Mountain Layout—Skiing

Schweitzer is spread across two bowls: Schweitzer Bowl and Outback Bowl. Here is a larger, more detailed trail map.

Expert, Advanced: Schweitzer’s runs and chutes are steepest at the top of its two broad bowls, Schweitzer and Outback. The bowls are separated by the Great Divide, a long wide ridge that gives you a continuous option to drop into either bowl. Some double-black terrain tumbles off the Schweitzer Bowl rim, but most experts head up the Great Escape and turn right to Outback Bowl, where steeps are studded with cliff bands and trees. Patient trekkers are rewarded with the Siberia Chutes. A whole bowlful of chutes await advanced skiers in the Schweitzer Bowl. There are so many, they’re lettered rather than named, as in A Chute, B Chute, and so forth. Upper Stiles and the adjacent Headwall Chutes are favored by those going for quick turnaround times. Off Stella The Six-Pack Chair are two adjacent single-black runs—No Joke and Revenge—that would be double-blacks anywhere else. They both are short thrills, but stay away on icy days. Make sure to check out the resort's new lift-served terrain in “Little Blue” with the longest run on the mountain - 1.7 miles. [TOP]

Intermediate: You can wend your way down from the Schweitzer Bowl summit, but unload midway on the Snow Ghost chair for Outback Bowl because the upper terrain is tougher. Stella The Six-Pack Chair goes to the ridge of the Northwest Territory, where you’ll find 150 acres of gladed and groomed terrain. Intermediate favorites here are Cathedral Aisle, Timber Cruiser and Zip Down. [TOP]

Beginner, First-timer: No beginner runs come down from the top, but get a nice view by unloading midway up Chair One and heading down blue-square Gypsy. The Enchanted Forest and Happy Trails are perfect for children. Both run the length of the Musical Chairs chair, which goes right by the windows of the 40,000-square-foot Headquarters Day Lodge, so parents can check out their kids. The Enchanted Forest, with kid-high, widely spaced mounds that children can go over or around, is barred to adults and jealous snowboarders. A wonderful learning area, completely isolated from other traffic, is served by a chair and a new moving carpet. Better yet, it’s below the base area, so first-timers can start out skiing and snowboarding, rather than sidestepping up the hill or riding a lift. [TOP]