In these mountainous coves of the Rockies, winter can be a guessing game that changes from one moment to the next. Yes, it will be cold and dark, but what about a sudden snowstorm? Will a bluebird powder day arrive like a holiday gift, or will Mother Nature turn stingy with snow and blanket the region in grey?
Adding to the anticipation this year is the ultimate weather wild card – El Nino.
El Nino is a term for the occasional, natural warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which has a worldwide effect on weather and can lead to a drier, warmer winter than average.
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What’s New at Whitefish Mountain Resort and Blacktail Mountain
Here’s a look at some of the changes underway at the Flathead Valley’s local gems
By TRISTAN SCOTT of the Beacon
In preparation for the upcoming 2018-19 ski season, Whitefish Mountain Resort has completed another round of improvements, while Blacktail is gearing up with a season pass sale event.
On Big Mountain, the newly remodeled interior of Ed and Mully’s Bar and Grill will greet skiers and riders this winter with a fresh look and design that allows more room for lunch and a ski-break beverage.
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Resorts in the Region
There’s no shortage of ski areas within driving distance of the Flathead Valley
By TRISTAN SCOTT of the Beacon
From Whitefish to Blacktail, Turner to Snowbowl, western Montana is home to some of the best resorts in the West. Meanwhile, Idaho and Canada offer skiers and riders a suite of schussing options within driving distance. Here’s a roundup of resorts in the region that are worth the drive.
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Skinny Skis and Corduroy
The Flathead Valley is a gateway to gliding through the forests on cross-country skis
By TRISTAN SCOTT of the Beacon
There’s no debate about the positive health benefits of Nordic skiing, and the intense but low-impact, total-body workout is the perfect excuse to take a day off from the slopes, burn a mess of calories — on average, Nordic skiers burn 650 calories an hour — and boost the endorphins while strengthening those downhill legs.
But it’s also a lot of fun, and the grace of kicking and gliding can be just as mesmerizing as a chairlift spinning at your favorite downhill ski area.
Here are some possibilities right out your back door.
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Nature’s Zamboni
Gleaming ice arrives in the Crown of the Continent as a rare pre-winter treat for skating and pond hockey
By TRISTAN SCOTT of the Beacon
Nature’s Zambonis are hard at work grooming and gleaming Northwest Montana’s wild ice this pre-winter season, and skaters, amateur pond hockey players and underwater turtle-gazers are rejoicing on its translucent surfaces.
Untamed, uncultivated and free-range, wild ice is a phenomenon that occurs due to an intricate interplay of temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, and water.
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How to Build an Ice Rink in Your Backyard
When the days get cold, Lindsay Goudreau constructs a rink for her three kids
By JUSTIN FRANZ of the Beacon
When Lindsay Goudreau’s son Cove turned 3, she decided it was about time to put ice skates on the boy. Finding skates was easy, but finding a place to try them out wasn’t. So Goudreau decided to build an ice rink in the backyard.
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Hockey Players Lace Up Their Skates for 8th Annual Craft Brewers Cup
Event runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 at Woodland Park’s outdoor rink
By JUSTIN FRANZ of the Beacon
Can there be any better combination than hockey and craft beer?
For the last eight years, the Craft Brewers Cup in Kalispell has proved that beer and hockey are indeed a winning combination. This year’s tournament will be held at Woodland Park’s outdoor rink from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 and feature 12 teams, including six from Northwest Montana and six traveling from Missoula, Calgary and even the United Kingdom.
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Can’t Miss Events: Winter 2018-2019
From Woods Bay to Martin City and everywhere in between, the Flathead Valley is flush with winter festivals and community events
By MYERS REECE of the Beacon
The Flathead Valley annually hosts a full slate of winter festivals and other community events, and will welcome another addition to the lineup in January with the launch of “Frosty the Brewfest” in downtown Kalispell.
Below is a guide to some of the can’t-miss happenings this winter. Be sure to visit www.flatheadevents.net for daily updates on events throughout the valley.