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Whitefish Mountain Resort Opening Ski Season with Five Lifts

Additional chairlifts, terrain could open on Big Mountain as new snow arrives this week

By Beacon Staff
Opening day at Whitefish Mountain Resort and the grand opening of the Flower Point chair lift on Dec. 6, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

The 2016-17 ski season is officially here.

Fresh off an abundant snowstorm, Whitefish Mountain Resort is opening Wednesday, Dec. 7 with five lifts operating, including Chair 1, Chair 7 and Flower Point.

Chair 1 — the resort’s primary chairlift, the Big Mountain Express — will open at 9:30 a.m. and provide access to the summit and Russ’s Street, which will be open from top to bottom. Chair 7, Flower Point and the Bigfoot T-Bar will open at 10 a.m., providing access to the north side of Big Mountain and additional runs in the Bigfoot T-Bar area. Guests will be permitted to download on Chair 1 with last chair at 3:45 p.m.

Skiers and snowboarders will be able to access 17 trails.

Chair 6 will begin running at 9 a.m. and provide access to the Lift Plaza and Chair 1 from the Base Lodge and lower parking lots.

On Opening Day, daily ticket prices will be reduced to $62 for adults ages 19-64, $58 for teens 13-18 and seniors 65-69 and $35 for ages 7-12. Super seniors 70 & over and children 6 and under are free.

Resort spokesperson Riley Polumbus said more snow is needed on the lower mountain before additional runs and terrain will be opened, but that could happen in the coming days as determined by ski patrol. Snowmaking operations will be running on the Chipmunk beginner run and other locations around the mountain, which will be roped off for safety.

The resort is opening on the heels of a storm that dropped nearly 2 feet of snow on Big Mountain. Since mid-November, the summit has received more than 5 feet of snowfall. More snow is in the forecast, too, as well as a prediction of a La Nina winter, which frequently leads to abundant snowfall.

“The long-range forecasts for this winter have been very exciting and if this most recent storm is any measure of what’s ahead, it will be a season filled with excellent snow conditions and deep powder memories,” Whitefish Mountain Resort CEO Dan Graves stated. “In addition to starting the season on the heels of a big storm and more snow on the way for the weekend, our guests can enjoy Phase 2 of the Summit House remodel which added more room and better flow to the food court.”

Resort officials hope to open the Chipmunk beginner run to provide access to services at the Base Lodge as well as lower mountain parking lots. If Chipmunk does not open, the resort will provide shuttles to transport guests between the Lift Plaza and Base Lodge.

Food and beverage services will be 100 percent open Wednesday, including the newly remodeled food court at the Summit House with food service from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additionally, the Base Lodge Café, Base Lodge Coffee Bar, Base Lodge Bar and Ed & Mully’s will also be open with their regular hours.

The resort’s kids’ center and daycare will be open as well as intermediate lessons at the Ski & Ride School.