Big snow leads to record ski day

Northwest Montana ski areas boasted full hills over the weekend after fresh snow dumped on Whitefish Mountain Resort and Blacktail Mountain Ski Area. 

Whitefish Mountain Resort set a new record on Sunday when over 7,700 skiers and snowboarders hit the slopes.

“It was a very big day,” public relations manager Riley Polumbus said. “The powder brought in quite a few people.” 

Sunday’s total broke the previous high of more than 7,650 skiers and snowboarders on Dec. 30, 2013. During December 2013, the ski area had three days during the holiday week with more than 7,000 skiers and six days with more than 6,000. 

All chair lifts were spinning Sunday and 100 percent of the terrain was open to help disperse the crowds.

Getting to the mountain proved to be a test of patience, however, as traffic was backed up on Wisconsin and Baker avenues by 9 a.m. 

“We want to remind people to carpool and take the S.N.O.W. Bus up from Whitefish,” Polumbus said. “It will just make it easier on everyone and cut down on traffic.” 

The resort this year added more seating and food options in the Base Lodge and a new parking lot. The parking lot accommodates up to 300 cars, which Polumbus said came in handy this weekend. 

The resort received over 17 inches of new snow this weekend — 15 inches in the 24 hours between 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday morning. 

Whitefish Mountain Resort is open daily from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Night skiing opens at 4 p.m. and runs through 8:30 p.m. through Jan. 3 and then on Friday and Saturday nights through March. 

Blacktail Mountain west of Lakeside measured 21 inches of new snow between Friday morning and Sunday night. The mountain now has 60 inches of snow. 

“It’s been beautiful and we’ve had some really good snow,” said owner Steve Spencer. “It came just in time too, with the holidays.”

The ski area is now completely open, and will stay open each day through Sunday. Lifts start at 9:30 a.m. and run until 4:30 p.m. Blacktail will be open for normal hours on New Year’s Day. 

After Jan. 4, the ski area will return to its normal schedule: open Wednesday through Sunday.

As of Tuesday, the summit at Whitefish Mountain had 61 inches of settled snow, with 29 inches over the past seven days. In the village area, the snow depth is 44 inches.

“It was an excellent weekend, with good crowds,” Polumbus said. “We’re all really looking forward to a good season and great new year.” 

The weekend of Feb. 13-16 could also be busy, with U.S. Presidents Day and Family Day in Canada both falling on Feb. 16, along with Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. 

The Whitefish Pilot contributed to this story.

Reporter Brianna Loper may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at bloper@dailyinterlake.com.