Mountain opens on Saturday

Whitefish Mountain Resort will partially open with reduced lift rates on Saturday, thanks to snowmaking on Big Mountain.

The resort will open five lifts and six runs, with ticket prices reduced to $39 for ages 13 to 69 and $25 for ages 7-12. Seniors 70 and over and children under 6 ski for free.

“We’ve had a very good week of snowmaking and feel we have made enough snow for people to come up to the mountain to have some fun,” said Chester Powell, the resort’s mountain manager.

According to the resort’s online snow report, there is a settled base of 25 inches at the summit and 4 inches in the Village Area.

“We’re excited to get the season started and put our employees to work,” Whitefish Mountain Resort President Dan Graves said. “Luckily good snowmaking weather has enabled us to officially kick off the season.”

Runs that will open include Hope Slope, Chipmunk, Magic Carpet, Goat Haunt, Whitetail and Gray Wolf, accessible from Chairs 3, 6, 1 and 7 and Magic Carpet lift.

The Summit House, the Base Lodge Cafe and the Base Lodge Bar will be open, along with the Base Lodge Rental Shop, Village Equipment Rentals, Base Lodge Traders, Snow Ghost Outfitters and Summit House Gifts.

The Kids Center and Daycare will be open and the Ski and Ride School will operate on limited terrain.

The Saturday opener — postponed by a week from the planned opener — matches the planned opening day for Blacktail Mountain west of Lakeside.

Blacktail has a 32-inch snow base, enough to allow all lifts to be operating.