You'll find plenty of places to play on skinny skis

The Daily Inter Lake

There are plenty of places in the Flathead to hone your cross-country skiing skills. There is a wide variety of terrain to suit advanced, intermediate and beginner skiers. Accommodations are available at some of the developed ski areas.

Glacier Nordic

Center

The Whitefish Lake Golf Course becomes the Glacier Nordic Center in winter. The course has 12 kilometers of groomed trails, with room for both the classic and skating styles of skiing. Three kilometers of the trail are lit at night.

To help defray maintenance costs, the Glacier Nordic Club is charging a $5 fee for adults; skiing is free for those under 12.

A season pass, which includes a Glacier Nordic Club membership, is $75 for a family, and a single costs $40. The Glacier Nordic Center offers lessons and rentals seven days a week out of the Outback Ski Shack near the golf club's pro shop.

Traditional skis, boots and poles rent for $10 per half day and $14 per full day. (A full day means you can keep the equipment for 24 hours.) Skate-skis, boots and poles also are available, for $15 a half day and $18 a full day. Children's classic or skating equipment rents for $8 for a half day or $10 for a full day.

Traditional cross-country ski lessons are available starting at 1 p.m. daily. Group lessons are $25 for an hour. Private lessons in either traditional or skate-skiing are $45 for an hour, and each additional person is $12.

Group skate-skiing lessons begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays for $25 a person.

Parents can rent a child's sled, called a pulk, to pull the small ones for $5 an hour or $20 a day.

For information, to sign up for any of the programs, or to find out ski conditions, call the Outback Ski Shack at 862-9498.

Big Mountain

Nordic Center

The entrance to the Nordic center is near the Outpost day lodge near the Willow parking lot. There are 16 kilometers of trails that cover a range of terrain from beginner level to more challenging ground. Trail maps are available at the main information center and at the Outpost.

The groomed trails are appropriate for both skate-skiing and traditional Nordic-style skiing. There also are snowshoe trails. Lessons, tours and rentals are available.

Tickets are $5 a day or $45 for the season. People with downhill ski passes can use the course for free.

The Outpost sells hot meals and clothing and gear. Lockers are available for daily rental. Cross-country skis, boots and poles may be rented for $10 per half-day or $15 per full day.

Call 862-2900 for more information.

Blacktail

Flathead County offers free cross-country skiing at the Blacktail area west of Lakeside. The four ski loops, ranging from 6 to 13 kilometers, usually are groomed on Fridays. Signs direct vehicles to two parking lots; drivers are advised to have studded tires or snow chains on their vehicles.

For information call the Flathead County Parks and Recreation Department at 758-5800.

Izaak Walton Inn

Thirty-three kilometers of groomed trails for classic and skate skiing are available at the Izaak Walton Inn in Essex.

The trails are geared for beginner to advanced skiers. A 1-kilometer Starlight Trail is lighted for night skiing.

Get passes at the inn. Adult day passes are $10 for all trails. Children under 12 ski for $5 daily. Family and single season passes also are available. Cost is $50 for adult season pass before Dec. 4 and $100 after that date, and a family season pass is $100 before Dec. 4 and $200 after. Lodge guests ski for free.

The inn also offers cross-country ski lessons and guided tours into Glacier National Park. Ski and snowshoe rentals are available at the inn.

The Izaak Walton staff plans several special ski events during the season.

Sunday, Dec. 4, is the annual Kick-Out-The-Kinks Ski Race Benefit. Registration is from 10:30 a.m. until noon. The race entry fee is $10 per person and all proceeds go to the Middle Fork Quick Response Unit. Racing starts at 1 p.m. There will be 5-kilometer and a 10-kilometer courses in different age categories.

Jan. 7-8 is the Ski Fest, also called Winter Tracks, which is a celebration of cross-country skiing.

The festival includes races, family activities, equipment demonstrations and games for skiers.

March 18-19 is the Snow Rodeo, a weekend of fun on skis and snowshoes as the season nears its end. Special room rates are available during these events.

For information, call the Izaak Walton Inn at 888-5700.

Buffalo Hill

The 27-hole golf course in Kalispell is open to skiers, but trails typically are not groomed. The flat terrain is peppered with gently rolling

hills and is ideal for beginners, with some steeper slopes for intermediate skiers.

There's no charge for using the course. Gates close at 5 p.m. Skiers can warm up and relax in the clubhouse weekdays. Breakfast and lunch are available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with beverages available until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, call 756-4545.

Herron Park

Herron Park offers 11.5 kilometers of trails for every skill level. During winters with little snow in the valley, skiers should use caution because there may not be adequate snow cover in all areas.

The park is 5 miles west of Kalispell on Foy's Lake Road, a mile south of Foy's Lake.

The trail is groomed periodically. Maps are available from Flathead County Parks and Recreation; call 758-5800. Off-street parking is available. There is no charge for skiing or parking.

Round Meadows

Those looking for great cross-country ski getaways can try Round Meadows, 13 miles northwest of Whitefish.

Ten miles of trails await skiers, ranging from gentle slopes to difficult hills. Trails are groomed periodically.

To get to Round Meadows, take U.S. 93 northwest out of Whitefish 10.2 miles, turn left on Farm-to-Market Road for 2 miles, then right on Star Meadows Road (Road 539) about 1 mile to the parking area on the right side of the road.

Signs direct skiers to the parking lot. There are maps and restrooms at the trailhead.

Call the Tally Lake Ranger District at 863-5400, or for a recorded message on trail conditions, call 863-5420.

Meadow Lake

Meadow Lake Golf Course at Columbia Falls offers free skiing on ungroomed trails. Hungry skiers can stop at the North Fork Grill restaurant at the golf course.

Check at the registration desk for maps or call 892-8700 for more information.

Bigfork Nordic Center

Bigfork Nordic Center, located last year near the junction of Foothill and Jewel Basin roads, will be open, but exact trails are not yet determined for this season. Visit www.bigforknordic.org

For more information, call volunteer coordinator Dave Hadden at 837-0783 or e-mail dhadden@wildmontana.org