From the January 30, 2009 issue of The Spokesman-Review
Written by Rich Landers

It’s not uncommon for the occasional skier to drive into Mount Spokane State Park after work, attach climbing skins and trek up to the mountain summit for a night-time workout and moonlit run down the alpine ski area’s groomed slopes.

But even though he’s a regular after-hours slope poacher, Steve Reynolds of Spokane was surprised a few weeks ago to find a cable running hip-high down one of the slopes.

“They were winch-cat grooming on (a ski-run named) Hour Glass,” he said. “That’s where they run a cable between two groomers so they can winch one groomer up a hill that’s too steep to go up on its own power.

“But you cannot see the cable when the groomers are far apart. That can be dangerous.”

Reynolds said people have been hiking, skiing and snowshoeing to the top of the mountain and back after dark for decades.

“It’s an established use, but I don’t know whether many people know about this hazard,” he said.

Dave Ozuna, 88, heads out for a ski run with Prime Timers at Mt. Spokane

From the February 8, 2009 issue of The Spokesman-Review

 “If this is what it means to be an old fart, sign me up,” a 40-something skier said. He’d been advised he was too young to join a boisterous group that had taken over the lodge lunchroom’s top floor during happy hour. But he left with a smile and something to look forward to – when he’s at least 55.

It was Prime Timers Wednesday at Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park. The most active group on the mountain was celebrating the upside of going downhill.

Discounts on season passes and ski lessons plus cheap food and drink are part of the deal.

“Prime Timers have been all over this mountain,” said group founder, Donna Larson, noting the members’ skills range from novice to national-class. “Some of them stick to the groomed slopes and others will do the trees or go off the back side.”

“This is a very sociable group of great skiers,” said Sue Blatt, who described herself as “more of a spectator, rather than a skier, who just loves to be around such a healthy group of seniors. They’re very much in shape.”

Indeed, as many of them swooped down to the lower runs and put their skis in the racks outside the lodge, advancing age wasn’t apparent until they took off their helmets or caps.

Clearly there’s a lot of gray area for skiers between retirement and the rest home.

Just 11 years after the social skiing group was organized with 39 charter members, the Mt. Spokane Prime Timers’ roster has ballooned to nearly 600.