Happy opening day, Flathead Valley! That’s right, today marks the start of the 2025-2026 ski season at Whitefish Mountain Resort following a week of intermittent storms that brought the summit to a settled base of 31 inches.
Despite the recent snowfall, the frontside of Big Mountain is still a bit bony, prompting management to require everyone to download off Chair 1 at the end of the day. Chairs 5, 7 and 11 are spinning on the backside along with Chair 6 and the Big Easy Conveyor Carpet and Chipmunk near the base on the front side, but snow reporter Helena recommends exhibiting some restraint and sticking to the groomers while we wait for more snow to stack up. Nobody wants to smoke rocks or stumps on opening weekend.
If you’re into fitness and opt to skin up the mountain instead of riding the chairlift, the uphill track is restricted to the one-way Benny Up Route. But don’t worry – you’ll still have your chance to ride Chair 1 on the way down the front side.
With up to 2 feet of snow in the forecast through the end of the weekend, the extended forecast looks promising as a “long fetch of moisture” riding a 140 to 160 mph jet stream pushing onshore of the Pacific Northwest next week brings the possibility of more precipitation, according to the National Weather Service.
In other exciting snow news (snews), the Flathead Avalanche Center (FAC) this week began issuing daily advisories for the winter season, covering approximately 1.2 million acres in the Whitefish, Flathead and Swan ranges and portions of Glacier National Park. Forecasts are issued daily by roughly 7 a.m. through April.
So far this season, conditions are off to a good start with forecasters describing a relatively stable snowpack and a “stout refrozen base.”
“As far as the foundations of the snowpack go, we’re feeling pretty happy with it,” FAC forecaster Josh Lipkowitz said in a video update. “Now it’s early season – a lot could still happen. We’ve got some weather coming in here this weekend and some potential warming.”
In conjunction with Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center (FOFAC), which serves as the organization’s nonprofit arm, education programs are offered throughout the winter season with avalanche awareness classes, rescue clinics, Avalanche Level 1 and 2 courses and a youth program.
Visit flatheadavalanche.org for forecasts and courses and download the Avy App for offline features, consolidated zone forecasts and weather station data.
I’m Maggie Dresser, here to load the chairlift spinning season with today’s Daily Roundup.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Awards Columbia Falls $70,000 for Upgrades to River’s Edge Park Pond
City councilors on Monday unanimously approved the grant agreement for the city’s River’s Edge Fishing Pond Accessibility project, which will add a fishing pier and multiple fishing stands and slabs to the park’s pond
Ethics Complaint Against Flathead County Public Service Commissioner Not Accepted
The Commissioner of Political Practices found the complaint was “insufficiently supported,” and Commissioner Annie Bukacek claimed its filing was an example of workplace retaliation stemming from an ongoing conflict with fellow Commissioner Brad Molnar
This holiday season, celebrate the spirit of our community by shopping local. Every purchase you make from a neighborhood business helps support local jobs, families, and the unique character that makes the Flathead Valley such a special place to call home. From thoughtful gifts to festive experiences, our local shops have everything you need to make the season bright. Here’s some information on how to keep it local this holiday season.
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