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While the art of winter sports has now developed a fantastic level, the Indians early in northern Idaho have been sent to ice fishing and hunting safely through the winter and the snow made travel easier. Our area has much was settled by Germans and Scandinavians, and the early French trappers, priests and settlers. So it was logical that the descendants of these settlers were followed by ski area. Snow came from two geographical groups: Alpine and Nordic skiing, similar to ourAncestors. Nordic skiing is the oldest category and includes sport, developed from skiing as done in Scandinavia. Nordic style bindings attach at the toes of the skier's boots, but not on his heels. Alpine skiing and sports, which developed ski in the Alps as a fact, that the associations on both feet and alpine boots heel. These two categories overlap, with some sports potentially fitting into both. Shows, however, binding style and history that every sport skiingone more than the other. Some sports such as Telemark skiing have elements of both categories, but its history in Telemark, Norway and free heel telemark binding style firmly into the Nordic category.

Well, our region has much more to offer not only traditional activities skis. And 'cross-country skiing, ice skating, hunting, sledding, snowboarding, snowmobile riding, and a host of other winter sports. However, Schweitzer Mountain one of the best ski resorts in the country has becomeand that the main winter activities. However, Schweitzer Mountain has not been the first ski resort in Idaho. The first was in Ketchum, Idaho in 1936, and Sun Valley is the further distinction of the first chairlift.

Our area saw its first Schweitzer Ski Basin in 1933, but the fans did this intrepid walk up to a certain point, then fall-back down the mountain, often tied to wooden planks on their shoes. In 1950, a group of friends, lovers of skiing andVoluntary green light to wooded hill two miles west of Sand Point, at Pine Hill. They rigged a rope tow jacked up to the top of the circle fed by a machine, and the field of ski areas governed first became a reality. Unfortunately, the skiing conditions at Pine Hill were less than perfect. Even when the tow ropes rough was soon replaced by a permanent two-chair lift an old Dodge engine, the hill was not high enough to ensure across the width of a coating of snow of the season, and a warm-up carThermos and the skiers were only equipment that could be expected after a race to the slope.

While many of the potential bowl Schweitzer as a possible form of popular resorts may have had the idea of a ski resort, when Dr. Jack Fowler, a dentist, Spokane came from a ski at Big Mountain Resort in Whitefish, Montana. From Highway 200, frames Schweitzer to clear, and shows the cup, and mile after mile of the disc. Impressed by the beauty of snow Schweitzer MountainThe tops of the mountains, was the picture of a major ski resort shortly. In 2002, Jack Fowler celebrated his 80th Birthday. As a tribute to founding father Schweitzer, a new beginning, "Jack's Dream," was built near where the first portion of the handle has been built about 40 years ago

Fowler's companion on that trip on skis was Groesbech Grant, Spokane, an architect. These two, along with Sandpoint businessman Jim Brown, and others, has begun development Schweitzer in 1963. The partnership was formed, and lefta mission to credit to invest their money, and the inclusion of additional resources by the citizens of Sandpoint. Fowler was generated support for lovers of skiing and Groesbeck in other ski areas to gather information and knowledge to help with the new Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort. They join forces for the area includes the flat, packed in equipment and provisions to establish a base camp at the foot of the basin, acquisition, and began to explore the trails, running on the future.Construction on the mountain began in 1961 up to the ski slopes and the road up the mountain. The tubular steel towers on the miles along the support double chairlift was built, electricity was increased and the mountain to the hotel and lift motors. Until the summer of 1963 before construction was finished, Canadian ski enthusiast Sam Wormington was the first director of the Schweitzer basin is named. He built and managed the Northstar Resort Kimberly, British Columbia. It 'been through theWormington knowledge and tireless efforts that the foundation was laid for Schweitzer today. On November 30, 1963 town proud day began with a lodge and a mile-long double chair lift. With the exception of a good year, made the facility or area without any profit. Should be managed as a weekend place, but in order to open seven days a week.

By the end of 1963, which were maintained over twelve hundred acres of the basin and ready, with three 2000 "runs from the treelineLodge, miles of hiking trails and parking for 500 cars. The Sandpoint News Bulletin theme has devoted his entire week at the upcoming Thanksgiving Day Opening Resort. Internationally renowned Ski Racer Tammy Dix was set to perform tracks baptized with the first descent of the day. Idaho Governor Robert Smylie, and sent invitations to people all over the world, including two, the dignitaries of the city name, Pierre-Paul Schweitzer, then Chairman of the World Monetary Fund, dividedand Dr. Albert Schweitzer, who won the Nobel Prize for his humanitarian work in Africa. The second, of course, one of the great figures of history. And one might think Schweitzer hearing the name ', "which takes its name from certain fees or tall people or families, but the truth is something else.

(The following segment of Sandpoint.com 's The History of Schweitzer Mountain taken)

An encounter with a strange Hermit

It 'was in a summer morning in 1893, whileContinue to work with the Sea: good manners, Nellie, Ella Mae that first encounter with a stranger dressed in a kind of uniform worn, standing at Trailside close attention, rifle at his side, as disclosed. This went on for several days until one morning, but he went on the road and under the Rule of Nelly, led the pony about a half mile on the way to go before release and then disappear into the woods.

When she told her husband and sonEarl the extraordinary case, "said the young count so much as a" friendly old hermit named Schweitzer, who lived alone in a small cabin near where he and his friend Harry Nesbit sounded like a fish. This was sharpness of the concerns Ella Mae, but she took Nelly crosses this section of the forest anyway.

Then, not long after, showed the man at his work station during Ella Mae. Speaking with a strong Swiss accent, told her that he had come to seektheir advice about his intention of killing a settler and local settlers take his wife as his own. Ella Mae made eloquent arguments intended to dissuade people from this plan, and after leaving, he sent a warning to the settlers that the target of an assassination plot.

The next morning, Schweitzer returned to the station to tell Ella Mae that he had decided to follow his advice and not on his project, and that because Ella Mae was both younger and better looking than his otherWife, who was his intention to kidnap instead.

Unarmed and only at the small station, and not a soul within earshot, Ella Mae has put up a front of bravado.

Getting up, he began to blame the strong man. "Schweitzer, you know that I am a man of me, and I am an honest woman, and you can not talk about me like you did!" Exclaimed. "Let me tell you, my husband and the railway company will determine if you kidnap me." Stood in silenceIt seemed an eternity. Then, tipping his hat to her, she replied politely. "Now, for the moment, we will drop the subject."

From that day to Ella Mae held a six-gun next to her Bible in the drawer next to the machine of the telegraph, and AP immediately contacted the nearest station agent at the Spokane office, who came accompanied by the sheriff of the county and a doctor from Rathdrum, the next day on the subject. Entering the hermit's cabin near whereBronx road crosses hours Schweitzer Creek, they found the hides of numerous cats nailed to the walls, and a pot full of cats for the dinner cooking stove for the man, thereby solving the mystery of the disappearance of numerous pets in the city recently. Schweitzer was taken into custody, where the farm "county" for observation and subsequently committed to an asylum "neutral", where, as Ella Mae has "lived the rest of his life, a dangerous and madman. And to this day, Earland at Harry favorite fish has been known as Schweitzer Creek, and the top of the mountain, Schweitzer Mountain.

The Jim Brown years

Brown had long been known as one of the potential Schweitzer ski. Was a ski area from the age of 16 years. As a young man, he would walk and seashells Schweitzer Colburn in the early 1930s. He had some doubts about the region's potential for skiing.

A few years after modest beginnings Schweitzer, purchased his partner Jim Brownand began to expand the facility, and Schweitzer was a family. Over time, the elevators have been added others, and in 1971, the Colburn developed basins. He added a double chairlift, built the Red Cricket apartment and decided one day to the base of the mountain lodge. Brown, greatly increased the attractiveness of Sandpoint, Schweitzer and the surrounding community. During his ownership, was to start business Schweitzer summer for mountain bikers and other outdoor CreditEnthusiasts in 1985 and to host the first festival in Sandpoint in 1986, our famous annual music festival including local and international composers and artists. Two years later, the resort has been given the characteristics of hiking and mountain bike hire.

Before Jim Brown died in 1989, was three, his daughter, Bobbie Huguenin trained to take over the family business. While running the family business with her husband Pierre, and others, manyAdditions and improvements have been made at the installation. His goal was to make a goal Schweitzer Resort, have removed the old house and replaced it with a new, three-story headquarters Day Lodge. The Great Escape detachable quad chair was installed in 1991 and installed lights for night skiing. Huguenin also saw the construction of 82 rooms Green Gables Lodge. Sales to levels not provided for by the Brown family has increased, and the village was finally delivered to hisInstitutional ownership. Schweitzer had no other private owners until two years later.

Years Harbor

In November 1996 the city was placed under the administration of bankruptcy, filing for bankruptcy the following year. On December 31, 1998 Harbor Properties purchased Schweitzer Mountain Resort, from U.S. Bank for the sum of 18 million dollars. The Seattle-based company, operator of Stevens Pass and Mission Ridge Ski Area (2003 sold) Ski areas in Washington, an immediate improvement through the provisionEquipment for the management of the slope. He spent the summer of 1999 (formerly conversion Selkirk Lodge Green Gables Lodge), reconstruction and lighting of the park land, installation of two new lifts grip, improving local roads and extension of the beginner area ski. A chairlift to six people (Stella) was installed in the summer of 2000 in the service based on Colburn's pool. The elevator, a 19th Century Cable Car Barn is fully accommodated with steaming pots and spinning gear, takes visitors back inTime as anticipate their ascent to the top of Schweitzer. Stella has significantly improved guest access to more than 150-hectare site Schweitzer called The Northern Territory-West. Moreover, it seems Schweitzer visitors a unique visual and emotional. The one-mile-ride climbs up over 1,500 yards in just five-and-a-half minutes. Along the way, visitors have enough time to take in spectacular scenery Idaho. With the addition of Star, Idaho, only high-speed6 passenger chairlift, the resort is 2,500 hectares. Finally, it is taken for the 2005-06 season, Schweitzer, a T-piece Little Blue Mountain, a favorite local emigration. The extension is 400 acres and five new runways.

In May 2001 the building began to White Pine Lodge, a former Lodge located at the resort. The 75,000 square-foot guest lodge, which opened in August 2002 and offers 50 luxury condominium units, shops and restaurants, and two floors of underground scoreParking.

Harbor made other improvements to the ski Schweitzer, and operating locations, service and comfort, and on mountain food and beverage. Renovating the Chimney Rock Grill, a full service restaurant in the heart of Schweitzer Village, Schweitzer, then the center of activity, which offers year-round has on mountain activities for younger children, and shelter, a new center for pre-adolescents and adolescents, as well as guided tours of back Schweitzer, where about 300 centimetersPowder of which every year.

Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort Today

A new group of investors took over in Seattle, the location in the 2006-07 season, making the use of even more importance. This year, Schweitzer had a season record attendance and revenue, while ski resorts around the world suffered from a lack of snow and skiers.

Schweitzer Village currently has two cabins: The Selkirk Lodge (Red Lion Hotel in possession) and The White Pine Lodge. This is a day for accommodation services,a cafeteria and a coffee shop. There are many apartment buildings, both privately and can be hired. There is a chapel with a youth center for groups over 40, and named a new restaurant at the chapel of San Bernardo.

On 15 February 2007, Schweitzer has announced an ambitious expansion program. Included is an expansion of 6 million U.S. dollars elevator. These include the original file to replace Lift, Chair One, two lifts: one high-speed detachable quad and a firm grip triple lift. Nameslifts are the new Basin Express and Lakeview Triple. Basin Express uses the old chair LiftLine 7. Also included is a redesign Lakeview Lodge, increased snowmaking and maintenance of new skills, not to mention spending $ 2 million for future expansion of the country.

How did what a small hill above the house of a dilapidated old hermit named "Schweitzer was," is now a world-class resorts, leave only for the Top 25 Resorts in Ski Magazine. This largest and most prestigious resortsInland Northwest has more than 2,900 acres, the new Little Blue Ridge run with almost 2 kilometers of skiing continues, and nine lifts, including: a high-speed six-pack, high-speed quad, four double chair, a handle tow, a T-bar, and a new Magic Carpet, the beginner gently whisk until a smooth slope of learning, without ever taking your feet off the ground. There is no shortage of variety or, with 67 ski runs, ski cup open, and 32Kilometers of groomed every day.

Plus, now offers Schweitzer years-fun round. There are miles of hiking and mountain biking, gathering blueberries and a panoramic lift driving, frisbee golf, paintball, and cite a number of concerts and other events, not to mention superb cuisine varies from gourmet pizza world class restaurants. Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort has become equal parts of a year-round destination for residents and visitors.

Moreover, thea constant, which is enthusiastic and rules of the breathtaking view of the lake, with several areas in the background. Skiing is great, the friendly people of the world, and a good life Schweitzer Mountain, just above Sand Point, the smallest town in the west, overlooking majestic Lake Pend Oreille.