Snowmobilers, skiers still able to find opportunities

By now you'd think most people have given up on winter and have put away their skis, snowboards and snowmobiles.

Don't tell that to the 100 or so people who were snowmobiling on the Olney trail system last weekend. Turning into the Olney snowmobile trailhead off U.S. 93, you get a quick glimpse that winter is still here. The trailhead on Sunday was packed to overflow with snowmobile trailers.

"It's pretty good snow here," said Robbie Holman, president of the Flathead Snowmobile Association.

Despite the public's perception of a lack of snow in the mountains, there's still plenty of snow to play on in the backcountry. The association has kept up its grooming schedule, with all three of its trail groomers going "full steam ahead," Holman said.

"The snowpack is lower than normal, but the groomed trail system is all on north-facing slopes, so there's still plenty of good riding," Holman said. "The trail system is in the best shape it's been in all year."

The Flathead Snowmobile Association grooms about 220 miles of trail, from the Olney trailhead, to Upper Whitefish Lake, Werner Peak, up to Big Mountain and over to Canyon Creek. The association grooms the trail system until April 1, when the Forest Service requires that they shut down.

The first few miles of the trail from the Olney trailhead are icy and slick, but once the trail crosses the Swift Creek bridge - about six miles up the trail - the snow becomes soft and well-groomed, allowing you to open the throttle up a bit. From there you have your choice of playgrounds, from the high-mountain ungroomed Taylor Creek trail, to the wide, groomed trail that leads to upper Whitefish Lake and Red Meadows.

Crossing the one-lane bridge over Swift Creek you could see the result of the recent warm weather; the creek was running high and clear, almost like early-summer conditions. The surrounding snow banks were still big and fluffy like pillows - hip-deep in places. With the creek running high and good pools forming behind boulders, you could almost bring a fly rod and go nymph fishing while you go snowmobiling.

But Holman advises to not get that fly rod out just yet. While warm weather and bare ground in the valleys prompts most people to put away their winter toys, Holman said this is the perfect time for novice snowmobilers to get out and experience the sport in mild weather, with snow that's easy to handle.

"For people who want to try it and rent a sled, this is perfect," Holman said via cell phone in West Yellowstone, where he was attending a week's worth of riding and business at the annual West Yellowstone snowmobile expo. "It's warm, the snow has set up so its not a technical ride, and you can just basically go out and enjoy the outdoors."

As for snowmobilers who have mothballed their sleds all winter, Holman, who rode the Olney trail Sunday, has this advice: "Don't put them away yet."

Snowmobilers who want to access the upper Whitefish Lake trail system and Werner Peak can now trailer their sleds on the upper Whitefish Lake road to Taylor Creek. However, you should be prepared to encounter some bare ground between Taylor Creek and Werner Peak. Holman said by next week you'll be able to trailer up the upper Whitefish lake road to the Werner Peak turnoff. The Canyon Creek side has good snow with no bare spots, Holman said.

While the Olney trailhead was busy last weekend, Holman said the Canyon Creek side has slowed down drastically. That makes for good riding conditions and allows access into the playgrounds just off the trail, including the Kimmerly Basin area.

"It's just fun to be out," Holman said. "It's nice weather, and you don't have to wear a lot of clothes. It's pretty enjoyable."

ONE COMPANY that is helping people get out and enjoy the backcountry snow is Valhalla Adventures.

The company runs a snowcat skiing operation in the Stryker Ridge area, off the Olney snowmobile trail system. The operation includes a backcountry yurt that sleeps 12, and it uses a Hagglund Swiss army vehicle for transporting the skier "troops." Valhalla took out a group of skiers on Monday from the Whitefish Lake Restaurant, and the operation has been seeing steady business despite the perception that there is no snow in the backcountry.

While the Flathead Valley has been dry and warm, the Stryker area has been getting its share of snow in the upper Whitefish range, owner Fred Dietrich said.

"When it was raining in town, we got six to eight inches," Dietrich said. "People in town think there's not much snow, but we've had pretty good snow all year. All those little skiffs here and there added up."

Dietrich admits that conditions are spring-like and "it could be better," but he added, "we're still skiing."

Local ski areas are still doing their best to groom the snow that they have.

Big Mountain has adjusted its operations and rates in response to lower than usual snow conditions. It has adjusted its daily lift rates to $39 for a day pass.

Big Mountain, which this week is playing host to the Montana Special Olympics, still has 60 percent of the mountain open, with five feet of snow at the summit and 55 marked runs available for skiers and snowboarders. Despite rumors to the contrary, it has no plans on closing soon.

The resort is keeping Chair Five, its upper chairlift, operating daily, which provides skiers access to the snow-laden Ptarmigan Bowl area. The north side of the mountain has held up well also and has good skiing, according to Brian Schott, public relations manager for Big Mountain. He said parts of the mountain on the south-facing slopes have been hit hard by the sun, and many of these runs on the front side are getting thin. Toni Matt, the run that stretches top to bottom at Big Mountain, has snowmaking throughout it, so "it's still in great shape," Schott said.

In addition to skiing, the mountain is offering guests other alternatives for recreation. The mountain continues its snowmobile tours from the summit, as well as dogsled tours around the Nordic center.

"We got out the mountain bikes out for guests if they want to cruise around the village area," Schott said. "We're trying to give our guests as much as they want to do."

Big Mountain is scheduled to close April 10.

Blacktail Mountain in Lakeside is reporting 50 percent of its runs are open.

On the Net: www.bigmtn.com; www.blacktailmountain.com; www.valhallaadv.com