Service is calling for widespread frost after 1 a.m., with lows around 28 degrees in Sandpoint and 27 up at Schweitzer.
NOAA's El Nino Winter Outlook: What It Means for Schweitzer
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center issued its official winter 2026-27 outlook on September 17, and the headline is a strong one: El Nino is here and strengthening, with better-than-90-percent odds of a very strong event through the heart of winter — with a real shot at the strongest event on record going back to 1950.
Snow Showers Over Schweitzer, and Sandpoint Rolls Up Its Sleeves for Shoreline Cleanup
Good Sunday morning from the hill above Schweitzer. If you are waking up with us at The Village Overlook, take a look outside first, because winter is knocking on the mountain's door. Snow showers are dusting the upper elevations this morning at 32 degrees, feeling closer to 21 in the wind. The KOTX radar map shows a real fall front sweeping through, with widespread precipitation echoes stretching from Colville and Spokane through Coeur d'Alene and right over Sandpoint. Down in town it is raining, 44 degrees, with northeast gusts up to 37 miles per hour.
Red Salmon at Trestle Creek, Summit Flakes Tonight, and Fall Wildlife Season Is On
October 10, 2026. Sandpoint wakes to 41 degrees and a sky that can't quite decide, with the National Weather Service giving us a 20 percent chance of showers after 11 a.m. and a mostly sunny afternoon high near 54. The KOTX radar is showing real shower activity this morning, with echo cells over the Colville highlands to the west and near the Canadian border to the north. Tonight is the interesting part: the snow level drops to 2,400 feet after midnight while temperatures fall to around 33, so the first dusting of white on Schweitzer's 6,400-foot summit is very much in play.
Packed Fall Saturday in Sandpoint, and Schweitzer's Winter Plans Take Shape
Happy Friday from the hill above the village. If you have been waiting for the perfect fall weekend in Sandpoint, this one might be it.