Record snow at resorts

The Daily Inter Lake

Local ski resorts set new snowfall records Saturday after receiving several inches of snow overnight.

Eight inches of snow fell Friday night at Whitefish Mountain Resort, bringing the season total at the summit to 408 inches, according to the resort's Web site. The previous record was 406 inches, set during the 1996-1997 season.

Blacktail Mountain Resort received 5 inches overnight, bringing its settled base of snow at midmountain to 120 inches, according to the ski area's Web site. The previous season record since the resort opened in 1998 was 115 inches.

"People with a lot of experience around here are thinking we're in the top three if not the very top" year for snowfall, said Nick Polumbus, director of marketing and sales at Whitefish Mountain Resort, citing the '90-'91 and '96-'97 seasons as other top years on Big Mountain. "And the snow quality has just been great."

Season-pass holders and destination guests have benefited from the snow, he said, as have businesses on Big Mountain.

"It's obviously meant great things," he said. "We really have had a great year."

Although storms continue to supply the runs with fresh powder, Whitefish Mountain Resort will close as scheduled April 6, Polumbus said.

A Blacktail spokesman could not be reached for comment.

For more information about the ski areas, visit www.bigmtn.com and blacktailmountain.com.