I would have to concur with the other posts. I commuted 40 miles (Palmer AK, to Anchorage AK) 5 days a week during winter. The drive was on a similarly maintained highway that I-90 (Kellogg to Spokane) is. It’s certainly not the best way to start the work day out all stressed over driving conditions, and other driver’s horrible driving.
Your husband’s commute will be 20 miles longer and he will have to go over 4th of July pass twice daily. It is maintained very well, until you get caught in a snow storm on the pass. Then you need to have all-wheeled drive capabilities and you can add another15- 25 minutes to the drive time. If you are dead set on the house and live in Kellogg, make sure your vehicles are up to the N. Idaho icy conditions.
If you just want to live close to a ski hill live north of Spokane, say Deer Park, then you will have access to three ski resorts (49 degrees north ski resort in Chewelah, WA
49 Degrees North Mountain Ski Resort and Mt. Spokane Ski Resort
Mount Spokane Ski Area), and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort
Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort in Sandpoint, ID. All of these resorts are 30-60 minutes to Deer Park, and season passes are reasonable at most of them. Granted it isn’t a gondola ride, but it might be a reasonable compromise to 240-300 minutes/130 miles daily driving your husband will have to do.