KHQ Right Now - News and Weather for Spokane and North Idaho | Ceremonial Opening of Basin Express at Schweitzer Mountain

Ceremonial Opening of Basin Express at Schweitzer Mountain

SANDPOINT, Idaho. - The community of Sandpoint  came together for the second annual Day for Heather at Schweitzer Mountain Resort and raised $18,730 to benefit Community Cancer Services.

It was a memorable day on the mountain, with a few inches of fresh snow followed by the christening of the new chairlifts, the Basin Express and the Lakeview Triple.

The ceremonial first chair riders included current president and CEO Tom Chasse, Schweitzer's first general manager from 1963 Sam Wormington, former general manager Tom Fortune, and mountain operations director Bill Williamson.

The lift's debuted in conjunction with A Day for Heather, a $10 ski day in honor of the late Heather Gibson with all proceeds benefiting Community Cancer Services (CCS), Sandpoint's resource and information center for cancer patients and their families.

"Cancer affects so many people and we felt it important to donate to this important cause and Community Cancer Services," said Schweitzer CEO Tom Chasse. "All of the funds stay local and help cancer patients right here in our own community."

The Basin Express and the Lakeview Triple are the two new lifts that replace the original Chair One, which loaded just above the village base area with an option to off-load at Midway and topped off at the summit of Schweitzer Bowl.

The new Basin Express is a high-speed detachable quad that begins adjacent to the Mill Building in the base area eliminating the hike up to the old Chair One. The lift travels 3700 feet to just below the run-out of The Face. The Basin Express provides vastly improved access to low angle intermediate terrain such as Midway Run and to the freestyle terrain park.

Lakeview Triple, a fixed grip triple chair provides access to the mostly expert terrain in Schweitzer Bowl.

"These new lifts carry out our mission to further Schweitzer as an active family resort," said CEO and president Tom Chasse, "It relieves the traffic pressure on the Great Escape Quad and provides more options for family skiing and those progressing from the beginner terrain on Musical Chairs."

The two lifts reflect a $6 million dollar capital expenditure. This year, Schweitzer also invested in improvements to its grooming and snowmaking equipment and to the Lakeview Lodge, and built a new snow check area.