About us
Established in 2003 as an outfitting and guiding service registered and certified by the State of Idaho, Selkirk Powder Company (SPC) provides alpine backcountry ski excursions and avalanche education classes. SPC is an AIARE avalanche education Provider and runs a Professional Division (Q57) of the National Ski Patrol. After 21 seasons at the largest ski area in Idaho, we’ve moved our headquarters to the Priest Lake area where your will find our new meeting area 8 miles south of Coolin.
Backcountry skiing, avalanche safety, and snowmobiling are the primary activities this season. As we affect the local vegetation to facilitate large OSV use, the traditional cat skiing like we previously offered will be available, and we’re asking our cat skiing clients to come with a “sense of adventure” and be prepared to experience a slower snowcat lap pace or wait until the planned improvements take shape. Avalanche safety has been a part of our culture at Selkirk Powder since the beginning, and we welcome you to join us for custom Rescue and Level 1 courses.
For snowmobiling, we’re offering “guide-only” options with great access to Ski-Doo rental snowmobiles from our wonderful local provider Crown Jewel Rentals. Rent brand-new sleds, and meet your guide to take rides all over the Priest Lake State Forest.
Transition
With license and permits that covered most of the western slopes of the rugged and beautiful Selkirk Mountain Range, SPC operated at Schweitzer in Sandpoint, Idaho until April 2024 as an independent concessionaire using 1,200 acres of upper ridgeline property owned by the ski area and 3,300 acres of Idaho Department of Lands under lease. After receiving a quick no to our concession contract renewal request, we pivoted to the IDL and obtained a new permit. We negotiated terms with Schweitzer and agreed to exchange our summit building and our IDL lease rights for adequate consideration.
Fresh freshies
In January 2025, SPC commenced cat skiing and ski touring the new permit zone which was created from one of their heli permit areas and is seamlessly tied into the snowmobile permit. This unique backcountry cat skiing area we label the Atlasta–Casey Project and comprises of 6,250 acres featuring 3 aspects and peaks reaching 6,700 ft. The snowcat perimeter road is primarily established, but it will take some seasons to recreate the wickedly efficient cat-road system we created at Schweitzer. We appreciate your business and support as we endeavor to make the next best cat skiing and powder riding experience.
Partners
Press
January 28, 2025
The Bonner County Daily Bee tells the story of our transition to our new operations and hints at an exciting future in “Switching slopes”.
Winter 2025
The quality backcountry that SPC has celebrated for decades and continues to celebrate makes another cover story in Sandpoint Magazine.
July 24, 2024
Powder magazine helped us explain the nature of our transition from the terrain we developed behind Schweitzer to our current operations.
March 21, 2022
Unofficial Networks opined that northern Idaho ought to be considered a powder skiing and riding destination alongside Utah and others. We are honored to receive acclamations of beautiful terrain, incredible convenience, and exceptional value in the article “Selkirk Powder Company: The Best Way to Ski Northern Idaho”.
November/December 2021
Here, the middle A stands for Automobile and not Avalanche. The American Automobile Association’s regional magazine recognized us as part of the “Heli & Cat Capital of the World”: “Essentials: NWBEST”.
September 30, 2021
The Wall Street Journal exposed the well-kept secret of Schweitzer and Idaho’s excellent skiing: “The Beauty of Buying a Ski Home in Idaho? Nobody Knows a Thing About It”.
November 26, 2020
Unofficial Networks helped us announce the return of our heli-skiing program in the 2020/2021 season and stated how the rebooted offering will cement SPC as a heavy-hitter in the industry.
November 25, 2020
We appeared in “7 Places Where the Slopes Are Less Skied” by the The New York Times owing to our COVID-conscious characteristics.
December 30, 2016
Along with international locations like Georgia and Madagascar, Idaho and Selkirk Powder make Vogue’s list of “The 10 Hottest Travel Destinations of 2017”.
Winter 2018
Get the backstory on our heli operations from our local Sandpoint Magazine.
November 29, 2012
Schweitzer & Selkirk Powder are featured in the 2012 cover story “10 Best Mountains You’ve Never Skied”. Our scene is described as where lake views, steep trees, B.C.-quality snow, and a generous serving of backside snowcat action await.
Selkirk Powder Company’s
Ad hoc executive committee
