| While the art of winter sports has now evolved to | | | | alongside her bible in the drawer next to the |
| fantastic levels, early Indians in North Idaho were | | | | telegraph machine, and L.D. immediately contacted |
| adept at ice fishing and certainly made snow shoes | | | | the nearest railway agent at the Spokane office |
| to facilitate the winter hunt and travel. Our area was | | | | who, accompanied by the County Sheriff and a |
| settled much by German and Scandinavian stock, as | | | | doctor from Rathdrum, arrived the following day to |
| well as the early French trappers, priests, and | | | | look into the affair. Upon entering the recluse's cabin, |
| settlers. So, it was a natural that the descendants of | | | | located near where Bronx Road now crosses |
| these settlers followed with skiing the area. Snow | | | | Schweitzer Creek, they found the hides of numerous |
| skiing originated from two geographic groups: Alpine | | | | cats nailed to the walls, and a pot full of cats boiling |
| and Nordic, much like our ancestors. Nordic skiing is | | | | on the stove for the man's supper, thereby solving |
| the oldest category and includes sport that evolved | | | | the mystery of the recent disappearances of |
| from skiing as done in Scandinavia. Nordic style ski | | | | numerous of the town's pets. Schweitzer was taken |
| bindings attach at the toes of the skier's ski boots, | | | | into custody, remanded to the "county farm" for |
| but not at the heels. Alpine skiing includes sports that | | | | observation, and later committed to an "insane |
| evolved from skiing as done in the Alps. Alpine | | | | asylum" where, as Ella Mae put it, "He lived out the |
| bindings attach at both the toe and the heel of ski | | | | rest of his life a dangerous and raving lunatic." And, |
| boots. These two categories overlap with some | | | | to this day, Earl and Harry's favorite fishing spot has |
| sports potentially fitting into both. However, binding | | | | been known as Schweitzer Creek, and the mountain |
| style and history indicate that each skiing sport is | | | | above, Schweitzer Mountain. |
| more one than the other. Some skiing sports such as | | | | The Jim Brown Years |
| Telemark skiing have elements of both categories, | | | | Brown had long been aware of Schweitzer's potential |
| but its history in Telemark, Norway and free-heel | | | | as a ski area. He had been skiing the area since the |
| binding style place Telemark skiing firmly in the Nordic | | | | age of 16. As a young man he would hike the |
| category. | | | | Schweitzer and Colburn bowls in the early 1930's. He |
| Now, our area has much more to offer than just | | | | had few doubts about the potential of the area for |
| traditional skiing. There is cross country skiing, ice | | | | skiing. |
| skating, hunting, sledding, snowboarding, | | | | A few years after Schweitzer's modest beginnings, |
| snowmobiling, and a bevy of other winter sports. Still, | | | | Jim Brown bought out his partners and began to |
| Schweitzer Mountain has become one of the nation's | | | | expand the resort, and Schweitzer became a family |
| premier ski resorts, and that is the primary winter | | | | run business. Over time more lifts were added, and in |
| activity. However, Schweitzer Mountain was not the | | | | 1971 the Colburn basin was developed. He added a |
| first ski area in Idaho. The first was in Ketchum, | | | | double chairlift, built the Red Cricket apartment |
| Idaho in 1936, and Sun Valley has the further | | | | complex, and constructed a day lodge at the base of |
| distinction of having the very first chair lift. | | | | the mountain. Brown greatly increased the attraction |
| Our area saw its first skiing in the Schweitzer basin in | | | | of Schweitzer and the surrounding Sandpoint |
| 1933, but those intrepid fans did so by hiking to a | | | | community. During his ownership, he was credited for |
| point, then sliding back to the foot of the mountain, | | | | starting Schweitzer summer lifts for mountain bikers |
| often on wooden slats tied to their boots. In the | | | | and other outdoor enthusiasts in 1985, and for |
| 1950s, a group of friends, ski enthusiasts, and | | | | hosting the first Festival at Sandpoint in 1986, our |
| volunteers cleared the wooded hillside two miles | | | | world-famous annual music festival showcasing |
| west of Sandpoint around Pine Hill. They rigged up a | | | | international and local composers, as well as |
| rope tow powered by the wheel rim of a jacked up | | | | performing artists. Two years later the resort was |
| car, and the area's first groomed ski slope became | | | | offering hiking trains and mountain bike rentals. |
| reality. Unfortunately, skiing conditions at Pine Hill | | | | Before Jim Brown died in 1989 he had spent three |
| were less than perfect. Even though the crude rope | | | | years training his daughter, Bobbie Huguenin, to take |
| tow was soon replaced by a permanent two-chair lift | | | | over the family business. While running the family |
| powered by an old Dodge engine, the hill was not | | | | business with her husband, Pierre and others, many |
| high enough in altitude to guarantee a season-long | | | | additions and improvements were implemented at |
| coating of snow, and a warmed-up car and thermos | | | | the resort. Her focus was on making Schweitzer a |
| remained the only amenities skiers could expect | | | | destination resort; she removed the old lodge and |
| following a run down the slope. | | | | replaced it with a new three story Headquarters Day |
| While many might have seen the bowl-shaped | | | | Lodge. The Great Escape detachable quad chair was |
| potential of Schweitzer as a possible ski haven, the | | | | installed in 1991, and lights were installed for night |
| idea of a ski resort came when Dr. Jack Fowler, a | | | | skiing. Huguenin also saw the construction of the 82 |
| Spokane dentist, was returning from a ski outing at | | | | room Green Gables Lodge. Revenues never increased |
| Big Mountain Resort in Whitefish, Montana. From | | | | to levels anticipated by the Brown family, and the |
| Highway 200, Schweitzer looms up clearly, and | | | | resort eventually was turned over to its institutional |
| displays the bowl during mile after mile of the drive. | | | | owners. Schweitzer didn't have another private |
| Awed by the beauty of Schweitzer Mountain's | | | | owner until two years later. |
| snowy mountaintop, the picture of a premier ski | | | | The Harbor Years |
| resort came shortly after. In 2002, Jack Fowler | | | | In November 1996 the resort was put into |
| celebrated his 80th birthday. As a tribute to | | | | receivership, filing for bankruptcy the following year. |
| Schweitzer's founding father, a new run, "Jack's | | | | On December 31, 1998, Harbor Properties purchased |
| Dream," was built close to where the first handle tow | | | | Schweitzer Mountain Resort from U.S. Bank for the |
| was built some 40 years ago | | | | sum of $18 million. The Seattle-based company, |
| Fowler's companion on that skiing trip was Grant | | | | operators of Stevens Pass Ski Area and Mission |
| Groesbech, a Spokane architect. These two, along | | | | Ridge (sold in 2003) ski areas in Washington, made |
| with Sandpoint businessman Jim Brown, and others, | | | | immediate improvements by providing equipment for |
| began developing Schweitzer in 1963. The partnership | | | | slope management. It spent the summer of 1999 |
| was formed, and they went on a mission to secure | | | | remodeling Selkirk Lodge (formerly called the Green |
| loans, investing their own money, and raising | | | | Gables Lodge), rebuilding and lighting the Terrain Park, |
| additional funds from the people of Sandpoint. Fowler | | | | installing two new handle lifts, improving local roads, |
| generated support with ski enthusiasts, and | | | | and expanding the beginner ski area. A six-passenger |
| Groesbeck went to other ski resorts gathering info | | | | chairlift (Stella) was installed in the summer of 2000 |
| and knowledge to help with the new Schweitzer | | | | serving the base of Colburn Basin. The lift, housed by |
| Mountain Ski Resort. They pooled their resources to | | | | a 19th century cable carriage barn complete with |
| buy the acreage encompassing the bowl, packed in | | | | steaming boilers and spinning gears, takes visitors |
| equipment and provisions to establish a base camp at | | | | back in time as they anticipate their ascent of |
| the foot of the basin, and began exploring the slopes | | | | Schweitzer's summit. Stella greatly improves guest |
| to map out future runs. Construction on the mountain | | | | access to more than 150 acres of Schweitzer terrain |
| began in 1961 on the ski runs and road up the | | | | called The Northwest Territory. More than that, it |
| mountain. The tubular steel towers to support the | | | | provides Schweitzer visitors a unique visual and |
| mile-long double chair was constructed, and electricity | | | | emotional experience. The one-mile ride to the top |
| was brought up the mountain for the lodge and lift | | | | climbs more than 1,500 feet in just five-and-a-half |
| motors. By the summer of 1963 before construction | | | | minutes. Along the way, visitors have plenty of time |
| was finished, Canadian ski enthusiast Sam | | | | to take in the striking Idaho scenery. With the |
| Wormington had been named as the first manager of | | | | addition of Stella, Idaho's only high-speed, |
| the Schweitzer basin. He had built and managed the | | | | 6-passenger chairlift, the resort totaled 2500 acres. |
| North Star ski area in Kimberly, British Columbia. It | | | | Finally, for the 2005-06 season, Schweitzer added a |
| was through the knowledge and tireless efforts of | | | | T-bar to Little Blue Mountain, a locals' favorite |
| Wormington that the foundation was laid for the | | | | hike-out. The expansion added 400 acres and five |
| Schweitzer of today. On November 30, 1963 the | | | | new runs. |
| resort proudly opened with a day lodge and a mile | | | | In May 2001, construction began on White Pine |
| long double chair lift. With the exception of one good | | | | Lodge, formerly Headquarters Lodge at the resort. |
| year, the resort/area made no profit. It was | | | | The 75,000-square-foot guest lodge, which opened in |
| supposed to be operated as a weekend resort, but | | | | August 2002, features 50 luxury condominium units, |
| ended up opening seven days a week. | | | | various shops and restaurants, and two floors of |
| By the end of 1963, over twelve hundred acres of | | | | underground guest parking. |
| the bowl were groomed and ready with three 2,000' | | | | Harbor made other improvements to Schweitzer's |
| runs from timberline to the lodge, miles of trails, and | | | | facilities, and resort operations, service and amenities, |
| parking for 500 cars. The Sandpoint News Bulletin | | | | and on-mountain food and beverage. They renovated |
| devoted their entire weekly issue to the resort's | | | | the Chimney Rock Grill, a full-service restaurant in the |
| upcoming Thanksgiving Day grand opening. | | | | heart of Schweitzer Village, then added the |
| Renowned international ski racer Tammy Dix was set | | | | Schweitzer Activity Center, which offers year round |
| to christen the slopes with the first downhill run of | | | | mountain activities for younger children, and refuge, a |
| the day. And, Idaho Governor Robert Smylie sent | | | | new center for pre-teens and teens, as well as |
| out invitations to dignitaries around the world, | | | | guided tours of Schweitzer's backside, where an |
| including two notables who shared the resort's name, | | | | estimated 300 inches of powder fall each year. |
| Pierre-Paul Schweitzer, then Chairman of the World | | | | Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort Today |
| Monetary Fund, and Dr. Albert Schweitzer, who had | | | | A new group of Seattle investors took over the |
| won the Nobel Prize for his humanitarian endeavors in | | | | resort in 2006-07 season, bringing the resort to even |
| Africa. The latter being, of course, one of our great | | | | greater prominence. That year Schweitzer had a |
| figures in history. And one might think, hearing the | | | | record season in attendance and revenue, while |
| name 'Schweitzer,' that it is named after some | | | | worldwide ski resorts suffered from lack of snow |
| royalty, or great person or family, but the truth is | | | | and skiers. |
| something else. | | | | Schweitzer's village currently has two lodges: The |
| (The following in segment is taken from | | | | Selkirk Lodge (owned by Red Lion Hotels) and The |
| Sandpoint.com's The History of Schweitzer Mountain) | | | | White Pine Lodge. There is one day lodge housing |
| An Encounter with a Strange Hermit | | | | Guest Services, a Cafeteria, and a coffee shop. |
| It was on a summer morning in 1893, while riding her | | | | There are numerous condos, both privately owned |
| well-mannered little filly, Nelly, to work, that Ella Mae | | | | and available for rent. There is a Chapel with a youth |
| first encountered a strange individual, dressed in | | | | center available for groups that sleeps over 40, and a |
| some sort of well-worn military uniform, standing | | | | new restaurant by the chapel called St. Bernard. |
| trailside at strict attention, musket at his side, as she | | | | On February 15, 2007, Schweitzer announced an |
| passed. This went on for a few days, until one | | | | ambitious expansion program. Included is a $6 Million |
| morning, he instead stepped out onto the trail, and | | | | lift expansion. This includes replacing the original lift, |
| taking Nelly by the reigns, led the pony about a half a | | | | Chair One, with two lifts: A high speed detachable |
| mile along the path, before letting go and | | | | quad and a fixed grip triple lift. The names of the |
| disappearing back into the woods. | | | | new lifts are Basin Express and Lakeview Triple. The |
| When she told her husband and son Earl about this | | | | Basin Express uses the old Chair 7 liftline. Also |
| strange occurrence, young Earl said that it sounded a | | | | included is a Lakeview Lodge remodel, increases |
| lot like a "friendly old hermit named Schweitzer" who | | | | snowmaking and new grooming capacity, not to |
| lived alone in a small cabin near where he and his | | | | mention $2 Million in spending for future expansion to |
| friend Harry Nesbit liked to fish. This took the edge | | | | the resort. |
| off of Ella Mae's concern, but she took to running | | | | So, what had been a small mountain above the |
| Nelly through that section of woods anyway. | | | | ramshackle cabin of an old hermit named 'Schweitzer,' |
| Then, not long thereafter, the man showed up at | | | | is now a world-class resort just named to the Top |
| the railroad station during Ella Mae's shift. Speaking in | | | | 25 Resorts in Ski Magazine. This largest and most |
| a thick Swiss accent, he informed her that he had | | | | highly rated resort in the Inland Northwest has over |
| come to seek her advice regarding his intention to kill | | | | 2,900 acres, the new Little Blue Ridge run offering |
| a local settler, and take the settler's wife as his own. | | | | almost 2 miles of continuous downhill skiing, and nine |
| Ella Mae made eloquent argument intended to | | | | different lifts including: a high-speed six-pack; a |
| dissuade the man from this plan, and after he had | | | | high-speed quad; four double chairlifts; one handle |
| left, sent a warning to the settler that he was the | | | | tow; a new T-Bar, and a new Magic Carpet that will |
| target of a murder plot. | | | | gently whisk beginners up to a gradual learning slope, |
| The next morning, Schweitzer came back to the | | | | without ever having to take their feet off the |
| station to tell Ella Mae that he had decided to take | | | | ground. There is no shortage of skiing variety either, |
| her advice and not follow through on his plan, and | | | | with 67 trails, open bowl skiing, and 32 kilometers of |
| that because Ella Mae was both younger and prettier | | | | cross country ski trails maintained daily. |
| than his other intended bride, it was his intention to | | | | Plus, present-day Schweitzer offers year-round fun. |
| carry her off instead. | | | | There are miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, |
| Unarmed and alone at the little station, and not a soul | | | | huckleberry picking, and scenic chairlift rides, Frisbee |
| within earshot, Ella Mae decided to put on a front of | | | | golf, paintball, as well as a variety of concerts and |
| bravado. | | | | other events, not to mention superb cuisine ranging |
| Standing up, she began loudly berating the man. | | | | from gourmet pizza to world-class dining. Schweitzer |
| "Schweitzer, you know I have a husband of my | | | | Mountain Ski Resort has become a year-round |
| own, and am a respectable woman, and you cannot | | | | destination for locals and visitors alike. |
| talk to me as you are doing!" she exclaimed. "Let me | | | | More than that, the one constant that inspires and |
| tell you my husband and the railroad company will fix | | | | rules is the awesome lake view, with multiple ranges |
| you if you carry me off." He stood there silently for | | | | in the background. Skiing is great, the people are |
| what seemed an eternity. Then, tipping his hat to | | | | among the world's friendliest, and life is good on |
| her, he politely answered. "Well, for the present, we | | | | Schweitzer Mountain, just above Sandpoint, the Best |
| will drop the matter." | | | | Small Town in the West, overlooking majestic Lake |
| From that day forward Ella Mae kept a six-gun | | | | Pend Oreille. |