Blacktail still waiting for snow

By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

The folks up at Blacktail Mountain have their lifts checked, their ski shop ready and their restaurant under new management. Now all they need is some of that white stuff.

Snow has been slow in coming to the Flathead Valley this season, with only six inches so far at Blacktail, according to general manager Steve Spencer. But mountain managers and skiers know it only takes one big storm to change everything.

Blacktail celebrates 10 years this winter and continues to grow each year.

"Last year was another record year," Spencer said. "We get a loyal clientele."

Spencer said Blacktail also benefits from a high amount of what the industry calls "destination skiers" for a small, regional hill. Many people who come to the Flathead to ski at Whitefish Mountain Resort — formerly known as Big Mountain — end up skiing for a day or two at Blacktail for a change of pace.

"We get more than our share of destination skiers," he said.

Though only six inches of snow have come down so far, Spencer said the coverage is uniform from top to bottom and continuing cold temperatures have allowed staff to pack that snow down to make a nice beginning base and to make snow almost round the clock.

Mid-October snow was wiped out, even on Blacktail's north-facing runs, after heavy rains came down on the entire mountain after the brief cold snap.

Spencer estimated that the mountain would need about 18 inches of total snow in order to open and that there's no target date set.

"We never set a target date," he said. "We just wait until we've got good snow and stick by that."

Blacktail will host its annual "Wake Up Old Man Winter" party at the Tamarack Brewing Company at 5 p.m. on Dec. 1 in Lakeside. That party switches venues each year, often giving the chosen eatery "it's biggest night of the year," according to Spencer.

But this year's location is especially fitting as Tamarack Brewing Company partner Chris MacLaughlin will take over management of the restaurant at Blacktail's summit. The mountain and the Lakeside brewery also plan to partner on some apres-ski promotions, Spencer said.

This winter Blacktail continues its "Fifth for free" promotion where all 5th graders ski free.