The wait for the 2014/2015 ski season is almost over as Whitefish Mountain Resort prepares for its opening day on Dec. 6, unveiling its brand new Flower Point triple chairlift that will add 200 acres of lift-served terrain to the north side of Big Mountain previously only accessible by hiking.
Spokesperson Riley Polumbus said preliminary reports on Dec. 1 show that early-season snowmaking efforts will allow access to terrain in the Chair 6 and Big Easy Carpet areas as well as the Chair 3 area. Chairs 3, 6 and the Big Easy Carpet will open at 9 a.m.
As of Dec. 1 when the Beacon went to print, Chair 2 was ready to start spinning but the terrain accessed from it is questionable, Polumbus said.
Chair 1 will open at 9:30 a.m. and will be available for downloading if needed.
“We are optimistic that we’ll have top-to-bottom skiing via Russ’ Street, however the rest of the front side, along with the Chair 2 area, is one good storm away from being skiable,” Polumbus said.
Flower Point, Chair 7 and the Big Foot T-Bar will open at 10 a.m.
“Word is the snow is good back there, especially the top of Flower Point,” Polumbus said.
All restaurants, as well as the Ski and Ride School, Kids Center, and Rental and Retail will also be open.
For those who have not yet picked up season passes, expect to wait in line.
Guest Information and Services is open all week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. if skiers wish to beat the crowds.
Season pass sales at Northwest Montana’s largest ski resort indicate its biggest winter yet with new improvements to the base lodge that officials say will only improve the visitor experience. Season pass sales are already up 4 percent over last season’s banner year, when 345,000 skiers and snowboarders visited the resort on Big Mountain.
In addition to new terrain and great snow, the new Flower Point lift offers a spectacular view and new view of the mountain’s backside.
“Once you get up on top, if you look down toward Chair 7, you just see the whole back side of the mountain now and get a new perspective you’ve never seen before,” she said.
Whitefish’s base lodge has undergone major renovation over the past two years, adding seating for cafeteria diners and increasing its space by 50 percent.
Skiers and snowboarders also will find more convenient parking this year at Whitefish with the addition of more than 300 spaces at a new lot near Glades Drive.
A National Weather Service SNOTEL site on the Big Mountain summit offers accurate, up-to-date snow depths and other information.
The base lodge ticket office is now open seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Polumbus urged locals not to wait until opening day to get their passes. Call 862-2900 to see if it’s already in the mail, or head up to get your photo this week.
Full-day single adult regular lift tickets cost $71.
Blacktail Mountain Ski Area is still waiting for the snow to fill in at its base and will not open this weekend, said owner Steve Spencer.
“We haven’t set an opening date yet,” Spencer said. “We need more snow at the bottom. The warm weather along with the wind set us back a little and the forecast doesn’t look good until the weekend. Watch our website for updates.”
More information on both ski areas is available at skiwhitefish.com and blacktailmountain.com.