Fred Frost is still skiing his usual amount of laps at Whitefish Mountain Resort — over 500 miles, more than anyone else with a season pass. But due to meager snowfall and unseasonably warm weather in recent weeks, the 72-year-old retired teacher has had to change up his selection of runs, sticking to groomed trails instead of venturing off-piste.
“Hail to the groomers. They’re moving (the snow) around and keeping the bare spots covered. If it wasn’t for them, we’d be in tough shape,” he said last week after an afternoon of skiing.
The past month has more often resembled spring than winter with persistent rainfall and a scarcity of new snow throughout the region. The total snowfall atop Big Mountain — 188 inches to date — is well behind the annual average of 300 inches, and the settled base — 73 inches — is half of what it was when last season ended.
The Flathead basin, encompassing the valley’s mountains, is at 100 percent of its snow water equivalence, according to SNOTEL sites in the region, largely thanks to the massive snowstorm that hit in early January.
The Kootenai range, however, is at 61 percent of the average snow water equivalence. Turner Mountain Ski Area in Libby announced that it was closed until conditions improve. The mountain reported a summit depth of 38 inches and a base of 26 inches.
“It’s too early to call it a season,” said Bruce Zwang, a board member at the ski area. “We just need to get some more snow.”
Blacktail Mountain Ski Area reported 65 inches of snow at the summit, with new snow in the forecast.
“Everybody is holding their hopes out for March,” Frost said.
If recent years are any indication, the next month could certainly boost the spirits of skiers and snowboarders. Whitefish Mountain Resort enjoyed 95 inches of snowfall in March 2014, and it snowed 20 of the 31 days that month. The five-year average is 60 inches of new snow.
“You never know. It’s something we can’t control. Fortunately we do have great coverage still,” said Riley Polumbus, spokesperson for the resort.
Polumbus echoed Frost’s praise of the grooming machines, which regularly receive national recognition. The resort’s crew of groomers ranked 11th in the nation in this winter’s SKI Magazine survey.
Despite Turner Mountain’s closure and other resorts reporting below average snowfall, Montana is actually faring better than most states across the West, where many ski resorts are suffering far worse fates.
California, Oregon and Washington are all experiencing grim winters and drought conditions. Average snowpack totals in each of the states are well below 50 percent, forcing many ski resorts to downsize operations. Some resorts, such as Homewood in Lake Tahoe and Willamette Pass Resort in Oregon, have had to suspend almost all operations at times.
In southern Alberta, Castle Mountain Resort closed winter operations on Feb. 16, two months ahead of schedule, due to a lack of snow. The ski resort received only 104 inches of snowfall this winter; the season average is 358. In British Columbia, Hemlock Resort similarly canceled the season at the start of February, citing “negligible snow.” Other resorts in the Canadian Rocky Mountains are also holding out hope that March and April will rebound.
“We have great conditions at Kicking Horse and good conditions at Fernie and we are going into our traditional snowiest months – we get the most snowfall in March,” said Matt Mosteller, senior vice president of Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, which operates ski areas throughout the region.
Montana could benefit from the surrounding state’s troubles with an influx of visitors traveling here for better snow.
“We’re definitely getting more people to visit. I’m getting contacted by lots of snow chasers that are watching where the snow is,” said Sheila Chapman, public relations manager of Big Sky Resort near Bozeman.
Polumbus reported similar heightened interest from Washington and Canadian residents searching for fresh snow.
“Everyone should keep up their snow dancing because it’s not over yet,” she said. “Let’s get winter back.”