North–South Ski Bowl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North-South Ski Bowl |
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 North-South Ski Bowl
Location in USA West
North-South Ski Bowl
Location in Idaho
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| Location | St. Joe National Forest (Idaho Panhandle N.F.) Benewah County, Idaho, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Emida – 10 mi (16 km) Moscow – 40 mi (65 km) |
| Coordinates | 47°03′58″N 116°39′36″W / 47.066°N 116.660°W |
| Vertical | 398 ft (121 m) |
| Top elevation | 3,788 ft (1,155 m) AMSL |
| Base elevation | 3,390 ft (1,033 m) |
| Skiable area | 28 acres (11 ha) |
| Lift system | 1 chairlift, 1 surface tow |
| Snowmaking | none |
| Night skiing | 22 acres (9 ha) |
North–South Ski Bowl was a small ski area located in the northern part of Idaho. It was found in the Hoodoo Mountains within Benewah County. This ski area was a popular spot for winter sports in the western United States.
The ski area had a special bowl-shaped slope. It faced the northeast and was on Dennis Mountain. The total vertical drop for skiers was almost 400 feet (120 m). You could reach it from State Highway 6, between Emida and Harvard.
North–South Ski Bowl was known as an "upside-down" ski area. This meant the parking lot and the main lodge were at the very top of the mountain. This was different from most ski areas where the lodge is at the bottom. The entrance road was less than a mile east of the highway.
History of North–South Ski Bowl
The story of North–South Ski Bowl began a long time ago. A day lodge was built there in the late 1930s. This was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a government program that helped people find work during the Great Depression. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) also helped with this project.
The U.S. Forest Service first developed the ski area. It was originally owned and run by Washington State College. This college is now known as Washington State University. It is located in Pullman, about an hour's drive away.
In the early 1950s, the ski area had different names. It was called the "St. Joe Ski Bowl" and before that, the "Emida Ski Bowl." After a winter with very little snow in 1958, the Forest Service sold it. Fred Craner and his brother, Merle, bought it. In 1959, they added a new type of ski lift called a platter lift.
The ski area was very important for college ski teams. It was the main training spot for the ski teams from Washington State University (WSU) and the University of Idaho (UI). It even had a special ski jump! A ski club called the Ramskull Ski club started in 1960. It was named after a nearby creek. The road to the ski area was made better in 1962, and more parking spaces were added.
The ski area closed for the 1969–70 winter season. But then, the students of Washington State University (ASWSU) took over. They owned and operated North–South Ski Bowl until 1980. During this time, they made some big improvements. A chairlift was added in 1970, making it easier to get up the mountain. A brand new lodge was built in 1976. They also added lights so people could enjoy night skiing.
In 1979, the ski area faced some money problems. The students looked for someone to buy it. They leased it to a private company for four seasons, starting in 1980. Finally, in 1984, the students sold the ski area completely.
North–South Ski Bowl Today
Over time, the chairlift at North–South Ski Bowl got old. Also, the area didn't always get enough snow because it was at a lower elevation. Because of these reasons, alpine skiing (downhill skiing) stopped in the 1990s.
Today, the entrance area near the highway is used differently. It's now a "Park 'n' Ski" area. This means people can park there and go cross-country skiing. The top part of the old ski area is now home to the Palouse Divide Lodge. This is a private place used for meetings and retreats.
