Whitefish Mountain Resort lifts open Saturday
Skiers head up the slopes of Big Mountain recently.
With more than three feet of snow already blanketing the slopes, Whitefish Mountain Resort is prepared to open nearly all of its terrain on opening day Saturday. This would mark the first time in recent memory that’s even been a possibility.
“We’re looking really good right now, and there’s more snow in the forecast,” resort spokesman Donnie Clapp said. “This is the best coverage we’ve had in November in a long time. We may be able to open everything except Hellroaring Basin.”
As much as two feet of new snow fell on the mountain last week. Numerous skiers who hiked up the slopes for early-season turns reported excellent coverage on all aspects.
As a plume of arctic air spilled into the valley last week, the resort fired up its snow-making machines to give Mother Nature a hand. The Chair 3 area will get the most attention with artificial snow, followed by the beginner terrain near the village and Base Lodge.
It’s unlikely any snow will be made on the upper half of the mountain or on the Toni Matt slope due to the resort’s limited water rights, Clapp said, although they do have the infrastructure to do so.
“We probably won’t make snow there because we don’t have enough water to make an impact,” Clapp said.
The water to fill the snowmaking ponds is pumped from Second Creek into Rainbow Pond, below the village, and then pumped up to snowmaking ponds near the Good Medicine ski run. Any water that runs into the ponds from snow-melt or rain is fair game for resort snowmaking, Clapp said, but typically they must be filled from Second Creek, which the resort has only limited access to.
The resort also owns the Bierstube building and leases it out, but is making a “considerable investment” to refurbish the iconic bar and grill. Phase 1 was completed this fall, while Phase 2 will take place next summer.
“Even though it’s costing us a lot of money to fix, we decided the building was just too important a part of the resort’s history,” Clapp said.
The Bierstube dates back to the early days of the ski resort when it was in the original Big Mountain Chalet. After the lodge burned in 1963, the Bierstube was rebuilt at its current location.
Free SNOW Bus shuttles will run from Whitefish to the resort from various locations. For more information on times and schedules, call 862-6560.
In the past week, significant snow has fallen on the mountain and across the valley.
Currently the Flathead River Basin snowpack is about 113 percent of average with about a foot to 18 inches of snow on the valley floor. The settled base at the village is now 23 inches with more snow expected in the next couple of days.