Blacktail, other area mountains close

It's been a little tough to tell what season is presiding over Bigfork these days, but one sure sign that winter is over is that all of the ski areas have officially closed for the season.

Both Big Mountain and Blacktail Ski Area wrapped up their season, Sunday, April 4.

Whitefish Mountain Resort set its close date for Big Mountain prior to the start of the ski season, while Blacktail's final day was chosen based on numbers.

"It just didn't feel like it was going to continue," said Steve Spencer, general manager of Blacktail Mountain Ski Area. "We still had great snow, but we just didn't have very many coming up. Like always, they started opening up the golf courses and things slowed down here quite a bit."

Since most of Blacktail's runs are on the north facing slopes of the mountains, the Lakeside ski area generally stays open at least a few weeks later than Big Mountain.

Last year the mountain was in use until the middle of April.

However, the less than typical snowfall this winter combined with warmer than usual temperatures put a damper on the spring skiing at Blacktail.

"It was a low snow year," Spencer said. "Just like the Flathead forest watershed, we're probably 65 to 70 percent below average for snow fall. We didn't have bare spots, and we still don't have bare spots. It was a sunny winter but we still had pretty even temperatures. We didn't have a lot of powder, but we had a lot of great skiing."

Blacktail has an average annual snowfall of 250 inches.

The ski mountains in the Valley aren't the only ones that have closed up shop.

In fact, the ski areas at Discovery Ski Area, Montana Snowbowl, Lookout Pass Ski Area and Lost Trail Ski Area have all closed as well.

Blacktail is already gearing up for next year and offering a deep discount for patrons willing to purchase their 2010-2011 season pass in the next couple months.

Those that purchase their pass by May 15 can receive an adult pass for $325, a teen pass for $234 and a child pass for $114.

After the spring deadline has passed rates increase by $30 to $50 if purchased by Oct. 31 and an additional $10 to $75 if purchased after that date.

Similar discounts are being offered at ski areas around the state until the beginning of May, with the exception of Whitefish Mountain Resort which extends its pre-season rates until the end of September.