Moore Family Vacation at Silver Mountain (After)
Skiing at Silver Mountain
It was a Friday morning in Graham, Washington in 1994. My parents woke my brother and myself up while it was still dark so we could get an early start to our trip. My mom’s 1987 white Toyota 4-Runner was packed full of skis, poles, boots and other gear. My brother and I slept the first few hours of the car ride. After we woke we played several games of travel bingo to pass the time. I specifically remember the surroundings being just as boring as the drive to Pullman. We had to make many stops along the way since my brother and I were antsy kids who couldn’t sit still for long amounts of time.
We finally arrived in Kellogg in the early evening on Friday. We found the house we had rented for the weekend and unloaded the car. The house we were staying in was a cute little rambler decorated like a ski cottage. There was a large breezeway when you first entered the house with shelves and hanging units to store ski gear and let it dry out after a day on the mountain. This was very useful. My brother and I each got our own bedroom. The house also came equipped with an outdoor hot tub and a kitty. We couldn’t have found a better place to stay.
I originally learned to ski on cross country skis which aren’t optimal for use at ski resorts. These were the only skis I had at the time so on Saturday morning we had to rent skis for me before heading up to the mountain. We went to a small rental shop in Kellogg and rented a small pair of skis they called “vomit”. This gear was so much nicer than any of the gear I had ever used before and I was in love with it. Once we rented my gear we boarded the gondola. This is an experience I will never forget because I had never been on a gondola or anything like it before.
Hanging Out in Front of the Lodge
We spent all day Saturday and Sunday skiing and enjoying the mountain. The weather was perfect with clear blue skies both days. When Monday morning came around we were sad to leave but had an amazing weekend.
Moore Family Vacation at Silver Mountain (Before)
Moore Family at Silver Mountain
For as long as I can remember I have loved the snow. As soon as I could walk, and probably even before then, my parents were taking me up to the mountains. I started skiing when I was about three years old. Growing up in the Moore family we didn’t take family vacations to Disneyland or the usual warm, tropical vacations spots. Instead our family vacations consisted of packing up the car with all of our ski gear and heading to check out a new mountain. These are some of the fondest memories I have as a child.
Since Silver Mountain hasn’t opened for the season and I didn’t get the chance to ride there last year my story for Silver Mountain goes all the way back to 1994. Things have changed drastically in Kellogg, Idaho since 1994. Silver Mountain Resort built the Morning Star Lodge along with its indoor water park. The gondolas also look a lot different these days.
Although the village area at Silver Mountain has greatly expanded my experience at Silver Mountain as a child was unforgettable. I hope I get the opportunity to ride at Silver again this year for the first time since 1994.
Me at Silver Mountain in 1994
Halloween at Silver Mountain
Celebrate Halloween at Silver Mountain Resort
Looking for something fun and different to do for Halloween? Celebrate Halloween this year at Silver Mountain Resort.
There will many activities for people of all ages to enjoy. Events for kids will include a trick or treat parade around the village, face painting, paper pumpkin decorating and a lazy river pumpkin race. Adults can indulge in live music and a costume contest at Noah’s Canteen.
There will also be a screening of Shredder. Shredder is a snowboarding flick filmed at Silver Mountain in 2003. The film is for adults only.
You can also stay and enjoy the lodging accommodations and the mammoth water park at the Morning Star Lodge. Spook, splash and stay for Halloween at Silver Mountain!
Boarding Alternative in Kellogg
Flowrider wave at Silver Mountain Resort that can be surfed or body boarded
Silver Mountain, among most other mountains in the Northwest, has yet to receive enough snow to open for snowboarding and skiing. This shouldn’t be disappointing however, as it is still early for large amounts of snowfall that stick around.
As we patiently wait for snow, Silver Mountain Resort offers a fun alternative to winter activities. Silver Rapids Indoor Water Park offers surfing, sliding, tubing, splashing and soaking. The park is an amenity designed for guests staying at the Morning Star Lodge, however day use admittance can be arranged for groups.
There are many attractions within Silver Rapids Water Park. Flowrider is a continuous wave that can be surfed or body boarded. You actually stand still but the moving water under you gives you the illusion that you are moving. This is a great way to get some boarding in while the mountains are still closed. North Fork Lazy River is a 315-foot lazy river that slowly floats you around the park at a leisurely pace. The Water Mine is an island featuring a multi-level play structure including a tipping bucket and water slides. Warm Springs is a large hot tub. Hoop Lagoon is an activity pool with basketball hoops. The Crossing features floating lily pad like obstacles for you to try and cross. Moose Sluice is a twisting, turning waterslide that families can go down on a six foot inflated raft. Gold Rush and Prospector Plunge are enclosed fiberglass tube slides that can be ridden in a single of double tube.
All of these attractions at Silver Rapids Water Park provide a fun activity while we continue to pray to the snow gods. Not to mention the water park also has a bar that has a hot tub and overlooks the water park. This may be a great way to spend your next weekend.
Keep checking back for updates on conditions as it begins to snow!
