Help me plan this trip

[Edd]

The plan is to fly into Spokane on Feb 4 and depart from Kalispell, MT on Feb 13. Fernie is a priority, as is Whitefish. We have Indy passes but they’re only good for Silver Mountain and 49 North, within day trip driving distance from Spokane. I’ve got two ideas here, curious about feedback. Our group is all experienced skiers/riders but not looking to die. About driving from Fernie to Whitefish for only 2 hours, I’m thinking we might be a bit fried by then so could use a rest for two days at Whitefish.

Option 1
-Sunday 04Feb stay in Spokane
-Monday 05Feb ski 49 North or Silver
-Tuesday 06Feb ski 49 North or Silver
-Wednesday 07Feb drive to Fernie 4.5 hours/ stay in Fernie
-Thursday 08Feb ski Fernie
-Friday 09Feb ski Fernie
-Saturday 10Feb drive to Whitefish 2 hours
-Sunday 11Feb ski Whitefish
-Monday 12Feb ski Whitefish
-Tuesday 13Feb fly home

Option 2
-Sunday 04Feb stay in Spokane
-Monday 05Feb drive to Schweitzer 2 hrs /ski Schweitzer / stay in Schweitzer
-Tuesday 06Feb ski Schweitzer
-Wednesday 07Feb drive to Fernie /stay in Fernie
-Thursday 08Feb ski Fernie
-Friday 09Feb ski Fernie
-Saturday 10Feb drive to Whitefish 2 hours
-Sunday 11Feb ski Whitefish
-Monday 12Feb ski Whitefish
-Tuesday 13Feb fly home

 

[jaytrem]

Hmmm, tough call. I really love all 3. Before I went back 2 years ago, that area was my #1 trip to do again. It didn't disappoint! All 3 places were very quite, we had entire sections of ski areas to ourselves. Silver is a very unique experience with the gondola out of town. Schweitzer is probably my favorite of the 3. We had such a great time at 49N, but if necessary that would probably be the one I cut. If it was me I'd drop a day at Fernie and hot all 3.

 

[Bosco DaSkia]

i would prefer silver or 49 over schweitzer any day. and if you're planning to fly out of kalispell, you might want to check out blacktail.


http://www.blacktailmountain.com/

 

[KustyTheKlown]

i would prefer silver or 49 over schweitzer any day. and if you're planning to fly out of kalispell, you might want to check out blacktail.


http://www.blacktailmountain.com/

wow, i find that to be a pretty crazy take. i skied all 3 during 2021-2022 season and schweitzer is so clearly the big boy among these 3, and easily the most challenging terrain - the stuff off the rope tow at the top is a lot of fun. 49N is low and below treeline and feels eastern. silver is weird bc you take a ridiculously long gondola from parking to skiing. both have fun terrain but schweitzer is the one id be most down to ski again

CDA is a nicer city than spokane to base from. spokane is kinda gritty

 

[Edd]

What is CDA?

I mentioned 5 areas, which 3 are you guys referring to?

 

[LonghornSkier]

wow, i find that to be a pretty crazy take. i skied all 3 during 2021-2022 season and schweitzer is so clearly the big boy among these 3, and easily the most challenging terrain - the stuff off the rope tow at the top is a lot of fun. 49N is low and below treeline and feels eastern. silver is weird bc you take a ridiculously long gondola from parking to skiing. both have fun terrain but schweitzer is the one id be most down to ski again

CDA is a nicer city than spokane to base from. spokane is kinda gritty

I would definitely say that Fernie has the most intense terrain of those mentioned.

 

[thebigo]

What is CDA?

I mentioned 5 areas, which 3 are you guys referring to?

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[KustyTheKlown]

I would definitely say that Fernie has the most intense terrain of those mentioned.

For sure. I was just talking about the ones that are commutable from Spokane. My fernie trip was an entirely seperate kicking horse revelstoke fernie loop via calgary

 

[KustyTheKlown]

What is CDA?

I mentioned 5 areas, which 3 are you guys referring to?

Schweitzer Silver and 49. That was my big trip in 2021-2022. I also went to mission ridge which sucked and made no sense for driving. I’m sure I have a thread about it buried down this board

 

[SenorQuesadilla]

The Schweitzer-Fernie 1-2 is one of my favorites in the Rockies. Silver is very cool to visit and the gondola from the middle of town is memorable but between the terrain, the views of Lake Pend Oreille, and Sandpoint (way more amenities than Kellogg), I'd always recommend Schweitzer. Make sure to spend a fair amount of time at the Outback on the backside of the mountain...awesome food and 5 dollar beers.

 

[Edd]

I'm leaning toward the Schweitzer / Fernie / Whitefish combo which would mean the Indy Pass is no help . We're all meeting up next week to fight it out over beers. Silver seems cool, though.

 

[kbroderick]

I'm leaning toward the Schweitzer / Fernie / Whitefish combo which would mean the Indy Pass is no help . We're all meeting up next week to fight it out over beers. Silver seems cool, though.

If you need to justify the Indy Pass, add two or three more days and fly out of Billings, with a visit to RLM first. If you catch good snow, the skiing there is a whole lot of fun. Whitefish to Red Lodge is about 7 hours of driving with decent weather and a suitably heavy foot for the terrain.

 

[MadPadraic]

Prepare for this trip by reading "A Behanding in Spokane." It's by the same playwright that i borrowed the name 'Mad Padraic" from. Most people are more familiar with his more recent films though (In Bruges, Three Billboards, etc)

Also, the only time I went to Schweitzer I had a great time. I recall the access road being really sketchy by western access road standards, but it was 20 years ago this winter.

 

[2Planker]

The plan is to fly into Spokane on Feb 4 and depart from Kalispell, MT on Feb 13. Fernie is a priority, as is Whitefish. We have Indy passes but they’re only good for Silver Mountain and 49 North, within day trip driving distance from Spokane. I’ve got two ideas here, curious about feedback. Our group is all experienced skiers/riders but not looking to die. About driving from Fernie to Whitefish for only 2 hours, I’m thinking we might be a bit fried by then so could use a rest for two days at Whitefish.

Option 1
-Sunday 04Feb stay in Spokane
-Monday 05Feb ski 49 North or Silver
-Tuesday 06Feb ski 49 North or Silver
-Wednesday 07Feb drive to Fernie 4.5 hours/ stay in Fernie
-Thursday 08Feb ski Fernie
-Friday 09Feb ski Fernie
-Saturday 10Feb drive to Whitefish 2 hours
-Sunday 11Feb ski Whitefish
-Monday 12Feb ski Whitefish
-Tuesday 13Feb fly home

Option 2
-Sunday 04Feb stay in Spokane
-Monday 05Feb drive to Schweitzer 2 hrs /ski Schweitzer / stay in Schweitzer
-Tuesday 06Feb ski Schweitzer
-Wednesday 07Feb drive to Fernie /stay in Fernie
-Thursday 08Feb ski Fernie
-Friday 09Feb ski Fernie
-Saturday 10Feb drive to Whitefish 2 hours
-Sunday 11Feb ski Whitefish
-Monday 12Feb ski Whitefish
-Tuesday 13Feb fly home

Skip everywhere except Fernie. Nothing will compare

 

[Tonyr]

I'm leaning toward the Schweitzer / Fernie / Whitefish combo which would mean the Indy Pass is no help . We're all meeting up next week to fight it out over beers. Silver seems cool, though.

A good buddy of mine skis those 3 resorts all of the time. I know Fernie is his favorite of the three but he loves both Whitefish and Schweizer too. They all have great tree skiing, I would try and have your trip revolve around those 3 spots if possible.

 

[Tonyr]

On a separate note, Red Mountain looks interesting too, any opinions there? I don't know anyone who has skied it but the trail map looks solid. It's 2.5 hours from Spokane and is on the Ikon pass...

 

[Edd]

Speaking of Indy and that general area I did a trip to the Banff area years ago and somehow wasn't aware how close I was to Castle Mountain. Got skunked at Kicking Horse with wind and visibility and Castle would have been a much shorter drive. I'm a dope.

 

[jaytrem]

On a separate note, Red Mountain looks interesting too, any opinions there? I don't know anyone who has skied it but the trail map looks solid. It's 2.5 hours from Spokane and is on the Ikon pass...

Red is nice and it's quiet. No high speed chairs, not that I care.

A couple friends went to Fernie for a week once, it rained most days. My point being all these ski areas are great if you hit them at the right time, and might suck if you don't. I never got a nice day at Whitefish, hopefully some day.

 

[SenorQuesadilla]

Speaking of Indy and that general area I did a trip to the Banff area years ago and somehow wasn't aware how close I was to Castle Mountain. Got skunked at Kicking Horse with wind and visibility and Castle would have been a much shorter drive. I'm a dope.

Closer to banff or your drive up there?

re: Red is a very cool place with plenty of charm, though it was full on spring conditions when I visited first week of March two winters back. Paid too much for a crappy hotel near the base, though at least it had memorably terrible decor

 

[Tonyr]

Thanks for the info on Red, the lack of high speed quads is fine for a day or so but I wouldn't want to plan a long visit knowing that I'd be on slow fixed grip the whole time.