WINTERSPORTS -- Lookout Pass will open for skiers and snowboarders on Thursday and Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint will open Friday, becoming the first of the Inland Northwest’s five ski areas to start up the lifts for the 2015-2016 season.

Lookout Pass, off Interstate 90 at the Montana-Idaho border, plans to open Thanksgiving Day and operate through the weekend with discounted tickets and at least nine runs groomed, resort operators say in a media release.

Schweitzer began making snow earlier this month and also has received about a foot of natural snowfall, said Mountain Operations Director Bill Williamson in a news release. “With the cold temps last week, we were able to keep our snow machines turning, giving us another foot or so. It’s nice to see Midway in such great shape.”

“There is snow in the forecast and the weekend looks fantastic with sunshine and cold temps,” said Marketing Manager Dig Chrismer. 

Schweitzer plans to operate the Basin Express Quad with limited operations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with adult full day lift tickets at $40. The mountain will close mid-week and reopen the following Friday.

Lookout Pass plans to open all services and operate Lift 1, with top to bottom skiing on the front side of the mountain, plus Chair 4, the beginner lift, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets will be $28 for adults and 410 for juniors and seniors.