Just 60 miles north of Spokane and 10 miles east of Chewelah lies 49° North Mountain Resort, which has built a reputation for great family-friendly skiing and snowboarding experiences. With more than 2,300 acres, it is Eastern Washington's largest ski resort, offering a myriad of snow sports experiences for all skill levels. The resort features 90 runs, seven ski lifts and opportunities for snowshoeing, Alpine and Nordic skiing. And snow is already piling up on Chewelah Peak.
There's always work to be done and features to improve for 49° North customers. This year, the upgrades include new custom-made guest lockers from Austria featuring built-in boot heaters and dryers and 50% more storage space.
The resort's goals are to create memories and enjoyment with ease at 49° North by streamlining the process of renting, buying ski passes and attending ski school (if needed). The Experience Center is the new 7,000-square-foot headquarters for the snowsports school and equipment rental store, which is equipped with a streamlined system to set up rentals, lessons and any necessary repairs. The one-stop shop is designed to get guests out quickly with less time worrying and more time on the mountain enjoying the views.
Leah Bardal, program manager at 49° North's snowsports school, is excited about the new center. She looks forward to seeing happy faces quickly move through the process so guests can easily make it on the mountain.
"The goal is to make our rentals more fluid and hopefully make that process a little bit faster so people can get out on the snow," Bardal says, adding that a streamlined process improves customer experience and allows guests to avoid waiting around for other obstacles before heading up to the mountain and hitting the slopes.
"When you get up to the mountain, everyone is super excited to be first on the chair. They want to just get out onto the snow," she says. "So making our systems streamlined makes the customer experience better."
Yet, if you're new to the resort or skiing, Bardal has you covered with the snowsports school featuring certified instructors who can help with any skill level. Classes for your children, teens and adults offer a range of instruction options.
If you're trying to avoid a "yard sale" (the ski version of a wipeout), signing up for the school's "Learn 2 Ski Package" instruction program is your first stop at the Experience Center. The program emphasizes a strong foundation for those who have never skied, snowboarded or who just need to regain confidence in their ability.
"That gets you a good jump start to see if you're going to enjoy the experience before your friends try to talk you into going to the very top of the mountain on your first day," Bardal says.
The Learn 2 Ski Package is $99 and includes a two-hour lesson, all-day rental equipment and a beginner zone lift ticket. Ski season passes range from $30 to $879, depending on age and type of pass. ♦
Q&A WITH LEAH BARDAL
Do you have a favorite spot at 49° North to see the views?That's a hard one! It's definitely at the top of the peak, on the top of our main lift, Northern Spirit. You have a 360-degree view; if it's a clear day, you can see all the way up to Colville and Mt. Spokane.
Do you have a favorite ski run?
It depends on the snow conditions, but my go-to run is always down Silver Ridge because of its open terrain. It's one of our main groomed runs and the most comfortable and familiar for me. But if it's a good powder day and I want to challenge myself a little more, I head to Cy's Glades.
Where is the best place to grab a bite on the mountain?
At our Quick Turn Cafe in the main lodge, we have a wide variety of food because we have breakfast in the morning and then switch to lunch. They can do custom orders and always have something special going on. There are also grab-and-go food items if you're really in a hurry and want to get back out there. You can just grab those cooked food items and head back out.
Is there an item you can't be without on the mountain?
Personally, I think it's probably my hand warmers. I wear those almost every day I'm out in the snow. Occasionally, I have some extra for coworkers, but I often just store them in my office.
What do you enjoy and love about your job at 49° North?
In this current position, I get to see the excitement on the kids' faces because we bring a lot of schools up to do one-day field trips or multiday programs. I get to see the excitement on their faces when they get to be out on the snow and on skis or snowboards for the first time, and I just get to empower that excitement with them.
Leah Bardal is the program manager at 49° North's snowsports school. She's kicking off her sixth season at the resort and has a degree in recreational management.
