Lower Snowpack Results in Softer Opening Day
More than 2,200 skiers and riders head to Whitefish Mountain Resort on Dec 5; more snow in forecast
By Justin Franz
Officials at Whitefish Mountain Resort have a message for skiers and riders hoping for powder days: Keep praying.
Those prayers began to work on Monday afternoon as the Big Mountain prepared to close for the day, and the snow continued falling well into the night.
“We received 6 inches last night, 9 inches in the past 24 hours. That means all our turns from yesterday are filled in, leaving a fresh layer for us mountain wide,” according to the Tuesday morning snow report. “Get up here early for the best conditions. The new snow got skied out quick yesterday.”
The ski resort opened for its 68th winter season on Saturday, Dec. 5, but a low snowpack meant only the backside of Big Mountain was open to skiers and riders. Spokesperson Riley Polumbus said about 2,200 people came on opening day, down from about 3,400 in 2014.
Polumbus said officials were not surprised by the low turnout. Only five lifts and seven trails were open and skiers and riders had to download on Chair 1.
On Dec. 7, the resort was reporting a 26-inch base at the summit, but more snow is in the forecast. Polumbus estimated that the resort will need more than one snowstorm before skiers and riders can start coasting down the front side of the resort.
“It all depends on what the next storm does. Fingers crossed we get a lot more snow,” she said. “Everyone needs to keep praying for snow and doing their snow dances.”
Despite the lack of snow, visitors were able to check out the newly refurbished Summit House and Ski Patrol Headquarters, both of which were renovated this summer. More than $1.5 million in improvements were made to the resort in the past year.
Blacktail Mountain in Lakeside and Turner Mountain in Libby had not announced opening dates as of Dec. 7, but typically open in mid-December.
For the latest information on Whitefish Mountain Resort, visit www.skiwhitefish.com.
Correction: This story has been corrected to show that approximately 3,400 people visited on opening day in 2014, not 3,700.